New Jerusalem Homes & Jubilee Homes: Local Builders Behind Bell County's New Construction

I sat down with the people who actually sell these houses, Chrissy and Chris Kehrly representing New Jerusalem Homes, and Bradley Johnston representing Jubilee Homes. Not the builders themselves, but the licensed agents who walk buyers through spec homes, manage custom builds, and field the calls when something needs fixing three months after closing. This is the side of new construction most people don't see until they're already under contract.

Bell County has two kinds of builders right now. The big box names, Lennar, DR Horton, Stylecraft, Flint Rock, advertise 3.99% rates and move volume. Then you have the local guys who've been here for decades, using the same framers and concrete crews, building fewer houses but standing behind them longer. New Jerusalem started in East Texas in 2008, moved to Central Texas around 2012. Jubilee's been in the game since the late 1980s, a family operation that still answers the phone when a buyer texts about a weird noise in the bathroom floor.

The trade-off is straightforward. You can get a lower monthly payment with a big box builder's in-house lender and a five-year ARM, or you can pay a bit more per square foot for straighter walls, four-side brick, and a builder who'll come back in year two if something's not right. Both approaches work. It just depends on what you're optimizing for.

Table of Contents

• Hubbard Branch: Jubilee's Long-Running Belton Project
• County View: Jubilee's Lowest Price Point Near Temple Buc-ee's
• Drake's Landing: Medium-Priced Homes in Salado
• Wildwood Estates: Non-HOA Lots in Nolanville
• Travis Estates: One-Acre Ranchettes in Rosebud Lott
• Tanglewood: New Jerusalem's $450K, $500K Temple Neighborhood
• North Temple Neighborhood: Entry-Level New Jerusalem Builds
• Nugent Subdivision: Competing With Lennar in the Same Development
• Local Builders vs Big Box: What You're Actually Paying For
• Which Builder and Neighborhood Fit Your Priorities
• Conclusion

Hubbard Branch: Jubilee's Long-Running Belton Project

Jubilee Homes has been building in Hubbard Branch for some time now. Bradley Johnston, who represents Jubilee, told me they've got multiple lots still available on both sides of one street. Ten homes are complete, most sold, with five or six available right now. The whole other side of the street is still open for new builds.

This is one of those neighborhoods where you can see the builder's track record just by driving through. If you're the kind of buyer who wants to walk a finished spec before committing, Hubbard Branch gives you that option. If you'd rather pick your own finishes on a lot that's not started yet, they've got those too.

Belton's appeal for a lot of military families is the Belton ISD reputation and the fact that you're close to Fort Cavazos without being in Killeen proper. Hubbard Branch sits in that zone, close enough for an easy commute, far enough that you're not hearing artillery at night. Jubilee's been working this area long enough that the trades know the soil, the drainage, and how to frame a house that won't settle weird in Central Texas clay.

The builder's longevity here matters. When a family-owned operation has been putting up houses in the same neighborhood for years, they're not disappearing after the one-year warranty expires. Bradley mentioned that Jubilee uses the same concrete guys, framers, and painters they've worked with for decades. That consistency shows up in how the houses age.

County View: Jubilee's Lowest Price Point Near Temple Buc-ee's

County View sits in Temple, right by the Buc-ee's off I-35. This is Jubilee's lowest price point currently, starting in the $275,000s. For buyers trying to stay under $300,000 in this market, that's a meaningful number.

Bradley said most of the activity he's seeing is at $300,000 or less. They recently had a four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath with a three-car garage that listed around $338,000 to $340,000. It was a 4/2 layout, not a ton of bathrooms, but the three-car garage and the square footage made it move in about 30 days.

The Temple location puts you close to Baylor Scott & White, the VA clinic, and the retail corridor along I-35. If you're working on post or at one of the hospitals, County View cuts your commute. The trade-off is that you're not getting the Salado school district or the acreage lots you'd find further out. You're paying for proximity and price, not land or prestige.

Jubilee's standard package here includes ceramic tile throughout, same lighting and appliance package as their other builds. The finishes don't change much between County View and their higher-priced neighborhoods, you're mostly paying for location and lot size, not a downgrade in quality. That's one advantage of working with a smaller builder. They're not running different product lines for different price tiers.

Drake's Landing: Medium-Priced Homes in Salado

Drake's Landing is Jubilee's medium-priced project, sitting in the $450,000s in Salado. Salado pulls a different buyer than Temple or Belton, people who want the small-town feel, the school district reputation, and the Main Street charm without moving all the way to Georgetown or Jarrell.

Salado ISD is one of those districts where parents will stretch the budget to get in. The schools are smaller, the test scores are solid, and the community has that Hill Country vibe even though you're technically still in Bell County. Drake's Landing gives you access to that without going full custom on acreage.

The $450,000 price point puts you in competition with resale homes in older Salado neighborhoods, but you're getting new construction warranties, modern floor plans, and energy efficiency that a 20-year-old house won't match. Jubilee's builds here follow the same spec as their other projects, insulated garage doors, steel fence posts, LVP flooring throughout, and appliances included except the fridge.

Salado's trade-off is the commute. You're 20 to 25 minutes from the main gate at Fort Cavazos, longer if you're hitting traffic on I-35. If both spouses are working on post, that drive adds up. But if one of you is remote or working in the Temple-Belton corridor, Salado makes sense. You're buying quality of life and school district, not convenience to the gate.

Wildwood Estates: Non-HOA Lots in Nolanville

Wildwood Estates in Nolanville is one of the few non-HOA neighborhoods Jubilee is working. Bradley mentioned they're trying to acquire more lots here, which tells you demand is there.

No HOA means no monthly fee, no restrictions on what you park in the driveway, and no architectural review committee telling you what color you can paint your shutters. For military buyers who've dealt with HOA drama in past duty stations, that's a selling point. You own the lot, you maintain it how you want, and nobody's sending you violation letters about your grass height.

Nolanville sits between Killeen and Belton, close to the east gate at Fort Cavazos. The commute is short, the schools are Killeen ISD, and the cost of entry is lower than Belton or Salado. Wildwood Estates gives you new construction in that zone without the HOA overhead.

The downside is that non-HOA neighborhoods can age inconsistently. One neighbor keeps their yard immaculate, the next one parks a boat and a project truck out front. If you're the type who needs uniform curb appeal, an HOA neighborhood might be worth the fee. But if you'd rather have the freedom and save $50 to $100 a month, Wildwood Estates is worth a look.

Jubilee's standard finishes apply here, same tile, same lighting, same appliance package. You're not getting a budget version of their product just because there's no HOA. You're getting the same house on a lot with fewer restrictions.

Travis Estates: One-Acre Ranchettes in Rosebud Lott

Travis Estates sits in the Rosebud Lott area, right across from the Rosebud Lott ISD campus. These are one-acre ranchette lots, and Jubilee is doing customs and some spec or semi-custom floor plans out here.

One acre gives you space for a shop, a garden, chickens if you want them, and enough buffer that you're not hearing your neighbor's TV through the wall. For families retiring out of the military or looking for that small-town Texas feel, Rosebud Lott delivers. The school district is small, the pace is slow, and you're 20 minutes from Temple if you need Costco or a hospital.

The trade-off is the commute to Fort Cavazos. You're looking at 35 to 40 minutes depending on which gate you're hitting. If you're active duty and reporting every day, that's a long drive. If you're retiring, contracting, or working remote, it's manageable. Bradley mentioned they're seeing interest from people who want the acreage and are willing to drive for it.

Custom builds on one acre give you flexibility. You can spec out the shop size, add a covered patio, run electric to an outbuilding, plant whatever you want. Jubilee's semi-custom approach means you're not starting from scratch with an architect, but you're not locked into a cookie-cutter floor plan either. You pick from their base plans and adjust.

Rosebud Lott ISD is right there, which matters if you've got school-age kids and you want them walking distance to campus. The district is small enough that parents know the teachers, and the sports programs pull from a tight community. It's a different experience than Killeen ISD or even Belton.

Tanglewood: New Jerusalem's $450K, $500K Temple Neighborhood

Tanglewood is where New Jerusalem Homes is building in the $450,000 to $500,000 range. Chrissy Kehrly said they've got about six lots currently available.

This is New Jerusalem's higher-end product in Temple. You're getting four-side brick, upgraded finishes, and the attention to detail that Chrissy and Chris talked about when they compared their builds to the big box competition. New Jerusalem has been in Central Texas since around 2012, and Tanglewood is where they're putting their reputation on the line.

The $450K to $500K price point in Temple puts you in competition with resale homes in established neighborhoods and new construction from other local builders. What you're paying for with New Jerusalem is the finish quality, straighter walls, better trim work, brick instead of siding, and a builder who's still local when something needs attention in year two.

Chrissy mentioned that New Jerusalem includes front sod and irrigation in their base price, which is a cost you'd be adding after closing with some other builders. They also include blinds, fridge, and garage door openers, turnkey except for washer and dryer. That's a cleaner closing than finding out you owe another $5,000 for landscaping and window treatments.

Temple's appeal is the hospital jobs, the VA clinic, the retail along I-35, and the fact that you're central to everything in Bell County. Tanglewood gives you new construction in that zone without moving out to Salado or Belton. The commute to Fort Cavazos is manageable, and you're close to the amenities that make Temple functional for dual-income families.

North Temple Neighborhood: Entry-Level New Jerusalem Builds

New Jerusalem is also building in a North Temple neighborhood around the $250,000 price point. Chrissy didn't name the specific subdivision, but she mentioned they're trying to keep some builds under $250,000 to stay competitive with first-time buyers.

That's a tough price point right now. Most new construction in Bell County is pushing $300,000 or higher, so anything under $250,000 gets attention. New Jerusalem is adjusting their floor plans and finishes slightly to hit that number without cutting corners on the structural quality.

North Temple puts you in Temple ISD, close to the same retail and hospital corridor as Tanglewood, but in a more affordable neighborhood. The trade-off is usually lot size and square footage. You're not getting 2,400 square feet and a three-car garage at $250,000. You're getting a solid starter home with room to grow.

Chrissy mentioned that even at this price point, New Jerusalem is including front sod and irrigation, which is a cost some builders push to the buyer. The appliance package is standard, stove, microwave, dishwasher, and the finishes are still a step up from what you'd see in a big box build at the same price.

For first-time buyers or military families on a BAH budget, North Temple is worth a look. You're getting new construction from a local builder who's been in business since 2008, and you're staying under $250,000 in a market where that's increasingly rare.

Nugent Subdivision: Competing With Lennar in the Same Development

Nugent is where things got interesting for New Jerusalem. The builder developed the subdivision, sold some lots to another entity called KCE Homes, who then sold them to Lennar. So New Jerusalem ended up building in the same neighborhood as Lennar, with DR Horton developing nearby. Both Lennar and DR Horton have since closed out their inventory there.

Chrissy said it was tough competing with Lennar in the same subdivision. Lennar was offering lower rates through their in-house lender, lower price per square foot because of their volume, and a streamlined online buying process. Some buyers chose Lennar without ever visiting the neighborhood, just based on the monthly payment and the ease of the transaction.

The frustration for New Jerusalem was that buyers who did the side-by-side comparison, walked both a New Jerusalem home and a Lennar home, could see the difference. Straighter walls, better trim, brick versus siding, more attention to detail in the finish work. But some first-time buyers were optimizing for the lowest monthly payment, and no amount of education about long-term resale value or build quality changed that calculus.

Chrissy and Chris spent time showing buyers the difference between OSB sheathing with a thin moisture barrier under siding versus solid brick on all four sides. They explained why a one-year warranty from a national builder is different than a local builder who'll still be here in five years. Some buyers got it. Some didn't.

Nugent is a case study in what local builders are up against. They can't match the rates or the price per square foot of a big box builder with more capital and higher volume. What they can offer is better quality, more flexibility on customization, and a relationship that doesn't end at closing. Whether that's worth the extra cost depends on what the buyer values.

Local Builders vs Big Box: What You're Actually Paying For

The conversation kept coming back to this: local builders like Jubilee and New Jerusalem are competing with Lennar, DR Horton, Stylecraft, Flint Rock, and Omega. The big box builders have advantages, lower rates (3.99% to 5.99%, though some are five-year ARMs), in-house lenders and title companies, and price per square foot that's hard to match because of volume and capital.

What you're giving up is finish quality and long-term support. Bradley and Chrissy both talked about the difference between a house with OSB sheathing and siding versus four-side brick. OSB is essentially compressed cardboard. If moisture gets behind the siding, it degrades. Brick doesn't have that problem. You're also looking at straighter walls, better trim work, and trades who've been working with the same builder for decades.

Warranties are another gap. Some big box builders are offering one-year warranties and that's it. Jubilee and New Jerusalem both offer longer coverage, and because they're local, they're still around to honor it. Chrissy mentioned a buyer who called a couple months after closing because the bathroom floor was making a weird noise. New Jerusalem came out, pulled up the floor, found the issue, and fixed it. No argument, no runaround.

The resale question matters too. Five to ten years from now, a well-built house from a local builder is going to hold value better than a big box build with siding and minimal finish work. But that's a long-term calculation, and some first-time buyers are focused on getting into a house right now at the lowest monthly payment.

Both Jubilee and New Jerusalem are flexible on customization. If you're under contract on a spec home that's 95% done and you want to change the paint color or swap out light fixtures, they'll work with you if the timing allows. Big box builders don't operate that way. You get what's on the spec sheet, and changes cost extra if they're even possible.

The other piece is the relationship. When you buy from Jubilee or New Jerusalem, you've got the builder's cell phone number. If something's not right, you text them directly. You're not calling a corporate customer service line and waiting for a ticket to get escalated. That access matters when you're living in the house and something needs attention.

Which Builder and Neighborhood Fit Your Priorities

If you're optimizing for the lowest price and you're willing to trade finish quality for affordability, County View or North Temple are your entry points. Both are under $300,000, both are new construction, and both are in functional locations for commuting to Fort Cavazos or working in the Temple-Belton corridor.

If you want acreage and you're willing to drive, Travis Estates gives you one-acre lots and the flexibility to customize. You're 35 to 40 minutes from the main gate, but you've got space for a shop, a garden, and enough buffer that you're not living on top of your neighbors.

If school district is the priority and you're willing to pay for it, Drake's Landing in Salado or Tanglewood in Temple are your options. Both are in the $450,000 range, both offer solid school districts, and both are neighborhoods where resale value should hold.

If you want new construction without HOA fees, Wildwood Estates in Nolanville is one of the few non-HOA options Jubilee is building. You're giving up the uniform curb appeal and the amenity package, but you're saving the monthly fee and you've got more freedom on what you do with your lot.

If you're trying to decide between a local builder and a big box builder, walk both houses. Look at the walls, the trim, the materials. Ask about the warranty. Ask who you call if something breaks in year two. Then decide if the lower monthly payment is worth the trade-offs.

Conclusion

New Jerusalem Homes and Jubilee Homes are building across Bell County, Belton, Temple, Salado, Nolanville, and out to Rosebud Lott. They're competing with big box builders who have lower rates and higher volume, but they're offering better finishes, longer warranties, and a relationship that doesn't end at closing.

Bradley Johnston represents Jubilee, a family-owned operation that's been building since the late 1980s. Chrissy and Chris Kehrly represent New Jerusalem, a builder that's been in Central Texas since 2012. All three are licensed agents who manage the marketing, the buyer relationships, and the post-closing support that keeps these builders competitive.

Thinking about relocating to Bell County, TX, and buying a new construction home? Let's talk about your timeline, budget, and the neighborhoods that fit your needs. I can connect you with Bradley, Chrissy, or Chris, or we can tour local communities together to find the right home for you.

Reach out today, and let's get started!