Glossary · New Construction

New Construction vs. Resale

The decision framework, with the Florida-specific costs that change the usual answer.

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Quick definition
The new-vs-resale choice trades certainty and negotiability (resale) against warranties, current building codes, and incentive packages (new) — but Florida adds decisive local variables: most new master-planned communities carry CDD assessments, first-full-year property taxes are computed on your price either way, and insurance on a new roof and current wind code prices dramatically better than on aging stock. We publish the live inventory comparison by metro at new-construction-vs-resale-florida.

Where new construction genuinely wins

Insurance is the underrated one: current wind code and a zero-age roof produce premiums aging coastal stock can't touch, and wind-mitigation credits come built-in. Add the structural warranty (commonly 1-2-10 style coverage), no immediate capex list, and this cycle's incentive packages — buydowns and closing-cost credits documented on our builder pages.

Where resale wins

Location maturity (established trees, known neighbors, no construction traffic for years), no CDD in most older communities, negotiability against an individual seller rather than a pricing department, and what-you-see-is-what-you-get — including the actual drainage after a summer storm. Resale also closes on your timeline, not a construction schedule.

The Florida-specific arithmetic

Model the full stack both ways: CDD debt + O&M (our verified tables), HOA at both candidates, insurance quotes on the actual roofs, and property tax from millage × your price — the reset applies to both, but new-community millage stacks often run higher. The sticker prices are the least comparable numbers in the comparison.

Common questions.

Is new construction more expensive than resale in Florida?
List prices often run higher per foot, but incentives, insurance savings on new roofs and codes, and warranty value close the gap. The honest comparison is total monthly cost — including CDD, HOA, insurance, and post-reset taxes.
Do all new communities in Florida have CDD fees?
Not all, but most large newer master-planned communities do. The amount and remaining bond term vary by community and lot — verify with district documents, or our published tables where covered.
Can you negotiate with builders?
Yes — especially on completed spec inventory and at quarter-ends. Negotiation usually succeeds as incentives (rate buydowns, closing costs, options) rather than base-price cuts.

Have a question about a Florida real estate transaction?

Talk to Jon or Brittany directly. We'll answer specific questions or connect you with the right Momentum agent.

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