Thence House Group • Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty
Austin New Construction Realtor
New construction gives you more choices, but it also gives the builder more control. We help you compare communities, contracts, incentives, lots and construction decisions with an experienced advocate on your side.
Buying new is not the same as buying resale
The model home is designed to make the purchase feel simple. The actual decision is not. Price is only one part of the equation. Lot premiums, structural options, design selections, financing incentives, taxes, utility districts, construction timelines and builder contract terms can materially change the value and experience of your purchase.
Community and builder comparison
We help you compare the whole offer, including location, build quality, included features, reputation, future phases and resale considerations.
Lot and floor-plan strategy
Orientation, grade, traffic, easements, drainage, neighboring uses and future construction can matter long after the model-home excitement wears off.
Contract-to-closing oversight
We track deadlines, construction milestones, inspections, selections, lender requirements, walkthroughs and the issues that need follow-through.
Representation that begins early
Call us before you visit the model home
Builder sales representatives are knowledgeable, but they represent the builder. Your REALTOR® represents you. Many builders require your agent to accompany or register you on the first visit, and Texas law now requires a signed buyer agreement before an agent shows you any home. Contacting us before you tour keeps your options open and the paperwork simple.
- Clarify your priorities, budget, timeline and preferred parts of Austin.
- Identify communities and builders that fit the actual goal, not simply the current promotion.
- Compare base prices, premiums, options, incentives and financing as one complete cost.
- Review builder documents and explain the process, while referring legal questions to the appropriate professional.
- Coordinate independent inspections and help keep unresolved items visible.
- Prepare for orientation, final walkthrough and closing.
Where Austin is building
New construction inside Austin looks different
“Austin” can mean a townhome near downtown, a master-planned community near the airport, or a suburban address with an Austin commute. Each comes with its own tradeoffs in lot size, price per square foot, taxes and schools. We help you decide which version of Austin fits before you fall for a floor plan.
Central Austin and redevelopment
New homes and redevelopment opportunities such as Mueller, along with townhomes and condominiums closer to downtown. Expect smaller lots, higher prices per square foot, and shorter drives to the urban core.
Southeast and east Austin
Master-planned communities such as Easton Park, Goodnight Ranch and Whisper Valley, with easier access to the airport and the eastern employment corridor. Amenities, lot sizes and special districts vary widely.
Suburbs with an Austin commute
Pflugerville, Manor, Leander and Cedar Park often offer more home for the budget. Our Central Texas new construction guide covers how we compare them.
Taxes and special districts
Many newer communities sit inside a municipal utility district (MUD) or public improvement district (PID), which adds to the tax rate or an annual assessment. Two homes at the same price can carry very different monthly payments.
School districts
An Austin address can fall in Austin ISD, Del Valle ISD, Manor ISD, Pflugerville ISD, Round Rock ISD, Leander ISD and others. Easton Park, for example, is in Del Valle ISD while nearby Goodnight Ranch is in Austin ISD. Buyers should verify the campus for each address.
Long-term flexibility
Future building phases, resale competition, plan popularity, lot characteristics and whether the home can adapt as your needs change.
Local knowledge, builder-side experience
Who you will work with
Thence House Group is sisters Ursula Whitworth and Caroline Kissel, brokered by Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty. Both have called Austin home since the 1970s and work throughout the city. One is based north and one south, but they handle every transaction together, so clients get two sets of local knowledge wherever they buy or sell.
Ursula lives in Georgetown and knows the northern communities closely, including Georgetown, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Leander and Liberty Hill. A Westlake graduate, she has closed transactions from Salado to south Austin. She spent more than two decades in new-home sales, was named Number One Agent in the nation and the city multiple times, and wrote How to Buy or Build a New Home Without Getting Screwed to give buyers the questions she wished every customer had asked.
Caroline was born and raised in Austin and serves clients throughout Downtown, Central, West, South and East Austin, as well as the surrounding communities. She is especially knowledgeable about Zilker, Barton Hills, Circle C, the 78704 area, South Lamar (SoLa), South Congress (SoCo), Oak Hill, Westlake, Great Hills, Allandale, Tarrytown and Hyde Park. She brings more than 20 years of project management, operations and client service experience to every transaction.
Austin and the surrounding market
One search, many possible communities
Our broader service area includes Austin, Georgetown, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Taylor, Manor, Salado, Liberty Hill, Leander and Cedar Park. If you are willing to compare locations, our Central Texas new construction guide is the better starting point.
Austin new-construction questions
Do I need a Realtor when buying from a builder?
You can purchase without one, but the builder’s salesperson represents the builder. An experienced buyer’s agent helps you compare choices, track the process and advocate for your interests.
Do I have to sign an agreement before touring new homes with an agent?
Yes. Since January 1, 2026, Texas law requires a written agreement between a buyer and their agent before the agent shows any residential property, including new homes. The agreement describes the services, the term and how the broker is paid. Broker compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable. We walk you through it before the first tour.
Does using a Realtor increase the price of a new home?
In most cases, no. Builders typically set the same price whether or not you bring an agent, and many pay buyer agent compensation themselves. Policies vary, so buyers should confirm each builder’s policy and get the terms in writing before touring.
Should I use the builder’s preferred lender?
Preferred-lender incentives can be valuable, but the incentive should be compared with the interest rate, fees, loan terms and alternatives. A large advertised credit is not automatically the lowest total cost.
Should a new home still be inspected?
New does not mean flawless. Buyers commonly consider independent inspections at appropriate construction stages and before closing, depending on the home and schedule.
“I want to express my sincere gratitude for the incredible guidance she provided when helping me purchase my home.”
Mayor Dr. Christopher Harvey, Manor homeowner
Keep exploring
Related guides
Start before the sales-office visit
Tell us what you are considering, even if you are months away. Early conversations give us time to compare builders and communities without pressure.
Or call 737-403-5262 · hello@thencehouse.com