When it comes to buying a new home, two of the biggest names in homebuilding are True Homes and Lennar. Both companies have established themselves as leading homebuilders across the United States, with a focus on crafting high-quality, durable homes for buyers.
However, there are some key differences between True Homes and Lennar that home shoppers should be aware of. This article will provide an in-depth comparison of these two homebuilding giants, including an overview of their company history and values, home designs and floorplans, construction quality, customer service, and more.
Read on to learn which builder may be the best fit for your new home needs.
A Comparison Table
| Aspects | True Homes | Lennar |
| Company History | Founded in 2002 in Irvine, CA | Founded in 1954 in Miami, FL |
| # of States | 10 states, mostly western U.S. | 21 states nationwide |
| # of Homes Sold | Did not disclose | ~67,000 in 2021 |
| Home Types | Single-family homes | Single-family, townhomes, active adult |
| Home Styles | Modern, contemporary | Traditional, craftsman |
| Home Features | Chef’s kitchens, 9ft+ ceilings, oversized windows | Fireplaces, courtyards, flex rooms |
| Floorplan Variety | Limited designs | Up to 300 floorplans |
| Customization Options | Many structural upgrades available | Mostly finishes, limited structural changes |
| Construction Methods | In-house construction, advanced framing techniques | Mix of in-house and contractors |
| Green Building | Recycled denim insulation, low VOC materials | ENERGY STAR certified options |
| Warranty | 10 year structural warranty | 10 year structural warranty |
| Customer Service | Home Advisor system, responsive | New Home Consultant system, mixed reviews |
| Price Range | $400K+ | $250K to $600K+ |
| Locations | CA, WA, CO, AZ, NV, etc | Nationwide in over 100 metro areas |
Key Differences Between Lennar And True Homes
- Home Designs and Floorplans
When it comes to home designs, True Homes and Lennar take slightly different approaches.
True Homes is known for more modern, open concept floorplans with clean lines.
Their homes emphasize lots of natural light through large windows, 9+ foot ceilings on the first floor, and intentional design elements like coffered ceilings.
Kitchens are a highlight of True Homes’ designs, featuring gourmet chef’s kitchens with oversized islands and high-end appliances. Homes can be further customized with a variety of structural and finishing options.
Lennar offers more traditional and craftsman style exteriors, along with open, flexible floorplans. What Lennar lacks in ultra-modern design, they make up for in variety—offering up to 300 different floorplans across their many communities.
Their floorplans still emphasize open kitchens, dining, and living spaces. Options like lofts, flex rooms, and home offices allow for customization. Lennar also includes features like fireplaces, patios, and courtyards on many designs.
So in summary, True Homes highlights modern and contemporary designs, while Lennar focuses more on versatile, traditional floorplans.
- Construction Quality
When you’re making a major investment like buying a new home, construction quality is paramount. Both Lennar and True Homes prioritize building high-quality homes, but they achieve this through different means.
True Homes oversees every aspect of construction directly rather than using subcontractors. Their homes are built with 2×6 exterior wall framing and feature advanced framing techniques to reduce materials used while maintaining structural integrity.
Recycled denim insulation, silicone joint sealing, and low VOC paints make their homes environmentally-friendly. True Homes also offers a 10 year structural warranty on their homes.
Lennar employs both their own construction crews as well as local subcontractors to build homes. Their focus is on integrating quality construction materials and methods from start to finish.
This includes engineered floor systems, stainless steel appliances, granite or quartz countertops, and low VOC paints and carpets. Many Lennar homes also meet national ENERGY STAR standards. They back their homes with a limited 10-year structural warranty.
Based on these construction techniques, both Lennar and True Homes aim for quality and durability in the homes they build. True Homes takes a bit more ownership over the end-to-end construction process.
- Customer Service
The homebuying process involves a lot of interactions with your builder, so customer service is an important point of comparison.
True Homes assigns homebuyers a single point of contact, a Home Advisor, to guide them through the purchasing and construction process.
This advisor assists with customizations, provides construction updates, helps resolve any issues, and ensures a smooth on-time closing.
True Homes also provides dedicated customer service via phone, email, and chat. Past customers praise their responsive, personable service.
Lennar also assigns new homebuyers a personal New Home Consultant. This representative can assist with selecting structural customizations, choosing finishes, and tracking construction timelines.
During the warranty period post-move-in, Lennar has a customer care team available by phone if any issues arise. While some past buyers have complained of slow response times, Lennar aims to promptly resolve warranty concerns.
Both builders provide prospective homebuyers a customized experience with personalized guidance. True Homes gains an edge in responsiveness and service quality based on reviews.
- Price and Affordability
For many home shoppers, the purchase price and monthly payments are an important consideration.
True Homes markets itself as a high-end custom homebuilder, so their homes come with premium price tags. Home prices typically range from the mid $400,000s to over $1 million.
This puts them on the luxury end for most markets. With significant structural upgrades and custom finishes included, monthly payments are typically high as well.
Lennar takes pride in providing affordable new homes, so they offer lower prices than True Homes. Lennar home prices range from around $250,000 on the low end to the $600,000s for larger models in premium locations.
This makes their homes attainable for first-time homebuyers and growing families in many markets around the country. Even their most upgraded homes still offer relative affordability.
For home shoppers on a budget, Lennar will offer more options and flexibility. True Homes caters more exclusively to the upper end of the market.
- Locations and Availability
Depending on your preferred city or neighborhood, you may find more options with one builder versus the other.
True Homes has a presence across 10 states, mostly concentrated out West.
They have communities available in California metro areas like Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and the Bay Area.
You can also find True Homes in Seattle, Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and more.
However, they have limited inventory in other regions.
In contrast, Lennar has new construction homes available in over 100 major metro areas and suburbs across 21 states nationwide. This includes major markets like New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Texas, and Florida.
Their extensive reach gives homebuyers many more communities and floorplans to choose from.
If you hope to buy in the western U.S., True Homes will have more options. But in other regions, Lennar will offer far more choices and availability.
Pros and Cons Comparison
To summarize the key differences, here is an overview of the major pros and cons of True Homes versus Lennar:
| True Homes | Lennar | |
| Pros | – Modern, contemporary home designs – Focus on luxury features and finishes – Oversees entire construction process – Provides a Home Advisor for personalized service | – Variety of versatile floorplans – ENERGY STAR certified options – Quality materials and construction methods – Established reputation and warranty – More affordable home prices |
| Cons | – Limited geographic availability – Higher prices and monthly payments – Less variety in designs offered | – Floorplans lack modern designs – Customer service responsiveness varies – Limited custom structural upgrades |
This covers some of the highlights shoppers should keep in mind. Review your own priorities to decide if True Homes’ luxury approach or Lennar’s affordability and variety is a better fit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Based on number of homes sold, Lennar is the largest homebuilder in the United States. In 2021, Lennar delivered over 57,000 homes nationwide across its many brands.
Some of the top homebuilders with a strong presence across the Southeastern U.S. include Lennar, DR Horton, PulteGroup, and KB Home.
Lennar Corporation is the country’s largest homebuilder based on the number of homes delivered. In 2021, Lennar delivered approximately 67,000 new homes nationwide.
Wrapping Up
When comparing True Homes and Lennar, there are clear tradeoffs between these two homebuilding leaders. Shoppers will need to weigh factors like home design and customization options, construction quality, customer service, affordability, and availability in local markets.
True Homes is the clear choice if you want a contemporary, customized luxury home and don’t need to strictly budget. Lennar offers more value through lower prices and efficient floorplans, though lacks the same modern designs.
By understanding these key differences between the builders, homebuyers can determine which company best aligns with their priorities. With this overview, you can make an informed choice between True Homes and Lennar based on your own home needs and preferences.
Both deliver quality new construction homes, just with different strengths and advantages.
