SDB+D

A design-build-development firm handles every phase of a project from raw land through finished structure under one contract and one accountable team. A traditional builder takes a finished, entitled lot and constructs a home. A design-build firm combines design and construction. A design-build-development firm goes further: it acquires or evaluates land, develops the infrastructure (water, power, sewer, OSSF), handles municipal entitlement and variances, coordinates financing, designs the home (in-house or with an architect), and builds it. SDB+D is one of the few Austin firms providing all three phases under a single accountable contract.

A custom home builder constructs a house on a lot you already own or have purchased ready-to-build. A design-build firm adds design coordination. A design-build-development firm — like SDB+D — adds the development phase: finding the right land, evaluating it for buildability, handling infrastructure such as water, power, sewer and OSSF septic systems, securing municipal approvals and variances, coordinating SBA or conventional construction financing, and only then moving to design and construction. The key difference is single-point accountability across the entire process rather than coordinating multiple firms.

Yes. SDB+D provides site evaluation and acquisition support as part of our development services. We evaluate parcels for buildability factors including topography, utility access, OSSF feasibility for sites without municipal sewer, drainage and flood risk, entitlement constraints, easements, and access. For Hill Country properties — including Lake Travis, Spicewood, Dripping Springs, and Wimberley — these factors are often the difference between a viable build and an expensive surprise. We work alongside luxury land brokers and can advise before, during, or after a land purchase.

Yes. SDB+D handles On-Site Sewage Facility (OSSF) design and installation coordination, well water and groundwater planning, electrical service extension, and propane and natural gas service coordination. Most Texas Hill Country sites lack municipal utilities, which means a custom home there requires substantial infrastructure work before construction can begin. Many builders avoid raw Hill Country land for this reason. Integrated infrastructure capability is a core part of why SDB+D positions as a development-through-build firm rather than a traditional custom builder.

Yes — and we collaborate with architects regularly. SDB+D has worked with leading Austin residential architects including Nick Deaver, Dick Clark, Dan Sater, Nana Kim of 9 Square Studio, Donald Gardner, and Cornerstone Group Architects. We diligently review drawings to understand every aspect of the architect's design, raise constructability questions early, and work to preserve design intent through value engineering rather than around it. Architects often recommend SDB+D specifically because we won't “value engineer away” the architecture.

SDB+D has collaborated with notable Austin and Texas residential architects including Nick Deaver, Dick Clark, Dan Sater, Nana Kim of 9 Square Studio, Donald Gardner, and Cornerstone Group Architects. Past projects span Rollingwood, Pemberton Heights, Shoal Creek, the Arboretum, Barton Creek, and Pedernales River sites. Project credits are available on the projects page. Architect and client references are available upon request with the architect's and client's consent.

SDB+D's average contract size exceeds $500,000. Development-scale projects — those including land acquisition, infrastructure work, and full custom construction — have reached $3,000,000 and beyond. We do not publish fixed price-per-square-foot estimates because every project varies based on site conditions, design complexity, finish level, and whether development work is required. We provide detailed pre-construction budgeting that accounts for the actual scope of each engagement.

SDB+D serves Austin, Westlake, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Rollingwood, Tarrytown, Pemberton Heights, Shoal Creek, Barton Creek, Northwest Hills, and the broader Texas Hill Country including Lake Travis, Spicewood, Dripping Springs, Wimberley, and the Pedernales River corridor. We also serve City of Dallas projects as we are City of Austin and City of Dallas qualified.

SBA 504 and 7(a) loans are most commonly used for commercial development, mixed-use projects, and live-work properties rather than purely residential custom homes. For owner-occupied custom homes, traditional construction-to-permanent loans are more common. SDB+D's principal serves as an SBA construction finance coordinator for design-build and development projects where SBA financing applies — typically commercial, mixed-use, or business-related construction. We can advise on financing structure and coordinate with lenders during the development phase.

City of Austin Certified Builder and Developer is a municipal qualification recognizing firms that meet city standards for construction quality, financial responsibility, and operational practices on municipal and city-adjacent projects. Holding both certifications — Builder AND Developer — is uncommon and allows SDB+D to work on City of Austin projects in addition to private residential work, and signals the firm is equipped to handle both vertical construction and land development phases.

SDB+D serves clients who value discretion as highly as craftsmanship. We do not publish client names, addresses, or identifying project details on our website, in marketing materials, or in public press. Project galleries reference neighborhoods and architects rather than owners. NDAs are standard for clients who request them. Architect collaborations and client references are made available on request, with the architect's and client's express consent. Privacy is a core part of how we operate, not a feature we add.

Variance hearings address requested deviations from zoning or building code requirements — for example, setback reductions, height variances, impervious cover adjustments, or use changes. Municipal entitlement is the broader process of obtaining all regulatory approvals needed before construction begins: zoning, site plan approval, watershed compliance, environmental review, and permits. SDB+D's principal has expertise in permit coordination, expediting, and variance hearing preparation, which is often critical for difficult Hill Country sites, infill lots with non-standard conditions, and historic-district remodels.