Anyone looking to build should consider planting only native plants, and you will not have all of the fuss and frustrations of maintenance. Also, planting only native plants is very beneficial to the environment.
Look at the difference between the landscaping at Seaside vs. WaterColor.
Seaside is 100% native. WaterColor is not. I have no idea of the variance between the cost per sq ft of the two developments, but I bet you that WaterColor's cost is at least 100 times greater than Seaside's. Who wants to mow grass when the temp. is 90F in May? I don't understand some people.
On a side note, I know that some of you think that Round-Up is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I encourage you to find other products that are friendly to our environment. Round-up and many other chemicals go into our water source. Take "ownership" of the land on which you live as well as that of your neighbors'.