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DALLAS CUSTOM HOME BUILDING PROCESS
Learn about how to build a custom home in Dallas >>>
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Get answers to commonly asked questions about custom home building process in Dallas, Southlake, Frisco, Westlake, University Park, Highland Park, Preston Hollow
Dallas Custom Home Building Process & DFW Custom Home Builders - DFW Real Estate
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Best Custom Home Builders
Cost To Build A Custom Home
Custom Home Building Process
Popular Communities
Custom Home Builder FAQs
Popular Architectural Styles
Construction Loans Basics
Custom Home Ideas
READY TO BUILD A NEW CUSTOM HOME IN THE DALLAS, TX AREA?
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Let us help you find a good custom home builder in Dallas, TX if you are ready to build a custom luxury home.
How is building a custom home different from building a home with a tract (production) builder?
A custom home is quite different from what’s known as a production home or a tract home.
A production home is constructed by a company that offers its customers a selection of floor plans, exteriors, layouts, and interior design elements. The customer selects one of the designs to go on a lot, often in a "master-planned community" filled with other homes using that slate of designs.
A tract home in Dallas is even more limited than a production home. Most customers of tract homes have little choice in the design of the home. The builder has determined the exact plans and materials to use so it can construct a house at the lowest cost.
A semi-custom homebuilding company in Dallas offers a variety of floor plans, with slight customization options if desired. Finish selections like lighting, countertops, tile, flooring, etc. are also limited to what is in their specific showroom. Because upgrades and change orders inevitably slow down a project, semi-custom homebuilding companies usually make upgrades and change orders cost prohibitive.
A custom home is designed and built from scratch. The design is entirely original to you and your lot, and every inch of the home is built to your needs, tastes, and desires. Collaboration between yourself, your custom builder, architect, and interior designer results in a truly one-of-a-kind home. Finish selection options are not limited, although your builder should always guide you towards materials that stay within your desired budget.
In addition, building a custom home in Dallas almost always requires the buyer to get a construction loan to finance the construction of the home. A home construction loan is a short-term, higher-interest loan that provides the funds required to build a residential property. Learn more about construction loans and get answers to construction loan FAQs here.
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Step One - Financing, Choosing and Purchasing Land
The location for your custom home is important. While you might be able to make alterations to your home design down the road, changing your land lot once your custom home has already been built would not be possible. In some of Dallas’s popular cities, the land itself may even cost more than what it would cost to build a custom home.
You will need to make a trade off when buying land to build your home: should you buy an expensive and smaller land lot in a more urban area at the expense of a smaller home, or should you look towards rural areas that are cheaper and allow you to afford a larger home?
Cheap rural land outside of DFW might seem enticing, but it can be much more expensive to develop and build a custom home on. You might need to worry about how difficult it would be to access during construction, the availability or lack of utilities and municipal services, the condition of your lot and possible wooded lot clearing or lot grading, and whether it would be an ideal location to stay year-round. It might seem like a great location during the summer, but possible lack of road access might make it a hassle during the winter.
While choosing a lot in Dallas, Southlake, Frisco, Westlake, lakewood, University Park, Highland Park & Preston Hollow, you must also look at applicable easements and restrictive covenants that may affect your building plan. You may not be able to build a house as per your wish on every plot of land and there may be applicable restrictions on the use of the building.
You may decide to purchase land in Dallas area during this step, but some potential homeowners stop at this step and end up going to a builder directly instead. If you decide not to go ahead with a custom home, builders have spec homes or semi-custom homes where you purchase the design and land from the builder’s inventory.
You can get a construction loan to purchase the land to build on as well as to finance your custom home build. Construction loans allow you to borrow money for about one year, which is enough time for most custom homes to be built.​
Custom Home Construction Process in Dallas
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Custom construction is performed in phases, with aspects of each phase directly dependent upon the successful completion of previous steps.
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Step Two - Designs and Architectural Plans
Once you have purchased land to build on in Dallas, it’s time to design the home that you want to build on that land. You will need to hire an architect or a drafter to create your home designs, which you can specify to your liking.
At this point, you may consider hiring a custom home builder in Dallas and having them involved in the designing of your home. They will be able to let you know how much the design will cost and provide input about the design on the land lot. Some may choose to only hire a builder once all of their plans and designs have been completed and approved.
It is also important to plan out and budget all the expenses at this step. Building a custom house in Dallas takes a lot of resources, so you have to make sure that you can cover the project. It is wise to estimate the amount of different materials needed. For example, if you are planning to paint the inside of the house, you may use a paint calculator to estimate the amount of materials needed for the job. You can also find materials needed for other jobs. For example, if you are planning to build a staircase, a stair calculator can yield the dimensions of materials needed to do that given the dimensions of the area where the staircase will be installed.
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Step Three - Permits and Approvals in Dallas
You may need to request a zoning bylaw amendment if building a home will go against municipal zoning by-laws for your lot. Your architect would have taken zoning bylaws into account when creating your home design, such as building setbacks, easements, lot coverage, or height restrictions.
You will then need to obtain a building permit. If your land is located in an environmentally sensitive area, you may also require a special permit from your local authorities if your lot is in a regulated area.
Step Four - Construction
After all of the planning and approvals are in place, it’s time to start construction for your custom home in Dallas. If you didn’t select a builder during the designing and planning phase of your home build, you will need to choose a builder now. Candidate builders will bid on your project. While it might be tempting to choose the builder that offers the lowest price, the cheapest builder might not always be the best builder for your project. Remember to check references and do research on their reputation and past builds.
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Once construction of your new custom home in Dallas is complete, you’ll be ready to move in! Your construction loan can either be paid back in full or converted into a residential mortgage.
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Step Five - Final Inspection & Move-In
Your custom home in Dallas is finished! Here is your chance to look everything over and make sure it is exactly what you wanted. You won’t be the only one making an inspection. Your custom builder as well as third party inspectors thoroughly check everything in the house to make sure it’s up to code and completed per your plans. After a final walk-thru with your builder, you’re ready to move in.
Step Six - Warranty
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Your custom home builder should be committed to resolving all punch-out items quickly and provide a comprehensive warranty on our homes. All materials and workmanship in the homes are typically warrantied for one year, all mechanicals (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) for two years, and structural components for ten years. If anything at all goes wrong, the builder should be there to efficiently and effectively fix it to your satisfaction.
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Custom Home Build Process Map
Things to consider when picking a custom home builder in Dallas
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Cities served
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Availability of lot
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Home Styles Built
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Design resources
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Experience
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Issue resolution process
Hiring A REALTOR When Building A Custom Home In Dallas
It’s always smart to have a buyer’s agent when building a custom home. In addition to knowing which builders are reputable in the Dallas area, an experienced real estate agent can help you negotiate a deal that will save you money during the home construction process. They’ll keep the project on track, fight for your best interests, and help you schedule inspections throughout the build process. It’s important to remember that the builder’s sales agent is trying to continue to get the builder’s business by not giving you the best deal as they work for the builder. The builder’s sales representatives are on the builder’s team and will try to and get the highest profit margins for the builder. An experienced buyer’s agent in Dallas can help make sure everything is put into writing and make sure it gets completed the right way. Contact our real estate agency to learn more.
Dallas is one of the largest cities in the country with an economy fueled by diverse businesses. It has proved itself to be a magnet for families relocating to DFW in last few years. It shouldn’t be a surprise that Dallas is home to many of Texas' most stunning luxury homes. Zillow’s latest data shows that the city has a median home value of $290k, and that number is predicted to rise 9.1 percent within the next year. But those are just numbers, numbers that fail to capture just how strange, fascinating, and delightful Dallas homes can be.
In 2021, almost 7500 luxury single-family residences were sold in Dallas and the figures reveal an active preference for buying homes among the city’s residents. While many choose to invest in pre-built residential properties, others decide to take a more personalized approach to acquire their ideal residence, and their first step is to rely on the expertise and creativity of Dallas' finest custom home builders. And the town’s best custom home builders are truly representative of Vegas: these firms build homes that aren’t simply luxurious, but delightfully creative, innovative, and surprisingly green.
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Below is a ranked list of the best custom home builders working in Dallas today based on their reputation, quality of service, number of homes built, client feedback, and, of course, the awards they have received.
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If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend contacting us so that we can provide you recommendations and preform due diligence like checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and getting competitive quotes from various top builders.
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How can I find custom home builders near me?
Read our latest blog articles on the best custom home builders across Texas. If you don’t see your city below, just let us know – we are happy to create a custom recommendation list just for you.
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Best Custom home builders in Dallas
Best Custom home builders in University Park
Best Custom home builders in Preston Hollow
Best Custom home builders in Highland Park
Best Custom home builders in Fort Worth
Best Custom home builders in Southlake
Best Custom home builders in Lucas
Best Custom home builders in Lavon
Best Custom home builders in Frisco
Best Custom home builders in Westlake
Best Custom home builders in Colleyville
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Dallas New Construction Home Tours
Whether you are relocating to DFW from another state or whether you are a local looking to upgrade, become familiar with the new construction homes for sale in DFW here.
IT'S ABOUT YOU, NOT US.
Work with the top DFW custom home specialists and you’ll quickly realize how valuable it is to work with agents who care and who know new construction inside out. We are transparent, honest, hard-working, and like to have fun. From day one we’re on this journey together. Your calls / texts / emails are responded to very quickly, and your wants and needs are our absolute #1 priority.
Why Us?
We are DFW 's first and only real estate brokerage that puts you in control. We ensure that you build your custom dream home quickly and we provide excellent service throughout the custom home construction process.
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Enjoy The Custom Home Building Process!
Loosen up, have a little fun, and enjoy our promise. The last thing you want is more stress while trying to build your custom dream home. We promise to be professional, responsible, competent, responsive, honest, and transparent.
EXPERTS IN NEW CUSTOM HOMES IN DALLAS
We are here for you. Our goal is to make the custom home building process easy. With the help of our DFW custom home expert real estate agents, we know how to find you the top Dallas custom home builder to build your perfect new home quickly. We know the Dallas custom home builders, the communities and the styles. We can streamline and simplify your custom home builder search, saving you time and money. We represent you and not the custom home builder. We can help you avoid mistakes, pitfalls and protect your investment.
And the best part? Our services are free for our clients! Builders pay our commission.
Top Custom Home Builders in Dallas
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Alair Homes * Alford Homes * Attaway Homes * Austin Neuhoff Homes * Avida Custom Homes * Axiom Builders * Bailey Family Builders, Inc. * Barcus Construction Management, LLC * Barnett West Custom Homes * Barringer Custom Homes * Barrow Builders Group * Bauhaus Modern Homes * Bean Co Homes * Beechwood Custom Homes * Bella Custom Homes * Biggerstaff Construction, Inc. * Bob Bobbitt Custom Homes * Bob Thompson Homes * Bond + Truss * Braswell Homes * BufordHawthorne * Calais Custom Homes * Caprock Custom Construction, Inc. * Chapman Custom Homes * Charles A. Barnett III, Inc. * CJB HOMES * Classic Urban Homes * Cleve Adamson Custom Homes * Coats Homes * Constructionologists, Inc. * Craft Barnett Homes * Crescent Estates Custom Homes * Crescent Signature Homes * Cresswell Custom Builders * Crow Bar Constructors, Inc. * Custom Homes of Texas * Danes Custom Homes * Dave R. Williams Homes * David Leite Custom Homes * David Lewis Builder, Inc. * Davis Signature Homes, LLC * Desco Fine Homes * Double Door Custom Homes, Inc. * Douglas Signature Homes LLC * Durrett Construction LLC * Edinburgh Custom Homes * Ellen Grasso & Sons LLC * Ellerman Homes * Endurance Homes * Faulkner Perrin Custom Homes * Ferrier Custom Homes * Gardner Custom Homes * Garvey Homes * George Davis & Associates, Inc. * George Lewis Custom Homes * Goff Custom Homes * Greenwell Homes * Hardy Construction * Hartman Construction, Inc. * Hawkins-Welwood Homes * Hayes Signature Homes * Haynsworth Custom Homes * Heritage Blue Homes * Herman Darden LLC * Hoffmann Homes * Holmes Builders * Homes by Bowen * Hudson Construction Group * Isler Homes * J.D. Smith Custom Homes * Jackson Custom Homes * Jarrett Construction * Jered Custom Homes * Jim Johnson Group * Jim Scott and Sons * JLD Custom Homes * Joe Kain Homes * Joseph Paul Homes * Key Residential * Kienast Homes * Knox Built Construction * LeComte Homes * Lingenfelter Custom Homes * LRO Residential Development * Malone Custom Builders * Marable Homes * Mark Clifton Homes * Mark Siepiela Custom Homes * Martin Raymond Homes * Matie Custom Homes * Matt and Paul Home Design and Construction * McCowen-Sainton Homes * McKinley Built Homes * Megaco Construction * Michael S. Wilson Custom Homes * Milan Custom Build * Millennial Design + Build * Mills Custom Homes * Mishler Builders * Montgomery Custom Homes * More Design + Build * Mullinix Custom Homes * New Leaf Custom Homes * Nixon Custom Homes * Ogden Custom Homes * Patten Custom Homes * Pencil Point Construction * Phillip Jennings Custom Homes * Platinum Homes by Mark Molthan * Potenza Homes * Prospect Homes * Provenance Builders * RA Millennium Properties * Randy Clowdus Construction * RGD+B * Richard Dietrichson Fine Homes * Richard Miller Custom Homes * Richland Builds * Rick Shipley Custom Homes * Ripple D+B * RJA Construction, LLC * Robert Clark and Associates * Robert Elliot Custom Homes * Robert Hopson Construction Group * Ron Davis Custom Homes * Ron McHam Homes * Rosewood Custom Builders * S&R Development * SCH Homes * Sebastian Construction Group * Seymore Custom Homes * Shaddock Caldwell Builders & Developers * Shaddock Homes * Sharif & Munir Custom Homes * Sleepy Hollow Homes * Snelling Homes * Southgate Homes * Sovereign Custom Homes * Stark Homes * Starr Construction * Sterling Brook Custom Homes * Susan Newell Homes * Sustainable Structures of Texas * Tanner Homes * Tatum Brown Custom Homes * Tekton Built * The Hill Group * The Newport Group * Thomas Development + Construction * Thomas Signature Homes * Tim Jackson Custom Homes * Todd Bonneau Homes, LLC * Todd James Homes * Tommy Ford Construction * UC Properties by Jennifer Duncan * Ventura Custom Homes * Victor Myers Custom Homes * Waterford Classic Homes * Waterside Properties * Wells Homes * Wes McKenzie Custom Homes * Westchester Custom Homes * Zachary Custom Homes *
