What is the size of your lot?

What are the chances of you turning these two choices down and buying something different on your own? That's a pretty limited choice.

@cearbhaill (zone 6b Eastern Kentucky) The front yard is about 25x75', but about half of that is taken up by the driveway and the front walk. (I just added a diagram to the original post.)

I believe the contract between the builder and the neighborhood requires that they put in a tree, so they will definitely put one in, and then we can change it later on our dime with HOA approval if we want to.

I believe they would normally have more trees, but the particular landscaper they are working with only has access to these two in the timeframe that will apply to us. He urged me to choose quickly because "sometimes trees go fast" and then we'll just have to take whatever they have available.

Texan here — in this size yard, I’d choose a red oak. I love both trees, but the red oak will grow faster and have the pretty colors. It’ll start looking like a leafy, shade tree sooner, whereas a live oak (small leaves) can take a while to start branching out. Both can be messy trees, though. Even though live oaks are evergreen, they do drop leaves/debris all year, and red oaks can get messy with acorns dropping. IME, it’s easier to grow a lawn or other things under red oaks.

This is all personal preference on my part, based on having had them and been around them all of my life, and based on you saying these will be very young trees.

I prefer live oaks on land, ranches, or large estates, and red oaks for suburban front yards. Others may feel totally different.

ETA: There’s also Oak Wilt to consider, and although both can get it, it takes out way more live oaks in my area than reds. But I’m in D/FW, not sure about your area.