
Last updated October 30, 2026
No. The sales rep in a Midlothian model home works for the builder. Their job is to sell the builder's homes on the builder's terms. You can bring your own agent, but many builders require that agent to register you on your first visit, so confirm the policy before you walk in.
The builder rep works for the builder. Nobody in that sales office works for you unless you bring your own agent, and many builders pay that agent from their side. Get the policy in writing before your first tour.
The builder. The rep is paid to move the builder's inventory, and many reps do it well. That is also why Texas puts the Information About Brokerage Services notice in front of you at the start of a relationship: so you know who represents whom. If you sign a contract without your own agent, nobody on your side reads it line by line.
The policy belongs to the builder, so ask for it in writing. Many builders that cooperate with buyer's agents pay the commission from their side and ask that your agent register you on the first visit. If you tour alone first and bring an agent later, some builders will not pay one. Ask before you tour a second community.
The resale median is the floor, not the new build price. Midlothian's median sold price was $470,000 in September 2026, down 4.2% from $490,500 a year earlier, with 293 active listings, 4.6 months of supply and 83 median days on market. Homes sold at 95.7% of list (NTREIS, September 2026). That report excludes builder direct sales, so a new build costs more than the median suggests. Across DFW, new builds listed near $570,660 and closed near $472,100 in September 2026 (NTREIS). See the DFW new build list price versus sold price post for that gap.
| Midlothian, $470,000 price, 20% down ($376,000 loan) | Rate | P&I per month | APR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today (Freddie Mac, Oct 29, 2026) | 7.24% | $2,562 | 7.31% |
| A year ago (Freddie Mac) | 6.17% | $2,296 | 6.23% |
| Half a point lower, example only | 6.74% | $2,436 | 6.81% |
Principal and interest only, 30-year fixed, illustrated at the resale median. A new build price will differ. Excludes property tax, insurance and HOA. APR assumes $1,495 in lender fees, no points and 15 days of prepaid interest. Rates are the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey national averages, not a quote or a loan offer. The year-over-year difference is $267 a month on the same price. A half-point drop saves about $126.
For what you can negotiate once you have those answers, read whether you can negotiate more on a Midlothian new build than a resale. For the resale side, see what Midlothian home prices are doing.
Know your number. A pre-approval tells you what you qualify for, and a payment run on a real floor plan tells you what you can live with. I am licensed as a broker and as a loan officer, so I run the contract and the loan side by side. Get pre-approved in minutes, then walk into the model home with your own number. Remember the take: the builder rep works for the builder.
Almost always. Many builders attach their best incentive to their preferred lender, so compare both Loan Estimates line by line, including the APR, before you decide.
It depends on the builder. Some will not pay a buyer's agent who was not registered on the first visit. Ask before your first tour, or have your agent register you ahead of time.
Builders often trade incentives before they cut list price. The gap between DFW new build list and sold prices in September 2026 (NTREIS) shows there is movement, and the structure of the deal decides what you keep.
No. The walk-through is a punch-list review run by the builder. A licensed inspector works for you.
The rate sets the monthly interest. The APR adds lender fees and prepaid interest to show the cost of the loan as a yearly rate. Compare APRs when you compare offers.
About the author. Steven J. Thomas, Broker, Refind Realty DFW · Loan Officer, Envision Home Lenders, NMLS #689220. Steven has a financial planning degree from Baylor and more than 20 years in financial services, and he has worked real estate in Southwest DFW for over 14 years.
Market figures are based on NTREIS data for single-family homes and are not a guarantee of future prices, rates or timelines. Rates and payments are examples, principal and interest only, not a rate quote or loan offer; subject to qualification. Steven J. Thomas, Refind Realty DFW, TREC Broker License #0657467. Envision Home Lending LLC, Company NMLS #2619789. Equal Housing Opportunity. Read the TREC Information About Brokerage Services and Consumer Protection Notice.
Site: stevenjthomas.com
Call :(972) 846-9170
Email: [email protected]
Office 128 S Cockrell Hill Rd, DeSoto, TX 75115
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Refind Realty Inc · 128 S Cockrell Hill Rd, DeSoto, TX 75115 · (972) 846-9170
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