Buying a new construction home in the $800,000 to $1,000,000 range in DFW means you are not just buying a house – you are evaluating a builder. The home does not exist yet, or if it does, it was built to a spec that reflects every decision that builder made in the last 12 months. Understanding what separates a good builder from a bad one requires asking specific questions, not just comparing price per square foot.
Here are ten questions to ask any DFW builder before you sign a contract, with notes on what good and bad answers look like.
1. What foundation type do you use?
Texas clay soil is notoriously expansive. It swells when wet and contracts when dry, which means a foundation sitting on it experiences significant movement over time. The industry standard for managing this in Texas new construction is a post-tension slab on piers.
Post-tension slabs use high-strength steel cables that are tensioned after the concrete cures, which dramatically increases the slab’s resistance to cracking and movement. Piers extend below the active soil layer to more stable earth, giving the foundation a fixed anchor point. Together, these systems significantly reduce the risk of the foundation cracking, settling unevenly, or requiring costly repair.
A builder offering a conventional slab without post-tensioning or pier support on Texas clay soil is either cutting costs or unaware of what they should be doing. Neither answer is acceptable on a $900,000 home.
2. What is your exterior material and how many coats?
Stucco is the dominant exterior finish on executive new construction in DFW. The difference between a three-coat stucco system and a one-coat system is significant in both performance and longevity.
Three-coat stucco involves a scratch coat, a brown coat, and a finish coat applied in sequence, typically over metal lath and a moisture barrier. The total thickness is substantially greater than a one-coat system, which means better weather resistance, fewer cracks, and a longer lifespan before maintenance is required.
One-coat stucco systems exist and perform adequately on some applications, but on a $900,000 home in Texas, where hail, thermal cycling, and UV exposure are factors, three-coat is the appropriate standard. Ask specifically: how many coats, and what is underneath?
3. What window brand and series do you use?
Windows are one of the highest-impact specifications in terms of energy performance, sound attenuation, and long-term durability. The difference between a quality window brand and a generic builder-grade product is visible and measurable.
Andersen Windows is the benchmark most discerning buyers use for comparison. The Andersen 100 Series in black frames has become the standard spec on premium new construction in DFW. It provides good thermal performance, a clean aesthetic, and a manufacturer warranty that means something.
Generic or unbranded windows from a builder who cannot name the manufacturer are a red flag. Ask for the brand, the series, and the energy performance ratings. If they cannot tell you, the windows are likely a cost-cut.
4. What insulation type do you use?
Spray foam insulation and fiberglass batt insulation are not equivalent, and the difference is not just about R-value.
Spray foam – particularly closed-cell spray foam – creates an air seal in addition to providing thermal resistance. This eliminates the gaps and compression issues that reduce fiberglass batt performance over time. Spray foam also significantly reduces sound transmission through walls and ceilings, which matters in any two-story home or in neighborhoods with ambient noise.
A builder using fiberglass batts is using a cheaper system that performs adequately at code minimums. A builder using spray foam is building a tighter, quieter, more energy-efficient structure. On a home priced above $800,000, spray foam should be standard.
5. What water heater type is included?
Tankless water heaters provide on-demand hot water without the energy loss of maintaining a 50-gallon tank at temperature continuously. On a home with multiple bathrooms and a family that uses them simultaneously, a single tankless unit can still produce lag time and temperature inconsistency.
Dual tankless water heaters – one for each side of the home or each zone – solve this problem entirely. Ask whether the home includes one or two units, and whether they are gas or electric.
6. Do you have an upgrade tier system, or is everything included?
This is one of the most financially consequential questions you can ask. Production builders frequently present a base price that does not reflect what the home actually costs to reach a livable, finished state. The upgrade tier system – where you select from packages of countertops, flooring, fixtures, and appliances – can add $50,000 to $150,000 to the final price before you have touched a single structural feature.
A builder who includes premium finishes as standard inclusions is showing you the real price of the home. A builder who presents a low base price and then sells you upgrades is concealing the real price.
7. What is your warranty structure?
The industry standard for new construction warranties is a 1-2-10 structure: one year on workmanship and materials, two years on mechanical systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC), and ten years on structural defects. Any builder not offering this structure is offering less coverage than the market standard.
Ask for the warranty terms in writing before you sign. Ask specifically what the process is for submitting warranty claims and what the typical response time is.
8. Can I speak directly with the builder?
On a home priced above $800,000, you should be able to speak with the person or team making decisions about how your home is built. If you are dealing exclusively with a sales agent who cannot connect you to the builder directly, that is a structural accountability gap that will matter when you have a question or a problem during construction.
9. Do you support halal financing?
If Shariah-compliant financing is relevant to your situation, ask this early. Some builders have experience with the documentation requirements and closing timelines of halal financing programs. Others have never done a transaction with Guidance Residential or UIF Corporation and will create friction unintentionally. Know your builder’s experience level before you are under contract.
10. What is your current lot and home inventory – can I see actual availability?
Ask to see a plat map or site plan with current lot status marked. A builder who cannot show you which lots are available, sold, reserved, or under contract is either disorganized or hiding information about how the community is selling. You want to see real availability before you start selecting a lot.
How Hamra Homes Answers These Questions
Every home Hamra Homes builds uses a post-tension slab on piers, three-coat stucco exterior with Zip-wall sheathing, Andersen 100 Series black-frame windows, closed-cell spray foam insulation, dual tankless water heaters, and EV charging in every garage. These are standard inclusions – there is no upgrade tier system and no hidden costs for features that belong in a home at this price point.
We offer a standard 1-2-10 warranty, and buyers speak directly with the builder throughout the process. We have completed transactions with buyers using Guidance Residential, Devon Islamic Finance, UIF Corporation, and IjaraCDC. Current lot availability at Cordoba Estates and Barcelona Estates in Irving is visible and verifiable.
To schedule a private walkthrough, call or text (972) 891-8353 or email contact@hamrahomes.com. Tours are available seven days a week by appointment.
