Why Buy New: Low Housing Inventory in Florida

Have you been shopping for a home in Florida and finding there just aren’t that many homes on the market to look at? You are not alone – resale housing inventory is at a multi-year low, with real estate listings in Tampa Bay down 20.4% year over year according to recent data from realtor.com.  

Low housing inventory doesn’t just mean fewer opportunities for you to find the home which suits your needs, but also multiple buyers competing to buy the few available homes, driving up prices – and your stress levels!

So, what can you do to avoid the stress and find the perfect home of your dreams? Buy new! Here, we outline the benefits and opportunities available to build a new construction home in Florida.

You Pick Your Home Layout

Tired of looking at homes which just aren’t the right layout for your needs? Closed off rooms, no space for your home office, small closets – blah! Building a new home in Florida means you can choose from a wide selection of home plans and select the layout that is right for you! 

At Highland Homes, we offer more than 30 new home plans with up to 3,315 square feet of living space, three to six bedrooms, and features including flexible use rooms, open living space, and spa-like en-suite bathrooms. Homes include a 2 or 3-car garage and outdoor living space, and select plans offer you a loft bonus room or in-law suite. This variety of layouts means you will find a home with the right square footage, room setup, and overall layout for your needs. 

Personalized to Your Style

Why settle for a buying a house in which you already want to change the flooring and cabinets, and what is up with that ugly wall color? Imagine instead moving into a home which is designed with the colors you like, flooring you want, and even maybe has all brand-new appliances and window blinds already installed! That’s the difference of building a new home.

Many of our homeowners say their favorite part of building with Highland Homes was the time spent working with a designer at our Personal Selection Studio to select the features and finishes to personalize their home. During your home design appointment, our professional home designers will learn more about your personal style, needs, and budget and help you to pick out the perfect options.

At the Studio, you will select your flooring, cabinets, countertops, paint, lighting, appliances, exterior finishes, and so much more. A wide variety of standard options choices are available at no additional cost, as well as luxurious upgrades to add the finishing touches you’ve been dreaming of. 

Less Maintenance, Lower Costs

A new construction home is just that – brand-new! Plumbing, HVAC equipment, and appliances aren’t only shiny and new – They have no existing wear and tear or hidden issues! And, updates in energy-efficient technology and building practices help keep maintenance and utility bills low when compared to an older home. Modern features such as energy-efficient HVAC, Low-E double pane windows, and advanced insulation all work together to keep money in your pocket. 

A rule of thumb you may have heard is to budget around 3% of your total home value for annual repair and maintenance costs. If you purchase a $250,000 home, this means you should set aside $7,500 per year. However, this is based on the average annual maintenance costs for all homes, no matter the age. The maintenance and repair costs for a new construction home are considerably less - the National Association of Home Builders’ most recent data says that 73% of new construction homeowners spend less than $300 per year on home maintenance! Plus, just think about all the time and stress you’ll be saving.

New Home Warranty

Should an issue arise with something installed in your new home, guess what – You’re covered! Most new home builders offer a new home warranty. When you build your new home in Florida with Highland Homes, your warranty protection includes a:

• One-year builder warranty, providing protection against material defects
• 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, giving you 10-years of structural coverage, 2-years of systems coverage, and 1-year of surety coverage against defects
• Manufacturer warranties for many products, including a limited lifetime warranty on roofing shingles and up to 3-years on Samsung appliances

Health and Well-Being

Did you know poor indoor air quality can trigger everything from headaches to asthma attacks? Used homes may have a history you don’t know about with allergens trapped in the carpet, mold inside the walls, and contaminants in plumbing and HVAC systems. Germs are also a consideration both when looking at, and after moving into, a home which is occupied by others. A new home is a clean slate and comes with the peace of mind that your home’s history starts with you.

New construction homes are free of many harmful chemicals or materials found in older homes such as lead paint and asbestos, and use materials with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 

And, Florida is very proactive about building standards with the Florida building code frequently amended. This means your new home in Florida is built to meet current codes for hurricane safety and structural stability, as well as energy-efficiency.

How to Find a New Home in Florida

Look no further – Highland Homes has built greater than 8,000 homes in Florida and has the knowledge and experience to build you the quality new home you deserve, with the features you are looking for, and a payment affordable for your budget.

Highland Homes builds new homes in cities such as Lakeland, Tampa, Orlando, Sarasota and Ocala. Browse neighborhoods and home plans, and Call Us or Email Us to connect with a Florida New Home Specialist and find the home of your dreams today!