Clearing and prepping a 1-acre lot, residential build - Mandeville

We're considering buying a ~1 acre lot in a new section of an existing subdivision. The new section has all new streets and infrastructure but none of the lots are cleared and ready to build in this section. Everything from the curb in is basically woods.

We've bought and built before 5 years ago, but it was a cleared lot from a private buyer in a residential neighborhood. We ripped up the grass and started driving piles on the first day.

My builder is talking about $80,000 - $100,000 to get the site ready to build from its current condition all in (clearing, fill, pilings, concrete, etc), I’m new to these parts of the process, both serious and sarcastic replies are appreciated!

What options do I have to mitigate costs of clearing the trees/vegetation from the lot? Can I “sell” or give away the trees to a lumber mill or carpenter if the trees are desirable species instead of just paying for a tree contractor to remove most of the trees? We’ll have to keep some of the trees for aesthetics but most are unremarkable or relatively young I think.

On fill, we’ll have to fill in a good bit to raise the foundation a few feet. If we’re adding a pool anyway, would it make sense to dig for the pool first and use the excess to fill in the main house area, instead of buying truckloads of fill dirt/sand?

Also, would the developers have soil boring samples already, since they have already run utilities and put in streets, rather than commissioning my own soil test?