Building Fredericksburg’s Future

By Brent Burgess

Standard-Radio Post reporter

Fleener Greathouse Builders is relatively new to the building market in Fredericksburg, but their roots run deep and their commitment to the community drives their work.

Ryan Fleener and Kelby Greathouse partnered to launch their business in 2019.

Greathouse grew up around Fredericksburg with family and worked for several years with Young Life, a youth ministry geared toward high-school students. Following his time in ministry Greathouse worked in several construction and engineering jobs in the area.

Fleener moved to Fredericksburg in 2017 following a career in music in Nashville, Tennessee. Fleener worked construction jobs throughout much of his musical journey.

“It’s fun, because Ryan’s coming in fresh and new to the community … I’ve been here since 1983. And so it’s really cool to see the journey and to watch how Fredericksburg has evolved and grown and developed.

“And then Ryan comes in here fresh and new, and to be able to combine that history and that tradition with this fresh vision. He has some fantastic perspective on some modern builds.”

The combination of the two minds has made Fleener Greathouse uniquely suited to provide modern sensibilities with traditional values.

Fleener pointed to how the diversity of incoming residents has caused a shift in home design preference.

“With all the influx of people coming in, you’re getting some different architecture that hasn’t been here,” Fleener said.

Specifically, the builders have seen an increasing demand for more modern design.

“Here lately, we have some pretty modern houses that we’re building,” said Fleener. “We’ve got a lot of opportunity to come up with some really cutting-edge design — cleaner lines, really modern architecture.”

Modern design requires a builder to hide the structural support of a home to protect the aesthetic simplicity, and that requires clever design.

“If people want a simple (home), with smooth, clean lines, there’s a whole lot of work and a lot of detail,” said Greathouse.

Ryan Fleener and Kelby Greathouse launched their building company in 2019 and express a commitment to preserving the family-oriented culture of Fredericksburg. —

Standard-Radio Post/ Brent Burgess

With increasing diversity among the residents of Fredericksburg, Fleener Greathouse Builders has developed a broad spectrum of designs from Hill Country traditional to more modern builds. —

Photo by Josh Huskin

Unstable Market

Building costs in Fredericksburg are at an all-time high. Economic trends such as supply chain difficulties, increasing demand and inflation have made it difficult for Fleener Greathouse to quote a build.

“It’s changed our business model. We’re a cost-plus builder, but we still try to start a project and have a to-thedollar budget,” said Greathouse.

“When we first started, we ran a 2% contingency, which is kind of standard. But we’ve run a 10% contingency because the market has been all over the place.”

For Fleener Greathouse, the best approach to this challenge is open communication.

Greathouse said, “This is an ebb and flow. Our guarantee to you is we’re going to communicate everything we can control and everything that we can’t.

“We put disclaimers on our bids, and just try to create an understanding in our communication.”

Increases in building costs have also been inevitable in this economy.

“When we first started building, you could build for $175, $200 a foot. It’s hard to get $300 a foot now,” said Fleener, who attributed gas prices and delivery costs as a factor.

Rural Builds

Many of the custom builds in Gillespie County are rural builds. These builds create unique challenges for both builder and buyer.

Many new build residents need to factor costs of the land and the preparation of the land for the home.

“That is a little bit of a shock when people are buying that I hear, they don’t estimate when they’re buying that dirt,” Fleener said. “It’s a lot of money.”

There is an art to envisioning a build around the local landscape that is unique here versus building in the city.

Fleener has had to adjust from his urban background. He credits Greathouse for mastering the skill.

“My weakness is the initial part of a build. seeing a raw piece of land and going from raw to home. That’s a heck of a job and he’s (Greathouse) got such a background to do that,” said Fleener.

The Investment

Fleener Greathouse predicts building costs will continue to be a challenge for customers in the area.

But Greathouse sites the consistency of Fredericksburg’s growth as evidence of a strong investment.

Greathouse points to the consistent growth curve of Fredericksburg over the past two decades. So, no matter the costs, trends predict the value of homes to continue upward. >

Greathouse said, “There’s really no savings to be had. It’s an investment. I’m investing in this now because it’s going to continue.”

Building The Future

Fleener Greathouse approach their business as a service and a ministry to the community. Instead of resisting the inevitable growth of Fredericksburg, they hope to shape its future.

“Whenever you look at building here it’s twofold,” Greathouse said. “(People say) ‘I want to be out of the city, and I want to live in a small town, and I’m willing to pay for whatever price it is for the quality of life that Fredericksburg offers.’

“We’re fighting for Fredericksburg to grow well, to grow in a manner that continues to create this allure, this destination, this place that people want to live.”

Greathouse continued, “I fight for the atmosphere and the culture of Fredericksburg to remain like this no matter how big or how many people move in from out of state. I want it to remain the way it was when I grew up here.”