Building a Home in Orlando

There are so many new homes and communities being built around Central Florida. With building a new home, there are so many questions and decisions that need to be made. Which models are available in which areas? What does new construction look like now versus what will it look like in the future?

Then vs Now

In the past, a future homeowner would begin by defining their budget and then pick what model and lot they wanted to build on. After that, it would be as simple as deciding what colors, finishes, and additions you wanted. Six to twelve months later and you’ve got a new home.

Now, it looks a little different with some builders picking all of the finishes and details before putting it up for sale about halfway through construction. Although this makes the home buying process more efficient, it takes some of the excitement out of planning and picking out new home details.

Not every builder does this, but a lot do due to supply chain issues with the demand being higher than the inventory can supply. This is also due to a lot of uncertainty when working with builders from start to finish, whether it be with the construction itself which can cause delays and ultimately make costs rise.

What Should I Do First?

Similar to making a significant purchase with anything else, the first step is always to look at your finances and figure out what you can afford. If you don’t have the cash in hand for the home price you’re looking at, partner with a lender to decide what you need for your future home. This will help you find a number that you’re comfortable with and what you can afford to pay with your current income.

What Area Do I Want to Live In?

Do you want to be close to schools? Do you want to be a certain distance from work or the theme parks? What’s great about Central Florida is that most of the central and surrounding areas have a lot of new construction that cater to varying budgets. Check out some of our videos about areas such as Apopka, Winter Garden, Kissimmee, and more.

Which Builder Should I Choose?

Once you define what’s important when it comes to your budget and area you want, then you need to decide which builder you want to work with. Fortunately, there are builders in every area dependent on your budget, which gives you lots of options. From Toll Brothers to Lennar, which neighborhood and models do you like best? What type of model is going to fit your family’s needs?

In the past, that’s where we would stop and go to contract. However, now we find ourselves many times having to wait for lots to become available that will fit the chosen model size and style. This ensures each neighborhood doesn’t have homes that look exactly the same – color, style, etc.

What Next?

Now that you’ve got a lot and model with a builder you like, all that’s left to do is go to some meetings and then wait for closing. There will be some appointments, inspections, and of course the design meeting. The design center is an easy place to overspend because everything is so exciting, but having a realtor there can assist with staying within budget.

Over the coming months after this, you’ll see the drywall and finishes all go up. About a week before closing you’ll go to the new home orientation. This will include inspecting the home for any imperfections or issues before closing.

Closing

It’s finally closing day and there’s so much to do with unpacking and setting up utilities. However, this is the final day where you go back through the list that was composed during the inspection and ensure everything is taken care of. There may be some items on the list that will be completed 7-10 days after closing, dependent on what tier the builder is. After this, congrats are in order for your new home!

Overall

The whole process of building a new home is fun and exciting, but can also be time-consuming and a little stressful. Having a realtor there can really ease the process and help with any issues that may arise. This would be someone to talk to the builder for you, and be an advocate for your dream home. 

If you find yourself looking to build or buy a new home in the Orlando area, reach out to The Pozek Group for all of your questions and needs.

Have you ever gone through the process of building a new home before? Are you planning on building a home in Orlando?

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