Build on Your Lot in Houston

Dunn & Stone Builders has built more than 1,000 homes since 1999 across the Greater Houston area, including over 244 homes in Magnolia, 188 in Tomball, and 117 in Montgomery. We handle everything from site evaluation to the final walkthrough.

At a Glance:

• Price range: $500K - $1.5M
• Average cost: ~$213 per square foot
• Construction timeline: ~210 days from start to delivery

Schedule A Free Consultation

Call (281) 305-0895

Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood with houses, colorful autumn trees, and soft morning sunlight filtering through mist.

Smiling couple hugging each other outside a modern house with wooden and stone exterior.

What Build on Your Lot Means in Houston

Build on your lot means constructing a new custom or semi-custom home on land you already own. You keep the location you love, and we handle the site evaluation, design, permitting, and construction.
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Houston has no conventional zoning map. Instead, deed restrictions, HOA rules, flood maps, and city or county permit offices dictate what can be built. We check all of these items during the Exploration phase so your floor plan perfectly fits the lot you have. Utilities, soil conditions, drainage, and driveway length will ultimately set your cost and schedule before anyone picks cabinets.
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Note: We do not sell land. For the buying sequence, see our guide on buying land in Texas.

Estimated price per square foot by finish level
Finish Level	Est. Price Per Sq. Ft.	Description
Included / standard features	~$180	Our base specification
Moderate selections	~$213	Portfolio average
Highly featured / very small footprint	~$250	Loaded finishes, or a small plan that concentrates cost

Use the cost to build a house calculator to test your preferred size against these tiers. In general, our builds start around $500K.

1. Exploration

We walk the property, read the survey and restrictions, and decide if the lot and budget fit. Site evaluation, soil testing, and floodplain review start here. (For example, clay soils are common north of Houston, and Harris and Montgomery Counties limit bringing in fill to raise a home above Base Flood Elevation).

2. Design

Design runs from the initial agreement through three draft meetings. Bring an existing plan, or start from one of our proven plans. We adjust layout and finishes to the property. We keep selections in our design center and with trusted suppliers so we can warrant the product for years to come.

3. Final Contract

When design is locked, we issue the fixed-price contract and introduce your field team.

4. Build Documents

This covers the paperwork required to break ground: survey, soils report, water tap, septic/well design, full construction set, building permits, and any HOA applications.

5. Construction

Construction starts with clearing and the pad, followed by the foundation, framing, mechanicals, finishes, and final walkthrough. Construction averages 210 days from start to delivery. See the full timeline in how long it takes to build a home.

Wide angle view of a large acreage home in the Houston area

Where We Build

We build within about 60 miles of Pinehurst, covering Magnolia, Tomball, Montgomery, Conroe, Navasota, and surrounding acreage communities. We also work on unincorporated lots in Montgomery, Harris, Waller, Walker, and Grimes Counties within this radius.
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(Note: If your lot is outside our radius, we will let you know in Exploration).

What We Check on Your Lot

Every owner lot receives the same rigorous early checklist to ensure it is buildable:

Site selection (if you are still choosing between tracts)
Floodplain and drainage evaluation
Site evaluation
Soil testing and foundation design
Permitting and preconstruction
Septic, well, and utility planning

Tip: Check the flood status on any address via the FEMA Flood Map Service Center before finalizing a land purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I build on land I already own?

Yes. If the property sits inside our build radius, we evaluate the lot, design the home to it, pull permits, and build.

What does a build-on-your-lot builder do?

We take land you control and carry the project from the first site walk to the final walkthrough. You bring the lot; we handle site evaluation, plan fit, permitting, construction, and warranty.

How long do county permits take?

Most county building-permit applications in our area turn around in two to three weeks. Unincorporated county work is generally faster and less expensive than municipal work. City of Houston, Conroe, Huntsville, and Tomball jobs take longer and often add $5,000+ in permitting costs.

Can I use my own existing floor plan?

Yes. Bring the plan. We will review the specifications, check that it fits the lot setbacks and your budget, and adjust the layout as needed.The timeline depends on design complexity, permitting, and construction scope. Most projects include several weeks of planning followed by a structured construction schedule that we outline clearly from the beginning.

How long does the full build-on-your-lot process take?

Construction averages 210 days from start to delivery. Because design, documents, financing, and permitting happen prior to breaking ground, the full calendar time from first agreement to move-in commonly falls in the 9-to-14-month range.

How does lot prep change the price of construction?

Typical lot preparation beyond our included scope runs $20,000 to $30,000. Longer driveways and imported fill for sloped lots usually drive this cost up. A sloped lot down to water (like a lake lot) can require pier-and-beam foundations, adding $65,000 to $120,000.

Additionally, municipal builds often add $5,000+ in permitting and $3,000 to $6,000 in extra building practices required by the city.

Start With Your Lot

Bring three things to your first meeting: the address, a rough size and budget, and the survey (if you have one). We will tell you whether the lot fits our radius, what your site work will look like, and which finish tier matches your budget.