FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some questions we've frequently been asked over the years, as well as information about what sets Highland Homes apart. We hope this helps provide clarification on your journey to homeownership!

If you do not see the answer to your question about building with Highland Homes, Contact Us anytime, we are here to help!

How long has Highland Homes been building homes in Florida?

Highland Homes has been building homes in Florida since 1996 and has helped more than 20,000 Florida homeowners achieve their new home dreams.

Where does Highland Homes build?

We build beautiful new homes in Central, North Central, Southwest, and Tampa Bay, Florida. Use our interactive map of communities to find your new home in Florida.

What makes Highland Homes unique?

Here are 6 things that make Highland Homes unique:

  1. Highland Homes offers unmatched choice and value:
    • Choose from a wide variety of homes, including single-family homes, bungalows, and townhomes, with home layouts and price points to meet your needs, whether you are looking for your first home, your next home, or your forever home.
    • Choose from quick move-in homes or build your dream home from the ground up, personalized to your unique style and needs with a large selection of design options at every price point, including many choices available at no additional cost.
    • Every Highland Home includes features for your lifestyle convenience, the protection of a best-in-class warranty, and safety and security benefits thanks to modern systems and construction methods that meet or exceed the latest Florida building codes.
  2. Highland Homes has a full-service design center with professional designers to help you bring your dream home to life if you choose a personalized new build. Choose from high-quality, name-brand features with hundreds of options available at every price point, from included and no additional cost to luxurious upgrades.
  3. Highland Homes is focused on customer satisfaction and the relationships we build with our homeowners. When you build with Highland Homes, you can expect personal attention throughout the building process. Our goal is to make the purchase of your new home easy and exciting!
  4. Our people! When employees find fulfillment from their jobs, it shows in every interaction. Our homeowners have told us time and again that the personal service we provide, smiling faces, and overall support and dedication from our team members have helped them feel comfortable and confident in building with Highland Homes.
  5. We are local! Highland Homes is based in Florida, builds homes exclusively in Florida, and has 30 years of experience building communities and homes that endure Florida's unique environment. We live and work in the communities where we build, so our customers are our neighbors and friends, and we are both accessible and there for you every step of the way.
  6. We aren't just committed to our customers - Highland Homes is committed to enriching the communities in which we live, work, and build through sponsorships, donations, and volunteer hours.

How do I choose the right home plan?

Finding a home that you love is, for most, one of the biggest factors in deciding to build a new construction home in Florida - there are so many more options available, with modern features for your modern life, when compared with resale homes!

Because the right home is different for every person, we offer a wide variety of home sizes and layouts, including features such as open-concept living areas, island kitchens, and flexible-use rooms, built-in storage solutions such as walk-in pantries, walk-in closets, and drop zones, along with front porches and covered lanais providing desirable outdoor living space.

When choosing the right home, think about things such as:

  • Who is going to live in the home, and what sort of space do they need?
  • Do you prefer a single-story ranch-style home or a two-story home?
  • Are you seeking the low-maintenance lifestyle provided by a townhome, or prefer the backyard and space between neighbors offered by a single-family detached home?
  • What's on your must-have list? These are things you can't compromise on, such as the number of bedrooms you need.
  • What's on your wish list? These are items you would like, but could live without if all your must-haves are met.
  • Do you see your needs changing within the next 5 years? If so, does it make sense to find a home that suits your long-term needs, or do you plan to move again?
  • Of course, the location is a top consideration - Each neighborhood we build in offers a unique selection of homes due to factors such as home site dimensions, zoning regulations, HOA covenants, and the overall design of the community.

Tools on our website can help you start narrowing in on the perfect new home for your needs:

  • Browse home plans available in each Florida new home community - Each home offers visualization tools such as:
    • Interactive floor plans that let you select plan options to customize your layout, see how furniture might fit in different rooms, and save your customized plan so you can refer back to it later.
    • 360 virtual tours allow you to virtually walk through, look around, and feel as though you are touring a home, without leaving your sofa or chair.
    • Photos and videos give you a feel for the layout, size, and varied decor styles.
  • Our online Inspiration Gallery showcases homes built by Highland Homes and lets you ♥ Save your favorite design inspo.

Last but not least - We are here to help you find the perfect home! Call or Email to connect with a New Home Specialist, and a visit to a Highland Homes model center can help you finalize your decision as to which home is perfect for you. Our New Home Specialists will take into consideration your new home must-haves, wish list, and budget, and make recommendations on which home best fits your needs.

Can we customize your homes?

It depends on what you mean by "customize". When you build your new home from the ground up, we are able to specify how the home should be built through your selection of:

  • Pre-designed plan options, such as:
    • A bedroom in lieu of a den or loft
    • An in-law suite
    • Optional bathroom and kitchen orientations
    • Adding an optional bath
    • Adding or extending a lanai, if not included in the home plan 
    • Garage depth extensions 
  • ADA-related options, such as:
    • Widening doorways
    • Creating a roll-in shower
    • Removing steps for accessibility purposes
  • Additional concrete (driveway, additional pad, patio, etc.)
  • Changing types of doors/windows and adding optional doors/windows
  • Plumbing, electrical, and pre-wire locations
  • Colors, features, and finishes with a wide array of home design options available to personalize every room of your new home!

Please note, there may be a price associated with any allowable modifications, specifications, or design upgrade options, and all building code regulations, homesite requirements, and HOA requirements must be followed.

What options are available to personalize my new home?

At the Highland Homes Personal Selection Studio, you will find everything you need to personalize your new home, inside and out. Hundreds of options are available to choose from in every price point, from included and no additional cost to luxurious upgrades, including a great selection of:

Interested in previewing some of the home design options available to personalize your dream home? Visit our online Inspiration Gallery to browse photos of beautiful homes built by Highland Homes, see a list of design options in each photo, and even Favorite room looks and individual options that you love so you can come back and look at them again, as well as share them with your Design Consultant when you visit the Studio to personalize your dream home!

Do I need a Realtor to buy from Highland Homes?

We love working with Florida Realtors, which means if you have a real estate agent, we will make sure both you and they are 100% satisfied with the experience of building with Highland Homes. 

If, however, you are not currently working with a real estate agent, our New Home Specialists are here to guide you through the process of buying or building your new home in Florida. They will take the time to get to know you and will help you select the right community, home site, home plan, and financing program for your needs. Our dedicated team will be there for you during every step in the process. That's value. That's Highland Homes.

How much do I need for a down payment?

It varies depending on your personal financial situation and the loan program you qualify for, but in general, you can probably purchase your new home in Florida with less money down than you think! In fact, through our lender partners, we have loan programs offering down payments as low as zero down!

Learn more about how much you really need for a down payment, and suggestions to help you find the funds you need to own the Florida new home of your dreams.

Can you help us with financing?

Absolutely, positively, yes! To help take out the guesswork and provide you with the best financing options and the highest level of service, Highland Homes works with a network of quality Lender Partners - Click here to learn more as well as get pre-qualified to purchase your dream home!

How do I get qualified to buy a home?

Discover your buying power by getting pre-qualified through a Highland Homes Lender Partner! It's as simple as completing an easy online application where you will provide information about your finances and consent to a credit check, and the lender will provide you with an estimate of what you might be able to borrow based on the information you have provided.

What can I expect during the construction process?

Before the construction of your home begins, you will be assigned a Personal Builder who not only oversees the construction and ensures your home is built to the highest standards but also keeps you informed throughout the building process.

The steps of the construction process include:

  • An orientation with your Personal Builder
  • Building the foundation
  • Framing
  • A mid-construction meeting with your Builder
  • Drywall
  • Trim out
  • Walkthroughs

Get more details about each stage and learn more about the building experience on our Construction Process page.

Is there a warranty on my new home?

Yes, Highland Homes includes a best-in-class new home warranty on every home we build - in fact, your new Highland home in Florida includes multiple levels of warranty protection:

  • A one-year builder warranty;
  • A 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, providing ten years of structural defect coverage from the nation's leading home warranty company;
  • And, manufacturer warranties on products from lighting to flooring and appliances!

I'm interested in purchasing a Highland home. What do I do next?

Make an appointment to visit your favorite community today by clicking the Call or Email tabs at the bottom of the screen, or scheduling an appointment online from the community page! Our New Home Specialists look forward to showing you the community and helping you to find the perfect new home to match your lifestyle, budget, and needs.