Without seeing it, I can't say! It could be so many things, even damage from the builders. (You said you live in a new house.) And there is Fusiform rust being found in loblolly pines. I think that you need to contact the Harris County Master Gardeners. They might have a suggestion, and it doesn't cost you anything.

BGlad, here is a plan I found online which might be close to your house. You might have it reversed, which many builders and plan books could do. About your woodwork, I don't think it's been refinished...mine looks very similar, and I know it is untouched. And, it was never painted--even kit houses specified either natural finish or paint as options, with stain being the preferred choice whether the wood was douglas fir, southern yellow pine or oak. If anything has been done to your trim, I think at most it was another coat of shellac to even out the 'bumpy' spots which can occur after nearly a century. I'm torn about re-shellacking mine because I love the patina, but it would be nice if it was smooth again. I think that the ceiling molding in your foyer is probably later, done when the tiles were put up. Can't tell from the pics, but is the opening to your dining room just a wide opening, or is there a door of some sort? Here is a link that might be useful: Harris House Plan

Your house was built before 1870, but after 1820. It could be called 'Italianate' from its paired windows on the second floor. It could also be called "Folk Victorian" . The length of the windows, the window casings with their small hoods are all early Victorian. The window panes (2/2) are probably renovations from the early 1900's. Its eaves, which extend straight out with no returns back to the main house, are Italianate, or 'Romantic' - a reaction to so many years of 'Colonial' architecture in the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. You can see that the builder is still thinking in terms of 'Colonial' symmetry but beginning to use the frills ( bay windows, paired windows, fancier door and window casings) that became so popular in the later Victorian years. The bay windows and the porch make it more likely to have been built closer to the 1850's. Also the newel post in the second slide is made from one log, turned on a lathe - very popular from the late 1830's to the 1860's. However your other stair railing, balusters and the fireplace mantles are the style of the 1830's. I know a similar hand rail (how lovely it is to look at and to feel in the hand!) built by a factory owner in 1838. The iron fence is probably later, early 1870's, as are the spindles (the little turned pieces up next to the roof) on the back porch. See if you can find a copy of Asher Benjamin's pattern book published in 1830 or 1827. He was a very popular architect whose books were copied by local carpenters all over the US. The 1827 and 1830 editions have illustrations very similar to your pictures. Also you might enjoy 'A Field Guide to American Houses' by the McAlesters.

I am sorry other people are so mean. I think your choices are lovely. Will it be better than where you live now? That is what I tell myself when I am doubting my choices. I think when we have the option to choose, we over obsess on making the perfect choice. If you were looking at already built houses, you wouldn't have any say. There is nothing objectionable about your choices. You said you can not make any changes? Then sit back and relax. I would just try to be sure it is not the same as the neighboring houses :) Stop second guessing yourself. It will be fine. In ten years, maybe you would have chosen differently, but by then styles will be different and your tastes may have changed.