Moving into a brand-new community like Oaks of Tyrone in Tyrone Township, Michigan, means living through the build-out years, the period when the 34 wooded one-acre homesites fill in with custom homes one at a time. Built by Big Sky Development, the community is designed so the shared infrastructure, preserved mature trees, and common-area maintenance are in place from day one, while the streetscape matures as each new home is completed. This guide explains what that experience actually looks like, what is already finished when you move in, and how the neighborhood changes as more homes go up.
What the build-out phase actually looks like
In a new community, the first homeowners often move in while other homesites are still under construction. Some homes are finished, some are being framed or dried in, and some are still fully wooded. That is the normal rhythm of build-out. During business hours you will see construction crews, deliveries, and equipment moving through the community as each lot becomes a home. In exchange, you get to watch the neighborhood take shape around you, and you move into a home that is brand new, with nothing to repair or remodel for years to come.
The pace is predictable because Big Sky Development builds with the same crew and management team on every home. The owner personally visits active jobsites to oversee quality, and each build typically runs 8 to 12 months from contract to move-in. So the build-out window for the full community is measured in a few years, not decades, as homes sell and construction completes one site at a time.
What is in place before your first night in the home
What separates a well-planned community from a collection of separate lots is the infrastructure that is engineered before the first foundation is poured. At Oaks of Tyrone, the community septic system with pre-treatment, approved by the Tyrone Township Board of Trustees, serves every home, so buyers do not chase individual well-and-septic contracts. The road network is built and maintained as part of the community, and the annual HOA fee of $1,177 covers common-area maintenance and community upkeep from the start. Our guide to who maintains the private road in a new Michigan community walks through how that works.
The home package itself is complete from the day you sign: the wooded one-acre lot is included, the home is built to a firm contract price, and every home carries a 10-year in-house structural warranty. For a full rundown of what is included, see our breakdown of the Oaks of Tyrone home package.
Tree preservation means the community looks established from day one
One of the biggest differences between a build-out community and a clear-cut subdivision is what you see out the window while construction continues. Big Sky Development preserves mature trees as part of its approach to land development, so each homesite keeps its natural privacy and shade even as the home goes up around it. Instead of a bare dirt neighborhood waiting decades for saplings to grow, the streets feel wooded and settled from the first move-in. Our deep dive on how tree preservation shapes custom home design explains why that matters, and why true one-acre wooded sites are becoming harder to find in Livingston County.
How the neighborhood matures year by year
As each home is completed, driveways, landscaping, and lawns fill in, and the community gradually takes on the settled feel of an established neighborhood. The preserved trees do most of the work, and the HOA keeps the common areas maintained so the entrance, road shoulders, and shared spaces stay tidy throughout construction. For buyers, the honest expectation to set is that a new community is a work in progress for a while, and that is part of the value: you are buying into a place on the ground floor, at today's pricing, in a district served by Hartland Consolidated Schools with a Fenton mailing address.
What to know before you commit to a build-out community
Buying in a new community works best when you go in with clear expectations. Work with the builder's in-house design team from the start to lock in your floor plan and selections, agree to a fixed-price contract before construction begins, and finalize financing early so the build can start on schedule. The full sequence is laid out on our building process page, and our month-by-month look at breaking ground this fall shows how the calendar lines up. Expect construction activity during normal business hours, plan for the community to fill in gradually, and enjoy the fact that everything in your home is brand new, engineered, and under warranty from the day you get the keys.
Frequently asked questions
Is it noisy to live in a community that is still being built?
Construction activity happens during normal business hours, with crews, deliveries, and equipment moving through the community as each homesite is built. Big Sky Development coordinates the work so finished homes and occupied homeowners are respected, and the preserved mature trees keep each homesite private and shaded.
When will the community be fully built out?
Oaks of Tyrone has 34 homesites, and each custom home typically takes 8 to 12 months to build. Because homes go up as lots sell, the full community builds out over a few years rather than all at once, one home at a time.
Who maintains the roads and common areas during construction?
The community septic system, road network, and infrastructure are engineered as part of the development, and the annual HOA fee of $1,177 covers common-area maintenance and community upkeep from the start. Buyers do not manage these systems individually.
Will the homesites still be wooded as the community fills in?
Yes. Big Sky Development preserves mature trees on every homesite as part of its land development approach, so the community keeps its natural privacy and shade as more homes are built, rather than becoming a clear-cut subdivision.
What is included in the home package at Oaks of Tyrone?
The home package includes the custom-built home, a standard wooded one-acre lot, and all standard features, with every home carrying a 10-year in-house structural warranty. Upgrades and custom selections are made with Big Sky's in-house design team through the showroom.
See the community for yourself
The best way to understand the build-out years is to stand on the land. Schedule a tour with Rob Moen at Oaks of Tyrone, walk the wooded one-acre homesites, and get the full timeline and community plan from the Big Sky Development team. Rob is at 810-691-0019 and ready to show you exactly what is in place today and what comes next.