You're about to get lots of opinions that will either be strongly in favor of Bermuda or strongly against it and in favor of something else.
Bermuda probably isn't a good choice for your climate. Even though it may be really hot outside now, most of the year the bermuda will probably be either dormant or coming out of/into dormancy. Its very easy to keep alive however it requires a lot of mowing and fertilizer to keep it GREEN. It may be drought tolerant but it still needs water to stay GREEN. Not to be confused with ALIVE.

Being in what is called the "transition area" you will have a tough time with any kind of grass, all of them will struggle at various times of the year.

One thing is for certain. Once you put in bermuda, you will never be able to get rid of it. It's like getting a tatoo. You may decide you don't like it later on then it's too late. Another certainty is builders LOVE BERMUDA. They love it because you can set it and forget it and they get it cheap. They'll make it out to be high end but I assure you there is nothing high end about the variety they are going to give you which is the cheapest garbage. The common varieties are invasive, and are on most state's do-not-plant list. The hybrid varieties will spread aggresively into unwanted areas. IF you go to spray roundup on it you could end up injuring the plants you want. Conversely tall fescue does not spread into unwanted areas the same way as bermuda sod.

If you really don't want any lawn maintenance and plan to be in your home for a long time, You may opt for an alternative ground cover. They are becoming more popular nowadays. Check the groundcovers forum for suggestions.

Zoysia is a bit more cold hardy and less invasive. It doesn't run much, contrary to the popular advertising. If I was starting from scratch, I'd go with Centipede.

Centipede ia Mountain Home AR, no way. Bermuda requires almost full sun and a very good choice for that area of the state if you get enough sun. That is why your builder was shocked, Bermuda is the most popular choice and available.

Zoysia is another good choice for if you have some moderate shade to deal with. However it is a little pricey

My advice is do some homework and see what you are getting yourself into before deciding.

You might be able to go with Fescue if you have irrigation and don't mind a dormant lawn in the summer. Sod is extremely expensive. Seed this fall, and only in fall after you have the irrigation installed

Know any Lube family up there?

Actually I am doing my homework by tapping into everyone's brain that I can. Most say not to use Bermuda because of its invasiveness. What does Fescue look in the different seasons?
Sorry, the only Lube I know is Jiffy.

It's also improtant to point out that Texas-weed is a bermuda sod farmer and it is in his best interest to promote this weed even in areas it is not well adaptated such as that far north. Builders don't know what grows where. They are in the business of selling homes, not grass or landscaping. All they know is what everyone else knows. People think bermuda is is high end but it's really not so and the builders get it dirt cheap and lay it at all their homesites. If there is anything I've learned from dealing with homebuilders is they don't like to really customize too much. To them it's just one more headache. Like I said, don't involve your builder in this process. They will put in the CHEAPEST CRAPPY grass they possibly can. They always do and they always will no matter what species it is or what you pay for the house. If you have bermuda and a hot dry spell like we're having here in GA then it too will turn brown without irrigation.

According to your yearly average temperatures, you can grow Fescue. But I must note that your record high temperatures during the months of May through Sept. are north of 100 degrees F!! And with the latest trend of heat waves I would be more incline to use a warm season grass in your area.

Princess 77 bermuda could be a good choice, then you can over seed it in the fall with Perennial Ryegrass for winter color.

Depending on temperatures, rainfall, fertilization, and soil, Fescue can stay green year-round.

Zoysia will be a good choice, too, but be careful to only use Meyers. Your winter temperatures are cold enough to damage any warm season grass on any giving year - Meyers included.

I live in Northeast AR and Bermuda is definitely the grass of choice around here--it's just not my grass of choice. I am in the process of killing out the bermuda in the back and side yards primarily because of its invasiveness and because I hate those darn seed heads! (no, I don't mow it 2x/week--I don't want to mow anything 2x/week!) :P I'm sowing turf type tall fescue in its place. In the front yard, which is shady, I already have fine fescue, which I will be overseeding this fall. The only drawback I can see to sowing TTTF is that it has to be periodically overseeded to maintain thickness, which is a pretty good tradeoff to me! We also might have to start mowing sooner and mow later into the year because TTTF is a cool season grass.

QQ get off my back, I am tired of your bagering and putting me down. I gave the OP spot on reccomendations for their area.

If a contractor wanted the least expensive option they would just seed with K-31 and leave town because they know in that area it would die in the first summer.

They might get away with Tall Fescue around Bull Shoals area if they have irrigation, shade, and do not mind a dormant lawn through summer and reseeding every fall. But Bermuda and Zoysia is king in that are. Move a little south about 50 miles of there and Fescue is out and Saint Augustine and Centipede become choices along with Bermuda and Zoysia.

So I will stand by what I say. If they have full sun either Bermuda or Zoysia. With moderate shade then Zoysia and if you have irrigation K-31 is an option with limitations.

Sorry didn't mean to badger. I thought I-40 was the dividing line isn't that what you always say? I've given enough information I don't think it was inaccurate or biased. I'll leave the topic to the rest of the forum residents to be heard.

I-40 the dividing line between warm and cool season grasses?