Aurea Build — Insights https://aureabuild.co/insights Practical notes on residential construction in Austin, Texas. en-us Fri, 21 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT What actually drives the cost of a custom home in Austin https://aureabuild.co/insights/what-drives-cost-austin https://aureabuild.co/insights/what-drives-cost-austin Square footage is one of the weaker predictors of what a house costs to build. Site conditions, envelope complexity and finish level move the number far more. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Allowances versus selections: where custom-build budgets drift https://aureabuild.co/insights/allowances-vs-selections https://aureabuild.co/insights/allowances-vs-selections Most custom budgets do not fail dramatically. They fail quietly, in the gap between what an allowance assumed and what the selection actually cost. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Reading a builder's estimate: seven questions that matter https://aureabuild.co/insights/reading-a-builders-estimate https://aureabuild.co/insights/reading-a-builders-estimate Two estimates for the same project can differ substantially without either being dishonest. They assume different things, and the assumptions are rarely on the front page. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT