The sales team in a model home works for the builder. I work for you: comparing communities, reading the contract, weighing incentives, and protecting your timeline from the first visit to closing.
Many builders ask buyers to bring or register their agent on the first visit, and some will not recognize an agent who is added later. Policies vary by builder, so call me before you walk into any model home, and I will handle the registration.
Sign a written agreement with your agent, get a lender conversation started, and decide your non-negotiables. A pre-approval sets your budget before a sales rep does.
Get an all-in price in writing, compare incentives against your own loan estimate, price out HOA, CDD, insurance, flood and taxes, and have an attorney review the contract.
Inspect at pre-drywall and at the final stage, turn the punch list into written commitments, and get the warranty terms in writing.
Base price, lot premium, options and design center, added up.
What they are worth, and what conditions come with them.
Dues, rules, and what the developer can change.
The annual amount, how long it lasts, and whether it can be prepaid.
The lot's flood zone, and real insurance quotes before you commit.
Deposits, completion dates, price changes, and dispute terms.
Independent checks at the stages that matter.
What is covered, for how long, and how to make a claim.
A plain-English walkthrough of buying a new home in Florida, with a printable list of questions to ask every builder.
No law requires one, but it is usually wise. The builder's on-site sales team represents the builder. Your own agent represents you: comparing communities, explaining the contract, reviewing incentives and tracking timelines through closing.
Many builders ask buyers to bring or register their agent on the first visit. If you sign in alone, some builders will not recognize your agent later. Policies differ by builder, so call before you go.
Builders often compensate a registered buyer's agent, but it depends on the builder and on the written agreement you sign with your agent. Since August 2024, agents who use the MLS generally need a written agreement with you before touring homes, and it must state how the agent is paid. I explain exactly how I am paid before you sign anything.
Often, though it depends on the builder and the market. Builders may have more flexibility on incentives, closing costs, upgrades or rate buydowns than on the base price, and finished inventory homes can offer more room.
Typical incentives include help with closing costs, interest rate buydowns and design center credits. Many are tied to using the builder's preferred lender or closing by a set date, so compare the total cost against your own loan estimate before you decide.
Many new Florida communities sit inside a Community Development District, which can levy taxes or assessments to pay for public facilities and services. The district's board sets them each year, on top of county and local taxes. Contracts for the initial sale of a home must disclose this, so ask for the annual amount and how long it lasts.
Yes. New homes can still have defects. Many buyers schedule a pre-drywall inspection and a final inspection before closing, then use the builder's warranty for anything that appears after move-in.
A finished inventory home can close on a timeline similar to a resale. A home built from the ground up usually takes several months or more, depending on the builder, the plan and the stage of the community.
Florida assesses property as of January 1, so your first bill may reflect the land or the partly built home as it stood then, and the next year's bill can jump. Budget with your county property appraiser's tax estimator using your purchase price, and file for homestead by March 1 if the home will be your primary residence.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Builder policies and Florida rules change, so confirm details with the builder, your lender, your insurance agent and a Florida real estate attorney. Sources: Fla. Stat. 720.401, Fla. Stat. 190.048, NAR, Florida Department of Revenue.
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