The Buyer's Guide · New Construction

Buying a New Construction Home in Temple, Belton, Salado and Killeen

What new homes cost, where they are being built, and what to know before you walk into your first model home.

By the Magnolia Realty Temple-Belton Team · Updated September 2026

There is nothing quite like walking into a brand-new home. Everything is clean and untouched, and you get to picture your life there before anyone else has. Across Temple, Belton, Salado and Killeen, about 1 in 4 homes sold this past year was built in 2024 or later, so there are plenty of new homes to choose from.

Buying new is a little different from buying a resale home, though. This guide covers what new homes are selling for in each city, how they compare with resale homes, the communities where most of the building is happening, and the things we wish every buyer knew before they signed with a builder.

New Homes at a Glance

New homes are homes built in 2024 or later. Based on Central Texas MLS closed sales, September 2025 to September 2026. Figures are rounded summaries, not appraisals, and do not reflect any individual sale.

New vs. Resale: How They Compare

New homes usually cost more per square foot than resale homes. Across the four cities, new homes sold for about $175 per square foot, compared with about $145 for resale homes. Here is how that played out in each city this past year.

Based on Central Texas MLS closed sales, September 2025 to September 2026. Figures are rounded summaries.

A few patterns stand out:

• Lots are usually smaller. In Temple, Belton and Killeen, new homes typically sat on about a seventh of an acre. If yard space matters to you, an established neighborhood may offer more room for the money.
• Belton is the exception on price. New homes in Belton actually sold for a little less per square foot than resale homes, partly because Belton's resale market includes lake-area homes and larger lots.
• Salado builds big. Nearly half of Salado's sales were new homes, and they kept the half-acre lots Salado is known for.
• Most new homes are single-story, with three or four bedrooms. More than half of the new homes sold this past year had four bedrooms.

The best time to bring your own agent to a new-home community is before you walk through the model door.

Where New Homes Are Being Built

These are the communities where the most new homes sold over the past year.

Temple

• Pecan Creek: East of I-35 and one of the busiest new-home communities in Temple, with some of the most budget-friendly new homes in the area. Most homes sold between $220K and $250K, built 2025 to 2026.
• Oak Ridge: Another east-side community with new homes at approachable prices. Most homes sold between $230K and $265K, built 2024 to 2026.
• Mesa Ridge: Northwest Temple toward Lake Belton, with a Temple address and Belton ISD zoning. Most homes sold between $270K and $395K, built 2024 to 2026.
• Northgate: Also in northwest Temple and zoned to Belton ISD, with newer phases still building. Most homes sold between $280K and $360K, built 2018 to 2026.
• Hartrick: On Temple's southern edge, with a more open setting and Academy ISD zoning. Most homes sold between $280K and $385K, built 2023 to 2026.

See every neighborhood in our Temple neighborhood guide.

Belton

• Three Creeks: Belton's busiest neighborhood, southwest of downtown, with trails, community amenities and a mix of resale and new construction. Most homes sold between $285K and $360K, built 2018 to 2026.
• Skyview: A newer community southwest of downtown. Most homes sold between $290K and $320K, built 2025 to 2026.
• Hubbard Branch: On the south side of Belton. Most homes sold between $310K and $360K, built 2021 to 2025.
• Ridge at Belle Meadows: Southwest of downtown, among the more approachable prices for new construction in Belton. Most homes sold between $250K and $280K, built 2025.

See more in our Belton guide.

Salado

• Sterling Meadows: Southeast of the village, with lots around two-thirds of an acre. Most homes sold between $440K and $485K, built 2025 to 2026.
• Drakes Landing: Just east of the village center, a short drive to Main Street. Most homes sold between $415K and $490K, built 2023 to 2026.
• Eagle Heights: On the north side of the village. Most homes sold between $395K and $500K, built 2022 to 2026.
• Eagle Ranch: North of the village near Salado High School, on generous lots. Most homes sold between $580K and $655K, built 2025 to 2026.
• King Oaks: Some of the largest new homes in Salado, northwest of the village. Most homes sold between $710K and $755K, built 2025 to 2026.

See more in our Salado guide.

Killeen

• Turnbo Ranch: Killeen's busiest neighborhood this past year, on the far south side of town. Most homes sold between $270K and $335K, built 2025 to 2026.
• Levy Crossing: On the southwest side, at a slightly higher price point. Most homes sold between $295K and $370K, built 2025 to 2026.
• Victory Ranch: On the southwest side, where homes sold in about five weeks. Most homes sold between $255K and $280K, built 2025 to 2026.
• McGregor Estates: On the west side of Killeen. Most homes sold between $285K and $355K, built 2025 to 2026.
• Mitchell Farms: On the far southwest side, where homes sold in about four weeks. Most homes sold between $260K and $290K, built 2025 to 2026.
• Herring Legacy Estates: Some of the largest new homes in Killeen, on the southeast side. Most homes sold between $430K and $615K, built 2023 to 2026.

See more in our Killeen guide.

What to Know Before You Visit a Model Home

1. Bring your agent on your very first visit. Many builders require your agent to register you at your first visit. If you walk in alone and sign the guest book, you may not be able to add an agent later.
2. Remember who the builder's team works for. The friendly people in the model home represent the builder. Your own agent is there to represent you, compare your options across communities and negotiate on your behalf.
3. Compare incentives, not just prices. Builders often offer closing-cost help or a lower interest rate, especially through their preferred lender. Ask for the full offer in writing and compare it with an outside lender.
4. Get your own inspections. Even new homes can have issues. Many buyers order a pre-drywall inspection, a final inspection before closing and another inspection before the builder's one-year warranty ends.
5. Read the warranty. Many builders offer one year of coverage on workmanship, two years on systems like plumbing and electrical, and ten years on the structure. Coverage varies, so ask for it in writing.
6. Plan for a higher tax bill in year two. Texas appraises property as of January 1. If your home was still under construction then, your first tax bill may be based mostly on the lot. The next year, it will reflect the finished home, so budget for the increase. Also ask whether the community has a MUD or PID that adds to the tax rate.
7. Ask what is included. Blinds, a refrigerator, fencing, gutters and backyard landscaping are not always part of the base price. Upgrades and lot premiums can add up quickly.
8. Read the deed restrictions. New communities usually have HOA rules covering fences, sheds, parking and more. It is much easier to read them before you sign than after you move in.

Selling a Home Near New Construction?

If you are selling a resale home in a market with lots of new building, pricing and presentation matter even more. New homes took longer to sell than resale homes in Temple and Belton this past year, and resale homes often win on lot size and established trees. Our seller's guide shows what homes like yours are selling for.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do new construction homes cost in Temple, TX?

Over the past year, most new homes in Temple sold between about $255,000 and $380,000, with a typical price of about $290,000.

Where are new homes being built in Belton?

Most new-home sales in Belton this past year were in Three Creeks, Skyview, Hubbard Branch and Ridge at Belle Meadows, all on the south and southwest sides of town.

Are new homes more expensive than resale homes?

Usually, per square foot. Across Temple, Belton, Salado and Killeen, new homes sold for about $175 per square foot this past year, compared with about $145 for resale homes. Belton was the exception.

Do I need my own agent to buy a new construction home?

You are not required to have one, but it helps to have someone in your corner. The builder's sales team represents the builder, and your agent represents you. We compare floor plans, lots and incentives across communities, review the contract and addendums with you, and negotiate on price, upgrades, closing-cost help and lot premiums. Because we work with local builders, we know what to ask for and when there may be room to negotiate, like on finished inventory homes. We also stay with you through inspections and the final walkthrough. Many builders require your agent to register you on your first visit, so bring us from the start.

Why is my second-year property tax bill higher on a new home?

Texas appraises property as of January 1. If your home was not finished by then, your first bill may be based mostly on the lot. The following year reflects the completed home.