A custom gunite pool costs roughly the same to build in New Braunfels, Boerne, or San Antonio — the real differences by city are terrain, permitting timelines, and HOA review, not the base price. Here's how each market in our service area actually compares.
Why city matters more than you'd think
Ask ten builders "what does a pool cost in Texas?" and you'll get ten different numbers, because the honest answer depends on the lot, not the zip code. But after building across every community from the Guadalupe River bottomlands to the limestone ridges north of San Antonio, we've learned that each city in our service area does have its own personality — and it's worth knowing before you budget or design.
City-by-city snapshot
| City | Terrain | Permitting & HOA |
|---|---|---|
| New Braunfels | Mixed clay and limestone, river-adjacent lots | City permit + HOA in most newer developments |
| Boerne | Shallow soil over limestone, sloped ranch lots | City & Kendall County permit + strict ranch-community HOAs |
| San Antonio (Stone Oak & The Dominion) | Rocky north-side terrain, established estate lots | City permit + prominent gated-community HOAs |
| Canyon Lake | Hilly, rocky, often unincorporated | County permit; HOA varies by subdivision |
| Bulverde | Rolling acreage, mixed rock and soil | City/county permit; HOA common in newer subdivisions |
| Spring Branch | Wooded acreage lots, variable grade | County permit; HOA less common on larger acreage |
| Fair Oaks Ranch | Rolling estate terrain across three counties | City permit + active architectural review |
| Schertz & Cibolo | Flatter suburban lots, easier access | City permit + master-planned HOA review |
| Seguin | Flatter Guadalupe Valley terrain | City/county permit; HOA less common |
| San Marcos | River-valley terrain, some limestone slopes | City permit; HOA varies by neighborhood |
| Wimberley | Hilly, wooded, river-adjacent, often rocky | County permit; HOA uncommon on rural lots |
Where rock excavation drives cost
The single biggest line-item swing we see city to city isn't labor or materials — it's rock. Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch, Canyon Lake, Wimberley, and the hillier pockets of San Antonio's north side (Stone Oak, The Dominion) sit on shallow soil over solid limestone shelves. Excavating through rock takes specialized equipment and more time, which is why we always run a site assessment before finalizing a quote in these areas. Flatter markets like Seguin, Schertz-Cibolo, and much of New Braunfels typically excavate faster and cheaper.
Where HOA review adds the most time
Gated, master-planned communities have the most rigorous architectural review — think Cordillera Ranch and Fair Oaks Ranch near Boerne, or Stone Oak and The Dominion in San Antonio. These committees typically meet monthly and want a full site plan, drawings, and material specs before approval. Rural acreage in Spring Branch, Wimberley, and parts of Canyon Lake usually has little to no HOA process, which can shave weeks off your pre-construction timeline. See our full permits & HOA guide for what to expect.
What stays the same everywhere
Regardless of city, every J. Oliver project gets the same standard: an itemized, transparent quote, stamped structural engineering, PebbleTec Elite finishes, and one local project manager from first sketch to first swim. For a full cost breakdown, see our 2026 custom pool cost guide.
Which city are you building in?
Every one of our service-area pages goes deeper on local terrain, neighborhoods, and permitting specific to that market: New Braunfels, Boerne, San Antonio, Canyon Lake, Bulverde, Spring Branch, Fair Oaks Ranch, Schertz & Cibolo, Seguin, San Marcos, and Wimberley.
Building in your city?
Tell us where your lot is and we'll walk you through the terrain, permitting, and a realistic budget for your market.