Even Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles couldn’t vault over the pink tape standing between her and her Texas dream home.
The gymnastics celebrity spent roughly 5 years bringing her sprawling new mansion to life, a journey that included irritating householders affiliation approvals and a seemingly countless parade of construction choices.
But Biles may have a lot of company in the ritzy Spring, Texas, group of Benders Landing Estates, where luxurious householders and builders have reportedly spent months — and sometimes more than a yr — making an attempt to get their dream houses authorised.
The construction marathon also coincided with a main, and official, transition for the couple. Biles turned emotional while saying goodbye to their short-term Texas home, which had just lately been listed for $1.27 million and reportedly went under contract within 5 days. The property bought in October, closing one chapter just as the couple settled into the home they had spent years creating.
Biles and her husband, NFL security Jonathan Owens, broke ground on their {custom} lakefront mansion in February 2022, after starting the design course of in 2020.
Simone Biles and husband Jonathan Owens spent years building their Texas dream home. Penske Media via Getty Images
Biles celebrates receiving the keys to her new Texas mansion in an Instagram post. Simone Biles
An aerial view exhibits what seems to be Simone Biles’ home in Benders Landing Estates. Google Maps
More than three years later, however, the home was still a construction zone.
By September 2025, the mansion was still a work in progress, with Biles sharing Instagram pictures displaying scaffolding in entrance of {custom} cabinetry, employees navigating protecting flooring coverings and an unfinished leisure room with uncovered wiring.
The Olympic champion jokingly described the ongoing work as “minor aesthetic adjustments,” even as the pictures confirmed important construction still underway.
In a September 2025 Instagram post, Biles jokingly called the work “minor,” despite uncovered wiring and unfinished flooring. Instagram/Simone Biles
Construction continued more than three years after the couple broke ground. Instagram/Simone Biles
The {custom} mansion options lavish finishes and personalised touches all through. Instagram/Simone Biles
The lavish lakefront property is packed with personal touches, including an infinity pool and spa, a home theater, a recreation room, a moist bar and a devoted room for the couple’s canine.
Even laundry turned a luxurious affair: Biles put in two units of washers and dryers so she and Owens would never have to battle over whose garments got washed first.
“Since Jonathan always wants to do laundry the EXACT same day as me,” she beforehand joked on Instagram, explaining that they now have a set of machines each.
Outside, the mansion boasts a {custom} sports activities court and an in-ground trampoline overlooking the lake — a becoming addition for the gymnastics legend.
Biles and Owens finally accomplished their dream home in November 2025. simonebiles/Instagram
The couple finally accomplished the mansion in November 2025, ending a roughly five-year journey from initial design to completed home.
But the long wait wasn’t Biles’ alone.
Somer Padilla, principal realtor at the Somerlyn Group at Compass, described the neighborhood’s architectural approval course of as “exceptionally rigorous,” based mostly on experiences shared by her shoppers.
“I’ve encountered situations where homeowners and builders have spent months navigating design reviews, revisions and approvals, sometimes extending the process to six months or longer,” Padilla instructed The Post.
And for some, the wait has been even more grueling.
One house owner, Padilla said, spent a staggering yr and a half securing approval to construct a home modeled after one she had beforehand owned in another neighborhood.
The proposed design was rejected because its architectural model was thought of too reminiscent of the Nineteen Nineties, according to Padilla, who said the house owner was given particular direction about the look the architectural committee most popular.
The course of allegedly turned even more irritating when the house owner traveled abroad for a month. According to Padilla, the committee would not talk straight with her builder, leaving the approval course of at a standstill until she returned.
Benders Landing Estates is recognized for its scenic lakes and luxurious properties. Bender’s Landing Estates
Another builder’s expertise ended without a home being constructed at all.
Padilla said the builder, who was planning a second {custom} home in the group, was instructed the new design needed to differ by at least 15% from beforehand submitted plans.
Even after making adjustments that exceeded that threshold, the builder continued to encounter difficulties acquiring approval, she said.
According to Padilla, governmental permits obtained during the course of finally expired before the architectural review was accomplished.
After investing appreciable time and sources, the builder deserted the project and selected to construct in another group.
“There is a difference between maintaining architectural integrity and creating a process that becomes unnecessarily difficult or costly for property owners,” Padilla said.
Located in Spring, just outside the Woodlands, Benders Landing Estates is an upscale group recognized for custom-built mansions on acre-plus tons, scenic lakes and wooded environment.
Benders Landing householders have confronted prolonged delays navigating the neighborhood’s strict HOA necessities. Benders Landing Estates/Facebook
The neighborhood attracts luxurious patrons with its privateness, resort-style facilities, proximity to main company campuses and comparatively low property taxes.
Padilla called it “one of the top desirable luxury communities in the north Houston suburbs outside of the Woodlands itself.”
Its appeal comes in half from the same architectural requirements that can frustrate householders hoping to construct something uniquely their own.
And the guidelines come with a price tag.
According to Realtor.com information protecting single-family listings in 2026 through Oct. 22, houses marketed in the broader Benders Landing neighborhood carried a median month-to-month HOA price of $125, almost similar to the $126 median in close by Woodson’s Reserve.
The upscale Spring group is recognized for its {custom} houses and architectural requirements.
Biles turned emotional saying goodbye to the Texas home where the couple lived while their new mansion was under construction for years. Tiktok/Simone Biles
Despite the approval complications, Padilla said the neighborhood’s requirements have helped shield its look and desirability, contributing, in her view, to rising land values over the previous decade.
“The association is upfront about the time and what is required to obtain approval,” she said.
And for patrons prepared to endure the course of, she believes the payoff can still be worthwhile.
“As long as the buyer has the stamina and funds to see it through, investing in Bender Landing is a smart decision,” Padilla said.
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