For a $349,900 home in Sunterra like 137 Eliana Shores Dr, plan on roughly $3,150 to $3,500 per month in total ownership costs with a 20% down payment at current 2026 mortgage rates. That includes the principal-and-interest payment, property taxes of about 3.2% to 3.65% of appraised value, homeowners insurance, and the community's HOA and amenity fees. This guide breaks down each line item with sourced figures so you can budget Sunterra honestly, not just look at the list price.
The short answer: what a $349,900 Sunterra home costs per month
Using 137 Eliana Shores Dr, the 4-bed, 3-bath, 1,885-square-foot waterfront home this site covers, as the example: at a $349,900 list price with 20% down, or $69,980, the financed amount is about $279,920. At the 30-year fixed rates around 7.25% to 7.4% quoted for Texas in mid-October 2026, the principal-and-interest payment runs roughly $1,910 to $1,940 per month.
From there the extras add up: property taxes, homeowners insurance, and Sunterra's HOA and amenity fees. All told, the realistic monthly outlay is about $3,150 to $3,500 before utilities. Every number here is a planning estimate built from published rates and current survey data, not a quote; your lender and insurance agent will give you the exact figures for your situation.
Property taxes: the biggest line item in Texas
Texas has no state income tax, and local governments lean heavily on property taxes instead. Sunterra sits in the 77493 ZIP code and spans Harris and Waller counties, and the community's MUD districts finance much of the infrastructure through the tax base.
Builder guides and appraisal-district records put Sunterra's combined rate at roughly 3.2% to 3.65% of appraised value depending on the section and county. On file for the 2025 tax year, Waller County MUD 37 sits at $1.50 per $100 of valuation and Harris-Waller Counties MUD 5 at $1.50 per $100, on top of the Katy ISD, county and flood-control levies.
On a $349,900 appraised value, 3.2% is about $11,200 a year, or roughly $933 a month, and 3.65% is about $12,770 a year, or roughly $1,064 a month. Ask for the tax card for the exact address, because the section determines the rate, and apply for a homestead exemption if the home will be your primary residence.
HOA and amenity fees: what Sunterra charges
Sunterra's HOA runs roughly $800 a year as the base, with gated and lagoon sections adding fees on top. Most sections total around $1,100 to $1,200 a year, and KB Home's own Sunterra guides quote about $1,160 a year. Some gated or lagoon amenity sections run higher, up to roughly $1,635 a year depending on the builder and section.
That fee pays for the shared fabric of the community: the lakes, parks, trails and maintenance that make a master-planned community work, plus access to the amenity villages such as the Sol Club lagoon and The Retreat lazy river where they apply. Confirm the figure for your exact section in writing before you make an offer.
Homeowners insurance: Katy's real cost of living
Greater Houston is the most expensive major metro in Texas for homeowners insurance, and Katy premiums for most homes typically land in the $2,400 to $4,500 a year range, according to 2026 insurance guides and local agency figures. That works out to roughly $200 to $375 a month.
Texas statewide averages run well above the national norm, so shop the policy, bundle where you can, and get live quotes before you decide. Insurance on a waterfront lot can vary with the home and the coverage, so treat the number as a real quote, not a guess.
The mortgage line: a worked example at today's rates
At $349,900 with 20% down, or $69,980, the financed amount is $279,920. Using the roughly 7.25% to 7.4% 30-year fixed rates quoted for Texas in mid-October 2026, the principal-and-interest payment is about $1,910 to $1,940 per month.
Property taxes and insurance are typically escrowed into that payment, so your actual monthly bill will be higher than the principal and interest alone. Run the same math with the down payment and rate your lender quotes you, because those two numbers move the monthly total more than anything else. Rates change week to week; these figures are a mid-October 2026 snapshot, not a rate lock.
The Sunterra extras that catch first-year owners
Beyond principal, interest, taxes, insurance and the HOA, budget for the year-one realities of this specific community. If you are moving in with school-age kids, Katy ISD registers new students entirely online through PowerSchool Enrollment at katyisd.org/registration, and you will need proof of residence, such as a utility bill dated within 30 days, along with a birth certificate, parent ID and immunization records. New-student registration for the school year typically opens in July.
Plan to set up electricity through CenterPoint Energy and confirm your water and wastewater provider, which varies by section and MUD district. And if you buy a waterfront lot, budget for the maintenance that goes with it: fencing, landscaping and the screens on your patio, plus any lake-access rules the community sets. These are routine, but they are not free.
What to do with these numbers when you shop
Use the list price as a starting point, not a ceiling. Before you make an offer in Sunterra, get four things in writing: the current tax card for the exact address, the HOA and amenity fee for that section, a live insurance quote, and a current mortgage pre-approval. Together they tell you the true monthly number.
Carol Jukes, Broker/Owner of Realty Pros of Texas, can pull the section-specific figures for 137 Eliana Shores Dr or any home you are comparing, and she brings 35+ years in real estate. Licensed Texas broker since 2006, she can get you a current cost estimate or book a private tour of the waterfront home. Call (832) 212-2772 or send a message through the contact page.