New Construction in DFW

Building new isn't just a different-looking home, it's a different transaction. A new-construction buyer trades the ability to walk through the actual house before offering for the ability to choose the layout, finishes, and fixtures themselves. Neither is automatically the better choice. It depends on what you're optimizing for.

New construction tends to fit buyers who want current building codes and materials, lower near-term maintenance, and the ability to customize a home to their own preferences from the start. Resale tends to fit buyers who want mature trees and full-grown landscaping already in place, want to move in sooner rather than wait out a build timeline, or want to see and feel the exact home before committing. A serious factor either way: budget. New-construction pricing rarely stays at the base price once real selections are made, so it helps to know your ceiling before you fall in love with an upgrade package.

• Do I have to use your preferred lender? Builders often offer closing-cost discounts through a preferred lender. That can be a real deal or a conflict of interest depending on who owns whom. Worth comparing against an outside lender either way.
• Can I see a copy of the builder's sales contract before I'm asked to sign it? Builder contracts are not the standard resale contract. They spell out payment draws, change-order terms, and what happens if a deadline slips.
• What's the realistic timeline for completion? A production home in an active community and a fully custom build are different timelines, and both are affected by weather, supply, and how many decisions you make along the way.
• Can I choose fixtures or appliances outside your standard packages? Some builders allow outside selections if they don't require structural changes. Others don't. Know which one you're dealing with.
• What's actually included in the landscaping package? The brochure photo and the base-price landscaping are not always the same thing.
• Is there an escalation clause that passes material or labor cost increases on to me? Read this section of the contract closely, or have someone who reviews these regularly read it for you.
• What does the builder's warranty actually cover, and for how long? Structural and mechanical systems are usually covered for a defined period. Appliances usually fall under a separate manufacturer warranty, not the builder's.
• Do I get a final walkthrough before closing to work through the punch list? Get any items the builder agrees to finish after closing in writing, signed by both sides.

New construction financing isn't always a standard mortgage, and the differences affect both your rate and your timeline.

• Construction-only loan: a short-term loan, usually around a year, covering just the build. Interest-only payments during construction, then a separate mortgage application once the home is finished. Fewer lenders offer these, and they typically carry a higher rate because of the added risk.
• Construction-to-permanent loan: one loan that funds the build and then converts into a permanent mortgage once construction is complete, avoiding a second round of loan fees.
• End loan: a standard mortgage applied for once construction is already finished, underwritten the same way as financing for any other completed home.

Whichever route fits, get pre-approved before you start choosing floor plans, not after. It sets the real budget the rest of the decisions get made inside of.

Most new-construction activity in North Texas sits north of Plano, along the corridors that run through Frisco, Prosper, Celina, and McKinney. Each has its own communities, builders, and school district lines, and Amy Jacobs helps you compare them side by side before you commit to a builder.

Special districts matter in these cities. A MUD, a PID, or an HOA is part of owning the home, so Amy Jacobs confirms it for every address and compares homes on the whole picture, not only the base price.