Design-build custom residences · Dallas

Homes built
to outlast us.

A small number of exceptional homes, built to be handed down.

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About Aterra

We build few homes.
We finish each
like it's the only one.

Aterra operates as one integrated firm — design, engineering, and construction under a single roof. There is no gap to fall through between the architect's drawing and the mason's hand, because the same principal is accountable for both.

We take on a limited slate by choice. It keeps the standard uncompromised, the timeline honest, and our attention where it belongs — on the seam, the stone edge, the way light lands in a room at four in the afternoon.

Read our story →

Why build with Aterra

Fewer surprises. One accountable hand.

01

Licensed & insured

Fully licensed and insured to build in Texas, with the bonding and coverage a project of this size deserves.

02

Transparent budgets

Open-book allowances and a fixed, itemized scope. You see where every dollar lands — no vague lump sums, no end-of-job surprises.

03

One point of contact

The principal who quotes your home is the one who builds it. Design, trades, and schedule answer to a single, named person.

04

Written warranty

Every Aterra home is backed by a structural & workmanship warranty and a real walkthrough — we stand behind the work after the keys change hands.

Services

Everything under one accountable roof.

Custom home exterior at dusk
01

Custom Homes

Ground-up bespoke residences, designed and built to your life — from land and feasibility through the final walkthrough.

Modern home with cedar and stone detailing
02

Development & Spec

Market-ready homes for developers and investors — architectural vision and disciplined execution that protects long-term value.

Stone entry and custom wood door
03

Renovation

Transforming existing residences with a steady hand — structural, systems, and finish work that respects what was already there.

The process

From first conversation to the day you get the keys.

01

Discovery

We start by getting to know you — how you live, the land, the budget, and the timeline. No pressure, no obligation. Just a clear picture of what's possible.

02

Design

Architecture, interiors, and engineering developed together, so the drawing is buildable and the budget is real. You approve every material and finish before we break ground.

03

Pre-construction

Permits, selections, and a locked, itemized budget with an honest schedule. Everything that can be decided on paper is decided before the first truck arrives.

04

Build

One principal on point, weekly updates, and the same standard on the parts you'll never see. You always know where your home is and what happens next.

05

Handover & warranty

A full walkthrough, a clean punch list, and a written warranty. We stay reachable long after move-in — a home should be cared for by the people who built it.

Aterra Builders Founder · Aterra Builders

A note from the founder

“I started Aterra to build the way I always wished someone would build for me — honestly, carefully, and with my name on the result.”

Aterra is a new name, but not new to the craft. Every home we take on is one we stand behind personally. If we build for you, you'll have our number — and we'll be on the site.

Questions

Good to know.

Do I need land before I call you? +
Not at all. Many of our clients come to us with only a location in mind. We help evaluate lots for buildability, cost, and resale, and can bring build-ready homesites to the table when we have them.
What does a custom home with Aterra cost? +
It depends on the land, the size, and the level of finish — so we never quote a number before we understand the project. What we do promise is an open-book, itemized budget you approve before we break ground, with no hidden markups.
How long does it take? +
A typical custom residence runs roughly 12–18 months from design through move-in, depending on scope, permitting, and selections. We give you a realistic schedule in pre-construction — and we keep it honest.
Do you handle design, or do I bring an architect? +
Either works. We offer design in-house so architecture, engineering, and construction stay coordinated — but if you already have plans or an architect you love, we build beautifully from them too.
Are you licensed, insured, and warrantied? +
Yes. Aterra is licensed and insured to build in Texas, and every home is backed by a written structural & workmanship warranty.

Where we build

Dallas and the neighborhoods around it.

We focus on the communities we know best — building where we can be on site, hold our trades to standard, and answer the phone. If your lot is nearby, let's talk.

Preston HollowBluffviewUniversity Park Highland ParkDevonshireMidway Hollow LakewoodNorth Dallas
Built to be lived in for generations.

The Aterra Standard

Begin a conversation

Tell us about
the home.

We take on a limited number of residences each year. Share a few details about your project and we'll respond personally.

Stay close

Follow the homes we're building.

A few times a year — new residences, available homesites, and a look behind the build. No noise.