DR Horton triggers auction for 324 acres of state trust land near San Tan Valley

By Hailey Mensik

National builders continue vying for Arizona State Trust land to build new homes, with about 324 acres in Pinal County going up for auction in the first quarter of 2026.

Arlington, Texas-based D.R. Horton (NYSE: DHI) submitted an application triggering an auction for the land, which is located just outside San Tan Valley – the most recent locale to gain city status after a successful incorporation vote in September.

San Tan Valley is now Pinal County’s largest city, with a fast-growing population of more than 123,000 people.

The land going up for auction is located off Hunt Highway and Judd Road, about halfway between San Tan Valley and Florence. While Florence has not seen rapid population growth similar to other East Valley cities, it does have plans in the works for new major developments including an industrial hub proposed to house data center users and other technology firms.

If D.R. Horton is the winning bidder, it plans to build single-family residential homes on the site, which will need to be rezoned through Pinal County. An exact auction date has not yet been set but is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2026.

While the Arizona State Land Department website does not list a minimum starting bid for the location, appraisal documents submitted to the ASLD appraise the land at $18,395,000.

Other builders making moves in the area include Canada-based Mattamy Homes, which acquired 28 acres in San Tan Valley for $19,044,000 in September. That land is within the 473-acre master-planned community known as Soleo. Mattamy plans to build 115 homes there and expects to start construction this month.

D.R. Horton could face stiff competition at the auction as it did recently, when it was outbid for about 52 acres of state trust land near the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in northeast Phoenix. While D.R. Horton submitted the original application for that land, a handful of heavyweight national builders showed up at auction, with K. Hovnanian Homes placing the winning bid, ultimately agreeing to pay $33 million more than the starting bid for that land.

D.R. Horton did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the 2026 auction.

Final Thoughts:
National builders continue to compete for Arizona State Trust land as housing demand remains strong across the Phoenix metro area and Pinal County. D.R. Horton’s application to trigger an auction for 324 acres near San Tan Valley highlights the city’s growing appeal and development potential. If successful, the builder could further expand residential options in one of Arizona’s newest and fastest-growing communities.