New Construction Homes in Alachua

Who is building in and around Alachua

Alachua has been adding subdivisions on its edges, mostly single-family homes. One recent example: Century Complete, the entry-level brand of Century Communities, announced a community called Baywood Hills in Alachua with a grand opening in 2026. Local and regional builders also build in the city and in unincorporated Alachua County nearby, often on smaller numbers of lots.

Which builders have homes available changes phase by phase, so treat any list you find online as a starting point. I check what is actually selling, what has quick move-in inventory, and what the next phase is priced at before a client signs anything.

New versus resale, using Alachua's numbers

Zillow's index for Alachua shows typical values of $310,739 for a three-bedroom and $401,587 for a four-bedroom, across all ages of homes. Values are down 2.2% over the past year and up 15.1% over five years. The lower third of the market is around $211,194, which is mostly older, smaller houses that new construction does not compete with.

When I compare a new home with a resale home for a client, I look past the sticker price at:

• Insurance. A new roof and current wind code usually mean a lower premium than a house from the 1990s, and no 4-point inspection.
• Near-term repairs. A resale house of that age may be due for a roof, AC or water heater soon.
• Lot and location. Older neighborhoods often have bigger lots and mature trees; new subdivisions tend to have smaller lots.
• Monthly extras. New communities are more likely to carry HOA dues and sometimes a CDD assessment.

Run the full monthly cost for both before deciding which one is cheaper.

Timelines and quick move-in homes

A to-be-built home in a new Florida subdivision commonly takes several months from contract to closing, and longer if permits, weather or supply problems slow the builder. A quick move-in home, one already under construction or finished, closes faster but leaves you fewer choices on finishes.

If you are relocating on a deadline, such as a job start or the end of a school year, ask the builder for the estimated completion date in writing and what the contract says if it slips. Rate locks on a long build cost money, so ask the lender how long they can lock and at what price.

Builder incentives and the preferred lender

Builders in a softer market offer incentives: closing cost help, a rate buydown, or upgrades thrown in. Most of these are tied to the builder's preferred lender or title company. You are free to use any lender, but you may lose the incentive if you do.

Get a loan estimate from the builder's lender and one from an outside lender, and compare the total cost over the years you plan to keep the loan. A temporary buydown that lowers the rate for a year or two is worth much less than a permanent one. Ask the builder to put the incentive in writing in the purchase agreement, with the dollar amount.

Base price, options and lot premiums

The advertised price is the base price for the floor plan on a standard lot. On top of it you may pay:

• Lot premiums for corner lots, larger lots, or lots backing onto preserve or ponds.
• Structural options such as an extra bedroom, a larger garage or an extended lanai.
• Design center selections for flooring, cabinets, counters and fixtures.

These can add a meaningful amount, and the builder's appraisal assumptions do not always keep up. Decide your all-in ceiling before you visit the design center.

HOA, CDD and the tax bill

Many new Florida subdivisions have an HOA, and some are inside a Community Development District. A CDD borrows to build roads, drainage and utilities, and owners repay that debt through an annual assessment that appears on the property tax bill. Ask for the CDD's debt assessment, its operations and maintenance assessment, and how many years remain on the bonds.

Property taxes on a new home are also easy to underestimate. The first bill may be based on the lot alone. After the house is assessed, the bill rises. If Alachua is your permanent home, file for homestead to get up to $51,411 off assessed value in 2026 and the 3% cap on future increases.

Deposits, warranty and your own inspections

Builder deposits vary. Ask whether your deposit is held in escrow or can be used by the builder for construction, and what happens to it if the builder misses its completion date.

Most builders provide a warranty on a 1-2-10 pattern: one year for workmanship, two years for major systems such as plumbing, electrical and HVAC, and ten years for structural defects. Read what it excludes and how claims are made.

Hire your own inspector twice: once before drywall, when framing, wiring and plumbing are visible, and again before closing. Then do an 11-month inspection before the one-year coverage ends. Builders have their own inspections, but those are for the builder.

Why you should bring your own agent

The sales rep in the model home works for the builder. Your own agent costs you nothing in most cases, because the builder pays the commission, but you usually need to be registered on your first visit. If you are comparing new construction in Alachua with resale homes there and in Newberry or High Springs, send me your price range and must-haves and I will lay out both side by side.