Ive watched too many buyers fall...
The following local update was published on May 14, 2026 by Modern Roots Realty Group, a dedicated real estate professional serving the Central Texas area.
I’ve watched too many buyers fall in love with a backsplash in the design center without realizing what that upgrade may actually mean for their monthly payment.
Here’s the part that gets overlooked: if your design center upgrades are added to the purchase price and financed into your mortgage, you’re not just paying for the tile, countertops, flooring, or fixtures one time.
You may be paying for them over the life of the loan.
That doesn’t mean every builder upgrade is bad. Some upgrades are absolutely worth doing upfront, especially structural items or things that would be expensive to change later. But some cosmetic upgrades may cost less if you handle them after closing.
Before my new-construction buyers make design center decisions, I help them look at the bigger picture: what’s included, what’s being financed, what may be better to do later, and how those choices could affect their overall numbers.
Because a pretty showroom choice can feel small in the moment, but it can still become part of the long-term cost of the home.
Save this if you’re building in Buda, Kyle, or anywhere around Austin.
Courtney Lester
Realty ONE Group
Here’s the part that gets overlooked: if your design center upgrades are added to the purchase price and financed into your mortgage, you’re not just paying for the tile, countertops, flooring, or fixtures one time.
You may be paying for them over the life of the loan.
That doesn’t mean every builder upgrade is bad. Some upgrades are absolutely worth doing upfront, especially structural items or things that would be expensive to change later. But some cosmetic upgrades may cost less if you handle them after closing.
Before my new-construction buyers make design center decisions, I help them look at the bigger picture: what’s included, what’s being financed, what may be better to do later, and how those choices could affect their overall numbers.
Because a pretty showroom choice can feel small in the moment, but it can still become part of the long-term cost of the home.
Save this if you’re building in Buda, Kyle, or anywhere around Austin.
Courtney Lester
Realty ONE Group
For more information regarding this update, or to explore active real estate opportunities in Central Texas, please contact Modern Roots Realty Group directly or browse the featured properties below.
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