New Year, New House
- lacinelson
- Jan 28, 2018
- 3 min read
After looking and looking in Houston, TX for a home to call our own we have finally decided to just build one! We cannot seem to find anything in our price range that doesn't require a ton of renovations or it has no yard and/or it's the opposite of our style. We're going to move out of the city a little bit and into a planned community. It means a little bit of a commute for Adam, but he's more than willing. I'm also beyond excited for a sense of community, wonderful public schools and having tons of playgrounds, kids sports and pools less than a mile away! It actually reminds me of the community I grew up in. My best memories are of riding my bike to the pool with my brother, spotlight tag on the golf course at night and spending more time outside than in with friends all over the neighborhood. I want my kids to have that kind of freedom and childhood!
The house will take 10 months plus or minus 30 days we're told. While I'm crazy eager to get out of our small, windowless rental I'm also determined to enjoy this process and make the best of it. I know there are concessions I'll have to make (a few big ones, to me at least, I've already made), but I know the finished product will be one we can make memories in for a very long time. That's worth waiting for!
The not so fun stuff: You figure out your price by adding up the base price of the model you choose, the lot premium price, the structural upgrade prices and the upgrades you choose along the way at the design center meetings. Do go under contract you have to pay up front 5% of the base price of the model and elevation you choose plus the lot premium. You also have to pay 20% of the structural upgrades you choose. Yikes!
Now the fun stuff! We're building with Toll Brothers. Choosing a plan was very stressful for me. The big details I sweat. The small ones I seem to roll with. We're going with the Merida Chateau plan and changing a few major things about it.
Click here to see all of the selections of models and elevations. Please know that the price varies even on the same model and elevation from neighborhood to neighborhood.
Here's a picture of the outside elevation:

We changing the exterior by flipping the garage, and doing the house in all stone. I love a stone house!

This is the plan with the garage on the side. We also removed the obsolete dormer on the front/middle and reduced the amount of trim around the door and windows.
I had a really hard time finding any info on pricing for options anywhere. I'm going to give you as much information as I can so that if you're looking to build like we were you can walk in knowing the prices up front. I feel like it would've helped us out to know the option prices before we fell in love with certain things. Here are the options we chose and the pricing for those options. I'll also list other option prices in a link below.
Luxury master bath package: $24,900
Media room: $19,900
Au pair suite (we liked the placement better than the fifth bedroom option which was over the master): $22,900
2-story cabana elite (essentially a larger back porch): $14,900
Flipped the garage entrance to the side and added a bay: $8,900
Beams to the great room ceiling: $6,900
Closed in the original pack porch to make it a breakfast room/sitting room and added a fireplace to that room: $11,900/$4,900
Rear staircase: $9,900
French Doors from the family room to the back porch: $2,400
2 Story Fireplace: $4,750
Here are our floorpans!


I know the pricing differs depending on which model and elevation you choose, but I don't think it's a major fluctuation. Hopefully this will at least give you a ballpark range!
Click here to see the options pricing.
Up next is selecting the exterior options or the Group 1 Options as Toll Brothers calls it! This is so much fun!
Laci
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