Is Now the Right Time to Build?

It’s easy to assume now might not be the right time to start designing your custom luxury home. With the market shifting, construction timelines extending, and countless decisions ahead, putting things off can feel like the safer move.

But here's what we’ve learned: waiting rarely makes things easier. It often leads to more stress, fewer options, and missed opportunities.

Starting early gives you time — to make thoughtful decisions, collaborate with the right people, and enjoy the process instead of rushing through it. When you delay, key players like architects, builders, and pool designers are often booked out. Materials can take months to arrive. And the vision you had may become harder — and more expensive — to bring to life under pressure.

We’ve seen it time and again — projects that begin with intention almost always end more smoothly. Like a fine wine, a well-planned home needs time to develop. The richness and balance don’t come from rushing — they come from allowing each phase to unfold with care. When planning has space to breathe, the result is more refined, lasting, and rewarding.

The best projects are shaped with breathing room — the kind that lets you walk the site with your builder, think through how the home sits on the land, and explore ideas before locking into a design. That early collaboration is where the smartest details are born.

We’ve found the process starts long before the first shovel hits the dirt. It begins with vision, with design, and with a conversation that guides the entire build. One of our favorite homes in Cordillera Ranch started with nothing more than a rough sketch and a dream. The homeowners didn’t have blueprints or finishes picked out — just a deep desire to create a retreat. We stood on their lot as the sun set over the Hill Country, imagining how each space could frame the view and how indoor and outdoor living could blend seamlessly. That early clarity shaped everything that followed.

If you want a home that’s worth the investment — in both time and money — the foundation needs to be laid well before construction begins. Luxury design isn’t the result of quick decisions. It’s the result of thoughtful, deliberate ones.

Getting started is easier than you think! Here’s how to get started the right way:

1. Choose your homesite wisely.

Where your home sits — and how it faces — affects everything from natural light and energy efficiency to privacy and outdoor comfort. Picture yourself on the back patio, shaded from the afternoon sun, feeling the South Texas breeze while grilling and taking in the glow of a Hill Country sunset. That kind of placement starts with understanding the land — and how you want to live on it.

2. Walk the lot with your builder.

Before design begins, your builder can help assess the land’s opportunities and challenges — from topography and drainage to tree preservation and driveway layout.

3. Involve your pool builder early.

If a pool is part of your dream, don’t wait. Pool placement affects grading, outdoor flow, and how the home is sited. Your builder and pool designer should collaborate from day one.

4. Start your wishlist.

Think big — and personal. Do you entertain often? Need space for a car collection or golf simulator? Consider your routines, your lifestyle, and how your home can support them. Write down what you love about your current home — and what’s missing. That’s the foundation for a design that fits you.

5. Set your budget with intention.

Budget isn’t just a number — it’s a roadmap. Knowing your financial boundaries upfront helps prioritize and avoid costly course corrections later.

6. Interview architects who align with your vision.

A great architect does more than draw plans — they translate how you live into a home that feels effortless. Look for someone who understands the land, respects your budget, and is curious about how your family moves through a space. Bonus points for those who offer 3D walkthroughs or virtual modeling — so you can experience your home before it’s built. You want a creative partner who brings both vision and clarity to the table. Getting started isn’t about rushing — it’s about making sure you don’t miss the window to build well.

If you know a custom build is in your future, the time to take those first steps is now. The homes that come together seamessly later are the ones that begin with clarity today.

So don't wait for the "perfect time." Start the conversation, walk the lot, bring in the team. The sooner the vision starts to take shape, the sooner it becomes real.