Lennar vs DR Horton: Del Mar and Palm Cay Townhomes Compared
In this article
Lennar and D.R. Horton are both national home builders, and near Florida City they are building very similar townhomes. Lennar's Del Mar and D.R. Horton's Palm Cay are both two-story townhome communities with no garages. Del Mar has recently started about fifty thousand dollars lower and comes with a gated entry. Palm Cay offers a four-bedroom plan and more plans to choose from. This guide puts them side by side, using only what each builder's own website shows.
Lennar vs DR Horton: The Short Answer
There is no single winner. The better builder is the one whose home fits how you live, at a price you are comfortable with. Here is the quick version:
Pick Del Mar if you want the lower starting price, a gated entry and three bedrooms is enough.
Pick Palm Cay if you need four bedrooms, or you want more floor plans to choose from.
Walk both if you are on the fence. They are close enough that the deciding detail may only show up in person.
The Two Communities at a Glance
Del Mar (Horizon Collection) | Palm Cay | |
|---|---|---|
Builder | Lennar | D.R. Horton |
Address | 35605 SW 180th Ave | 1431 NE 5th Ave, Florida City |
Plans | 3 | 5 |
Bedrooms | 3 in every plan | 3 or 4 |
Bathrooms | 2.5 or 3 | 2.5 or 3 |
Size | 1,330 to 1,545 sq ft | 1,382 to 1,582 sq ft |
Stories | 2 | 2 |
Garage | None | None |
Recent starting price | Low $300,000s | The $370,000s |
Prices change often. Call 561-704-0091 for today's numbers at either community.
A note on location: county records for Del Mar homesites list them as unincorporated Miami-Dade, in the area labeled Florida City. D.R. Horton lists Palm Cay at 1431 NE 5th Avenue, Florida City. Our guide to Florida City's location and main roads shows how the area fits together.
Floor Plans Compared
Del Mar's three plans, as Lennar lists them:
Plan | Beds | Baths | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
Azure | 3 | 3 | 1,330 sq ft |
Magenta | 3 | 2.5 | 1,414 sq ft |
Sunglow | 3 | 2.5 | 1,545 sq ft |
Palm Cay's five plans, as D.R. Horton lists them:
Plan | Beds | Baths | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
Angelo | 3 | 3 | 1,382 sq ft |
Archer | 3 | 2.5 | 1,460 sq ft |
Harris | 3 | 2.5 | 1,448 sq ft |
Roby | 3 | 2.5 | 1,456 sq ft |
Wittkop | 4 | 3 | 1,582 sq ft |
Two things stand out:
Only Palm Cay has a four-bedroom plan in this comparison. The Wittkop has four bedrooms. Every Del Mar Horizon plan has three.
Both have a downstairs bedroom option. At Del Mar, the Azure has a first-floor bedroom and full bath. D.R. Horton says Palm Cay includes ""two layouts featuring a first-floor bedroom and full bathroom.""
For a closer look at each community, read our walk-through of Del Mar's Azure, Magenta and Sunglow and our comparison of all five Palm Cay floor plans.
What Comes in the Home
The two builders describe their features in very different detail.
Lennar's Del Mar list is long and specific. Highlights include:
Impact-resistant windows and sliding glass doors.
Porcelain 2cm countertops with a 6-inch backsplash.
A stainless steel appliance package with a side-by-side refrigerator.
A stackable washer and dryer.
A Ring Video Doorbell Pro and a Schlage Encode smart Wi-Fi deadbolt.
Ceramic tile on the first floor.
D.R. Horton's Palm Cay page is shorter. It says ""each home includes smart home technology, stainless-steel appliances, modern finishes, and spacious backyards.""
That does not mean Palm Cay has less. It means the page says less. Ask the Palm Cay sales team for the full feature sheet, then compare the two line by line: windows, countertops, appliances, laundry and smart-home items.
Amenities Compared
Del Mar. Lennar lists a ""vehicle access-controlled entry"" and ""an onsite lakefront clubhouse with a swimming pool, fitness center and a social room with a catering kitchen.""
Palm Cay. D.R. Horton lists ""a pool, cabana, dog park, tot lot, and scenic lake trail with fitness equipment and seating areas,"" and calls them ""completed community amenities.""
Both have a pool and a place to exercise. Del Mar adds a gate and a clubhouse with a social room. Palm Cay adds a dog park, a tot lot and a lake trail. Ask Lennar which Del Mar amenities are open today.
Warranty Compared
Both builders use the same basic structure.
Lennar | D.R. Horton | |
|---|---|---|
Workmanship | 1 year | 1 year |
Systems (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) | 2 years | 2 years |
Structural | 10 years | 10 years |
Lennar's warranty page describes the one-year part as covering ""construction quality and finish"" and the ten-year part as covering ""load-bearing elements and structural integrity."" For D.R. Horton, read our guide to what the D.R. Horton warranty covers. The fine print can differ, so ask each builder for its warranty document before you sign.
Location Compared
The two communities sit on opposite sides of the Florida City area.
Del Mar is at 35605 SW 180th Avenue, a few blocks west of Krome Avenue (SW 177th Avenue), in unincorporated Miami-Dade.
Palm Cay is at 1431 NE 5th Avenue in Florida City. D.R. Horton describes it as ""ideally located in South Miami-Dade, offering convenient access to Miami, Homestead, and the Florida Keys.""
Both are close to US 1 and the south end of Florida's Turnpike. Drive from each one to your work and your usual stores at the times you would really travel. That test tells you more than any map.
Price Compared
Del Mar's Horizon homes have recently started in the low $300,000s. Palm Cay's have recently started in the $370,000s. That is a difference of roughly fifty thousand dollars at the starting line.
Starting prices are not the whole story. Compare the final price of the exact home you want, plus every community fee, your property tax estimate and your insurance quote. A lower start can close the gap or widen it once you add the homesite and options.
Who Each One Fits
Match the community to your situation, not to the brand name:
First-time buyers watching every dollar will want to see Del Mar first, because it has recently started lower.
Buyers who need a fourth bedroom have one choice here: the Wittkop at Palm Cay.
Buyers with a dog may like Palm Cay's dog park. Ask Del Mar what pet areas it plans.
Buyers who want a gated entry will find it listed at Del Mar.
How to Decide
Bring this list to both sales offices:
How many bedrooms do I really need? If the answer is four, Palm Cay's Wittkop is the only one here.
Do I want a gate? Del Mar lists a vehicle access-controlled entry.
Which amenities will I actually use? A dog park and lake trail, or a clubhouse and fitness center?
What is the full monthly cost? Get both in writing.
What exactly is included? Get both feature sheets.
You can see Del Mar's photos and location on Lennar's Del Mar townhomes on our site and Palm Cay's on D.R. Horton's Palm Cay townhomes on our site. For the wider area, read our overview of new townhomes around Florida City.
Common Questions
Is Lennar or D.R. Horton better?
Neither is better for everyone. Near Florida City, Del Mar has recently started lower and has a gated entry, while Palm Cay has a four-bedroom plan and more plans to choose from.
Do Del Mar or Palm Cay homes have garages?
No. Lennar describes the Del Mar Horizon homes as having no garages, and D.R. Horton lists every Palm Cay plan with ""0 Garage.""
Which has a four-bedroom townhome?
Palm Cay. D.R. Horton lists the Wittkop with four bedrooms and three baths.
Which has a first-floor bedroom?
Both. Del Mar's Azure has one, and D.R. Horton says two Palm Cay layouts have a first-floor bedroom and full bath.
Are the warranties the same?
Both use a 1-year, 2-year and 10-year structure. Ask each builder for its full warranty document.
Which costs less?
Del Mar has recently started in the low $300,000s and Palm Cay in the $370,000s. Call 561-704-0091 for today's numbers.
Want to tour Del Mar and Palm Cay back to back? Call 561-704-0091 or schedule a time to see Del Mar. We will help you set up both visits.
Related reading: Florida City FL buyer's guide · Del Mar townhouse plans compared · Where is Florida City and the roads around Del Mar