Build Your Home. Keep Control. Get Professional Guidance.

A powerful option to build on your land in the Texas Hill Country. Building your own custom home doesn't have to mean doing it alone.

Our Owner Builder Program is designed for homeowners who want greater control over their construction costs, subcontractors, selections, and overall project—but still want an experienced custom home builder available to help guide the process across The Texas Hill Country in The Greater San Antonio and Austin Areas.

Instead of paying for a traditional full-service custom building model, you take a more active role in building your home while we provide the professional support you need along the way.

You stay in control. We help you navigate the build.

Email for direct questions: Joseph@TrueStoneHomes.com

What Is the Owner Builder Program?

Traditional custom builders typically manage nearly every aspect of construction and charge accordingly for their overhead, supervision, risk, and profit.

Our Owner Builder Program takes a different approach. Which can often lead to 10%-20% or more in savings.

You become an active participant in your project and can work directly with subcontractors and suppliers while we provide an established framework, verified suppliers & sub contractors, construction knowledge, and professional guidance.

Depending on the level of service you choose, we can assist with everything from getting the project established and serving in a defined Builder of Record role to providing additional construction consulting at key stages of the build.

It's a flexible approach designed around one simple idea:

Pay for the professional construction help you need—not necessarily for full-service construction management you don't.

Why Build as an Owner Builder?

More Control Over Your Construction Budget

See where your construction dollars are actually going.

Rather than simply receiving one overall construction price, an owner-builder can have greater visibility into individual subcontractor bids, material costs, allowances, and upgrades.

You decide where to spend—and where to save.

Work Directly With Subcontractors

Depending on your project structure, you can obtain bids and work directly with the trades building your home. We provide a list of verified sub contractors and suppliers in addition to any you may already have.

That can include site work, concrete, framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, insulation, drywall, cabinetry, flooring, painting, and finish trades.

Choose Your Own Materials and Finishes

You're not locked into a builder's standard selection package. Shop suppliers. Compare products. Upgrade what's important to you. Save money where it isn't.

It's your house and your budget.

Potentially Reduce the Cost of Building

Traditional custom home pricing has to account for the builder's overhead, supervision, risk, warranty obligations, and profit.

By taking responsibility for portions of the construction process yourself, there may be an opportunity to reduce some of those costs.

Savings are never guaranteed, however. Good project management matters. Scheduling mistakes, change orders, purchasing errors, delays, and rework can quickly eat into potential savings.

That's exactly why many homeowners want professional guidance without necessarily hiring a traditional full-service builder. Cost savings can typically land between 10%-20% with a strong plan and method in place.

You're the Owner Builder. But You're Not On Your Own.

You don't need to know how to frame a wall, wire a panel, or install an HVAC system.

Your vetted subcontractors perform the actual trade work.

Your job is to help manage the project—and our job is to help give you the knowledge, structure, and support to do it successfully.

Depending on your program and project, True Stone can assist with areas such as:

Pre-construction planning
Builder of Record services when applicable
Construction budgeting and cost planning
Reviewing subcontractor bids
Construction sequencing
Subcontractor and supplier resources
Major construction milestones
Permit and inspection guidance
Construction lender documentation
Draw and payment guidance
Problem solving during construction
Optional construction management or cordinating assistance

The exact responsibilities of the homeowner are established before construction begins so everyone understands their role.

Email with any questions: Joseph@TrueStoneHomes.com

Three Ways to Build

Not every homeowner needs the same amount of help.

Owner Builder

Best for the hands-on homeowner.

You take primary responsibility for managing the construction process while True Stone provides the defined professional services included in your Owner Builder agreement.

You handle more of the project. You maintain more control.

And you avoid paying for construction management services you don't need.

Owner Builder + Construction Support

Want some additional help?

Add professional construction support for specific portions or milestones of your project.

This can be a good fit for homeowners who are comfortable managing much of the build themselves but want an experienced builder involved when it matters most.

The scope is established in advance so you know exactly what your builder partner is responsible for—and what remains your responsibility.

Full-Service Custom Home

Want us to handle it?

True Stone Custom Homes, LLC can also provide the traditional custom building experience.

We manage the construction process while you focus on designing and selecting the home you want.

This gives property owners the ability to choose the level of involvement that fits their experience, available time, budget, and comfort level.

Is Owner Building Right for You?

Our Owner Builder Program may be a good fit if you:

Already own land or are preparing to purchase property
Want greater visibility into construction costs
Want to communicate directly with subcontractors
Are comfortable comparing bids and making decisions
Have time to stay involved throughout construction
Want greater control over materials and selections
Are organized and comfortable managing multiple moving pieces
Want professional guidance without automatically turning over the entire project to a traditional builder

Owner building isn't necessarily the easiest way to build a home but it can help return instant equity in your home.

But for the right homeowner, it can provide a level of control and transparency that's difficult to achieve with a traditional building arrangement.

What Does an Owner Builder Actually Manage?

One of the first questions we hear is:

“What am I actually responsible for?”

The answer depends on your agreement, but an owner-builder may be responsible for coordinating items such as subcontractor bidding, scheduling, material purchasing, selections, invoices, change orders, jobsite communication, and construction decisions.

Your builder partner's role is defined separately based on the services you've selected.

We believe those responsibilities should be clear before the project starts, not figured out halfway through construction.

Building on Your Land in the Texas Hill Country

True Stone Custom Homes, LLC specializes in build-on-your-land residential construction in the Texas Hill Country.

Our Owner Builder Program is intended for homeowners throughout our service area, including:

Boerne • Kendall County • Comal County - Comfort • Fredericksburg • Kerrville • Blanco • Canyon Lake and surrounding Texas Hill Country communities from San Antonio to Austin, TX.

Every property is different.

Before construction begins, we'll evaluate factors such as access, utilities, septic or sewer requirements, site preparation, lender or HOA requirements, topography, foundation considerations, and the overall feasibility of the project.

Already Own Your Land?

That's a great place to start.

Whether you already have house plans or are still determining what you can afford to build, we can help you establish a realistic path forward.

We'll discuss:

Your land → Your house plans → Your target budget → Your financing → Your desired level of involvement

From there, we can determine whether the Owner Builder Program makes sense for your project.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need construction experience?

Not necessarily. However, you should be comfortable making decisions, communicating with contractors, staying organized, and dedicating time to the project.

The less construction experience you have, the more valuable additional professional support may become.

Can I choose my own subcontractors?

Depending on your project structure and agreement, yes. Making sure your subs are vetted is also importatnt though. One of the primary advantages of owner building is greater control over who works on your home and what you're paying for the work.

Can I use True Stone's subcontractors?

Subcontractor and supplier resources may be available as part of the program.

Can you help me review bids?

Yes, bid review and construction consulting are standard services in the Owner Builder Program.

Can I finance an owner-built home?

Construction financing is available in the market for qualifying projects, but lender requirements vary considerably. Your lender ultimately determines whether a particular owner-builder or Builder of Record structure meets its construction loan requirements.

We recommend discussing the proposed structure with your lender early in the process. We also have lender options available that work with Owner Builders on a regular basis.

How much can I save?

There isn't an honest one-size-fits-all answer.

Potential savings depend on the home, subcontractor pricing, material selections, financing, schedule, homeowner involvement, and how efficiently the project is managed.

We'd rather help you establish a realistic project budget to help align expectations. It is not unusual to see 10% to 20% in overall cost savings with a solid plan in place.

Start With an Owner Builder Consultation

If you're considering building a custom home on your own land, let's start by looking at the project.

We'll discuss your property, plans, budget, financing, construction experience, and how involved you want to be.

Then we'll help you determine which approach makes the most sense:

Owner Builder | Owner Builder + Construction Support | Full-Service Custom Build

Build on your land. Control your project. Get help where you need it.

Serving The Texas Hill Country from San Antonio to Austin and surrounding areas including: Boerne, Comfort, Kerrville, Bandera, Pipe Creek, Lake Hills, Bulverde, Spring Branch, Canyon Lake, Blanco, New Braunfels, San Marcos, Buda, Kyle, Dripping Springs, TX

Email directly with any questions or complete form below for more detials:

Joseph@TrueStoneHomes.com

TexasOwnerBuilder.com

Owner-Builder Program