Moving From Austin to Build a Custom Home on an Acre in Waxahachie, TX

Who were these buyers, and what were they trying to do?

They were a couple renting in Austin who needed to live closer to Dallas for the husband's job. He travels for work, but his main office is in Dallas, so a reasonable drive to the city mattered.

Because they were renting, there was no home to sell and no sale to line up with the purchase. That gave us more flexibility. It also meant their lease end date became the deadline everything else had to work around.

What did they want in their next home?

They wanted to build their forever home from the ground up, not buy something already finished. Their must-haves were clear from the start:

• Land, ideally around an acre, with space to grow
• Room to add a pool after closing
• A dedicated home office
• A builder that would let them customize the plan

Why did they choose Waxahachie?

They always knew they wanted Waxahachie because it offered more available land than many areas closer to Dallas. They were not torn between cities. Their bigger decision was which builder to trust with the build. If you are weighing the same move, you can compare the new construction communities in Waxahachie side by side.

Which builders did they consider, and why Elmwood?

We looked at a few different builders together. Some of them did not offer the customization options my buyers wanted, which ruled them out quickly. Elmwood Homes allowed the changes they were looking for, so they chose Elmwood and built in Bison Meadows.

This is something I tell every new construction buyer. Customization depends on the builder and the price point. Two builders in the same area can offer very different flexibility, so it is worth asking early, along with which upgrades are worth paying for.

What was their biggest concern?

Their biggest worry was whether the home would be finished in time. They were still renting in Austin, more than two hours away, and they needed the build to wrap up before their lease ran out.

What did I recommend before and during the build?

I recommended building in a buffer and protecting them at each stage of the process:

1. Extend the lease. They extended their Austin lease by two extra months so the build had room to run past the builder's estimate without leaving them without a place to live.
2. Review the builder contract together. We went through the builder contract together, including what you can negotiate with a builder.
3. Get independent inspections. I recommended their own inspections during construction.
4. Plan the rate lock. I suggested they lock their interest rate about 60 days before closing and work through the details with their lender.
5. Plan for the pool. I gave them two pool contractor contacts so they could plan ahead.

How did the permit delay affect the timeline?

The build started later than expected because the builder had to wait 60 to 90 days for permits from the city. That is a long stretch when you are renting two hours away and watching the calendar.

During the wait, I kept following up with the builder, asking for updates and why the approval was taking so long. Once construction started, the build moved fast and finished on time. The two-month lease extension meant the permit delay never turned into a housing problem.

What did I do while they were still in Austin?

I was their eyes on the ground. I drove out to check on the home periodically during construction. I also met with the builder whenever a meeting was requested, and the builder met with my clients as well. Staying in contact with the builder on timelines, closing dates and open items is a big part of my job on a new build.

What did the inspection find?

My clients chose to do one inspection before their initial walkthrough rather than inspections at each phase. They felt the city's required inspections during construction were enough, since the home could not move forward without passing certain checkpoints. That was their decision to make, and it is a real tradeoff other buyers weigh too.

The pre-walkthrough inspection turned up three items:

• Door handles that were not installed evenly
• A scratch on a cabinet
• Cabinets in the wrong color

Elmwood made everything right and repaired all three before closing.

What was the result?

They closed and moved in on time, about 10 months after signing with Elmwood. That included the 60 to 90 day permit wait before construction began. They have their land, their office and the home they designed. They have their pool contractor contacts ready whenever they decide to put in a pool.

What would I tell another buyer relocating to build on acreage?

• Look at Waxahachie and Midlothian. Both have plenty of builders who build on larger lots.
• Ask about customization early. Not every builder offers it, and what you can change depends on the builder and the price point.
• Build a cushion into your timeline. Permits and approvals can take longer than the build itself, so give yourself extra time on your lease.
• Have someone following up. Consistent check-ins with the builder on timelines, closing dates and open items keep small issues from becoming late surprises.

For help planning your own move, learn more about helping buyers relocate to DFW, or read another relocation and new construction story.

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