Build Your Custom Home On the Land You Already Own

You bring the lot. We handle the design and the build, and we guide you through financing along the way. We work anywhere within 60 miles of our Pinehurst office. The price we lock with you is the price we aim to close at.

Schedule a free consultation or call (281) 305-0895.

• More than 1,000 homes built since 1999.
• Family-owned
• BBB Accredited with an A+ rating
• Rated 4.8 on Houzz
• Member of the Greater Houston Builders Association.

The advantages of building on your own lot

• Your land, your location. Build where you want to live, not on whatever lot a developer has left.
• A price that holds. The number on your final contract is the number we aim to close at, and we build toward zero change orders.
• Site work already in the base. We include items like dumpsters and silt fencing, so they do not surface as a surprise at the bank.
• One team, one warranty number. We carry your home from the first design meeting through warranty service, and we service our own warranty.
• Proven plans, tailored to you. Start from a plan we have built and refined, then adjust it to your lot and your budget. Our semi-custom homes follow the same approach.

Our process, step by step

We map the whole project before you sign anything. The early decisions set the budget for everything after them.

1. We look at your lot first. Before you contract, we check the site conditions that change cost, so there are no surprises later.
2. You pick a proven floor plan. Start with a plan we have built before, then adjust the layout to fit your lot and your budget.
3. You make your selections. We finalize finishes in our in-house design center, with options we know our trade partners stock and support.
4. We lock the plan and the price. The number on your final contract is the number we aim to close at.
5. We build and hand you the keys. We manage the trades and the inspections, then walk the finished home with you.

The design phase is where owners get stuck. We finish each stage before opening the next one, so settled choices stay settled and the schedule holds.

The cost to build on your lot in Houston

Our recent homes have run between $173 and $250 per square foot, with a portfolio average near $213. The Greater Houston market falls between $150 and $300 per square foot.

Finish level moves that number more than anything else. A home built with our included features lands around $180 per square foot. Add a moderate level of selections and you reach our $213 average. Load up the features, or build a smaller footprint, and you approach $250.

Our included features are not stripped down. A home built on them still performs and looks the part, which is why many buyers keep them.

Above $300 per square foot, another builder is a better fit for your project, and I will tell you so. To estimate your own build, start with our build cost calculator.

Lot preparation and the costs to plan for

Houston-area lots carry conditions you will not see on a flat suburban parcel:

• Clay soils that drive foundation engineering on many sites.
• Flood maps and elevation rules. Harris County has grown stricter about raising a home above the base flood elevation without bringing in dirt. Montgomery County is moving the same direction. You can check any address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center before you buy.
• Lake Conroe waterfront slope. The grade down to the water has at times called for pier-and-beam construction, which can add $65,000 to $120,000.
• Permitting. Most counties turn a permit around in two to three weeks and are affordable to work with. City builds cost more. Permit fees there start around $5,000, plus building requirements that can add another $3,000 to $6,000.

This is why we explore your lot before you contract. A site evaluation tells us what your property needs, from soil testing and foundation design to a flood and drainage assessment.

Call (281) 305-0895 and we will walk your lot with you.

Your build timeline

Across our last 15 to 20 builds, the average from start to move-in has been about 210 days, a little under seven months. A smaller home with few changes finishes faster. A larger home with late changes runs longer.

Your timeline depends on the home's size and how settled your design is before we break ground. Weather plays a part too. We share more in our guide to how long it takes to build a home.

From our clients

A repeat client we built for in Magnolia summed up the experience after move-in. Their home had "absolutely NO hidden costs," with steady communication throughout, and it finished on time. It was the second home we built for that family.

See more of what we have finished across the Houston area in our client gallery.

Where we build

We build almost anywhere within a 60-mile radius of our Pinehurst office. That covers a wide stretch of the Houston area:

• North Houston and Montgomery County
• Conroe, Willis, Montgomery, and the Lake Conroe area
• Magnolia, Pinehurst, Tomball, and Spring
• The Woodlands and nearby communities
• Grimes County, west toward Navasota

Financing and finding land

We help you with construction financing, including one-time close construction loans that combine your build financing and your mortgage into a single closing.

We do not sell land. If you still need a lot, we can connect you with partners who specialize in finding and securing property in our build area. Our guide to buying land in Texas covers what to check before you commit.

Common questions about building on your lot

Can Dunn & Stone build on a lot I already own?

Yes. We build on any lot inside our build radius, on land you already own or are buying. We handle the design and permitting, then build through to your walkthrough.

Do you sell land?

We do not sell land. If you need a lot, we can connect you with partners who find and secure property in our build area. We build your home once you own it.

Does your build radius reach my lot?

We build within 60 miles of Pinehurst. That radius covers North Houston, Montgomery County, Lake Conroe, The Woodlands, Magnolia, and Conroe. We do not build in Pearland.

Do you design floor plans from scratch?

We start with proven plans we have built and refined over the years, then modify them to fit your lot and lifestyle. Starting from a tested plan keeps the layout functional and the budget predictable.

Do you help with construction financing?

Yes. We offer construction financing assistance, including one-time close construction loans that combine your build financing and your mortgage into a single closing. We can connect you with a lender to get started.

Does building on your own lot cost more?

The home itself prices the same way it would anywhere, by plan and finish level. The variable is site work. Lot preparation on our recent builds has averaged $20,000 to $30,000 above the base price.

Meet Fred Loucks, owner

I joined Dunn & Stone in 2010 and bought the company in 2019. Since 2010, I have been the primary point of contact for plan design. I work with buyers to turn their goals into a home they can build.

Dunn & Stone is family-owned, BBB Accredited, and a member of the Greater Houston Builders Association. We have built more than 1,000 homes in the Houston area since 1999.

Start with a free consultation

Bring us your lot, or the one you are considering, and we will tell you what it takes to build there. Schedule a free consultation or call (281) 305-0895. Our office is at 32400 SH 249, Pinehurst, TX 77362.

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