Cost to Build a Custom Home in Marble Falls TX

Understanding the true cost to build a custom home in Marble Falls TX is one of the first—and most important—steps in planning your new home. At Zbranek & Holt Custom Homes, we work with families every day who want clarity, precision, and a full picture of what it takes to build well in the Texas Hill Country. For a deeper overview of the building process and local requirements, explore our Marble Falls custom home builder page.

Whether you are building on acreage outside of town, near Lake LBJ, or within a private community, Marble Falls offers an incredible setting for a home tailored to your lifestyle. But with unique terrain, evolving codes, and rising material costs, it is critical to understand how budget planning actually works for custom homes in Marble Falls TX.

Lot-Related Costs: Granite, Grade, and Prep

Land is a major factor in pricing. Many properties in Marble Falls—and especially those near the lakes—sit on granite terrain. If your land is on the waterfront, our guide on building a lakefront home in Marble Falls explains additional permitting, structural, and design considerations. Granite provides excellent stability for foundations, but it is costly to excavate. That means homes built on this type of land often require specialized drilling, trenching, or elevated slab systems.

If your lot is on a slope, additional retaining walls, grading, or engineered foundations may also be required. These can add tens of thousands of dollars to the total cost, especially if the site needs to accommodate a pool or multi-level design.

In general, site preparation can cost anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000+ depending on the topography, tree clearing, access, and utilities.
Source: NAHB 2024 Cost of Construction Survey

What Goes Into Per Square Foot Pricing

Buyers often ask, “What is the price per square foot to build a custom home in Marble Falls?” The honest answer is; it depends.

Unlike tract or production housing, custom homes in Marble Falls TX are priced according to the design, materials, structural needs, and finishes that go into them. Costs can vary widely—from $300/sq ft on the low end to well over $500/sq ft for high-end waterfront builds.

Per-square-foot pricing should never be your only budgeting tool. For a deeper breakdown, see our insights on how price per square foot affects custom home budgets. Instead, we recommend creating a room-by-room plan that reflects your lifestyle—primary suites, outdoor living, smart systems, garage bays, and special use spaces like wine rooms or media areas. This gives a much more accurate picture of the final investment.

“Price per square foot is not the most reliable way to estimate luxury home costs—scope and structure matter more.” – Zbranek & Holt, Price Per Square Foot Article

Lifestyle and design choices

The decisions you make, like the style of the building and the height of the ceilings, affect the cost. The following things have a big impact on prices:

• The height of the ceilings and the pitch of the roof
• The size and type of windows and doors (especially floor-to-ceiling glass)
• Specialty HVAC systems or whole-home automation
• Outdoor living spaces like kitchens, pools, and patios
• Custom cabinets and finishes

Many homeowners in Marble Falls want seamless indoor-outdoor living, spa-like bathrooms, and open kitchens designed for hosting—each influencing structural choices, engineering, and finishes.

Source: Top 10 Luxury Home Trends for 2025 – Zbranek & Holt

Builder Process and Contract Structure

Not all home builders in Marble Falls TX price the same way. Many use “cost-plus” models, where the builder charges based on what the home costs during construction, plus a markup. This leaves the client vulnerable to price increases and scope creep.

At Zbranek & Holt, we use a fixed-price design-build contract. That means we work out every detail—scope, selections, vendor bids—before we pour a slab. You know your price and your allowances before construction begins, which protects your budget and timeline.

If you are comparing bids, make sure you are looking at the contract structure, included services, and whether engineering, permitting, and selections are accounted for.

Timeframe and Inflation Considerations

The average build time in Marble Falls is 12–18 months, depending on lot readiness, architectural complexity, and permitting. Labor availability, supplier delays, and recent material volatility may affect schedules and budgets.

Planning early, locking in vendor pricing, and working with a local professional team helps avoid unexpected increases.

Source: Builder Online – Custom Home Trends & Delays, 2024

Teardowns, Waterfronts, and HOA Costs

If your lot involves a teardown, budget in $25,000–$50,000 for demolition, debris removal, and code-compliant site prep. If you are building within a gated community, there may be HOA design review fees, landscape guidelines, or pre-approved finish requirements.

For new construction homes in Marble Falls TX near Lake LBJ or within The Trails, The Peninsula, or Escondido, it’s common for homeowners to pay $5,000–$25,000+ in architectural review and compliance costs.

Lakefront lots may also require additional permitting through the LCRA, bulkhead or dock approvals, and in some cases, elevated finished floor plans for floodplain compliance.

Source: Zbranek & Holt – What You Need to Know Before Building a Home on Lake LBJ

Building Smart in the Hill Country

The cost to build a custom home in Marble Falls TX is not just about dollars per square foot. It is about aligning your design goals, land features, and lifestyle into a plan that works—and knowing what to expect before you begin.

If you want guidance from a trusted custom home builder in Marble Falls, our team is ready to help. With decades of experience on Lake LBJ, hillside terrain, and acreage estates, we assist homeowners with every decision from land purchase to move-in.

Ready to talk numbers or walk your lot? Start at www.zhcustomhomes.com/contact-us