Where Life Is Brilliant

Build more than a home at this master-planned community in Mesquite

Forget cookie-cutter suburbs. Solterra Texas is flipping the script on what a master-planned community can be. Spanning 1,400 acres in Mesquite, this bold vision by Huffines Communities fuses modern comfort with wild green spaces, playful design, and a heartbeat of real neighborhood energy.

The homes: Built for real life (and real style)
Solterra Texas offers an impressive lineup of homes from 11 of the most respected builders in the region, including names like David Weekley Homes, Highland Homes, Coventry Homes, and CastleRock Communities. There are also two- and three-bedroom townhomes available, located across the street from the amenity center, from builders Direct Residential and Cadence Homes.

Whether you're looking for sleek modern, traditional Texas charm, or something in between, there's a floorplan with your name on it.

Homes range in size and style, with prices from $300-$700k. That includes single-family homes with spacious backyards, open-concept interiors, and energy-efficient features that prioritize comfort and smart living. And it’s not just about square footage — many homes offer customizable options to suit everything from multigenerational living to remote work setups.

The developer sets the unique architectural guidelines for each builder to follow, creating visual interest and required variety that feels curated, not copy-pasted. Combined with thoughtful landscaping and pocket parks, the result is a neighborhood that feels like it grew organically, while still delivering the polish of a master-planned community.

The Headquarters: A hub of activity
At the heart of Solterra Texas is The Headquarters, an eight-acre amenity complex that’s part social hub, part fitness center, and part water park entertainment. Slated to open in late summer 2025, this facility is rumored to have cost $25 million, and it is not playing around.

Expect three resort-style pools (yes, three), a massive 6,000-square-foot fitness center, a splash pad for the little ones, and a lakefront beach area perfect for kayaking or paddle boarding. There’s also a dog park and dog splash pad park, pickleball courts, a massive covered pavilion that can fit 250 people, and even a ballroom designed to host unforgettable events. The best part? It’s all walkable and community focused, with plenty of room to relax or recharge.

Additionally, Solterra Texas is located right on the serene, 25-acre Lake Solterra and features more than 15 miles of scenic bike and hike trails to explore.

Solterra Treehouse Photo courtesy of Solterra Texas

The Lookout Treehouse: A whimsical retreat
What other community can say it has a nearly 40-foot-tall custom treehouse built by the famous Treehouse Masters? Solterra Texas can.

The Lookout Treehouse is the community’s iconic centerpiece and a favorite gathering spot for families, kids, and anyone who appreciates a killer view from the crow’s nest. Take a 3-D tour of it here.

Surrounding it, the Treehouse Trail follows the South Mesquite Creek with wide, walkable paths that lead directly to neighboring city park, Valley Creek Park. It’s a place to bike, wander, and discover, designed to connect not just spaces, but people.

The deep roots: A legacy of green living
Solterra Texas shows its commitment to sustainability with the innovative tree farm initiative. Since 2021, the community has been cultivating an on-site three-acre tree farm to preserve and replant native trees like elms, pecans, oaks, ashes, and native pear trees.

This effort has led to the successful transplantation of over 450 mature trees, providing immediate shade and enhancing the community's natural beauty. These trees, accustomed to the local soil and climate, boast a higher survival rate and contribute to a lush, park-like environment.

Photo courtesy of Solterra Texas

Solterra Texas is situated in Mesquite.

The awards: Neighborhood excellence
This attention to detail hasn’t gone unnoticed. At the 2025 McSAM Awards, hosted by the Dallas Builders Association, Solterra Texas took home the top honor: Best Master-Planned Community of the Year.

It also scored wins for Best New Amenity (The Lookout Treehouse) and Best Special Event (Solfest), cementing its reputation as a standout development in North Texas.

The community: A place to call home
Imagine days spent ambling along tree-lined trails, running into neighbors you actually know, and soaking in sunsets by the lake. With a variety of builders, customizable homes, and award-winning amenities, Solterra Texas offers a lifestyle that’s smart, connected, and full of possibility. It's a place where every detail is crafted to enhance the quality of life, making it a truly exceptional place to call home.

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Solterra Texas is situated in the vibrant city of Mesquite, with convenient thoroughfare access to I-30, I-635, I-20, and US 80. Head here to learn more and schedule a tour today.

master-planned community solterra mesquite video promoted

the renter generation

Dallas declared a top-20 hotspot for Gen Z renters in new report

Photo courtesy of Dallas Apartment Locators

The overwhelming majority of Dallas Gen Zers are renters.

A new report has confirmed what most Dallas-based Gen Zers already know: Homeownership rates aren’t looking good for the Zoomer generation. In fact, over 88 percent of all Gen Zers in Dallas-Fort Worth are renters, not homeowners, according to a new Rentcafe study.

The housing report analyzed the U.S. hotspots where Gen Zers (individuals born between 1997 and 2012) are renting versus buying their homes. Using homeownership and renting data across 97 U.S. metros, RentCafe’s analysts determined which cities have had the biggest gains in Gen Z renters and homeowners from 2018-2023.

Dallas-Fort Worth ranked No. 16 in the national comparison of metros where nearly all Gen Z individuals rent. The study’s findings show there were 189,461 Gen Z households who were renters in 2023.

The prevalence of Gen Z renters in DFW has skyrocketed over the last five years; there were only 26,251 DFW-based Gen Z renter households in 2018.

During the same five-year period, the rate of Gen Z homeowners in DFW grew from 2,048 to 25,002 households. But that only represents 11.66 percent of the entire Gen Z population in the Metroplex, RentCafe found.

Unsurprisingly, affordability is one of the biggest hurdles that the younger generation faces when it comes to homeownership. It can be hard to feel optimistic about buying a starter home when even Post Malone's modest childhood home in Grapevine hit the market for more than half a million dollars.

RentCafe adds that metros with good job opportunities (and good pay), recreational activities, and good schools are top-of-mind for Gen Zers that want to settle down in one place.

“And it’s not just the big coastal cities that offer these things,” the report’s author wrote. “While major hubs like New York City and Boston still attract Gen Z renters, the real growth is happening in the South.”

A separate housing affordability report hinted Dallas home prices are starting to cool off after a two-year price surge, which could bring relief to homebuyers of all ages. According to the latest market insight from the MetroTex Association of Realtors, housing prices in Dallas County have dipped 2.8 percent since last February, to $359,695.

Gen Z renter and homeownership rates in other Texas cities
The meteoric rise in Gen Z renters is not just happening in Dallas — every major city in Texas is seeing similar shifts in their renter populations.

Austin has the second-highest share of Gen Z renters in Texas, and it ranked No. 6 among U.S. metros where nearly all Gen Zers are renters. A surprising 91.56 percent of all Gen Z individuals living in the Austin area rent, and only 8.44 percent are homeowners. Out of the total 102,323 Gen Z households living in the metro, 93,687 are renters, while the remaining 8,636 own their homes.

In Houston, 162,305 Gen Z households are renters and 27,093 are homeowners. That means about 86 percent of all Gen Z households rent, and 14 percent own homes.

San Antonio, on the other hand, is home to one of the highest rates of Gen Z homeowners in the state. About 20 percent of Gen Z San Antonians are already homeowners, while the remaining 79.57 percent are renters. That adds up to about 13,862 Gen Z homeowners, and 53,998 renters.

gen z homeowners rentcafe study rent report