Best-Kept Secret: Building a Custom, Coastal Dream Home~

The big reveal! See how one mom surprised her daughters with the gift of Cinnamon Shore~

How would you tell your family you’ve found the perfect place to build a coastal dream home? Leslie Moseley ordered a pillow with the coordinates of the home site, wrapped up the house plans, and surprised her college-age daughters with Cinnamon Shore swag on Christmas morning.

“It was a precious moment,” says Leslie, describing how the girls sifted through the clues to realize they would soon have a beach home to visit with their mom. “There are no words to express my joy while watching their excitement rise as they put it all together.”

Leslie, bottom right, with her daughters after the Christmas morning surprise of a brand-new beach home breaking ground soon at Cinnamon Shore.

 Why she chose Cinnamon Shore

Leslie has vacationed all along the Gulf Coast in some of the most exclusive areas, including Florida’s famed Scenic Highway 30A. But when it came to building a vacation home for making her own family memories, she cites three reasons she knew Cinnamon Shore was the right spot:

• Walkability at this New Urban neighborhood. Everything’s close, including a gorgeous new pool, a scenic lake, a future Town Center, and of course, the beach!

•  Proximity to her Texas town. It’s just a few hours’ drive from where she lives in Tomball, Texas, near Houston.

•  Recognition of the Texas Coast as a favorite vacation destination. Leslie is proud to support the ever-growing number of vacationers returning again and again to the broad beachfront of Mustang Island.  

Front rendering of the lakeside Moseley/Cross home, designed by Architect Melton Henry 

Building with friends

Leslie's going 50/50 on the project with Brian and Kristina Cross, also of Tomball, to create a large-scale beach home that both families can share and enjoy. The gorgeous home will sleep up to 20 people and will be part of the vacation rental pool once it's complete.

“After assessing various lots, we all agreed we had found our sweet spot on the lake, next to Town Center, with an easy breezy walk down the boardwalk to the pools and to the beach,” Leslie says. “Hearing Town Center music from our decks combined with a view of the water will be good for the soul!”

Rear rendering of the Moseley/Cross home, designed by Architect Melton Henry 

Selecting a team

Leslie and the Crosses chose architect Melton Henry and custom homebuilder Tod Arbogast—longtime collaborators with Cinnamon Shore. The owners' house plans are going through the Design Review Board of Cinnamon Shore for final approval, and construction will start in spring 2022.

“Our architects and builders are among the best in Texas,” says Jodi Peters, broker at Cinnamon Shore Realty. “The architects make the most out of a given space considering location, and our builders are ‘building science guys’ who understand the challenges of our coastal environment -- constantly on the lookout for new and advanced methods or materials.”

Assisting savvy buyers at Cinnamon Shore

Peters says her team enjoys working with buyers like Leslie, who are so excited to become part of the Cinnamon Shore family. She adds that their clients are “savvy buyers who know what they want.” Many have stayed at Cinnamon Shore often or experienced living at other coastal homes they love. In today’s world of Pinterest and Houzz, with countless pictures of gorgeous properties available, buyers often know the features they want in a beach home.

“They recognize great design and craftsmanship,” Peters says. “They see how an architect took advantage of the available views or amenities and designed to the specific location.” Cinnamon Shore buyers “ask all the right questions, from design and furniture placement to insurance and the nuts and bolts of homeownership," Peters adds.

Collaborating with strong builders

For buyers like Leslie and the Crosses, the process of building a coastal home is simplified by the quality of the craftsmen who build it. “Our builders enjoy what they do, and it shows in the quality of their work and the pride they take in delivering a home to an owner,” Peters continues. “This makes for a wonderful relationship that is a pleasure to be part of and gives our team confidence in referring our builders to our customers."

That's proven true as Leslie and the Crosses break ground on their new beach home.

“We hope to break ground in May 2022 on a home that larger groups of 18 to 20 can enjoy as they rent over the years, but equally as important, one where we will make priceless memories ourselves,” Leslie says. “Thank you, Cinnamon Shore, for the gift of joy in the possibilities ahead.”

Discover your own coastal dream property

Let us help match you with the perfect property for your family! From resales at our original community, Cinnamon Shore North, to homes already under construction and custom homes at Cinnamon Shore South, we have options for you!

Published by Jennifer Chappell Smith
Thursday, April 21, 2022