New Homes by Suburb
New Construction Homes in Buda
South of Austin along I-35, Hays County. A buyer-side guide to new construction in Buda, with live listings, the builders and communities here, schools, taxes, and the honest tradeoffs.
The short answer
Buda offers some of the Austin metro's most attainable new construction, with entry-level homes from the high $200s and move-up options into the $700s. Most new supply sits in master-planned communities like Sunfield, Persimmon, and Prairie Lakes, built by D.R. Horton, MileStone, Pulte, and others. Buyers get resort-style amenities and newer Hays CISD schools, but should budget for MUD or PID taxes that push effective rates near 2.7 percent.
Live from the MLS
213 new homes for sale in Buda
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New ConstructionAt a glance
Buda new construction, by the numbers
- County
- Hays County
- School districts
- Hays CISD
- Price range
- Roughly the high $200s to $700s-plus for new construction in 2026. Entry-level communities (D.R. Horton's Prairie Lakes, MileStone's Meadows at Shadow Creek) start in the high $200s to low $300s; move-up homes in Sunfield start around the $320s, while Persimmon runs from the mid $500s to about $700,000. Buda's overall median sale price was roughly $370,000 in May 2026.
- Commute
- About 15 to 16 miles to downtown Austin via I-35. Off-peak drives run 25 to 35 minutes, but morning and evening rush hour on I-35 commonly stretches the trip to 45 to 70 minutes (2026). The SH 130 toll road, reached via FM 110, is a less congested alternative for some destinations.
- Location
- South of Austin along I-35
Where to buy
Communities in Buda
- SunfieldGuide →Pulte Homes, Taylor Morrison, Chesmar Homes, Centex
- PersimmonMileStone Community Builders
- Prairie LakesD.R. Horton
- Meadows at Shadow CreekMileStone Community Builders
- Whispering HollowLargely built out; mostly resale
- Garlic CreekLargely built out; mostly resale
Who builds here
Active builders
- D.R. Horton
- MileStone Community Builders
- Centex
- CastleRock Communities
- Meritage Homes
- Century Communities
- Taylor Morrison
- Pulte Homes
- Chesmar Homes
- David Weekley Homes
- DRB Homes
Before the base price
Most new Buda communities sit inside a MUD or PID that finances infrastructure and adds to the annual tax bill. In Sunfield, which spans multiple MUDs, the 2025 combined rate was about 2.73 percent, and effective new-community rates across Buda commonly land near 2.5 to 2.9 percent. A builder's quoted tax estimate may reflect land only in the first year and then jump once the finished home is assessed.
How MUD and PID taxes work →Honest tradeoffs
The case for and against Buda
No suburb is right for everyone. Here is how I would frame it for a client.
The case for
- More attainable pricing than Austin proper, with new homes still available from the high $200s
- Resort-style master-planned amenities, including Sunfield's lagoon-style pool, two 1,000-foot lazy rivers, community pools, trails, and dog parks
- Hays CISD with newer campuses, including Sunfield Elementary and Johnson High School, both opened in 2022
- Heavy builder competition in 2026 means incentives, rate buydowns, and negotiable closing costs for buyers
- Reasonable access to major employers, including downtown Austin, San Marcos, and the wider Tesla corridor
- Historic small-town downtown Buda with growing retail and dining
The case against
- Effective property-tax rates are high, roughly 2.5 to 2.9 percent, once MUD or PID assessments stack on top of city, county, and school taxes
- I-35 congestion makes rush-hour commutes to Austin slow and unpredictable
- Flash flood risk near Onion Creek and low-lying areas; sections of I-35 near Buda flood in heavy rain
- HOA dues, plus possible PID assessments, add to monthly carrying cost beyond the mortgage
- Rapid growth is straining schools; Hays CISD rezoned six campuses in early 2026
- Ongoing new-home supply and builder incentives can pressure short-term resale values
On your side of the table
What a buyer’s agent watches for in Buda
- +Confirm the exact MUD or PID and the current combined tax rate for the specific address; marketing estimates often understate it
- +New-build tax bills frequently reflect land only in year one, then rise sharply after the completed home is assessed at full value
- +Verify current school zoning directly with Hays CISD, since 2026-27 rezoning moved some Buda neighborhoods to different campuses
- +Check floodplain status and flood-insurance requirements, especially near Onion Creek and drainage-adjacent lots
- +Weigh builder incentives against nearby resale comps before assuming the list price equals market value
- +Whispering Hollow and Garlic Creek are largely built out, so homes marketed there are usually resale; true new construction is concentrated in Sunfield, Persimmon, and Prairie Lakes
On new construction the builder pays your representation, so all of this costs you nothing. Updated July 21, 2026.
Good to know
Buda new construction, answered
- Is Buda a good place to buy a new construction home?
- Yes, for buyers who want newer master-planned living at a lower price than Austin proper. Buda offers new homes from the high $200s, resort-style amenities, and Hays CISD schools. The main tradeoffs are I-35 commute times and higher effective property taxes from MUD and PID districts.
- How much do new construction homes cost in Buda in 2026?
- Roughly the high $200s to $700s-plus. Entry-level communities start in the high $200s to low $300s, move-up master-planned homes run into the $500s, and larger Persimmon homes reach about $700,000. Buda's overall median sale price was around $370,000 in mid-2026.
- How long is the commute from Buda to downtown Austin?
- About 15 to 16 miles on I-35, or 25 to 35 minutes off-peak. During rush hour, I-35 commonly stretches the drive to 45 to 70 minutes. The SH 130 toll road is a less congested alternative for some destinations.
- What school district serves Buda new construction?
- Hays CISD serves essentially all of Buda, including its new construction communities. Newer campuses include Sunfield Elementary and Johnson High School, both opened in 2022. Confirm exact zoning per address, since Hays CISD adjusted boundaries for the 2026-27 school year.
- Why are property taxes higher in Buda's new communities?
- Most new Buda subdivisions sit in a MUD or PID that repays infrastructure debt through the tax bill. Combined with county, city, and school taxes, effective rates commonly reach 2.5 to 2.9 percent, higher than established neighborhoods without those special districts.
- What is Sunfield known for?
- Sunfield is Buda's flagship master-planned community, best known for its lagoon-style pool and two 1,000-foot lazy rivers, plus multiple amenity centers, trails, and its own elementary school. It draws several builders, including Pulte, Taylor Morrison, Chesmar, Centex, CastleRock, David Weekley, and DRB Homes.
Related
Keep exploring
- 01New Homes by SuburbCompare new construction by Austin suburb: price, commute, taxes, and schools.
- 02Search New Construction HomesLive new-build MLS listings across the Austin metro, filterable by price and build status.
- 03Master-Planned CommunitiesHonest, buyer-side guides to the metro's biggest new-home communities.
- 04Do You Need a Buyer's Agent?Why the builder's on-site agent is not on your side, and why your agent is free.
Free buyer representation
Thinking about Buda?
Before you tour a builder in Buda, get your representation registered so it stays free, and get the real tax rate, the current incentives, and honest builder notes. Luke replies personally.
Luke Allen
Licensed Texas REALTOR, TREC #788149
Austin Marketing + Development Group