Good News for your Buyers of new homes.  The Texas Legislature has mandated that all new built homes in the state even if they are not in city limits have to be built by the International Residential Code standards beginning September, 2008.

The requiements for this code are three inspections by a 3rd party inspector.  First inspection has to be of the foundation before pouring the concrete.  Second inspection will be for framing and mechanical systems prior to being covered with sheetrock.  Third will be the final inspection when the home is completed. 

The Builder is responsible for hiring the Inspector who must have one of the following licenses:  Licensed engineer, registered architect, a Texas Real Estate Commision Inspector or a 3rd party approved by the Texas Residential Construction Commission.  The Builder is allowed to use different inspectors at different phases and also does not have to use only one type of inspector on each inspections.

This is great news for us that live in rural areas and have had some problems with builders not always doing their best work when they are outside the city limits.