Tellus Group and Highland Homes Take Home Top McSAM Honors
Two powerhouse names in North Texas development walked away from the 2026 McSAM Awards with prestigious industry recognition — one for visionary land development, the other for an unwavering commitment to the people who call their homes home.
April 2026 – The Dallas Builders Association’s McSAM Awards are widely regarded as one of the most coveted honors in North Texas residential development, recognizing the builders, developers, and communities that are shaping the region’s growth. This year, two names stood out above the rest, and notably, they share something beyond the spotlight: a joint venture bringing one of Prosper’s most anticipated new communities to life.
Tellus Group: Developer of the Year
Tellus Group, the Dallas-based master-planned community developer, was named Developer of the Year at the 2026 McSAM Awards, a recognition that reflects a year of extraordinary momentum across North Texas.
In 2025 alone, Tellus advanced nearly $3 billion in master-planned community development, including continued buildout at Windsong Ranch, the successful launch of Meraki in Forney, groundbreakings at Sherley Farms in Anna, and the highly anticipated debut of Mirabella in Prosper. The breadth and scale of that activity told its own story, but for the judges, it was the quality of the work that set Tellus apart.
Adding to the night’s recognition was the success of Mosaic, Tellus Group’s master-planned community in Celina, which claimed both Master-Planned Community of the Year and Best New Amenity for its $20 million amenity complex, The River.
Highland Homes: People’s Choice Builder of the Year
While Tellus Group was earning recognition on the development side, their co-partner at Mirabella was making waves of their own. Highland Homes took home the coveted People’s Choice Builder of the Year award, a distinction that carries particular weight because it isn’t handed down by a panel of industry judges. It’s voted on by the public.
That distinction matters enormously. In a market crowded with homebuilders competing for buyer attention, being chosen by the people themselves speaks to something deeper than sales metrics or design accolades. It reflects trust, satisfaction, and the kind of reputation that’s built one homeowner at a time. Highland Homes has long been known for combining quality construction with a customer-first philosophy, and the People’s Choice honor is a direct testament to that relationship with the communities they serve.
Together at Mirabella in Prosper
The fact that both award winners are collaborators on the same project is no coincidence; it’s a reflection of how thoughtful partnerships elevate outcomes for everyone involved.
Mirabella is a 190-acre master-planned community taking shape in Prosper, Texas, one of the DFW metroplex’s fastest-growing and most sought-after submarkets. With Tellus Group guiding the land planning and community vision, and Highland Homes delivering the homes within it, Mirabella brings together two organizations whose values — quality, design, livability, and community — are closely aligned.
For future residents of Mirabella, the McSAM results offer an early signal: the developer behind their community was just named the best in the business, and the builder constructing their home was chosen by homeowners across North Texas as their clear favorite.
What This Means for North Texas
The 2026 McSAM Awards made clear that the bar for residential development in the DFW area has never been higher. Buyers expect more, more thoughtful planning, more community-building infrastructure, more genuine attention to the experience of living somewhere rather than simply owning a house.
Tellus Group and Highland Homes, each recognized at the top of their respective categories, represent what the industry looks like when that standard is taken seriously. And with Mirabella on the horizon in Prosper, North Texas homebuyers will soon have a front-row seat to what happens when two award-winning partners build something together.
The McSAM Awards are presented annually by the Dallas Builders Association to recognize excellence in residential development, design, and marketing across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
