New Construction Builders in Northeast Florida: Who’s Who, Where They’re Building, and What They’re Known For
Shopping new construction around Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and St. Johns?
You’ve probably noticed there are a lot of builders — national names and local favorites — and it’s tough to tell who fits your budget, timeline, and wish list.
Here’s your quick, honest guide to major new-home builders in Northeast Florida — what each is known for, where they’re active right now, typical price positioning, and whether they’re production, semi-custom, or custom. Use this as a starting point, then lean on us to narrow it to your top 2–3 matches and schedule tours. We’ll walk the models with you and protect your interests from day one.
How to Use This Guide
“Production” = set floor plans with curated options (fastest timelines, broadest price ranges).
“Semi-custom” = more structural options and design flexibility.
“Custom” = one-off plans or deep structural personalization (longer timelines, higher budgets).
Price positioning below is directional and varies by community and finish level.
National & Regional Builders You’ll See Most Often
Pulte (and Del Webb 55+) — Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra/Nocatee, St. Johns
Known for: “Life Tested®” floor plans, strong design centers, and popular Del Webb communities for active adults.
Where now: Pulte is active across the Jacksonville metro; Del Webb Nocatee (Ponte Vedra) and Del Webb eTown (Jacksonville) are headline 55+ options. Pulte
Positioning: Production builder with mid-to-upper price points depending on community; Del Webb typically trends higher due to amenities and 55+ lifestyle.
Good fit if… you want brand consistency, modern layouts, and a 55+ option with resort-style amenities.
Lennar — St. Augustine & St. Johns (SilverLeaf, Shearwater), Jacksonville
Known for: Everything’s Included® packages (lots of features bundled in).
Where now: Building actively in SilverLeaf (multiple collections) and Shearwater in St. Johns/St. Augustine; also townhomes and single-family in the Jacksonville area. Lennar
Positioning: Broad — from entry to move-up price points across the metro.
Good fit if… you like upfront pricing transparency and amenity-rich master plans.
Dream Finders Homes — Jacksonville, St. Augustine, St. Johns
Known for: Jacksonville-based builder with a wide range of communities and options; frequently present in master-planned hot spots.
Where now: Active across Jacksonville and St. Augustine, with communities like Cordova Palms and Diamond Springs (lagoon-amenity community). Dream Finders Homes
Positioning: Production to semi-custom feel depending on community; broad price spectrum.
Good fit if… you want local roots with lots of floor-plan choice and community variety.
KB Home — Duval & St. Johns
Known for: “Built to Order®” approach — structural and design personalization within a production framework.
Where now: Multiple communities in Duval and St. Johns counties. KB
Positioning: Typically entry to mid-range with strong value.
Good fit if… you want to personalize within a defined budget and like an efficient build process.
David Weekley Homes — Jacksonville & St. Johns (eTown, Nocatee, more)
Known for: Design flexibility and award-winning customer experience.
Where now: Building in eTown (Kettering townhomes/villas) and other metro neighborhoods. David Weekley
Positioning: Mid-to-upper range, with semi-custom options.
Good fit if… thoughtful design and finishes are high on your list — and you want choices beyond typical spec options.
Richmond American Homes — Duval & St. Johns
Known for: Semi-custom touches via their Home Gallery™ (more finish selections than many production peers).
Where now: Multiple neighborhoods across Duval and St. Johns; many plans start around the $300s+ depending on community. Richmond American
Positioning: Entry to move-up.
Good fit if… you want more interior finish say-so without going full custom.
Meritage Homes — Jacksonville metro (Duval, Clay, Nassau, St. Johns)
Known for: Energy efficiency — notably spray foam insulation and home-as-a-system approach.
Where now: Multiple Jacksonville-area communities; examples include Kings Preserve and other metro offerings. Meritage Homes
Positioning: Entry to mid-range with strong efficiency value; some communities from the high $200s–$300s+.
Good fit if… lower utility costs and insulation/comfort are priorities. (Meritage’s spray-foam approach is a signature differentiator.)
D.R. Horton (including Express & Freedom brands) — Jacksonville, St. Johns, St. Augustine
Known for: America’s largest builder; broadest price points and quick-move-in inventory.
Where now: Active across St. Augustine and St. Johns with numerous communities and ready-soon homes. D.R. Horton
Positioning: From entry-level (Express) to move-up; big community footprints.
Good fit if… you want speed, availability, and a range of price options.
Mattamy Homes — RiverTown (St. Johns)
Known for: Large master-planned communities with lifestyle amenities; RiverTown along the St. Johns River is the flagship.
Where now: RiverTown with multiple neighborhoods and amenity centers on nearly 5,000 acres. Mattamy
Positioning: Mid-to-upper, depending on product line and river-proximity.
Good fit if… you want big-amenity living and river access.
SEDA New Homes — Local favorite (Jacksonville & surrounding counties)
Known for: Locally owned since 1982 with a reputation for value and service; one of the area’s largest local builders.
Where now: Building across greater Jacksonville with multiple communities at any given time. SEDA
Positioning: Entry to move-up; strong local service model.
Good fit if… you prefer a Jacksonville-rooted builder with neighborhood-by-neighborhood variety.
MasterCraft Builder Group — St. Johns (SilverLeaf, Madeira)
Known for: Semi-custom approach with strong architecture and local leadership.
Where now: SilverLeaf (no CDD fees noted by the builder) and Madeira near historic St. Augustine. MasterCraft Builder Grouprgroup.com/mcb-communities/
Positioning: Mid-to-upper; floor plans that scale nicely.
Good fit if… you want a local team with more structural flexibility than typical production.
Riverside Homes — Nocatee & across Jacksonville
Known for: Local, design-forward building with robust personalization.
Where now: Building in Nocatee neighborhoods (e.g., Seabrook Village/Crosswater) and around the metro. Riverside Homes
Positioning: Upper-mid to higher, depending on community; frequent Parade of Homes recognition.
Good fit if… you want that “hometown builder” experience with plenty of options.
Providence Homes — Jacksonville & Nocatee
Known for: ENERGY STAR® and Zero Energy Ready Home™ commitments — some of the most efficiency-forward specs in the market.
Where now: Jacksonville and Nocatee communities with energy-focused designs. Providence Homes
Positioning: Mid-to-upper.
Good fit if… you want energy savings and indoor-air-quality features built into the plan.
ICI Homes — Jacksonville (Tamaya) & area
Known for: Semi-custom to custom flexibility; well-known for Tamaya in Jacksonville.
Where now: Tamaya and other area projects; strong design-studio experience. ICI Homes
Positioning: Upper-mid to luxury.
Good fit if… moving walls, multigen suites, or deeper structural changes are on your wish list.
Toll Brothers — eTown & Nocatee (select neighborhoods)
Known for: Luxury finishes and curated design packages; townhomes and villas in some projects.
Where now: Newton at eTown (Jacksonville) and Crosswinds at Nocatee (Ponte Vedra). Toll Brothers
Positioning: Upper-mid to luxury.
Good fit if… you want elevated design with a smoother selections process.
Where They’re Building (At a Glance)
Jacksonville (Duval): eTown (David Weekley, Pulte/Del Webb; Toll Brothers Newton), Tamaya (ICI), multiple KB Home and Meritage communities, Dream Finders neighborhoods across town.
Ponte Vedra / Nocatee: Del Webb Nocatee (Pulte); Toll Brothers Crosswinds; Riverside, Providence, David Weekley in various Nocatee villages.
St. Johns / St. Augustine corridor: RiverTown (Mattamy); SilverLeaf (Lennar, MasterCraft, others); Shearwater (Lennar); Madeira (MasterCraft, Dostie, Toll Brothers).
Typical Price Ranges (Directional)
Entry to mid-range: KB Home, D.R. Horton (including Express), many Lennar collections, select Meritage communities (some from high $200s–$300s+ depending on location).
Mid-to-upper move-up: Pulte, David Weekley, Richmond American (varies by plan/community), Dream Finders (varies), SEDA, MasterCraft.
Upper-mid to luxury: ICI (Tamaya), Toll Brothers (eTown/Nocatee), select river-or beach-proximate enclaves like RiverTown’s premium sections and Madeira’s higher-end builders.
Pricing can change quickly with incentives and inventory — always verify today’s numbers before you fall in love with a floor plan.
Production vs. Semi-Custom vs. Custom — What’s Realistic?
Most national builders here are production (Pulte/Del Webb, Lennar, KB, D.R. Horton, Meritage, Richmond American) with curated design options.
Semi-custom flexibility shows up with David Weekley, Richmond American’s Home Gallery™, Dream Finders in some communities, and local teams like Riverside, MasterCraft, and ICI — where structural tweaks and personalization go deeper.
Custom builders (you’ll see names like Dostie Homes and AR Homes in communities like Madeira) are a separate conversation — and we’ll do a dedicated blog on them next.
Pro Tips While You Shop
Don’t tour alone. Many builders require your Realtor® to be present at your first visit to be recognized — call us before you pop in.
Lock in what’s promised. Incentives change; get every concession in writing.
Compare “included features,” not just base prices. Lennar’s Everything’s Included® vs. a la carte packages can swing the bottom line.
Energy features matter. Meritage’s whole-home insulation approach, Providence’s ENERGY STAR®/ZERH focus, and similar specs can reduce ownership costs.
Final Takeaway
You’ve got amazing choices for new construction homes in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and St. Johns, FL — from big national brands to beloved local builders. The “right” builder depends on you: budget, lifestyle, timeline, and how much personalization you want. Our job at CrossView Realty is to simplify the chaos, compare apples to apples, and advocate for your best outcome — contract to closing.
We’re here to help — contact us.
Want a short list of builders and communities that fit your budget and wish list? We’ll put together options, set up tours, and go with you on that first visit so you’re represented from day one.
📞 904-503-0672
📧 info@crossviewrealty.com
CrossView Realty — Northeast Florida new construction, done right.
