Even Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles couldn’t vault over the red tape standing between her and her Texas dream home.
The gymnastics superstar spent roughly five years bringing her sprawling new mansion to life, a journey that included frustrating homeowners association approvals and a seemingly endless parade of construction decisions.
But Biles may have plenty of company in the ritzy Spring, Texas, community of Benders Landing Estates, where luxury homeowners and builders have reportedly spent months — and sometimes more than a year — trying to get their dream homes approved.
The construction marathon also coincided with a major, and official, transition for the couple. Biles became emotional while saying goodbye to their temporary Texas home, which had recently been listed for $1.27 million and reportedly went under contract within five days. The property sold in October, closing one chapter just as the couple settled into the home they had spent years creating.
Biles and her husband, NFL safety Jonathan Owens, broke ground on their custom lakefront mansion in February 2022, after beginning the design process in 2020.
More than three years later, however, the house was still a construction zone.
By September 2025, the mansion was still a work in progress, with Biles sharing Instagram photos showing scaffolding in front of custom cabinetry, workers navigating protective floor coverings and an unfinished entertainment room with exposed wiring.
The Olympic champion jokingly described the ongoing work as “minor aesthetic adjustments,” even as the images showed significant construction still underway.
The lavish lakefront property is packed with personal touches, including an infinity pool and spa, a home theater, a game room, a wet bar and a dedicated room for the couple’s dogs.
Even laundry became a luxury affair: Biles installed two sets of washers and dryers so she and Owens would never have to fight over whose clothes got washed first.
“Since Jonathan always wants to do laundry the EXACT same day as me,” she previously joked on Instagram, explaining that they now have a set of machines each.
Outside, the mansion boasts a custom sports court and an in-ground trampoline overlooking the lake — a fitting addition for the gymnastics legend.
The couple finally completed the mansion in November 2025, ending a roughly five-year journey from initial design to finished 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 process as “exceptionally rigorous,” based on experiences shared by her clients.
“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 told The Post.
And for some, the wait has been even more grueling.
One homeowner, Padilla said, spent a staggering year and a half securing approval to build a house modeled after one she had previously owned in another neighborhood.
The proposed design was rejected because its architectural style was considered too reminiscent of the 1990s, according to Padilla, who said the homeowner was given specific direction about the appearance the architectural committee preferred.
The process allegedly became even more frustrating when the homeowner traveled overseas for a month. According to Padilla, the committee would not communicate directly with her builder, leaving the approval process at a standstill until she returned.
Another builder’s experience ended without a house being built at all.
Padilla said the builder, who was planning a second custom home in the community, was told the new design needed to differ by at least 15% from previously submitted plans.
Even after making changes that exceeded that threshold, the builder continued to encounter difficulties obtaining approval, she said.
According to Padilla, governmental permits obtained during the process eventually expired before the architectural review was completed.
After investing considerable time and resources, the builder abandoned the project and chose to build in another community.
“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 community known for custom-built mansions on acre-plus lots, scenic lakes and wooded surroundings.
The neighborhood attracts luxury buyers with its privacy, resort-style amenities, proximity to major corporate 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 part from the same architectural standards that can frustrate homeowners hoping to build something uniquely their own.
And the rules come with a price tag.
According to Realtor.com data covering single-family listings in 2026 through Oct. 22, homes advertised in the broader Benders Landing neighborhood carried a median monthly HOA fee of $125, nearly identical to the $126 median in nearby Woodson’s Reserve.
Despite the approval headaches, Padilla said the neighborhood’s standards have helped protect its appearance and desirability, contributing, in her view, to rising land values over the past decade.
“The association is upfront about the time and what is required to obtain approval,” she said.
And for buyers willing to endure the process, 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.