on September 21, 2026
I recently toured a nearly 5,800-square-foot J. Anthony Homes property in Redbud Gardens Celina TX, and it gives you a good idea of what is possible when you move from the smaller lots found in many master-planned communities to a full acre.
The home itself is impressive, but the bigger story for buyers may be the land, customization options, tax rate, HOA cost, and overall lifestyle Redbud Gardens offers.
**Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/yLAkNq9JeTA
Celina has experienced tremendous residential development, but much of the new construction consists of traditional subdivision lots. Depending on the community, you may be looking at 50-, 60-, 74- or 84-foot lots.
Those communities can be great options, but an acre creates an entirely different lifestyle.
At the Redbud Gardens home I toured, there was room for a large custom home, four-car garage, substantial covered patio, swimming pool with a swim-up bar, outdoor entertaining areas and still a significant amount of yard remaining.
That’s one of the biggest differences buyers should consider.
On a smaller residential lot, adding a large pool can consume much of the backyard. With a full acre, you have considerably more flexibility to create outdoor living areas without sacrificing the entire yard.
Redbud Gardens Celina TX is geared toward buyers looking for larger custom homes and more land rather than the traditional master-planned-community experience.
During my tour, the community was still in its first phase, with additional phases planned. The surrounding area also had substantial undeveloped land, giving the neighborhood a much more open feel than many of the denser new-construction communities farther south.
For someone who wants more breathing room but doesn’t necessarily want to move far into rural North Texas, that’s an important distinction.
The drive to Frisco was approximately 30 minutes based on my visit, making this potentially worth considering for buyers who still need access to Frisco while wanting more land.
Of course, commute times can change significantly depending on your destination, traffic and time of day, so buyers should test their actual commute before making a decision.
At the time of my tour, available lots in Redbud Gardens started around $320,000, with many lots costing more depending on the specific property.
The lot is only one part of the total cost.
The information provided during my visit indicated a minimum home size of approximately 4,800 square feet. Starting construction pricing was discussed at approximately $235 per square foot before upgrades, while I was told many buyers ultimately end up closer to approximately $325 per square foot depending on their selections and customization.
Those numbers can change, so buyers should verify current lot availability, pricing, minimum building requirements and construction costs before making financial decisions.
This is where buyers need to look beyond the advertised starting price.
If you’re building a 4,800-square-foot custom home and making significant upgrades, the final investment can increase quickly once you include the lot, home construction, pool, outdoor living areas, landscaping and other custom features.
The home I toured was listed just under $3.9 million and included nearly 5,800 square feet, five bedrooms, five full bathrooms, two half bathrooms and a four-car garage.
However, that doesn’t mean every home in Redbud Gardens costs nearly $4 million.
During the tour, I was told many of J. Anthony’s spec homes were closer to roughly the $2 million to $2.5 million range, depending on the home and finishes. Buyers building from scratch have considerably more control over what they choose to add.
One of the numbers that stood out to me during this tour was the reported 1.74% property tax rate.
That’s particularly important when you’re comparing expensive custom homes because relatively small differences in property-tax rates can create substantial differences in annual ownership costs.
The reported HOA dues were approximately $900 per year at the time of my visit.
Tax rates and HOA assessments can change, so these numbers should always be independently verified for the specific property you’re considering.
But this is exactly why I encourage buyers relocating to North Texas to compare more than home prices.
Two similarly priced homes in different communities can have very different total monthly costs once you account for property taxes, HOA assessments, insurance and any applicable special taxing districts.
The home featured in my tour was built by J. Anthony Homes.
One of the biggest advantages of going with a custom builder is flexibility.
During my visit, the builder’s approach was essentially that they don’t automatically say no to an upgrade or customization—they determine what it will cost.
That opens up possibilities that aren’t always available when buying from a production builder.
The home I toured included 20-foot ceilings, a large prep kitchen, multiple ovens, custom cabinetry, hidden rooms, a huge laundry room, oversized garage space, extensive outdoor living and several highly customized design elements.
I was also told that buyers can build a shop on their property as long as it meets the applicable architectural requirements, including matching the home’s front elevation. Buyers should verify the current HOA and architectural guidelines before planning any additional structures.
The custom-build timeline discussed during my visit was approximately 10 to 12 months.
I was also told that J. Anthony requires a $10,000 refundable deposit before contract as buyers begin the design process.
Again, construction timelines and builder policies can change. If you’re considering building in Redbud Gardens, you’ll want current information before planning a move around a specific completion date.
This may be the biggest reason to consider acreage in Celina.
The home I toured demonstrated just how much can fit on an acre.
Despite having nearly 5,800 square feet of living area, a four-car garage, large covered patio and substantial swimming pool, the property still had usable yard.
For buyers who want a pool, outdoor kitchen, detached shop, larger garage, room for pets or simply more distance between neighbors, that’s a meaningful advantage.
It also makes large one-story floor plans much more realistic.
Trying to fit a sprawling 4,800+ square-foot single-story home onto a conventional subdivision lot can be difficult. An acre gives a custom builder significantly more flexibility when designing the footprint of the home.
Choosing between Redbud Gardens and one of Celina’s master-planned communities really comes down to the lifestyle you’re trying to create.
A master-planned community may give you neighborhood amenities such as community pools, parks, trails, playgrounds and other shared facilities.
Redbud Gardens offers something different: private land and customization.
Instead of sharing a large community pool, you may decide to build your own. Instead of maximizing the home within a smaller lot, you have room to spread the home out. And instead of being surrounded by homes on relatively narrow lots, you have considerably more separation.
Neither approach is automatically better. They’re simply different ways of living in Celina.
Redbud Gardens may deserve serious consideration if you’re looking for:
On the other hand, buyers who prioritize walkability, extensive shared amenities, smaller homes or a lower overall purchase price may find another Celina community better suited to their needs.
Finding the right home in Celina isn’t just about deciding how many bedrooms you want.
Lot size, tax rate, HOA costs, builder restrictions, commute time, future development and total monthly ownership costs can vary significantly from one community to another.
If you’re considering 1 acre lots in Celina, Redbud Gardens Celina TX, or other acreage and custom-home communities throughout the Celina, Prosper and North Dallas area, I’m Jake Inderman, a North Texas Realtor who helps buyers compare these options before making a move.
The goal isn’t simply to find a great house. It’s to understand what you’re buying, what it will cost to own, and whether the community actually fits the lifestyle you want long term.