New Construction in Southwest Florida
Brand new homes with modern features, energy efficiency, and builder warranties.
Why does the order matter so much here?
Because one decision made in the wrong order can cost you your own representation.
The agent in the model home works for the builder. That is legitimate, and they are frequently helpful and knowledgeable, but they are not your advocate and they are not obliged to be. Most builders permit buyer representation, and most require your agent to be with you on your very first visit for it to apply. Register on your own and you can forfeit it entirely, for that community, permanently.
So settle financing and representation before you walk into a sales center. That is where the buying process starts, and doing it the other way round is the most common and most expensive mistake in new construction.
I am Kris Asquith, Broker Associate at Premiere Plus Realty, working across nine Southwest Florida markets.
Tour With Your Own Representation
What should you verify before you sign?
Five things, and buyers routinely skip the last two.
Standard versus upgrade. Model homes are shown with options, and the model is a marketing instrument. Establish in writing what is standard on the exact plan you are buying, line by line.
The homesite. Look at what it backs onto, what will eventually be built beside it, and how it drains. In a community still filling in, ask specifically what is planned for the parcels around you.
The contract terms. Builder contracts differ substantially from resale contracts on deposits, delays, changes and what happens if the schedule slips. Read them with someone who reads them regularly.
Your own inspection. A new home is not an inspected home. Use your own inspector before closing and, where the build allows, at the pre-drywall stage as well.
Warranty and builder responsiveness. Ask what is covered and for how long, then go and ask people already living in that builder's completed work how responsive they were.
What happens after the community finishes?
Control changes hands, and it is worth understanding before you buy into a community that is still building.
While a community is under construction the developer typically controls the association. At a defined point that control transitions to the owners. What matters to you is when that happens, what the budget looks like afterwards, and what the reserve position will be at handover.
A community that transitions with funded reserves is in a very different position from one that does not. Ask about the transition timeline and the reserve plan while you are still deciding.
Where is new construction actually happening?
Unevenly, which is useful to know before you start looking.
Estero has genuine greenfield communities still in build-out along the Corkscrew Road corridor, which gives the widest choice of homesite and plan. Fort Myers Beach is rebuilding strongly, with new buildings and homes going in to current elevation and wind standards. Cape Coral continues to add inventory. Bonita Springs, Naples and Fort Myers offer newer communities filling in rather than large new corridors.
On the coast, new construction carries a particular advantage: current elevation and envelope standards, which follow the property permanently and feed insurance for as long as you own it.
Call me before your first sales center visit rather than after. Get in touch or call (239) 300-1427.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need your own agent to buy new construction?
You are strongly better off with one, and the order matters. The agent in the model home works for the builder and is not your advocate. Most builders permit buyer representation but require your agent to accompany you on your very first visit for it to apply, so registering alone can forfeit it permanently for that community.
What should you verify before signing a builder contract?
What is standard versus an upgrade on your exact plan in writing, what the homesite backs onto and what will be built beside it, the contract terms on deposits, delays and changes which differ substantially from resale, your own independent inspection including pre-drywall where possible, and the warranty alongside the builder's responsiveness to existing owners.
What happens when a new community finishes building?
Control of the association transitions from the developer to the owners at a defined point. What matters is when that happens, what the budget looks like afterwards and what the reserve position will be at handover. A community that transitions with funded reserves is in a very different position from one that does not.
Where is new construction happening in Southwest Florida?
Unevenly. Estero has genuine greenfield communities still in build-out along the Corkscrew Road corridor. Fort Myers Beach is rebuilding strongly to current elevation and wind standards. Cape Coral continues adding inventory. Bonita Springs, Naples and Fort Myers see newer communities filling in rather than large new corridors.
Who can help you buy new construction in Southwest Florida?
Kris Asquith, Broker Associate at Premiere Plus Realty, covers nine Southwest Florida markets. Call (239) 300-1427 or use the contact page before your first sales center visit, because that visit is when builder representation rules take effect.
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Ready to make your move with Kris Asquith at Premiere Plus Realty?