Greater Houston's new construction runs along five highway corridors, and the fastest growth now sits on or outside the Grand Parkway. Before you choose a floor plan, choose a corridor — it sets your commute, your school district, your tax rate, and your resale market for the next decade.

It's the line item that catches nearly every buyer moving to Texas off guard. A newer MUD district can add $300 to $500 a month to a new-home payment, and your first-year tax bill won't warn you. Here's how MUDs, PIDs, and HOAs actually work — and how to calculate your real monthly number before you sign.

A production builder sells you speed and price certainty. A custom builder hands you a blank sheet. Most Houston buyers belong somewhere in between — and the category you pick matters more than which builder you pick inside it. How the three compare on cost, timeline, and control.