Why North Texas Is Still the Best Place to Buy New Construction
If you've been watching the DFW market, you already know what national buyers are discovering: North Texas is one of the few metro areas in the country where builders are still actively delivering product at scale. From corporate relocations to organic population growth, demand hasn't let up — and the building activity stretching north and east of Dallas reflects that reality.
The challenge for buyers isn't finding new construction. It's knowing which city fits your budget, your commute, and your lifestyle — and understanding what you're actually agreeing to when you sign with a builder. This guide breaks down eight of the most active corridors so you can walk into those model homes with context.
Frisco and Prosper: Premium Product, Premium Prices
Frisco has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the country for nearly a decade, and the inventory reflects it. New home prices in Frisco now typically range from the mid-$500s to well over $1 million, with most new construction concentrated in master-planned communities like Hollyhock, The Grove Frisco, and Edgestone at Legacy. Prosper sits just to the north and has seen enormous builder activity along the 289 corridor — prices there run roughly $550K to $900K for production homes, with luxury custom product pushing higher.
Both cities offer strong Frisco ISD and Prosper ISD schools, access to the DNT and Preston Road, and commute times to the Legacy/Plano employment corridor of 15–25 minutes. Active builders in these markets include Highland Homes, Drees Custom Homes, Shaddock, Perry Homes, and David Weekley.
The tradeoff: you're paying for finished infrastructure. Land costs are higher, lots are smaller than they were five years ago, and builders are moving quickly. If Frisco and Prosper are at the top of your list, be prepared to make decisions fast.
Celina and Anna: Where Inventory is Deepest Right Now
If you want options — actual inventory sitting on the ground ready to close — Celina and Anna are where you'll find it. Celina in particular has seen explosive permit activity, with master-planned communities like Light Farms, Mustang Lakes, and Two Step Estates delivering hundreds of homes annually. New construction prices in Celina generally range from the high $300s to the mid-$600s depending on the builder and community tier.
Anna is positioned just east of Celina along US-75 and has attracted significant builder attention from D.R. Horton, LGI Homes, and Pulte. Median new home prices in Anna run from the low $300s to the mid-$400s, making it one of the more accessible entry points in Collin County. Commute to the McKinney employment hub runs 20–30 minutes; to downtown Dallas, plan for 45–60 minutes depending on traffic.
Lavon and Royse City: The Eastern Corridor Value Play
East of McKinney, Lavon and Royse City have emerged as strong value options for buyers who can't stretch into Collin County pricing. Lavon sits on the eastern edge of Collin County along SH-78 and features communities like Grand Heritage and Traditions of America. New home prices in Lavon typically run from the high $200s to the low $400s — meaningful savings compared to what's available further west.
Royse City in Rockwall County has absorbed significant builder activity over the past three years, particularly from D.R. Horton and Century Communities. New construction there generally runs from the mid-$200s to the mid-$400s. The Royse City ISD has been investing in infrastructure to keep pace with growth. Commute times to the Plano/Allen corridor run 35–50 minutes, and downtown Dallas is roughly 45–55 minutes via I-30.
Neither city offers the walkable amenities of Frisco or Prosper, but for buyers prioritizing square footage and a lower entry price, the eastern corridor delivers strong value per square foot.
Forney: Kaufman County's Star Performer
Forney has quietly become one of the most active new construction markets in the entire DFW metro. Located along US-80 east of Mesquite, it offers direct access to downtown Dallas in 30–40 minutes — meaningfully shorter than the drive from Celina or Royse City. Active master-planned communities include Travis Ranch, Devonshire, and Windmill Farms, with builders including First Texas Homes, LGI, and Gehan.
New home prices in Forney range from the mid-$200s to the low $400s, and inventory tends to move steadily. For buyers who commute into East Dallas, Mesquite, or the I-20 employment corridor, Forney is worth a serious look.
Midlothian: Southwest DFW's Under-the-Radar Option
Midlothian in Ellis County sits about 30 miles southwest of Dallas and has attracted buyers priced out of Mansfield and Waxahachie. Builder activity has picked up notably along US-287 and FM-663, with new home prices typically ranging from the high $200s to the mid-$400s. Communities like Mockingbird Estates and Walnut Grove offer larger lots than what you'll find in North Texas master-planned developments.
The Midlothian ISD has a strong local reputation. Commute to the Fort Worth employment corridor runs 25–35 minutes; to Dallas it's 40–55 minutes. If your job or lifestyle pulls you southwest — toward Cedar Hill, Mansfield, or the Alliance area — Midlothian deserves a spot in your search.
What You Need to Know About MUD and PID Districts Before You Sign
This is the part most builders don't emphasize in the model home. Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) and Public Improvement Districts (PIDs) are financing mechanisms Texas cities use to fund infrastructure in new developments — roads, water lines, drainage, and amenities. As a homeowner, you repay that debt through a special tax assessed on top of your base property tax rate.
In many DFW new construction communities, the combined MUD/PID tax rate adds $0.50 to $1.50 per $100 of assessed value annually. On a $400,000 home, that's $2,000–$6,000 per year in additional taxes beyond what the city and county assess. The rate typically burns down over 20–30 years as the bonds are retired.
At EXL Realty Group, our agents pull the full tax rate history for every community before clients make an offer. The difference between a 2.1% and a 3.4% effective tax rate is material — it can shift your monthly payment by several hundred dollars on a mid-range new construction home.
How to Decide Which Market Is Right for You
Start with your honest commute threshold. If 45 minutes each way is your ceiling, that eliminates some of the far-north Collin County options and pushes you toward Forney, Frisco, or Midlothian depending on your employer's location. Then work backward from price: if $350K is your ceiling, Celina, Anna, Lavon, Royse City, and Forney all have inventory. If you have flexibility up to $500K, Frisco and Prosper open up.
Finally, match your timeline to the market. Buyers who need to close in 60 days should focus on spec inventory in Celina, Anna, and Forney. Buyers who can wait 6–10 months have the full builder landscape available.
The North Texas new construction market rewards buyers who come in prepared. Know your commute, understand the tax picture, and work with an agent who has direct builder relationships — it makes a measurable difference in what you can negotiate, from lot premiums to closing cost contributions.