Top Developers in California:
Innovators Shaping the Future of Real Estate
VillaTerras Developers Relations, California is home to some of the most prominent real estate developers in the nation, each contributing to the state’s evolving urban and suburban landscapes. From building sustainable housing to transforming logistics and commercial spaces, these developers are shaping the future of real estate with their innovative approaches. Here’s a closer look at the leaders in residential, industrial, commercial, and mixed-use development across California.
Residential Developers
Leading the Way in Housing Solutions
Residential developers in California cater to diverse needs, from luxury estates to affordable family housing. Some of the most notable names include:
- Irvine Company: Renowned for its master-planned communities blending luxury, functionality, and sustainability.
- KB Home: One of the largest homebuilders nationwide, offering energy-efficient homes tailored to California’s needs.
- Lennar Corporation: Innovators in single-family, townhome, and apartment projects with a focus on smart home technology.
- Toll Brothers: Masters of luxury, developing high-end homes in California’s prime locations.
Insight: These developers are not only addressing California’s housing demand but also pioneering sustainable practices and innovative home designs.
Industrial Developers
Supporting California’s Logistics Boom
Industrial development has surged with the rise of e-commerce and logistics. Key players include:
- Prologis: A global leader in logistics real estate, specializing in warehouses and distribution centers.
- Rexford Industrial Realty: Focuses on last-mile delivery facilities across Southern California.
- Majestic Realty Co.: Known for large-scale industrial parks supporting warehousing and logistics.
- Goodman Group: Developers of cutting-edge logistics hubs with sustainable designs.
Insight: The demand for fast, efficient delivery is driving innovation in logistics-focused industrial properties.
Commercial Developers
Creating Urban Hubs for Business and Retail
Commercial developers in California are redefining office and retail spaces to meet modern demands:
- Brookfield Properties: Experts in integrating retail, office, and mixed-use spaces across urban centers.
- The Related Companies: Focused on high-end commercial properties that combine luxury and functionality.
- Kilroy Realty Corporation: Developers of state-of-the-art office spaces, especially in California’s tech hubs.
- Simon Property Group: Pioneers in retail real estate, creating flagship shopping destinations.
Insight: Commercial developers are adapting to hybrid work models and the shift toward experiential retail spaces.
Mixed-Use Developers
Building the Future of Integrated Living
Mixed-use developments have gained traction as the ultimate solution for modern urban planning. Key players include:
- Irvine Company: Blending residential, retail, and office spaces into cohesive communities.
- CIM Group: Focusing on urban mixed-use developments to enhance city living.
- AvalonBay Communities: Creating residential spaces with integrated retail and leisure amenities.
- Trammell Crow Company: Innovating large-scale projects that combine office, retail, and residential spaces.
Insight: Mixed-use developments are the future of urbanization, offering seamless integration of live-work-play environments.
VillaTerras Developers Relations
From sprawling residential communities to innovative industrial hubs and mixed-use urban centers, California’s top developers are shaping the future of real estate. At VillaTerras, we celebrate their contributions and provide data-driven insights to understand the impact of their projects.
Residential Developers (1–25): | |||||
# | Landowner- Developer | Primary Use | City/Location | Website | Description |
1 | Irvine Company | Residential and commercial development | Irvine, CA | Irvine Company | Master-planned community developer, focusing on luxury residential, retail, and commercial spaces. |
2 | KB Home | Homebuilding | Los Angeles, CA | KB Home | One of the largest homebuilders, offering energy-efficient homes in California and nationwide. |
3 | Lennar Corporation | Homebuilding | Miami, FL | Lennar | Builds residential properties, including single-family homes, townhomes, and apartments in California. |
4 | Toll Brothers | Luxury homebuilding | Fort Washington, PA | Toll Brothers | Focuses on luxury homes and communities, including in high-end California neighborhoods. |
5 | D.R. Horton | Homebuilding | Arlington, TX | D.R. Horton | Nationwide homebuilder offering affordable homes in California markets. |
6 | PulteGroup | Homebuilding | Atlanta, GA | PulteGroup | Develops residential properties, emphasizing design innovation and smart home technologies. |
7 | Shea Homes | Homebuilding | Walnut, CA | Shea Homes | Builds master-planned communities with a focus on active adult and family neighborhoods. |
8 | Tri Pointe Homes | Residential and mixed-use developments | Irvine, CA | Tri Pointe Homes | Provides single-family homes and urban developments with energy-efficient designs. |
9 | Richmond American Homes | Homebuilding | Denver, CO | Richmond American | Builds custom homes in California with a focus on affordability and design flexibility. |
10 | Taylor Morrison | Homebuilding | Scottsdale, AZ | Taylor Morrison | Builds single-family and multi-family homes, including luxury properties in California markets. |
11 | Beazer Homes | Homebuilding | Atlanta, GA | Beazer Homes | National homebuilder offering energy-efficient and affordable homes in California. |
12 | CalAtlantic Homes | Homebuilding | Irvine, CA | (Now part of Lennar) | Merged with Lennar Corporation to build single-family and multi-family homes. |
13 | Meritage Homes | Homebuilding | Scottsdale, AZ | Meritage Homes | Focuses on energy-efficient homes, offering designs for first-time and move-up buyers in California. |
14 | Brookfield Residential Properties | Residential and mixed-use development | Calgary, Canada | Brookfield Residential | Develops communities with a blend of residential, retail, and commercial spaces in California. |
15 | Standard Pacific Homes | Homebuilding | Irvine, CA | (Now part of Lennar) | Specialized in master-planned communities, merged with CalAtlantic Homes. |
16 | Pardee Homes | Homebuilding | Los Angeles, CA | Pardee Homes | A division of Tri Pointe Homes, offering family-friendly communities in Southern California. |
17 | Ryland Homes | Homebuilding | Westlake, TX | (Now part of CalAtlantic/Lennar) | Built single-family homes and townhomes; merged with Standard Pacific Homes. |
18 | William Lyon Homes | Homebuilding | Newport Beach, CA | (Now part of Taylor Morrison) | Delivered single-family and multi-family homes, primarily in California markets. |
19 | Pacific Communities Builder | Homebuilding | Lancaster, CA | Pacific Communities | Builds quality homes in Southern California, focusing on affordability and value. |
20 | Trumark Homes | Residential and mixed-use development | Newport Beach, CA | Trumark Homes | Develops single-family and mixed-use communities, emphasizing design and livability. |
21 | The New Home Company | Homebuilding | Aliso Viejo, CA | The New Home Company | Provides luxury homes and master-planned communities across California. |
22 | SunCal | Residential and mixed-use development | Irvine, CA | SunCal | Specializes in master-planned communities, offering residential, retail, and commercial spaces. |
23 | City Ventures | Homebuilding | Irvine, CA | City Ventures | Develops eco-friendly homes and urban infill properties in California. |
24 | K. Hovnanian Homes | Homebuilding | Irvine, CA | K. Hovnanian Homes | Builds family-friendly communities and townhomes in California markets. |
25 | Woodside Homes | Homebuilding | Salt Lake City, UT | Woodside Homes | Designs energy-efficient, innovative homes in various California locations. |
Industrial Developers (1–25): | |||||
# | Landowner/Developer | Primary Use | City/Location | Website | Description |
1 | Prologis | Industrial real estate development and logistics | San Francisco, CA | Prologis | Global leader in logistics real estate, developing warehouses and distribution centers in California. |
2 | Majestic Realty Co. | Industrial and logistics development | City of Industry, CA | Majestic Realty | One of the largest privately-held industrial developers, focusing on warehouses and logistics. |
3 | Trammell Crow Company | Industrial and mixed-use development | Dallas, TX | Trammell Crow Company | National developer specializing in industrial and commercial properties, including California. |
4 | Panattoni Development Company | Industrial and logistics development | Irvine, CA | Panattoni Development | Global developer of warehouses, distribution centers, and logistics hubs in California markets. |
5 | Duke Realty (now part of Prologis) | Industrial real estate | Indianapolis, IN | Duke Realty | Specialized in logistics properties; acquired by Prologis to expand their footprint in California. |
6 | Rexford Industrial Realty | Industrial real estate | Los Angeles, CA | Rexford Industrial | Focuses on logistics and last-mile industrial properties in Southern California. |
7 | Goodman Group | Industrial real estate and logistics | Irvine, CA | Goodman Group | Global industrial property developer specializing in large-scale warehouses and logistics hubs. |
8 | CenterPoint Properties | Logistics and industrial development | Oak Brook, IL | CenterPoint Properties | Develops industrial properties with a focus on transportation and logistics infrastructure. |
9 | Watson Land Company | Industrial real estate | Carson, CA | Watson Land Company | Specializes in master-planned industrial parks and logistics centers in California. |
10 | IDI Logistics | Logistics and industrial property development | Atlanta, GA | IDI Logistics | Develops logistics and warehouse properties in key California markets. |
11 | LBA Realty | Industrial and commercial real estate | Irvine, CA | LBA Realty | Focuses on industrial and office properties across California. |
12 | Dermody Properties | Industrial and logistics development | Reno, NV | Dermody Properties | Develops and invests in industrial properties, including warehouses and logistics facilities. |
13 | Overton Moore Properties | Industrial and logistics development | Los Angeles, CA | Overton Moore Properties | Specializes in logistics, light industrial, and commercial development in California. |
14 | CT Realty | Logistics and warehouse development | Newport Beach, CA | CT Realty | Develops large-scale logistics and warehouse facilities in California and across the U.S. |
15 | Black Creek Group | Industrial and logistics real estate | Denver, CO | Black Creek Group | Invests in and develops logistics-focused properties in California markets. |
16 | Liberty Property Trust (now part of Prologis) | Logistics and industrial property development | Philadelphia, PA | Liberty Property Trust | Acquired by Prologis, specializing in logistics properties and industrial parks. |
17 | First Industrial Realty Trust | Industrial real estate | Chicago, IL | First Industrial Realty | Develops and manages industrial properties, focusing on distribution centers and warehouses. |
18 | Crow Holdings Industrial | Industrial and logistics development | Dallas, TX | Crow Holdings | Develops and invests in logistics and warehouse properties in California. |
19 | Clarion Partners | Logistics and industrial real estate | New York, NY | Clarion Partners | Develops logistics and warehouse properties in California’s key industrial markets. |
20 | TA Realty | Industrial and logistics development | Boston, MA | TA Realty | Invests in logistics and industrial properties in high-demand California markets. |
21 | Brookfield Logistics Properties | Logistics and industrial property development | Los Angeles, CA | Brookfield Properties | Develops logistics and industrial parks in California as part of its diverse real estate portfolio. |
22 | Industrial Property Trust (acquired by Prologis) | Logistics and industrial property development | Denver, CO | Industrial Property Trust | Acquired by Prologis to expand its logistics and warehouse portfolio. |
23 | Pacific Industrial | Industrial and logistics development | Long Beach, CA | Pacific Industrial | Focuses on logistics and last-mile delivery properties in California. |
24 | Link Logistics (Blackstone Group) | Industrial and logistics real estate | New York, NY | Link Logistics | Develops and manages logistics and warehouse properties in California and across the U.S. |
25 | LaSalle Investment Management | Logistics and industrial property development | Chicago, IL | LaSalle Investment | Invests in logistics and warehouse properties in high-demand California regions. |
Commercial Developers (1–25): | |||||
# | Landowner/Developer | Primary Use | City/Location | Website | Description |
1 | Brookfield Properties | Commercial real estate development | Los Angeles, CA | Brookfield Properties | A global real estate services firm specializing in office, retail, and mixed-use developments. |
2 | The Related Companies | Mixed-use and commercial development | New York, NY | The Related Companies | Develops high-end commercial and mixed-use properties, including retail spaces and luxury offices. |
3 | Simon Property Group | Retail and commercial property development | Indianapolis, IN | Simon Property Group | A global leader in retail real estate, developing shopping malls and retail spaces in California. |
4 | Kilroy Realty Corporation | Commercial office and life sciences | Los Angeles, CA | Kilroy Realty | Specializes in high-end office and life sciences spaces in California’s top urban markets. |
5 | Hudson Pacific Properties | Commercial office development | Los Angeles, CA | Hudson Pacific | Develops office and studio spaces, focusing on California’s tech and media industries. |
6 | Douglas Emmett, Inc. | Commercial office and multi-family properties | Santa Monica, CA | Douglas Emmett | Focuses on office and residential properties in prime California urban locations. |
7 | Jamison Services, Inc. | Commercial office and mixed-use developments | Los Angeles, CA | Jamison Services | One of the largest private office building owners and developers in Southern California. |
8 | Macerich Company | Retail real estate | Santa Monica, CA | Macerich | Develops and operates regional shopping centers across California and the U.S. |
9 | Boston Properties | Commercial office real estate | Boston, MA | Boston Properties | Develops high-quality office spaces, with a strong presence in California urban markets. |
10 | Merlone Geier Partners | Retail and mixed-use developments | San Diego, CA | Merlone Geier | Focuses on developing and repositioning retail and mixed-use properties in California. |
11 | Hines | Office, retail, and mixed-use developments | Houston, TX | Hines | A global real estate developer focusing on mixed-use and office properties in California markets. |
12 | CIM Group | Commercial and mixed-use development | Los Angeles, CA | CIM Group | Develops commercial and urban mixed-use properties, focusing on retail and office spaces. |
13 | Westfield Group (Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield) | Retail and mixed-use development | Los Angeles, CA | Westfield | Develops shopping malls and retail hubs, with flagship properties across California. |
14 | Regency Centers | Retail shopping centers | Jacksonville, FL | Regency Centers | Focuses on developing and managing grocery-anchored shopping centers in California markets. |
15 | AvalonBay Communities | Residential and mixed-use developments | Arlington, VA | AvalonBay Communities | Develops residential communities with integrated commercial and retail spaces. |
16 | Irvine Company | Residential, retail, and office development | Irvine, CA | Irvine Company | Develops master-planned communities that include residential, retail, and office spaces. |
17 | Vestar Development Co. | Retail and mixed-use developments | Phoenix, AZ | Vestar Development | Specializes in retail and mixed-use property development in California and the Western U.S. |
18 | Equity Residential | Residential and mixed-use development | Chicago, IL | Equity Residential | Develops urban residential communities with integrated retail spaces in California. |
19 | Essex Property Trust | Residential and mixed-use developments | San Mateo, CA | Essex Property Trust | Builds and manages multifamily residential and mixed-use developments in California. |
20 | Alexandria Real Estate Equities | Life sciences and technology campuses | Pasadena, CA | Alexandria Real Estate | Focuses on developing life sciences and technology campuses in California innovation hubs. |
21 | Trammell Crow Company | Commercial and industrial real estate | Dallas, TX | Trammell Crow | Develops office, retail, and industrial properties in major California markets. |
22 | Greystar Real Estate Partners | Residential and commercial property development | Charleston, SC | Greystar | Develops residential and mixed-use properties with integrated commercial spaces in California. |
23 | Decron Properties Corp. | Commercial and multifamily real estate | Los Angeles, CA | Decron Properties | Specializes in commercial and multifamily residential developments in California. |
24 | Majestic Realty Co. | Commercial and industrial development | City of Industry, CA | Majestic Realty | Develops industrial and retail properties, with a strong California presence. |
25 | Sares-Regis Group | Commercial and mixed-use development | Irvine, CA | Sares-Regis | Develops commercial office, industrial, and mixed-use properties in California. |
Mixed-Use Developers (1–25): | |||||
# | Landowner/Developer | Primary Use | City/Location | Website | Description |
1 | Irvine Company | Residential, commercial, and mixed-use | Irvine, CA | Irvine Company | Develops master-planned communities with integrated residential, retail, and office spaces. |
2 | The Related Companies | Mixed-use and commercial development | New York, NY | Related Companies | Develops high-end mixed-use properties, including retail, residential, and luxury office spaces. |
3 | Brookfield Properties | Mixed-use and commercial development | Los Angeles, CA | Brookfield Properties | Specializes in large-scale mixed-use projects integrating residential, office, and retail spaces. |
4 | Lennar Corporation | Residential and mixed-use developments | Miami, FL | Lennar | National homebuilder with mixed-use projects integrating residential and commercial spaces. |
5 | CIM Group | Mixed-use and urban development | Los Angeles, CA | CIM Group | Focuses on mixed-use developments in urban environments, including retail and residential properties. |
6 | Hines | Mixed-use and office developments | Houston, TX | Hines | A global real estate firm specializing in mixed-use developments integrating office, retail, and residential. |
7 | AvalonBay Communities | Residential and mixed-use developments | Arlington, VA | AvalonBay Communities | Develops residential communities with integrated retail and commercial spaces. |
8 | Greystar Real Estate Partners | Residential and mixed-use developments | Charleston, SC | Greystar | Develops multifamily housing and mixed-use properties with integrated commercial components. |
9 | Equity Residential | Residential and mixed-use developments | Chicago, IL | Equity Residential | Specializes in urban residential developments with retail and commercial integration. |
10 | Essex Property Trust | Residential and mixed-use developments | San Mateo, CA | Essex Property Trust | Focuses on multifamily housing and mixed-use developments in California’s urban centers. |
11 | Jamison Services, Inc. | Commercial office and mixed-use developments | Los Angeles, CA | Jamison Services | One of the largest private developers of mixed-use properties in Southern California. |
12 | Trammell Crow Company | Commercial, industrial, and mixed-use | Dallas, TX | Trammell Crow | Develops large-scale mixed-use projects, including office, retail, and residential spaces. |
13 | Macerich Company | Retail and mixed-use development | Santa Monica, CA | Macerich | Specializes in mixed-use properties combining retail and residential in California. |
14 | Hudson Pacific Properties | Commercial office and mixed-use | Los Angeles, CA | Hudson Pacific | Focuses on mixed-use developments with office, retail, and residential spaces in California. |
15 | Kilroy Realty Corporation | Commercial office and mixed-use | Los Angeles, CA | Kilroy Realty | Develops mixed-use properties focused on sustainability and urban integration. |
16 | Decron Properties Corp. | Commercial and mixed-use developments | Los Angeles, CA | Decron Properties | Develops residential and commercial spaces with integrated retail and office elements. |
17 | Sares-Regis Group | Commercial and mixed-use development | Irvine, CA | Sares-Regis | Specializes in master-planned mixed-use developments in urban and suburban markets. |
18 | Forest City Realty Trust (Brookfield) | Mixed-use development | Cleveland, OH | Forest City Realty | Develops mixed-use properties blending residential, retail, and office spaces. |
19 | Wilson Meany | Mixed-use and urban development | San Francisco, CA | Wilson Meany | Develops urban mixed-use projects, including residential, retail, and commercial spaces. |
20 | The Sobrato Organization | Commercial, residential, and mixed-use | Cupertino, CA | Sobrato Organization | Develops high-quality mixed-use and commercial properties in Silicon Valley. |
21 | Carmel Partners | Residential and mixed-use development | San Francisco, CA | Carmel Partners | Specializes in urban residential and mixed-use properties in California. |
22 | Vestar Development Co. | Retail and mixed-use developments | Phoenix, AZ | Vestar Development | Focuses on retail and mixed-use property development in California and the Western U.S. |
23 | Crown Realty & Development | Mixed-use and commercial real estate | Costa Mesa, CA | Crown Realty | Develops mixed-use properties with residential, retail, and office components. |
24 | CenterCal Properties | Mixed-use and retail property development | El Segundo, CA | CenterCal Properties | Specializes in mixed-use retail destinations with integrated residential and office spaces. |
25 | Tishman Speyer | Mixed-use, residential, and office development | New York, NY | Tishman Speyer | Develops high-end mixed-use properties, focusing on urban integration and sustainability. |