Texas Builder Warranty Changes in 2026: What DFW New Construction Buyers Must Know

DFW new construction homes warranty rules are shifting, and that matters if you are planning to buy a new build in North Texas. A major regional builder is moving from a 10-year structural and foundation warranty to a 6-year warranty starting January 1, 2026. That change will ripple through the market, influence buyer choices, and raise important questions about long-term protection. This article breaks down what changed, why it happened, who is still offering longer coverage, and how to protect yourself when buying a DFW new construction homes warranty-backed property.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Texas Law Shift: 10-Year → 6-Year Warranties
• Highland Homes Confirms Move to 6-Year Warranty in 2026
• Builder’s Reasoning (Data on Claims)
• Concerns It May Be a Cost-Saving Decision
• What’s Not Changing (In-House Service, Non-Warrantables)
• Key Cutoff Dates for 10-Year vs 6-Year Coverage
• Other Builders Keeping 10-Year Warranties
• Practical Advice for Buyers Evaluating DFW New Construction Homes Warranty Coverage
• A Note on Trust and Builder Reputation
• How This Could Affect the DFW New Construction Homes Warranty Landscape
• Final Thoughts
• FAQs

Introduction

At the core of this shift is one clear fact: a leading builder in the DFW market is stepping back from a decade-long structure and foundation warranty to a 6-year warranty beginning in 2026. For people shopping for DFW new construction homes warranty coverage has been an essential differentiator. A 10-year structure and foundation warranty has long been a hallmark of peace of mind for homeowners who want long-term protection against major issues. When that promise changes, buyers notice.

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Texas Law Shift: 10-Year → 6-Year Warranties

The legal background matters. Texas revised its statute of limitations related to new home warranties, reducing the effective expectation from 10 years to 6 years. When the law changed, some builders immediately aligned their warranty period with the new state minimum. Others held firm on offering longer protection. For anyone tracking DFW new construction homes warranty standards, that legal change is the reason many builders began reassessing their policies.

What the law did was create a new baseline. Legally, builders are no longer required to carry a 10-year structure and foundation warranty. That does not mean every builder will reduce coverage, but it does give them the option. Understanding where each builder lands is critical when you evaluate new construction offers in DFW.

Highland Homes Confirms Move to 6-Year Warranty in 2026

Highland Homes is the builder announcing the change for their DFW new construction homes warranty policy. They plan to shift from a 10-year structure and foundation warranty to a 6-year warranty for any contracts signed on or after January 1, 2026. If you are under contract with Highland before the end of 2025 you keep the 10-year coverage, even if your closing date falls in 2026. That cutoff is one of the most important dates for buyers to remember.

Key deadline to remember: Contracts executed on or before December 31, 2025 retain the 10-year structure and foundation warranty. Contracts executed January 1, 2026 and later will receive the 6-year structure and foundation warranty.

Builder’s Reasoning (Data on Claims)

Highland’s stated rationale is data driven. Their internal warranty claim history shows the majority of structural and foundation claims occur within the first two to three years after closing. Claims beyond five to six years were reported as rare. From a purely analytical perspective, shortening to six years follows the observed claim curve and aligns warranty exposure with the highest-risk period.

That data argument is convincing on paper. If most serious issues surface early, a warranty focused on the first several years captures the bulk of expected risk. But buyer trust rests on more than numbers. For many buyers the 10-year warranty represented a longer-term signal that a builder stands behind their product well into the future.

Concerns It May Be a Cost-Saving Decision

Data or not, decisions like this also look like cost management. When a builder reduces warranty length and simultaneously trims standard features, it is natural to suspect the move is motivated by margins. That perception matters. Buyers evaluate not only the written warranty but also the builder culture, responsiveness, and willingness to make things right beyond what the contract strictly requires.

For buyers of DFW new construction homes warranty coverage used to be a differentiator that drove confidence and resale value. When that coverage contracts, buyers may ask themselves if they are getting equal value for the price. It is a fair question to ask and one every prospective homeowner should consider when comparing communities and builders in DFW.

What’s Not Changing (In-House Service, Non-Warrantables)

There are two important protections Highland says it will keep.

• In-house warranty service: Highland will continue to handle warranty service internally during the first year and transition to its customer care team afterward, rather than outsourcing warranty administration to a third-party company.
• Nonwarrantable handling budget: Highland reportedly maintains a significant budget for items that technically fall outside the warranty scope but that the company often chooses to address anyway in order to help homeowners resolve problems.

These operational choices matter. Builders who service warranties in-house typically provide faster, more consistent follow-up, and companies with discretionary repair budgets can solve issues that would otherwise be arguable under warranty language. That does not replace the value of longer statutory structural coverage, but it softens the impact for some buyers.

Key Cutoff Dates for 10-Year vs 6-Year Coverage

Clarity matters when contracts and timelines stretch across calendar years. Highland’s transition plan is straightforward:

• Contracts signed before December 31, 2025: still covered by a 10-year structure and foundation warranty (even if closing happens in 2026).
• Contracts signed on or after January 1, 2026: covered by a 6-year structure and foundation warranty.

If you are negotiating or deciding now, that deadline is actionable. It can influence whether you take a community hot inventory lot, sign a build-to-suit contract, or wait. For buyers focused on long-term foundation protection and resale appeal, the difference between a 6-year and a 10-year structure warranty can be a deciding factor.

Other Builders Keeping 10-Year Warranties

Not every builder in DFW moved to a 6-year warranty. Several well-known builders have publicly stated they will continue to offer a 10-year structure and foundation warranty:

• Pace Setter — maintaining a 1-2-10 warranty structure
• Shaddock Homes — continuing 1-2-10 coverage
• David Weekley — continuing 1-2-10 coverage
• Stone Hollow — maintaining 10-year structural coverage
• Bloomfield — staying with the 10-year standard
• Perry — unique 2-10 structure where the first two years cover cosmetic and systems and structure/foundation remains 10 years

These builders stick with the longer coverage either because their historical claims experience supports it or because they see 10-year warranties as a market differentiator. For buyers comparing DFW new construction homes warranty options, this list is a starting point. Each builder’s approach to claims handling, customer care, and nonwarrantable items will vary.

Practical Advice for Buyers Evaluating DFW New Construction Homes Warranty Coverage

When warranty length becomes a deciding factor, take a practical approach. Below are steps to help you evaluate and protect your purchase.

1. Ask for the full warranty document and read it. The length of the structure warranty is important, but so are the exclusions, definitions, and claim process timelines.
2. Confirm cutoff dates in writing. If you sign before a known deadline, get written confirmation that you retain the prior warranty term even if closing happens later.
3. Compare in-house versus third-party administration. Builders that service claims in-house often provide quicker repairs and clearer escalation paths.
4. Ask about nonwarrantable behavior. How often does the builder fix items that don’t strictly qualify? Do they maintain a discretionary repair fund?
5. Document pre-closing punch lists. Have a trusted inspector complete a thorough pre-close review so early defects can be addressed while the builder remains responsible.
6. Consider resale implications. Some buyers pay a premium for homes with decade-long structural coverage. Ask local agents whether a shorter warranty affects buyer interest in your neighborhood.
7. Factor warranty into value decisions. When builders trim standard features and shorten warranties, compare the total package rather than just price.

A Note on Trust and Builder Reputation

Warranty language is only part of the picture. Reputation, responsiveness, and the builder’s culture around customer care define the real experience after closing. One phrase sums up the posture many prospective buyers should adopt: fill the gap with trust. That does not mean blind faith. It means recognizing that written protections and real-world service both matter.

Ask for references, review neighborhood forums, and speak with recent buyers in that builder’s communities. The people who will fix your issues and stand behind the product on day 1 through year 6 are the same people who define whether a warranty is meaningful.

How This Could Affect the DFW New Construction Homes Warranty Landscape

Expect this change to push other builders to evaluate their policies. Some will maintain longer warranties as a market advantage. Others may follow suit if legal minimums, claims data, and margin pressures align. Monitoring which builders keep 10-year coverage versus those that adopt 6-year terms will be important for any buyer considering DFW new construction homes warranty options.

Ultimately, coverage length is one input among many: price, location, floor plan, community amenities, and builder customer service all influence the best choice for you.

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Final Thoughts

I am disappointed by the reduction in warranty length, but I am watching closely and continuing to work with multiple builders that still offer strong long-term protection. If you are in the market for DFW new construction homes warranty coverage, be deliberate. Use the cutoff dates as a decision point, compare warranties line by line, and prioritize builders who demonstrate a commitment to fixing problems quickly and fairly.

If you need help comparing builder warranties, walking contract deadlines, or finding communities that still offer 10-year structure protection, get a clear checklist and speak to a local specialist like me who tracks builder behavior year-over-year. Your warranty is a major part of the long-term economics of owning a new home in DFW — call or text me at 469-707-9077 to set up a quick consultation and I’ll walk you through the cutoff dates, compare warranties line-by-line, and send a checklist you can use when touring homes.

FAQs

What exactly is changing with Highland Homes warranty in 2026?

Highland Homes is moving from a 10-year structure and foundation warranty to a 6-year structure and foundation warranty for contracts signed on or after January 1, 2026. Contracts signed on or before December 31, 2025 retain the 10-year coverage even if the closing date is in 2026.

Will in-house warranty service continue after the change?

Yes. Highland will continue to service warranties in-house for the first year and transition to its customer care team rather than outsourcing to a third-party warranty administrator.

Which builders in DFW are still offering a 10-year structural warranty?

Builders that have indicated they will continue with a 10-year structure warranty include Pace Setter, Shaddock Homes, David Weekley, Stone Hollow, Bloomfield, and Perry (Perry uses a 2-10 structure with two years for systems and cosmetic items and 10 years for structure and foundation).

If I sign with Highland before the end of 2025 but close in 2026, which warranty applies?

If your contract is signed before December 31, 2025, you will receive the 10-year structure and foundation warranty even if the closing occurs in 2026.

How should warranty length affect my decision when shopping for DFW new construction homes warranty options?

Warranty length is important but not the sole consideration. Evaluate the full warranty language, the builder’s claims handling and in-house service, discretionary repair practices, neighborhood resale expectations, and the total value package including features and location.

Does a shorter warranty necessarily mean lower quality construction?

Not necessarily. Many builders base warranty terms on their claims data. A shorter warranty may reflect a company’s internal risk assessment rather than construction quality. Still, warranty length is a market signal and should factor into your evaluation alongside reputation, inspections, and references.

How can I protect myself if a builder reduces warranty coverage?

Get the full warranty in writing, confirm cutoff dates, hire an independent inspector before closing, document punch-list items, ask about discretionary repair budgets, and prioritize builders with strong post-close service records.

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