Buying New Construction in Northeast Florida
Your own advocate from the first model visit to the keys in your hand. Led by a broker who spent 11 years working for national home builders.
Call us before you contact a builder.
This is the most important thing on this page. A number of builders will not let you bring your own agent if you've already made contact with them on your own. That first contact can be as simple as:
- Walking into a model home
- Signing in at the sales center
- Chatting or filling out a form on the builder's website
- Calling the builder's office
Once that happens, you may lose the chance to have someone on your side for the biggest purchase of your life. So connect with us first. Then go explore.
New construction is all sunshine and rainbows. Until it's not.
Brand-new homes are exciting. Fresh floor plans, the latest finishes, a warranty, and often some great incentives. We get it, and we love helping people build.
But here's the deal. The friendly sales agent sitting in the model works for the builder. They might say they're fighting for you, and they may truly be nice people. But at the end of the day, they're employed by the builder, and their job is to protect the builder's interests.
When something goes wrong, that's when you need someone on your side.
That's what we're here for.
We know how builders work, because we've worked for them.
She's not alone. A few of our agents also spent years working for national builders, and most of our team knows how to sell and work new construction. We've helped buyers purchase homes with all of the national builders in our area.
So we know the contracts, the processes, the incentives, and where things tend to slip through the cracks. And we know what to ask for.
What we actually do for you, start to finish
These aren't hypotheticals. Every one of these is something we've done for real buyers.
Before you pick a home
- Register you with the builder the right way, before your first visit
- Tour communities and models with you
- Compare builders, floor plans, and homesites side by side
- Share the pros and cons of different lots when you're building from dirt
- Help you weigh the builder's preferred lender against outside options
Contract and negotiation
- Negotiate to get you more in the offer, including incentives and closing cost help
- Review the builder's contract and addenda with you
- Advise on upgrades: what's worth doing now and what's cheaper to do later
- Catch issues on plans drawn before the home was permitted
During construction
- Attend frame walks, where we've caught issues with light locations, outlets, and more
- Take progress photos for buyers who aren't local and can't check on their home
- Recommend an independent inspector and attend private inspections
- Push to get inspection items fixed
Walkthrough and closing
- Join the final walkthrough to spot things others missed
- Review closing documents to make sure they're accurate
- Fight for work that wasn't finished by closing day
- Collect keys for buyers who can't be there in person to sign
After you move in
- Help you stay on top of the builder's warranty walkthroughs, like the 11-month walk
- Stay a phone call away when questions come up
However you want to build, we can help.
Build from dirt
Pick your lot, your floor plan, and your finishes in a builder's community. We help you choose a homesite and catch problems before they're built in.
Homes under construction
Already started but not finished. You may still get to choose some selections, and you'll move in sooner than building from scratch.
Quick move-in homes
Finished or nearly finished homes ready on a shorter timeline. These often come with some of the strongest builder incentives.
Custom homes on your own lot
Already own land, or want to? We work with custom builders who build on your lot, and we'll walk you through that process too.
Communities and builders we work with
Northeast Florida has a lot of new construction, and new communities keep opening. Here are some of the communities buyers ask us about most:
- Nocatee
- SilverLeaf
- RiverTown
- Shearwater
- Wildlight
- eTown
- Seven Pines
- EverRange
- Annabelle Island
- + new communities opening all the time
We've worked with national and regional builders across the area, including:
- Lennar
- D.R. Horton
- Pulte
- Del Webb
- Toll Brothers
- Dream Finders Homes
- David Weekley Homes
- Mattamy Homes
- Taylor Morrison
- ICI Homes
- Providence Homes
- Richmond American Homes
Plus a number of custom builders who build on your own lot. Don't see a community or builder you're curious about? Ask us. Chances are we know it.
Who buys new construction? Pretty much everyone.
Lately, builder incentives like mortgage rate buydowns have pulled a lot of buyers toward new homes, because they can help keep monthly payments down. We help all kinds of buyers, including:
55+ buyers
We have a lot of experience with active adult communities, from comparing amenities and HOA costs to finding the right single-story plan.
Military families
Many military buyers choose new construction. We understand VA loans and PCS timelines, and we can work around them.
Relocating and out-of-area buyers
Can't check on your build in person? We'll be your eyes on the ground, with photos and updates along the way.
First-time and move-up buyers
Whether it's your first home or your next one, we'll make sure you understand the contract, the timeline, and what you're really paying for.
"So what does having my own agent cost me?"
Usually, nothing out of pocket. Builders love working with realtors, because agents bring a lot of buyers to their communities. That's why, for the most part, builders cover your realtor's fees.
Not every builder covers the full commission, and it can change with the market. But in our many years of experience, it's typically not something you need to worry about.
Before you go down the new construction path, just ask us: "Are builders covering realtor commissions right now?"
We'll happily tell you what we're seeing in the market today. We want to be an asset to you, not an expense.
New construction questions we hear a lot
Can I add my own agent after I've already visited a model?
Maybe not. A number of builders won't allow you to bring your own agent once you've made contact on your own, whether that's a model visit, a website inquiry, or a phone call. That's why we always say: call us first.
Doesn't the builder's sales agent represent me?
No. The on-site sales agent is employed by the builder and works for the builder. They can be helpful and friendly, but they aren't there to protect your interests.
Do I have to pay my agent for a new construction home?
In most cases, builders cover your agent's commission. It isn't guaranteed with every builder, and it can change with the market, so ask us what we're seeing right now before you start.
Do I need an inspection on a brand-new home?
We strongly recommend an independent inspection. New homes can still have issues, and we've helped buyers push to get inspection items fixed before closing.
Should I use the builder's preferred lender?
Sometimes it makes sense, especially when it's tied to incentives like a rate buydown. But it's worth comparing. We'll help you weigh the numbers so you know what you're getting.
I don't live here yet. Can you help me build?
Absolutely. We've attended inspections and walkthroughs, taken progress photos, and even picked up keys for buyers who couldn't be here in person.
Can you help if I want to build on my own land?
Yes. We work with custom builders who build on your lot, in addition to the national and regional builders in planned communities.
More from our blog
Thinking about building? Call us first.
Before you walk into a model, call a builder, or fill out a form online, give us a call. We'll make sure you're protected from day one, and we'll be right there with you until you have the keys.
We'd love to help, and we look forward to speaking with you.
CrossView Realty · 9393 Mill Springs Dr, Suite 220, Jacksonville, FL 32257
Serving Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau, and Putnam Counties
Builder incentives, commission policies, and registration rules vary by builder and change over time. Information on this page is general and not a guarantee of any builder's terms. CrossView Realty is not a lender; consult a licensed mortgage professional about financing. Builder and community names are the property of their respective owners and are listed for informational purposes only; their mention does not imply affiliation or endorsement.
CrossView Realty · Brokerage License CQ1051941 · Jennifer Hendry, Broker, License BK3193836 · Licensed by the Florida Real Estate Commission. Member of the Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS® (NEFAR) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).
