Buying a brand-new home can feel like unwrapping a shiny gift, you know it’s fresh, untouched, and ready to be yours. But once you peel back the wrapping, the reality might not always match the excitement. That’s exactly what’s happening in Redding right now, where two main builders are shaping the landscape of new construction. On the surface, it looks like a win for buyers, but is it really as good as it sounds?
Let’s dive into what’s happening on both sides of town and what you should know before falling in love with that “new home smell.”
East Side vs. West Side: Redding’s New Construction Story
If you’ve been watching Redding grow, you already know the city is expanding in two directions, the east side and the west side. Each area has its own personality, its own conveniences, and, of course, its own builder at the helm. The truth? Redding’s new home scene isn’t a free-for-all of endless choices. It’s basically a two-player game: D.R. Horton, the nationwide giant, and Jeb Allen of Palomar Builders, the long-standing local developer who recently came out of retirement.
D.R. Horton: Big Builder, Fixed Options
D.R. Horton has been a familiar name across the U.S. for years, and Redding is no exception. They’ve made their mark in Shastina Ranch with subdivisions like Lilac and Magnolia. Here’s the catch: buying a Horton home is like ordering from a prix fixe menu - you get what’s offered, no substitutions allowed.
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What you see is what you get. No customizing your finishes, colors, or floor plans.
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Competitive pricing and rates. Thanks to their in-house lending, buyers can sometimes snag lower interest rates that local lenders can’t match.
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Neighborhood perks. From entry-level homes in the high $400Ks to larger family-friendly homes in the $500Ks, Horton delivers affordability compared to custom builds.
But that lack of personalization has left many buyers wishing they could add just a little more of themselves to their home.
Jeb Allen & Palomar Builders: The Local Touch
Then there’s Jeb Allen. If you’ve lived in Redding for a while, you’ve seen his work all over town. After stepping away from the building scene for a few years, he’s back with fresh energy and a clear mission: give buyers what Horton doesn’t: choices.
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Customization options. From floor plans to finishes, Jeb’s homes allow you to shape the look and feel of your space.
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Competitive pricing. His homes are priced close to Horton’s, making them a real alternative for buyers who want more say in their design.
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New developments. His return project, Riverstone, is already turning heads with some of the most striking finishes new construction in Redding has seen in years.
For many, Jeb’s homes feel more personal, not just in design, but in the way they connect back to Redding’s community roots.
Shastina Ranch: Where the Competition Heats Up
Nowhere is the Horton vs. Allen rivalry more visible than in Shastina Ranch. This east-side community has become the center stage for new builds, with each developer carving out their territory.
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Horton’s neighborhoods: Lilac offers smaller, entry-level homes, while Magnolia expands into larger layouts, even including multi-gen options with attached studios.
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Allen’s sections: Units 6 and 7 offer homes with customization choices, and future sections promise even more design flexibility.
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Shared appeal: Both sides benefit from proximity to big-name stores like Costco, Chick-fil-A, and SaveMart, plus the recently finished 11-acre park that’s a hit with families.
The competition has pushed both builders to sharpen their offers: Horton with financing deals, Allen with flexibility. Buyers, meanwhile, get the chance to compare two very different building philosophies side by side.
West Side: A Quieter Option
While most of the buzz is happening on the east side, the west side still has a role to play. Here, development has been slower, with fewer large-scale subdivisions. But for those who want to live closer to outdoor spaces like the lake, hiking, or biking trails, it’s a worthy option.
The main subdivision on this side is Harland, another project tied back to Jeb Allen’s early developments. While it doesn’t have the same scale as Shastina Ranch, it offers a different lifestyle, one that prioritizes access to nature over proximity to big-box retail.
If you’d like a visual tour comparing east and west side options, check out The Barrett Team’s YouTube walkthrough for a closer look.
What It All Means for Buyers
The picture in Redding is clear: new construction isn’t overflowing with endless builders and designs. Instead, you’ve got two very different options to weigh:
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Do you want the straightforward process and financial perks of D.R. Horton?
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Or do you value the ability to put your personal stamp on a home with Jeb Allen’s Palomar Builders?
Both have their strengths, both have their drawbacks. The key is figuring out which one lines up better with what you value most in a new home.
Wrapping It Up: Making Sense of Redding’s New Homes
At the end of the day, Redding’s new homes aren’t “too good to be true,” but they’re not a one-size-fits-all solution, either. They’re a reflection of two builders with different priorities; one focused on efficiency and affordability, the other on personalization and local roots.
For anyone considering a move into Redding’s new construction scene, it helps to have someone walk through the details with you. The Barrett Team has been guiding buyers through both sides of the conversation, helping them compare options and find what really works for their lifestyle.
Because buying new isn’t just about square footage or price tags, it’s about picturing your everyday life in that space and deciding whether it truly feels like home.
