Can you buy a new construction home near Austin for under $250,000 in 2026?

Yes, though the selection is a fraction of what opens up slightly higher: the count under $250,000 runs to roughly a third of what is available under $300,000. The inventory concentrates in Maxwell, Uhland, Kyle, Elgin, Jarrell, and Taylor, mostly 30 to 50 miles from central Austin, and a meaningful share is townhomes or condominiums rather than detached houses. The live count at the top of this page is the current number, straight from the MLS.

Where are the cheapest new homes near Austin?

Maxwell and Uhland, the small towns along the I-35 and SH-21 corridor south of Kyle, consistently carry the most sub-$250,000 new construction, followed by Kyle, Elgin, Jarrell, and Taylor. These are the furthest-out edges of the metro, and the lower price is paid for almost entirely in commute distance.

What do you get in a new Austin-area home under $250,000?

Usually a three-bedroom home of about 1,200 to 1,400 square feet on a narrow lot with the builder's base finish package, or a townhome or condo of similar size. You are buying new rather than large: a warranty, current building code, a new roof and HVAC system, and the strongest builder incentives in the market, because entry-level buyers are the most rate-sensitive and builders know it.

Are manufactured homes included in cheap new home listings?

Some listings at this price are manufactured rather than site-built, and they are a different asset. Financing options, appraisal, insurance, and long-term value all behave differently, and some lenders will not treat one as real property unless it is permanently affixed and the land is included. It is not a reason to rule them out, but confirm in writing which you are looking at before you get attached to a price.

Is it better to buy under $250,000 far out or stretch to $300,000 closer in?

Run the monthly, not the price. Moving up to the $300,000 band roughly triples how many homes you can choose from and usually buys a shorter commute, against a higher payment. The honest comparison adds the tax rate for each specific lot, the HOA, and a real estimate of fuel and tolls on the commute you would actually drive. Often the gap is smaller than the sticker suggests, and sometimes it is not; it depends entirely on the lot.

A tree-lined street of new homes under mature oaks at golden hour in the Austin metro

New Homes by Budget

New Construction Homes Under $250,000 in Austin

Where to actually find new construction under $250,000 across the Austin metro, with live listings, the suburbs that fit this budget, and the honest tradeoffs. Builder-paid buyer representation, since the builder covers the fee in most cases.

Prefer to talk now? Call or text 254-718-2567

Get an agent on your side of the table

The builder's agent works for the builder. I work for you, and the builder pays my fee in most cases, disclosed in writing before we tour. Ask me anything; I reply personally, usually the same day.

The short answer

This is the floor of the Austin new-construction market. The homes are real and they come with a builder warranty, but the shelf is narrow and it sits a long way out: the inventory concentrates in a handful of small towns south and east of the city, and a meaningful share of it is townhomes and condominiums rather than detached houses. Expect roughly 1,200 to 1,400 square feet and three bedrooms, on a small lot, with the builder's base finishes. The single most useful thing to know is that stretching to the high $200,000s roughly triples how many homes you can choose from, so compare the monthly payment at both levels before you decide this is your band.

Sub-$250,000 new construction clusters in the far south and east: Maxwell and Uhland along the I-35 and SH-21 corridor below Kyle, plus Kyle itself, Elgin, Jarrell, Taylor, and San Marcos. A small number appear inside Austin, almost always attached product rather than houses. Most of these towns sit 30 to 50 miles from central Austin, and the commute is the real price of the discount.

Live from the MLS

298 new homes under $250,000

Search all under $250,000on the map →

Built 2026

$250,000

133 Esperanza Dr, Bastrop 78602

3 bd · 2 ba · 1,919 sf

New Construction

$249,900

13717 Ryan Range Ln, Elgin 78621

3 bd · 2 ba · 1,372 sf

New Construction

$248,990

204 Amity Bower Dr, Elgin 78621

4 bd · 3 ba · 500 sf

Built 2026

$246,999

23613 FIRELIGHT Dr, Elgin 78621

4 bd · 2 ba · 1,600 sf

Built 2026

$244,999

204 Twins Trl, Hutto 78634

3 bd · 2 ba · 1,402 sf

Built 2026

$242,999

200 Twins Trl, Hutto 78634

3 bd · 2 ba · 1,411 sf

Built 2026

$241,320

148 Baby Calf Roping Rd, Jarrell 76537

4 bd · 2 ba · 1,476 sf

New Construction

$239,900

3900 Berkman Dr #308, Austin 78723

1 bd · 1 ba · 508 sf

Built 2026

$237,149

260 Louisa Ln, Jarrell 76537

4 bd · 2 ba · 1,575 sf

Search homes under $250,000

Based on information from Unlock MLS (the Austin Board of REALTORS, ACTRIS) for the period through the most recent sync. Listing data is provided for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties. All information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Properties may be listed by brokerage firms other than Austin Marketing + Development Group; the listing broker is shown with each home where the MLS provides it.

Where to look

Austin suburbs with new homes under $250,000

Start with these suburb guides. Each pulls its own live inventory and lays out schools, taxes, commute, and the honest tradeoffs.

Kyle

Hays Co.

South of Austin along I-35

Kyle new homes

Elgin

Bastrop Co.

East of Austin along US-290

Elgin new homes

Jarrell

Williamson Co.

Far north of Austin on I-35

Jarrell new homes

Taylor

Williamson Co.

Northeast of Austin on US-79

Taylor new homes

San Marcos

Hays Co.

South of Austin along I-35

San Marcos new homes

Buda

Hays Co.

South of Austin along I-35

Buda new homes

Bastrop

Bastrop Co.

Southeast of Austin

Bastrop new homes

Manor

Travis Co.

Northeast of Austin

Manor new homes

What this budget buys

A new home under $250,000, honestly

Typically a three-bedroom home of about 1,200 to 1,400 square feet on a small lot, from a national builder competing hard at the entry level, or a townhome or condo in the same range. Finishes are the builder's base package and the lots are narrow. What you do get is new: a warranty, current code, a new roof and HVAC, and the rate buydowns and closing-cost credits builders use most aggressively at this price point.

The tradeoffs

What to weigh

Inventory is thin and scattered, so the search has to run across every outer town at once rather than one suburb at a time, and the good ones move
Most of it sits 30 to 50 miles out, in Maxwell, Uhland, Jarrell, Elgin, and Taylor, which is a long daily commute to any Austin job center
A meaningful share of the band is townhomes and condominiums, which carry HOA dues and finance and resell differently from a detached house
Manufactured homes appear at this price too, and they are not the same asset: financing, appraisal, and long-term value all behave differently, so confirm what you are actually buying
MUD and PID taxes hit hardest here in proportional terms, because a rate near 2.5 to 2.8 percent is a much bigger share of a small payment

On your side of the table

How to get the most home under $250,000

+Compare the all-in monthly payment including the MUD or PID rate for the exact lot, because at this price a high tax district can cost more per month than a pricier home in a low one
+Ask what the builder will do on rate and closing costs before you talk about price, since entry-level incentives are often worth more than any discount you would negotiate
+Confirm in writing whether a home is site-built, a townhome, or manufactured, and what that means for your loan
+Price the commute honestly in fuel, tolls, and hours, then compare it against one suburb closer at the next band up
+Register your buyer representation before you tour, so the builder pays the fee in most cases, disclosed in writing, and you have someone reading the contract

On new construction the builder pays my fee in most cases, disclosed in writing before you tour, so all of this is on your side. Updated September 30, 2026.

Change the budget

What a different budget buys

The same metro, the same live MLS data, at the next budget up or down. Worth comparing before you settle on a number.

New homes under $300,000

More choice, more house, and more of the closer-in suburbs.

Good to know

New homes under $250,000, answered

Can you buy a new construction home near Austin for under $250,000 in 2026?: Yes, though the selection is a fraction of what opens up slightly higher: the count under $250,000 runs to roughly a third of what is available under $300,000. The inventory concentrates in Maxwell, Uhland, Kyle, Elgin, Jarrell, and Taylor, mostly 30 to 50 miles from central Austin, and a meaningful share is townhomes or condominiums rather than detached houses. The live count at the top of this page is the current number, straight from the MLS.
Where are the cheapest new homes near Austin?: Maxwell and Uhland, the small towns along the I-35 and SH-21 corridor south of Kyle, consistently carry the most sub-$250,000 new construction, followed by Kyle, Elgin, Jarrell, and Taylor. These are the furthest-out edges of the metro, and the lower price is paid for almost entirely in commute distance.
What do you get in a new Austin-area home under $250,000?: Usually a three-bedroom home of about 1,200 to 1,400 square feet on a narrow lot with the builder's base finish package, or a townhome or condo of similar size. You are buying new rather than large: a warranty, current building code, a new roof and HVAC system, and the strongest builder incentives in the market, because entry-level buyers are the most rate-sensitive and builders know it.
Are manufactured homes included in cheap new home listings?: Some listings at this price are manufactured rather than site-built, and they are a different asset. Financing options, appraisal, insurance, and long-term value all behave differently, and some lenders will not treat one as real property unless it is permanently affixed and the land is included. It is not a reason to rule them out, but confirm in writing which you are looking at before you get attached to a price.
Is it better to buy under $250,000 far out or stretch to $300,000 closer in?: Run the monthly, not the price. Moving up to the $300,000 band roughly triples how many homes you can choose from and usually buys a shorter commute, against a higher payment. The honest comparison adds the tax rate for each specific lot, the HOA, and a real estimate of fuel and tolls on the commute you would actually drive. Often the gap is smaller than the sticker suggests, and sometimes it is not; it depends entirely on the lot.

Keep exploring

Builder-paid representation

Looking for a new home under $250,000?

Tell Luke your budget and must-haves and he will send the best new-construction matches under $250,000, register your builder-paid representation, and flag the real all-in cost including taxes before you tour.

Luke Allen

Licensed Texas REALTOR, TREC #788149

Austin Marketing + Development Group

Call 254-718-2567 Text Luke