By Melissa Albert, Relocation Specialist
Where the building is happening
Plano and Rich Pond on the southeast side carry the volume, with production homes from the $300s and new schools nearby. Alvaton adds semi-custom and custom homes on larger lots, and the small towns get new subdivisions in smaller doses.
The growth corridor is the visible proof of the region's growth, and new inventory lands there every month.
What it costs and the premium math
New construction typically runs 10-20% over comparable resale: $300K-$450K for production homes and $450K-$650K for custom builds on land. Buyers relocating from higher-cost states usually find the premium easy to absorb against their old market.
The upgrade list is where budgets quietly double, so set the number before the design center visit.
The honest timeline
Plan on months, not weeks: builders schedule out, supply chains hiccup, and weather eats weekends. A dirt yard for a season is normal, so buy with a timeline you can actually afford.
Inspections still matter on new builds, the builder warranty has its own calendar, and the walkthrough checklist is not a formality.
Written where it happened
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