Simone Biles' Extended Home Build Highlights HOA Hurdles

Completing a dream home can be a lengthy process, as Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles experienced with her custom mansion in Spring, Texas. The construction and approval for her lakefront property spanned approximately five years, from the initial design in 2020 to its completion in November 2025. This extended timeline is not unique to Biles, as other homeowners and builders in the Benders Landing Estates community have reported similar, and sometimes even more protracted, struggles with the homeowners association's rigorous architectural review process.

Biles and her husband, NFL safety Jonathan Owens, broke ground on their home in February 2022. However, by September 2025, the mansion was still a construction site, with Biles sharing images of ongoing work. The home, designed to include a home theater, game room, wet bar, infinity pool, and custom sports court, eventually featured personal touches like dual laundry sets and an in-ground trampoline overlooking the lake.

The Benders Landing Estates community, known for its luxury custom homes, acre-plus lots, and scenic surroundings, implements strict architectural guidelines. Somer Padilla, a principal realtor at the Somerlyn Group at Compass, noted that these standards, while intended to maintain the neighborhood's aesthetic and desirability, can create significant challenges for residents. Padilla stated that homeowners and builders often spend months, or even over a year, navigating design reviews and revisions.

One homeowner, according to Padilla, faced a year and a half of delays for a design that was deemed too reminiscent of the 1990s, requiring specific adherence to the committee's preferred style. The process reportedly stalled further when the homeowner was overseas and the committee refused to communicate with her builder. In another instance, a builder abandoned a project after repeated difficulties in obtaining approval for a second custom home, even after making significant design modifications. Governmental permits expired before the architectural review was finalized, leading the builder to seek construction elsewhere.

Despite these hurdles, Padilla described Benders Landing Estates as a desirable luxury community in the north Houston suburbs. She suggested that the strict process, while demanding, helps protect property values. The median HOA fee in the neighborhood is comparable to nearby communities, standing at $125 per month as of October 2026. For those with the patience and financial resources, Padilla believes investing in the community remains a sound decision.