Build on Your Lot in Dripping Springs and the Texas Hill Country
You bought the land. Now you need a builder who can take it from raw acreage to a finished home — the well, the septic, the driveway, the power, and the house — under one fixed-price contract. That is what Structural Design Build + Development has done in the Hill Country since 2008.
By Jon Lee, SDB+D · Updated October 2026
This guide covers what it takes, what it costs, and how long each phase runs, based on our own projects.
Are well, septic, driveway and power in the fixed price, or are they “allowances”?
They are in the fixed price. Not allowances, not “we coordinate it and you pay whatever it costs.” Well, septic, driveway and electrical service are part of the contract price for the build.
One honest detail most builders skip: that fixed price is set after the plans and engineering are complete, including the septic design. There is a reason for that. On-site sewage facilities (OSSF) in Texas are regulated by the state and permitted and inspected by the county — in Dripping Springs, that is Hays County. Water wells are regulated by the state as well, with required separation between the well and the septic system so drinking water is never at risk from wastewater. Until the engineering is done, nobody can honestly quote those numbers as a fixed price. A builder who quotes them before the engineering is either guessing or leaving room to change the number later.
What we handle on a raw Hill Country lot
This is the site work: the site preparation that turns raw acreage into a buildable homesite. SDB+D does it under the same contract as the house, so there is no handoff between the site-work company and the builder.
- Water well. State-regulated drilling and placement, sited so the well and the septic field meet the required separation. Where a well isn’t the right answer, we evaluate the alternatives before you commit.
- Septic / OSSF. Engineered design, county permitting and inspection. Many Hill Country sites need an aerobic system; the soil and slope decide that, not a guess.
- Power. We have completed new service with both Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC), which serves most of the Dripping Springs area, and Austin Energy. Both require a specific administrative process to start and to close out. We run it; you don’t.
- Driveway and access. Clearing, grading, drainage and the drive itself, planned with the house so nothing gets built twice.
- The home. Full custom construction, and where it belongs in the project, the pool and the shop too.
If your acreage can be split, SDB+D can subdivide it first, as we did with a 3-acre Lake Travis waterfront property that became three 1-acre lots, then build on the lot you keep.
What getting raw land ready costs
Planning ranges from our projects, not quotes. Every lot is different.
| Item | Typical range | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Site preparation | $15,000–$65,000 | Deep excavation, landscape prep and fill, pool and metal shop prep, foundation prep, an additional living unit |
| Well | $20,000–$35,000 | Depth, location on the lot, equipment |
| Septic system | $15,000–$45,000 | The land and the engineered plans, subject to local permit approval |
| Driveway | $10,000–$100,000 | Materials, terrain and slope, distance |
| Power to the lot | $5,000–$15,000 | The power company’s current policy on new accounts and what it contributes, terrain, overhead or underground service, transformer needs from the load calculation |
How long each phase takes
| Phase | Typical length | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Design, including permits | 3–12 months | The local government’s permitting requirements, financing requirements |
| Site work | 1–3 months | Terrain, location, scheduling, weather |
| Construction, including inspections | 10–19 months | Location, financing requirements, and inspection schedules: city or county, lender, and structural engineer inspections |
Septic and wells in Hays and Travis County
The soil and slope decide whether a lot can use a conventional (anaerobic) septic system or needs an aerobic system, often with spray or drip dispersal. A conventional system often needs a pump here too, so both need power, but it has far fewer moving parts and is less likely to break. Hays and Travis County both require ongoing maintenance for aerobic and drip systems, starting with a two-year contract with a licensed provider when the permit is issued. Wells are drilled and placed to keep the required distance from the septic field.
Why one contract matters on raw land
Site work is where land-to-home projects go wrong: a builder who only “coordinates” the well driller and the septic installer isn’t responsible when the numbers move or the schedule slips. When the same firm engineers it, prices it and builds it, there is one person accountable for the whole thing. That is the model we have worked in since 2008.
Land and construction financing for your lot in Austin and the Hill Country
SDB+D, an Austin design-build firm, arranges the financing for the whole project: the land loan, the construction loan, and the permanent mortgage, in one plan from raw land to move-in. For residential projects we work with several Texas lenders we are approved with, including one-time close construction-to-permanent loans and custom jumbo loans for larger homes. For commercial projects we structure SBA or conventional financing. One call covers the land, the design, the money, and the build: 512-859-8888.
Financing is planned alongside design and permits, which is one reason the design phase varies.
See the lenders we work with › · Request a consult ›
“If you’re considering a pool, construction, or design-build project and want someone who can help you navigate the process from financing and engineering to permitting and completion, I highly recommend Jon.”
— Marilyn Randazzo, real estate agent, Google review
When the land can be split: Lake Travis
A 3-acre Lake Travis waterfront property that the owner had been told could not be split became three 1-acre lots. It took working through several levels of government and jurisdictions, including the LCRA, Travis County, the fire marshal, and every utility serving the site, plus development work, neighbor notifications, many fees, and many required reports. SDB+D then built a home on one lot, and the owner sold the other two for a return per lot far above what the undivided property was worth.
Where we build
Dripping Springs, Driftwood, Wimberley, Spicewood, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Westlake and the greater Texas Hill Country west of Austin — Hays, Travis and Blanco counties.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to get raw land ready to build?
Our planning ranges: site preparation $15,000–$65,000, a well $20,000–$35,000, septic $15,000–$45,000, a driveway $10,000–$100,000, and power to the lot $5,000–$15,000, depending on the land.
How long does it take to build on raw land?
Design including permits typically takes 3–12 months, site work 1–3 months, and construction including inspections 10–19 months, depending on location, the local government, financing requirements, and inspection schedules.
Can the land and the construction be financed together?
Yes. SDB+D arranges the land loan, construction loan, and permanent mortgage together, including one-time close and jumbo loans.
Can my land be split into more lots?
Often, depending on the jurisdiction. SDB+D handles the approvals and then builds on the lots, as on the Lake Travis property above.
Start with a conversation
If you own land, or are about to close on it, a 30-minute call is the fastest way to find out what your lot will actually take. No charge, no pressure.
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