An independently owned DFW regional builder offering semi-custom flexibility at production-builder pricing across 7 North Texas suburbs. An honest guide for families relocating to North Texas.
First Texas Homes has been building in the Dallas–Fort Worth area for nearly four decades, founded roughly in 1987 by Brent Wells from a family with over 45 years of roots in residential building and development. Unlike the national volume builders that dominate DFW new construction, First Texas Homes is independently owned and operated, with its leadership and decision-making anchored in the region rather than a distant corporate headquarters. CEO Randall Van Wolfswinkel has guided the company through a deliberate shift from pure value-price positioning toward a broader "preferred builder" identity, meaning more design investment and community variety while still holding a competitive price point versus semi-custom alternatives.
First Texas Homes concentrates almost entirely in the Dallas–Fort Worth metro, with active communities in growth corridors spanning North Collin County (Celina, Anna, Melissa), East DFW (Forney), South DFW (Midlothian), and Denton County (Little Elm and Lucas). Their sister brand, Gallery Custom Homes, serves the upper end of the market for families seeking a true luxury semi-custom product. The two brands share the same corporate family but operate independently. Current ShowingNew portal data shows 15 active communities across 7 DFW suburbs, with 309 homes available and current promotions active in every community sampled.
First Texas Homes occupies a specific niche: more flexibility than a national volume builder, less price premium than a true custom builder. Here are the two things that most distinguish them for relocating families comparing DFW builders.
First Texas Homes allows structural and layout changes to floor plans before the foundation is poured, the core distinction between a semi-custom and a pure production builder. Buyers can often modify room configurations, add bedrooms, extend living areas, or adjust the garage orientation in ways that national production builders simply don't permit. The range of changes available depends on the community series and build stage, so the earlier in the process a family engages, the more options they have.
First Texas Homes operates a dedicated Design Studio in Dallas' Design District, not an on-site trailer or a basic sample room, but a curated studio environment where buyers select finishes, flooring, cabinets, and fixtures. Buyers who finance through CrossCountry Mortgage (the preferred lender) receive a 30% discount on upgrades and options through the Design Studio, which can meaningfully offset the cost of personalizing a home. For relocating families doing most of their research and selections virtually, First Texas Homes can accommodate remote appointments, though coordinating on-site visits before contract signing is strongly recommended.
As a privately held regional builder, First Texas Homes can move faster on community planning decisions, local market adjustments, and buyer accommodations than publicly traded nationals that answer to quarterly earnings calls. This doesn't eliminate production bottlenecks, but it does mean that escalations, when needed, can sometimes reach decision-makers more directly. Buyers dealing with serious issues during construction or warranty have a clearer path to a principal than they might at a national firm.
First Texas Homes concentrates in DFW's outer growth corridors, areas where families can still find large lots, newer school infrastructure, and room for community amenities at prices below the established North DFW suburbs. Their footprint spans Collin County's northern tier (Celina, Anna, Melissa), East DFW (Forney), South DFW (Midlothian), and western Denton County (Little Elm, Lucas). Click any suburb to read the full family profile, or search current listings directly.
The table below is generated from Kristen's ShowingNew portal data and refreshed each month. First Texas Homes opens and closes communities as lots sell out, always verify current availability at firsttexashomes.com/communities or browse the portal below.
Showing 15 communities, sourced from ShowingNew and last updated 2026-05-26. Additional communities may be available; browse the full portal for current listings.
| Suburb | Community | Price Range | Beds | Baths | Sq Ft | Avail. | Promo | Portal |
|---|
Opens Kristen's NewHomeSource portal, listings update daily
First Texas Homes offers the standard 1-2-10 warranty that Texas law requires as the minimum for home builders: 1 year on workmanship, 2 years on mechanical delivery systems (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), and 10 years on structural integrity. Their warranty documentation is publicly available on their website and includes a downloadable manual. While the coverage matches the Texas statutory floor across all three tiers, BBB complaint data from 2025–2026 documents a recurring pattern of delays in warranty claim processing, particularly for HVAC-related repairs, where some homeowners reported requests unresolved after 12 or more months. That history is worth understanding before signing.
| Coverage | Texas Legal Minimum | First Texas | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workmanship | 1 year | 1 year ✓ | Defects in materials and workmanship, doors, windows, drywall, trim, roofing, grading |
| Systems | 2 years | 2 years ✓ | "Delivery systems", electrical wiring, plumbing distribution, HVAC ductwork and equipment |
| Structural | 10 years | 10 years ✓ | Foundation, load-bearing walls, and structural framing |
Warranty requests are submitted through the First Texas Homes website (firsttexashomes.com/warranty), where homeowners can also download the warranty manual and access homeowner care videos. The company uses an internal warranty department rather than outsourcing to a third-party warranty administrator. Based on BBB complaint data, response times have been inconsistent, some homeowners report prompt resolution, while others document multi-month delays on HVAC and systems-related claims. When submitting a warranty request, document everything in writing, keep copies, and follow up via email rather than phone so you have a paper trail if escalation becomes necessary.
Normal settlement cracks, cosmetic variations in finish materials, damage caused by homeowner modifications, and issues arising from lack of maintenance are excluded from coverage, as is standard across Texas builders. The 1-year workmanship window is short relative to many builder competitors who offer 2-year workmanship coverage; any workmanship defects should be documented and submitted well before the 12-month mark. The HVAC systems warranty runs 2 years, but failures in the first year (while under the workmanship coverage) have generated the most documented complaints, review the warranty manual's definition of what constitutes a "defect" vs. a "component failure" to understand which coverage tier applies to your specific issue.
First Texas Homes scores a 86 (A) on our 100-point builder index. Here's what drives that score, and where relocating families should pay attention.
As of May 2026, First Texas Homes is running a "Make The Move" promotion across eligible DFW communities. The offer gives buyers a choice: a 4.99% 30-year fixed rate on select quick move-in homes, OR up to $25,000 Your Way plus a $5,000 Bonus and a $3,000 NFM Gift Card at closing, all contingent on financing through CrossCountry Mortgage (Branch 3861), their preferred lender. A separate Heroes Rewards Program provides up to $1,000 toward property appraisal costs for qualifying military veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, and educators who also finance through CrossCountry. Incentive availability varies by community and is subject to change or termination without notice, confirm the active offer at your specific community before signing.
4.99% 30-year fixed rate on select quick move-in homes when using CrossCountry Mortgage. Rates and availability vary by community and lot; confirm the current pool status with the sales team before assuming availability.
Up to $25K Your Way (applicable to closing costs, pre-paids, or 2/1 and 3/2/1 rate buydowns) plus a $5K Bonus, as an alternative to the rate offer. The $3K NFM Gift Card is given at closing for financing with CrossCountry regardless of which path is chosen.
30% off upgrades and options at the Design Studio when financing with CrossCountry Mortgage. This discount can add up significantly if you're personalizing finishes, get the upgrade price list before Design Studio day so you can calculate the real value.
Important: Builder incentives are almost always tied to using their preferred lender. CrossCountry Mortgage can be a competitive option, but you should always get a competing quote from an independent lender first. The 4.99% or $25K package may or may not represent the best overall deal once the full loan cost is calculated. A buyer's agent can help you compare the true cost of the deal across lenders.
As a DFW relocation specialist, Kristen regularly checks in with First Texas Homes sales teams across communities to stay current on what's being offered, rate buydowns, closing cost credits, upgrade packages, and end-of-phase deals. Before you set foot in a model home, a quick call with Kristen will tell you exactly what First Texas is running right now in the communities that fit your budget and school zone. That's information the sales agent won't volunteer unless you ask the right questions.
Important, register before your first visit: If you walk into a First Texas Homes model home without registering a Realtor's name, you may permanently lose the ability to have buyer's representation for that community. First Texas Homes' sales agent works for First Texas Homes. Call or text Kristen at (602) 405-4115 before your first visit and she'll make sure her name is registered so you have independent representation at no cost to you.
First Texas Homes offers 1- to 3-story floor plans ranging from 2 to 6 bedrooms across their DFW communities, with base prices starting around $299,000 and reaching nearly $1 million in their larger Celina and Midlothian series. Plan availability varies by community, some communities offer a concentrated selection of 6–10 plans while others provide a broader library. Plan pricing varies by lot, elevation, and structural options selected.
The defining characteristic of First Texas Homes' process is the ability to make structural modifications to floor plans before the foundation is poured. This can include altering room sizes, adding a bedroom in place of a loft, adjusting the garage layout, or modifying the primary suite footprint. The specific changes available depend on the community series, not every plan in every community allows the same modifications. Families considering First Texas Homes should ask early about the structural change menu for their specific plan, and understand that changes requested after the pour are either impossible or priced as change orders. Finish-level selections (flooring, cabinets, countertops, fixtures) are made at the Design Studio after contract execution.
First Texas Homes' Design Studio is located in Dallas' Design District and offers a curated environment for selecting finishes, fixtures, and upgrades. The studio is a differentiator from builders that use basic sample rooms or on-site trailers. For relocating families arriving in DFW for a short visit window, scheduling Design Studio time efficiently is important, the selections appointment typically takes a full day and is one of the highest-impact moments in the build process. Remote buyers can review finish options digitally in advance, but the final selections must be confirmed in person. When financing with CrossCountry Mortgage, buyers receive a 30% discount on all Design Studio upgrades and options, a benefit worth quantifying against the cost of non-preferred financing.
Specific standard feature inclusions vary by plan series and community, but First Texas Homes typically includes granite or quartz countertops, stainless appliances, and upgraded flooring as standard in most of their current DFW communities rather than as upgrades. Features that are frequently upgrade-only at national builders, such as tankless water heaters in certain series, extended covered patios, and architectural shingles, may be standard or low-cost options depending on the community. Ask for the standard feature sheet for your specific plan at the community level, not the brand-level marketing overview, as standard inclusions can vary meaningfully between series.
"First Texas Homes fills a real gap in the DFW market, they give families actual floor plan flexibility and a genuine Design Studio experience at prices where most builders hand you a color board and call it customization. The honest conversation I always have is about their warranty service record. The A+ BBB grade is accurate, they do work to resolve complaints, but the review patterns tell you that resolution sometimes takes longer than it should. If you go in knowing that and you document everything from day one, this can be a strong builder for the right family."
First Texas Homes works best for families who are being priced out of established North DFW suburbs but don't want a basic production box. Their growth-corridor communities in Celina, Midlothian, Forney, and Little Elm offer the combination of newer schools, larger lots, and room for customization that families coming from higher-cost metros expect, at price points that are genuinely achievable without stretching. The semi-custom flexibility is real: I've had clients modify primary suite layouts and bedroom configurations in ways that Highland Homes and Meritage simply won't permit in their standard communities.
Where I counsel caution: the warranty service experience has been inconsistent enough, documented enough in public records, that I wouldn't tell a family it's a non-issue. HVAC failures in year one and two are the most common complaint, and some families have waited months for resolution while living without properly functioning systems. The way to protect yourself isn't to avoid First Texas Homes, it's to hire an independent third-party inspector at framing and pre-close, document everything in writing to the warranty department from day one, and understand the coverage definitions in the manual before you need to use them. If another builder is a better fit, I'll tell you that too, there's no reason to push a family toward a builder that's wrong for their timeline, suburb preference, or risk tolerance.
Bottom line: First Texas Homes is a strong fit for value-oriented families seeking semi-custom flexibility in DFW's growth corridors, particularly Celina, Midlothian, Forney, Little Elm, and Melissa, who are willing to stay organized and proactive if warranty issues arise. Call or text me at (602) 405-4115 before your first model home visit, I'll register my name so you have independent representation, brief you on current First Texas Homes incentives, and make sure you're looking at the right communities for your family's school zone and commute.
First Texas Homes scores 86 out of 100 on our DFW builder index (grade: A), driven by their A+ BBB grade, full 1-2-10 warranty coverage, and 39+ years of DFW-specific experience as an independently owned regional builder. The A+ BBB grade reflects their track record of working to resolve complaints, 23 over three years across a substantial operation. Where families should set realistic expectations is post-close warranty service: the 12 BBB customer reviews on file average 1.33 out of 5 stars, with repeated references to slow warranty department response times, particularly for HVAC-related issues. First Texas Homes is a solid builder for families who prioritize semi-custom flexibility and growth-corridor communities, and who go in prepared to document warranty requests carefully and follow up consistently if needed.
Current ShowingNew portal data (May 2026) shows First Texas Homes communities in DFW ranging from approximately $299,000 to $972,000 depending on the community series, suburb, and floor plan. Entry-level communities in Forney and Anna start in the upper $290s to low $300s for smaller 3-bedroom plans. Their larger Celina and Midlothian communities, particularly in the Wellspring Estates and Shady Valley Estates series, reach the upper $800s to low $900s for 4–6 bedroom homes over 4,000 square feet. The median price across their ShowingNew portfolio is roughly $500,000–$600,000. Base prices do not include lot premiums, structural upgrades, or Design Studio finish selections, which can add meaningfully to the final contract price.
First Texas Homes currently builds in seven DFW suburbs based on ShowingNew portal data: Celina (4 active communities), Forney (3 communities), Midlothian (3 communities), Little Elm (2 communities), plus Anna, Melissa, and Lucas with one community each. Their footprint concentrates in growth corridors, North Collin County, East DFW, and South DFW, where land is still available for new master-planned communities at competitive price points. They do not currently build in established North DFW suburbs like Frisco, Flower Mound, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Coppell, Southlake, or Colleyville. Families committed to those core suburbs will need to look at other builders.
First Texas Homes offers the Texas statutory standard 1-2-10 warranty: 1 year on workmanship defects, 2 years on "delivery systems" (their term for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC), and 10 years on structural integrity including the foundation and load-bearing walls. The warranty manual is downloadable from their website (firsttexashomes.com/warranty) and details the coverage definitions. Claims are submitted through their online warranty portal and handled by an internal warranty department. Based on BBB complaint data from 2025–2026, HVAC and systems warranty claims have had documented delays of 12 or more months in some cases. Families should submit all warranty requests in writing, retain copies, and escalate in writing if initial responses are slow.
You don't need one, but you should have one, and it costs you nothing extra. First Texas Homes pays the buyer's agent commission; the builder price is the same whether you bring a Realtor or not. The builder's sales agent works for First Texas Homes, not for you. A buyer's agent reviews the contract, advises on lot selection, explains upgrade pricing relative to market value, recommends independent inspectors, and represents your interests at the pre-closing walkthrough. Given the documented warranty service patterns with First Texas Homes, having an agent who knows what to look for during framing and pre-close inspections is especially valuable. If you visit a model home without registering a Realtor on your first visit, you may lose the ability to have that Realtor represent you for that community, so call Kristen before you go.
First Texas Homes does not publish specific build timelines, and actual duration varies by community, plan complexity, and the extent of structural modifications chosen. For a standard semi-custom home with moderate Design Studio selections in a currently active DFW community, families should budget 8–14 months from contract execution to close, a general range consistent with regional semi-custom builders in the current DFW market. Quick move-in (spec) homes, which are already under construction or complete, are available in many communities and can close in 30–90 days. If your relocation timeline is fixed, a job start date or school enrollment window, discuss the specific community's current build schedule with Kristen before committing to a spec vs. to-be-built approach.
Gallery Custom Homes is the luxury arm of the same corporate family as First Texas Homes. While First Texas Homes targets the move-up and semi-custom segment roughly in the $300,000–$900,000 range, Gallery Custom Homes serves the upper-luxury tier with more extensive custom capabilities and finishes targeting buyers in the $800,000–$2,000,000+ range. The two brands operate independently with separate communities, sales teams, and build processes. If you're exploring either brand, they should be evaluated separately, a First Texas Homes community experience (product, process, warranty) is not necessarily representative of a Gallery Custom Homes experience and vice versa.
Kristen has helped relocating families navigate First Texas Homes communities across DFW, from suburb shortlisting to contract review to closing day. Her representation costs you nothing on new construction, and the builder's sales agent works for First Texas Homes, not for you.
