The Trails at Carmel

Pflugerville's newest master-planned community, opened in 2026, with entry-level Starlight homes from the high $200s next to Ashton Woods up to the $700s.

Carmel is a new Ashton Woods master-planned community on Pflugerville's east side, between Cameron Road and Rowe Lane. The Trails at Carmel is its first phase. Starlight (Ashton Woods' entry brand) builds 3-to-5-bedroom homes from about $280K; Ashton Woods builds the 50' and 60' lots from the mid $300s. It opened in May 2026, so inventory is new and the builder is pushing hard on first-year sales.

Pflugerville, Texas 78660, Travis County. Updated 2026-10-22 from builder inventory on that date; everything here changes weekly.

The tax bill at The Trails at Carmel

The combined 2.65% on builder data is the highest of the Pflugerville communities on this site.

Your monthly tax bill here

Community

Home price

Everyone in Pflugerville pays

City, county and schools$941

2.15% of value a year, before any homestead exemption.

The line the flyer leaves out

MUD, Travis County MUD$219

Municipal utility district, about 0.50% a year for 20 to 30 years. That is $78,750 over 30 years at this price.

Each month, at 2.65%$1,159

$13,913 a year on a $525,000 home in The Trails at Carmel. Estimated from builder and appraisal-district figures on the community page; confirm the exact lot on the county tax estimator before you sign.

Builders

Starlight Homes$279,642 to $415,990

Big cuts on Ronocco Rd specs 6 Oct ($33K–$56K); appliances included; FHA 5/1 ARM offer earlier in the fall.17 homes on the feed, 3 ready · 6 cut in 30 days

Ashton Woods$350,990 to $770,000

13 specs in September; 'rate as low as 3.99% (4.23% APR)' is an FHA 2/1 temporary buydown; 'up to $70,000 in discounts' banner dated through 31 Oct 2026.

Counts and prices are from the builders' own inventory feeds on 2026-10-22. Any quoted rate needs the builder's lender and credit approval; ask for the APR. The homes themselves, with today's prices, are on my New Home Buddy page.

Lots, fees, schools and drives

Lots and fees

Lot sizes40' (Starlight), 50' and 60' (Ashton Woods)

HOA$85/month

MUDTravis County MUD, about 0.5%

All-in tax rate2.65% (builder agent-portal data, 22 Oct 2026)

Schools, Pflugerville ISD

ElementaryCarpenter Elementary

MiddleBohls Middle School

HighWeiss High School

Zoning moves as new schools open; confirm the exact lot on the district's attendance map.

Drives, off-peak

The Domain25–30 min, 15 mi

Samsung Taylor25 min, 16 mi

Downtown Austin30–40 min, 20 mi

Amenities

Pool and amenity center (phase 1). Walking trails. Playground. Natural-gas community. Planned parks in later phases.

Incentives as of 2026-10-20

Starlight: 6 Oct price cuts of $33K–$56K on five Ronocco Rd specs (e.g. a 5-bed, 2,688 sq ft home to $379K), appliances included; the FHA 5/1 ARM at 3.25% (6.87% APR) from September needs re-confirming. Ashton Woods: 'up to $70,000 in discounts' and an FHA 2/1 buydown from 3.99%, banner dated through 31 Oct 2026.

Any rate shown needs the builder's lender, select homes and credit approval. Ask for the APR and the close-by date. This month's full list

My honest take

Carmel is the community I send first-time buyers to look at first, because it is where the sub-$350K new-construction home in Pflugerville proper lives in 2026, and because a brand-new master plan in its first year is a motivated seller.

What I like. Starlight's October cuts were the biggest single moves in town: five-bedroom, 2,688 sq ft homes under $380K. Appliances (fridge, washer, dryer) are included, which matters at this price point. The community is natural gas, the amenity center is open, and the Ashton Woods section gives you a move-up path inside the same neighborhood.

What to watch. The tax rate. At about 2.65% all-in, Carmel's MUD is the steepest of the Pflugerville communities here. A $330,000 Starlight home carries roughly $730 a month in property tax escrow versus about $585 at Villas at Rowe. Put that next to the HOA ($85) before you compare list prices. Also, Starlight's rate offers have mostly been 5/1 ARMs (3.25% in September, 6.87% APR). That is a five-year discount, not a 30-year rate; fine if you plan to move or refinance, a problem if you don't.

Who this is for. Buyers under $400K who want new, want space, and will take a higher tax rate in exchange for a lower price and more square footage. Also move-up buyers in the Ashton Woods section who want 60' lots without going to Blackhawk's price band.

My tour routine here. Starlight model on Ronocco, then the specific cut specs (17405, 17413, 17429, 17437 Ronocco in October), then the Ashton Woods models on Carmel Rancho. Ask both reps for the APR on any rate and whether the offer is fixed or an ARM; the answer decides which one is the better deal.

Questions about The Trails at Carmel

What is the difference between Starlight and Ashton Woods in Carmel?

Same parent company, two product lines. Starlight is the entry brand: smaller lots, fewer options, appliances included, lower prices (high $200s to low $400s). Ashton Woods is the main brand on bigger lots with a design studio and prices from the mid $300s to $700K+. They share the amenities and the MUD.

Is The Trails at Carmel in a MUD?

Yes. The all-in rate on builder data is about 2.65%, the highest on this site. On a $350,000 Starlight home that is roughly $150 a month more than a comparable home at a 2.13% rate across town.

What are the HOA dues?

$85 a month, covering common-area maintenance and the amenity center.

Are the Starlight price cuts real or was the list price inflated?

Real in the sense that the same addresses were listed $33K–$56K higher a month earlier. Starlight raised prices on several plans over the summer (12 raises vs. 2 cuts through September), then cut specific finished specs in October. Judge the home on the current price against Meadowlark Preserve and Villas at Rowe, not against its own old price.

Which schools does Carmel feed?

Pflugerville ISD. Listings show Carpenter Elementary, Bohls Middle and Weiss High.