Factory-made homes headed to Lockhart
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The Lockhart homes will be built in Amherst's StudioBuilt factory in Cuero. Photo: Courtesy of Amherst Group
Austin-based Amherst Group will create a subdivision in Lockhart made of pre-constructed homes, the company tells Axios.
Why it matters: The development, called Firefly, will add 145 homes to the growing town, which has boomed in recent years as Austin's rapid growth expands into surrounding communities.
The big picture: Amherst's initiative StudioBuilt constructs homes in its factory in Cuero, southeast of San Antonio. They're installed on a permanent foundation and meet the same building requirements as traditional site-built homes.
- StudioBuilt has made more than 350 homes since it began in 2023, which are all managed as rental properties.
- The Lockhart development will be the company's first for-sale community, officials say.
- Similar companies, like InstaBuilt and Kasita, have cropped up in recent years to create homes off-site and bring them to the Austin area.
Zoom in: Amherst officials say their construction process can help increase housing supply and remove barriers like weather and supply chain issues.
- The Lockhart homes will feature three or four bedrooms, with three floorplans, and priced in the high-$200,000 to mid-$300,000 range.
- Firefly residents will be able to choose their finishing packages.
- "We consider Lockhart to be a bedroom community where prices are very affordable and we are very close to employment drivers, including the Tesla gigafactory," said David Schwarz, head of commercial real estate at Amherst. "There is really nowhere else you can buy this close to downtown Austin for under $350,000."
Between the lines: Lockhart has been growing at a rapid clip since the pandemic, as local musicians, creatives and retirees were seeking a more affordable place to live.
- Austin Regional Clinic is expected to open a Lockhart location soon, and Austin restaurateurs have set up shop in the town.
Zoom out: Schwarz said the company has not yet built homes for Austin, "though we are opportunistically looking."
- "We are bullish on the long-term growth in Austin given the continued job growth and corporate relocations — however, there has been a tremendous amount of new supply of apartment units that is just now getting absorbed, so the bar is very high."
What's next: Construction has already begun on eight homes, and two homes have already been delivered to the Lockhart site at 2015 Applewood Drive.
- StudioBuilt officials say the first model unit will be complete and ready for public viewing in the next month, and full completion of the community is slated for 2026.