Real Estate

Why the Lender Matters More Than the Sticker Price Two buyers can pay the exact same price for the exact same floor plan and end up with very different monthly payments and total costs, purely based on who financed the loan and on what terms. Here is why the lender you choose can matter more

What Does a Design Center Appointment Really Cost? A design center appointment is where a build to order buyer picks finishes, upgrades, and structural options before construction starts, and it is also where many buyers end up spending far more than they expected. Here is what actually happens to a budget in that room. What

What Changed for Texas Home Buyers in January 2026? Starting January 1, 2026, a real estate agent in Texas has to get a written agreement with you before showing you a property or presenting an offer on your behalf, a real change from how buyer representation worked before. Here is what it actually requires and

What Actually Happens at a Model Home Visit? A model home visit is usually the first real step in buying new construction, and it works differently than touring a resale listing. Here is what actually happens once you walk in the door. Who greets you at the model home? The person at the model home

Inventory Home vs. Build to Order: The Real Tradeoffs An inventory home is one the builder is already building or has finished on speculation, before a buyer signs a contract for it, sometimes called a spec home or a quick move-in home. A build to order home, sometimes called a to be built home, is

Is There New Construction in Katy, TX 77493 With No HOA? No. Every actively selling master planned or multi builder community in the 77493 competitive set this site tracks carries a mandatory homeowners association as of August 2026. Here is what those dues actually run, community by community, and why a no HOA option is

How Do Builder Incentives Really Work? Builder incentives are money the builder puts toward your purchase instead of, or alongside, a lower sticker price, most often in the form of a lower mortgage rate or a credit toward closing costs. They exist because builders generally protect their base prices to avoid dragging down the appraised

Which Katy, TX 77493 Communities Have the Lowest MUD Tax Rate? Among the communities with a confirmed, official municipal utility district rate on file, Sunterra has the lowest single MUD rate found in this comparison at $0.65 per $100 of valuation, though that rate applies to only one of its four districts. Here is the

Sunterra vs Elyson: Comparing Katy, TX 77493’s Two Largest Master Planned Communities Sunterra and Elyson are the two biggest brand name master planned communities in Katy, TX 77493. Both are large, multi builder communities, but they differ in scale, builder count, and price range. Here is how they compare as of August 2026. How big

Best New Construction Under $350K in Katy, TX 77493 As of August 2026, buyers looking for new construction under $350,000 in Katy, TX 77493 have confirmed starting prices at that level in three communities, Sunterra, Elyson, and Katy Reserve, plus two builders just under the line in Katy Lakes. Here is what is actually published