Are DFW Builders Negotiating? Real Examples & Market Comparison 2024 vs. 2025

As we reach the halfway point of 2025, many prospective homebuyers and real estate enthusiasts are asking: How does the current Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) new construction market compare to 2024? Are builder incentives still available? Have mortgage rates improved? Is it easier or harder to find a great deal today? In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share real, recent deals my team has negotiated for clients, dive deep into market data comparing 2024 and 2025, and reveal insider insights that could help you score a better deal on your next new construction home in DFW.

Whether you’re thinking about building from the ground up or buying an inventory home, understanding the market realities and builder incentives right now is crucial. I specialize exclusively in new construction homes in the DFW area, and I’m here to give you the inside scoop on what’s really happening behind the scenes — the numbers don’t lie.

Table of Contents

• Real Buyer Deals: Incentives & Savings in 2025
• Market Data: Comparing New Construction in DFW 2024 vs. 2025
• Why Inventory Homes Offer the Best Deals Right Now
• Live Builder Promotions: What You Can Expect in 2025
• Suburban Growth and What to Watch For in DFW
• Final Thoughts: Take Advantage of Builder Incentives While They Last
• Where to Go for the Best New Construction Deals in DFW
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Real Buyer Deals: Incentives & Savings in 2025

One of the best ways to understand the market is through actual lived experience — the deals we’ve put together for clients in the last 30 to 60 days give a clear picture of the current builder incentives and rate structures. Here are five recent deals, ranging from the $300,000s to the high $600,000s, showcasing what’s negotiable and what you can expect when buying new construction homes in DFW today.

Deal #1: Ground-up Build with Highland Homes ($500,000s)

This deal was a full build job, where the client picked the lot, floor plan, colors, and upgrades. Located in a great neighborhood, this home sits in the mid to high $500,000 price range. Here’s what we negotiated:

• Half off the lot premium: The lot chosen was a coveted green belt lot with no back neighbors, which allowed us to negotiate a 50% discount on the lot premium.
• $65,000 towards structural and design upgrades: This amount gave the buyer flexibility to add bedrooms, change bathrooms, install fireplaces, and customize flooring, cabinets, and countertops.
• $20,000 credit towards closing costs: This was on top of the lot premium discount and upgrade credit.
• Additional free builder upgrades: After some back and forth, the builder also included a few extras at no additional charge.

This deal is a perfect example of how negotiating on a build from scratch can yield substantial savings and upgrades, especially in sought-after neighborhoods with premium lots.

Deal #2: Inventory Home with Pacesetter Homes ($400,000s)

Inventory homes offer the advantage of a quicker close, and this deal was no exception. Located in the mid $400,000s, this home was built by Pacesetter Homes, a builder I personally have experience with and highly recommend. Key points of this deal include:

• 4.99% fixed mortgage rate for 30 years: The clients locked in a competitive rate, which is a huge advantage in today’s market.
• $20,000 price reduction: We negotiated this discount from the builder’s original advertised price.
• All closing costs covered: This included escrow setup fees for taxes and insurance, reducing upfront expenses for the buyers.
• Blinds included: An added bonus to make the home move-in ready without extra expense.

This inventory home is set to close within 60 days, demonstrating that builders are still motivated to move quick-turn inventory with attractive incentives.

Deal #3: Trophy Homes Inventory Incentives ($400,000s)

Trophy Homes is known for having a lot of inventory homes available, especially for buyers with budgets under $500,000 looking for quick move-in options. Here’s what we secured for a low $400,000s home:

• 4.99% fixed mortgage rate: Locked in for the full 30 years.
• All appliances included: Washer, dryer, refrigerator, and blinds were part of the deal.
• $10,000 price reduction: This was an additional discount on top of previous reductions, as the home came back on the market unexpectedly.

This deal highlights the importance of acting quickly when inventory unexpectedly becomes available again. Trophy Homes is a great builder for starter budgets and fast closings.

Deal #4: Meritage Homes Inventory ($300,000s)

Meritage Homes often appears alongside Trophy in neighborhoods and offers similar products and negotiations. Here’s a recent mid $300,000s deal that just closed:

• 4.99% fixed rate with 3.99% buy-down for the first year: This lower initial rate helps buyers save on their monthly payments early on.
• Appliances included: Washer, dryer, and fridge were part of the package.
• $5,000 credit toward closing costs: Instead of a price reduction, the buyers opted for this credit, which often helps more with upfront expenses.

This deal illustrates the flexibility builders offer between price reductions and closing cost credits, depending on what benefits the buyer most.

Deal #5: Highland Inventory Home with $55,000 Price Reduction ($600,000s)

For clients in the higher price brackets, builders often have more room to negotiate. This inventory home, starting in the high $600,000s, came with a significant price reduction:

• $55,000 price reduction: The home was one of the last in its phase, so the builder was motivated to close it out.
• Appliances included: As with other deals, the builder included major appliances.
• $25,000 credit toward closing costs: The buyers chose this option instead of a rate buy-down, based on their financing strategy.

Higher-priced homes often give buyers more leverage, especially when builders are transitioning phases and inventory is limited.

Bonus Deals in Progress

We’re also working on two more deals currently in negotiation:

• Another build with Highland Homes: Around $50,000 to $55,000 in design upgrades, $25,000 in closing cost credits, no lot premium, and upgraded standard features.
• Highland inventory home in the $400,000s: Looking at a $20,000 price reduction, 4.99% fixed rate with 3.99% buy-down for the first year, and potential appliance incentives. Closing expected in 45 days.

These ongoing negotiations show builders are still actively offering incentives to move homes in a market where mortgage rates remain elevated.

Market Data: Comparing New Construction in DFW 2024 vs. 2025

Now that we’ve reviewed some real-world deals, let’s dive into the data to see how the DFW new construction market has shifted from 2024 to 2025. I’m a bit of a numbers nerd, so I love looking at sales prices, months supply, inventory levels, and closed sales across key counties and cities in the DFW metroplex.

Collin County TX: Price Reductions and Market Dynamics

Collin County, which includes popular cities like McKinney, Frisco, and Prosper, shows a clear trend in pricing:

• Average sales price: May 2024 averaged about $469,796, but by May 2025, it dropped to approximately $447,000 — a $20,000 average price reduction.
• Median sales price: Fell from $421,480 in June 2024 to $385,000 in May 2025.

This drop reflects builders’ willingness to adjust pricing to maintain sales momentum amid higher mortgage rates.

Prosper TX: High Prices but Slight Decline

Many buyers want to live in Prosper TX, but it’s a premium market:

• Median sales price dropped from $900,000+ in May 2024 to $835,000 in May 2025.
• Average sales price peaked at $1 million in mid-2024 but came down to about $870,000.
• Months supply of inventory rose slightly from 3.3 to 4 months, indicating a slight easing of demand.
• Number of homes listed for sale and closed sales remained stable year-over-year.

Prosper TX remains a high-end market, but builders are adjusting prices slightly to attract buyers.

Frisco TX: Slight Price Drop and Rising Inventory

Frisco TX is a top destination for many buyers, but the data shows some cooling:

• Average sales price dropped about 8%, from approximately $1.02 million in 2024 to $1 million in 2025.
• Months supply increased from 4.2 to 5.5 months, showing builders sitting on more inventory.
• Closed sales fell from 40 in 2024 to 24 in 2025, indicating slower transaction velocity.

Rising inventory and slower sales suggest buyers have more choices, and builders are incentivizing moves.

Celina TX: Inventory Surge Amid Price Stability

Unlike other northern suburbs, Celina TX bucks the trend with strong growth:

• Average sales price dropped nearly $200,000 year-over-year, but median prices remained stable or slightly up.
• Homes for sale nearly doubled from about 230 to 416, showing builders are stocking more inventory.
• Closed sales also increased by 75%, indicating strong buyer activity despite rising inventory.
• Months supply grew from about 4.2 to 5.9 months.

This market reflects suburban expansion, where builders are preparing for continued demand.

Rockwall County TX: Strong Sales Growth with Stable Pricing

Rockwall County, a popular eastern DFW suburb, is showing positive signs:

• Average sales price remains around $490,000.
• Median sales price dipped slightly from $429,000 to $395,000.
• Homes for sale increased by 50 units year-over-year.
• Closed sales jumped from 60 to 94, showing increased buyer activity.
• Months supply remains steady at about 5 months.

Within the city of Rockwall TX itself, average sales prices rose from $570,000 to $765,000, and homes for sale doubled to 135, reflecting a growing and active market.

Royse City TX: Steady Prices and Growing Demand

Royse City, straddling multiple counties, is also a hotspot:

• Median sales price hovered around $356,000 to $360,000.
• Closed sales and inventory are both on the rise.
• Real estate transactions remain steady with a positive outlook.

Royse City offers good entry-level options for buyers looking for affordability and growth potential.

Lavon TX and Princeton TX: Inventory Explosion and Growth Opportunities

For buyers seeking affordable options, Lavon and Princeton are experiencing rapid expansion:

• Homes for sale in Princeton TX increased by 50% year-over-year, from 216 to 245 units.
• Closed sales in Princeton TX  rose 14%, from 127 to 190.
• Lavon TX  saw similar growth in inventory and closed sales.
• Average pricing in Princeton fell slightly from $340,000 to $316,000, while Lavon TX  averaged about $385,000.

This data shows that builders are aggressively adding inventory in these affordable suburbs to meet growing demand.

Why Inventory Homes Offer the Best Deals Right Now

One key takeaway from the data and deals is that inventory homes—those already built or near completion—are where builders are most motivated to offer significant incentives. Here’s why:

• Quick Closing Timeline: Inventory homes typically close in 30 to 60 days, giving builders certainty on sales and cash flow.
• Rate Buy-Downs and Closing Cost Incentives: Builders often offer mortgage rate buy-downs (e.g., 4.99% fixed with a 3.99% buy-down for year one) and cover closing costs to attract buyers.
• Flexibility in Incentives: Builders may offer price reductions, appliance packages, blinds, or closing cost credits, depending on what buyers value most.
• Builder Confidence on Pricing: Because inventory homes are ready to sell, builders can predict market conditions and confidently offer incentives without risking overexposure.

For buyers who want to move quickly and save money on financing and upfront costs, inventory homes are often the best option in today’s market.

Live Builder Promotions: What You Can Expect in 2025

Many builders advertise current promotions on their websites and sales offices. Here are some examples showing active incentives in the market:

• Highland Homes: Offering a 4.99% fixed rate with a 3.99% buy-down for the first year, locking in a 5.99% rate thereafter. While this is a competitive deal, I’d love to see even better buy-downs to help buyers save more monthly.
• Trophy Homes: Promoting up to $25,000 in savings or a 4.99% rate plus $7,500 in closing costs on select inventory homes.
• Other Builders: Offering no closing costs or appliance packages on quick-moving inventory homes, alongside promotional fixed rates.

Builders are clearly motivated to move homes in all price points—from $300,000 starter homes to $700,000+ luxury homes—by offering a mix of financial incentives and rate buy-downs.

Suburban Growth and What to Watch For in DFW

DFW’s suburban expansion is driving much of the new construction activity and inventory. Here’s a quick overview of what’s happening:

• Hot Suburbs with Growth: Celina, Rockwall, Royse City, Princeton, Lavon, and parts of Collin and Kaufman counties are experiencing significant growth and increased inventory.
• Entry-Level to Mid-Range Homes ($300,000-$400,000): Trophy, Meritage, and other builders dominate these neighborhoods, offering quick move-in options and strong incentives.
• Mid to High Range Homes ($500,000-$700,000+): Builders like Highland and Pacesetter Homes provide build-to-suit opportunities and inventory homes with substantial upgrade allowances and price reductions.
• Property Taxes and Community Features: Many of these communities offer lower property tax rates and fewer municipal utility districts (MUDs), which is an attractive factor for buyers.

Understanding the dynamics of these suburban markets will help buyers choose the right location and timing for their purchase.

Final Thoughts: Take Advantage of Builder Incentives While They Last

To sum up, the DFW new construction market in mid-2025 feels stable but competitive. Mortgage rates remain elevated, and builders are actively offering incentives to move homes. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

• Builder incentives remain strong: From lot premium discounts to upgrade credits, price reductions, and closing cost assistance, builders want to sell homes.
• Inventory is rising in many suburban markets: This gives buyers more options and leverage for negotiation.
• Mortgage rates have not fallen as hoped: Rate buy-downs are a key tool builders use to help buyers afford homes.
• Higher-priced homes offer more negotiation room: Builders in the $600,000+ range often have more flexibility to offer significant savings.
• The market will shift when rates come down: When that happens, demand will surge and builder incentives will likely decrease.

For now, take advantage of the incentives while they are available. Whether you’re buying an inventory home for a quick close or building from scratch to customize your dream home, there are deals to be made.

Where to Go for the Best New Construction Deals in DFW

If you’re ready to explore new construction homes, a great place to start is www.zakschmidt.com  Our website is tailored to new construction buyers and offers:

• A comprehensive search tool for neighborhoods and builders across all price points.
• A relocation guide packed with resources for newcomers to DFW.
• Access to exclusive builder incentives and insider deals.
• Easy ways to contact our team for personalized help navigating the market.

Check it out, and let us help you find the best DFW deal and the perfect home for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are builders in DFW still negotiating in 2025?

Yes, builders continue to offer incentives such as lot premium discounts, upgrade credits, price reductions, closing cost assistance, and mortgage rate buy-downs to attract buyers and move inventory.

What types of incentives are most common right now?

Common incentives include fixed-rate mortgage buy-downs (e.g., 4.99% fixed with a 3.99% rate for year one), closing cost credits, price reductions, and appliance or upgrade packages.

Is it better to buy an inventory home or build from scratch?

Both have advantages. Inventory homes can close quickly and often come with attractive rate buy-downs and closing cost incentives. Building from scratch offers customization and upgrade credits but may take longer to complete.

How have prices changed from 2024 to 2025 in DFW new construction?

Prices have generally decreased slightly in many key markets, with average price reductions around $20,000 in places like Collin County. Some suburbs like Celina have seen stable or growing prices despite increased inventory.

What areas in DFW are growing the fastest for new construction?

Suburbs such as Celina, Rockwall, Royse City, Princeton, Lavon, and parts of Kaufman County are experiencing rapid growth and increased builder inventory.

How long will these builder incentives last?

Incentives will likely continue as long as mortgage rates remain high and builders need to move inventory. When rates drop, demand will increase and incentives may decrease.

Where can I find the best new construction home listings and deals in DFW?

www.zakschmidt.com is a dedicated platform for new construction in DFW, offering current listings, builder information, and exclusive deals.

If you want expert guidance on negotiating builder deals or navigating the DFW new construction market, don’t hesitate to reach out. The right deal is out there — let’s find it together!