Estes Park, Southlake

Estes Park is a neighborhood of about 170 custom homes in north Southlake that reached build-out in 2013, according to Community Impact. Homes were built by a group of custom builders including Browning, Harrell, Maykus, Mitcham, Monument, Simmons, Skinner and V. Patrick Gray, and most fall in the 4,400 to 6,500 square foot range on wooded lots. The neighborhood is in Carroll ISD, with Walnut Grove Elementary on recent listings, and it fits families who want a newer custom home with lakes and trails a few minutes from Southlake Town Square.

The lesson here is that the builder name matters in a custom neighborhood. Because each home was built by a different custom builder, floor plans, materials and construction details vary from street to street, which is exactly what a buyer's inspection and an appraiser's adjustments need to account for. With my construction and remodeling background, I look at the bones of each home, not just the staging, and for sellers I document the builder, upgrades and maintenance so buyers can see why your home earns its price.