Combining elegance, affordability and charm, Trophy Signature Homes is transforming Texas with sophisticated homes and lively communities
From the cultural corners of Dallas-Fort Worth to the vibrant city of Austin, Trophy Signature Homes (Trophy) is redefining modern and affordable homebuilding across Texas. Founded just seven years ago, the company is recognized for constructing stylish and elegant homes at affordable prices with the highest levels of client care. In the pursuit of excellence, Trophy has built over 6800 homes in seven years across almost 50 communities, each unique in personality and charm. The company champions clear communication and transparency – a quality that has helped it to build strong client relationships and a stellar reputation over the years – and customers can be sure that the home design they fall in love with is the one they will receive, with no hidden costs.
Modern Home Builders sits down with Chris Wicker, President of Trophy’s Dallas-Fort Worth Division, to learn more about the secrets behind the company’s continuing growth and success. He begins by offering some insight into Trophy’s history.
“Trophy Signature Homes started out in October 2018, and we’re a little unique in that we are a subsidiary of Green Brick Partners. Trophy was founded to hit that first-time homebuyer gap in Green Brick’s arsenal and we really wanted to focus on the contemporary modern architecture and technology that wasn’t already out there in the market,” Chris says. “Another thing we really wanted to home in on was that feeling of walking into a homebuilder’s model and falling in love with it. A lot of builders will show you a model that has upgrades that are not included in the listed price online. Our motto is that everything you see in our models is what you’re going to get in your home, and we’ve tried to stay true to that since 2018.
“We’ve since gone from closing around 40 homes in 2019 to more than 1600 in 2024, and we’re not stopping with that. We’ve got bigger goals and we’re going to continue to expand and grow the Trophy name. It’s been super successful in Dallas and a proof of concept that is transferable to other markets.”
Exciting projects
Specializing in modern architecture and efficient design, Trophy has garnered a great reputation for providing surprisingly-luxurious homes at affordable prices. For Trophy, ‘more is more’ – and it shows. From dazzling window walls to fashionable kitchen islands, walk-in wardrobes, beautiful bathrooms, and top-class amenities, Trophy is committed to working closely with its clients to make their dreams come true. Balancing luxury, functionality and affordability is particularly challenging within the current economic climate, but Trophy doesn’t compromise its high standards.
“That balance is tough to find because the market is always changing, and it’s very much dependent on location as well. There are certain areas that are more affordable and some that warrant higher price points,” Chris explains. “We’re also constantly trying to strike that balance between who we are versus where the market is going and what we do and don’t need in our houses. I think the most important thing for us is our luxury standards – they come as standard – and that’s what sets us apart from other builders.”
Though all of its developments epitomize these high standards, Chris is keen to highlight two of Trophy’s communities: Cross Creek Meadows in Celina and Windmore in Princeton.
“Around 90 percent of our communities are targeted at first-time buyers. Cross Creek Meadows is more centered around the second time, ‘upgrade’ homebuyer. It’s an amenity-filled community with modern style homes on 55- and 60-square-foot lots,” Chris says. “For all the features and upgrades we include – whether stainless steel appliances and undermount sinks, tankless water heaters, or vaulted ceilings – we really want to focus on making these high efficiency homes. Though the price point is higher in Cross Creek Meadows than in our other communities, our homes are still very affordable, and the development has been really successful.
“Our Windmore community is more focused on first-time homebuyers and the homes are around the $350,000-to-$450,000 price point,” he continues. “What’s really cool about this community is the amenity center we’ve built; it’s got a fitness center, an expansive playground, pickleball courts, and a pool with soft seating, dining tables, and shaded areas. We’re quite unique in that our amenity centers are a tier above the rest, and we’re really excited to see our prospects go out and envision raising their families there. It’s an awesome area.”
Community support
Whilst building its own communities, however, Trophy is dedicated to uplifting others. Whether it’s empowering its own workforce or extending love to charitable causes, the company is keen to be a force for good, inside and out.
“One of the things that sets us apart is our corporate culture. We have an acronym that our CEO has pushed since day one called HOME – Honesty, Objectivity, Maturity, and Efficiency,” Chris shares. “My message has always been to question why we do things a certain way and whether our process is outdated; one of the things that I hate to hear is ‘we’ve always done it this way’. That attitude stifles innovation, whether it’s within our homes or our internal processes. If I am going to fail at something, I want to fail fast; if I’m wrong about something, I prefer to be told, so that we can pivot quickly and improve. From a customer’s perspective, we want to remember that it’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy a home, so we make sure that we deliver a great experience from start to finish.
“Additionally, we regularly partner with Operation Finally Home, a company that provides mortgage-free homes to wounded veterans. I love my job, but being able to provide a home to someone who has served honorably in the military is one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done. It’s really neat. We also host drives for the North Texas Food Bank and Toys for Tots. Sometimes, we’ll create a challenge amongst our sales team to see who can get the most toys for the drive; it’s really cool. Whether we donate to schools in and around our communities or support more nationally recognized organizations, we’re always trying to figure out ways to give back to charities and causes.”
Future vision
Despite the current onslaught of economic challenges, the sun shines brightly on Trophy’s future. Further growth and expansion is on the horizon as it looks forward to opening its first community in Houston later this year whilst continuing to develop its existing locations.
“There is a lot of global economic uncertainty right now and the market is changing constantly, so we’re trying to figure out how to stay on our current trajectory. The biggest priority for us for the remainder of the year would be our new openings; we have six new communities coming online over the latter half of the year and we also have new phases within some of our current communities. We’d also like to expand our footprint in Austin and Houston and get those divisions fully up and running,” Chris reveals.
“In five years’ time, we anticipate Austin and Houston will contribute a larger percentage to Trophy’s overall portfolio. In Dallas-Fort Worth specifically, our goal is to grow Trophy to be one of the top five largest builders within the region. It’s hard to close 1600+ homes a year like we did in 2024, and expect to keep growing, but we’re in a great position where we have a number of lots already purchased for the years ahead. It’s a daunting task, but it’s very exciting and we’ve got the team to do it. Over the last seven years, we’ve proven that we can grow at a phenomenal pace, so there’s no reason to think that we can’t keep that going.”
Ultimately, Trophy Signature Homes isn’t just building houses; it is crafting the blueprint for accessible luxury and thriving communities, proving that modern, high-quality living can be within reach for every Texan dream.