By Kris Hudson |The Wall Street Journal
Justin and Jennifer Reed, shown with daughter Jessa, bought a new home in McKinney, Texas, in March. Mr. Reed said the features helped seal the deal. Brandon Thibodeaux for The Wall Street Journal
Newly built homes in the U.S. are getting pricier as better-heeled buyers have rebounded more quickly from the recession than entry-level buyers, spurring home builders to go upscale to match the shift.
Texas real-estate agent Lynne Kitchens can attest to the situation as an industry insider and as a recent homebuyer. In housing searches for herself and those she does for clients, Ms. Kitchens has noticed an abundance of choices in new homes priced at $350,000 to $600,000, a range typically out of reach of entry-level buyers.
After recently selling their home of 25 years, Ms. Kitchens and her husband looked at more than 20 existing homes and several new-home plans before making their choice: a three-bedroom home near Dallas for $525,000. Construction of the 3,600-square-foot home is to be completed by year-end by a division of D.R. Horton Inc., DHI +3.18% which specializes in entry-level homes but recently branched more into upscale houses.
