New Construction Homes For Sale In Tampa
Nestled along Florida’s Gulf Coast, Tampa is the third-largest city in Florida. It also happens to be an outstanding place to call home. With a beautiful climate, strong economy, and a low cost of living, it is little wonder that so many people have flocked to this city on the bay.
Due to this influx of new residents, the construction industry is booming in Tampa and Hillsborough County more broadly. Depending on your interests, you can find almost any type of new construction home - whether you are interested in a 55+ community for active seniors, a large family home, a townhouse, or a house in a lagoon community. Our expert team of Tampa real estate agents can guide you as you seek out the perfect new construction home for your lifestyle and needs.
If you are contemplating buying a new house in the city of Tampa or the surrounding areas, we are here to help. Our founder, Craig Eaton, started his career in construction - giving our team a unique insight into purchasing a new construction home in Tampa. Reach out today to talk to an experienced Tampa Realtor.
Benefits of Buying a New Construction Home
There are many great reasons to buy a new construction home - especially in Tampa. New communities have a lot of fantastic amenities, from walking paths to community clubhouses and pools to tennis courts and playgrounds. These amenities can be a great way to take advantage of all of the outdoor recreation that Tampa has to offer, without putting in a pool or other additions to your home.
When you buy a new home, you also benefit from having everything brand new and exactly what you want. Depending on the type of house you buy, you can customize many aspects, including the paint colors, appliances, flooring, and more. Everything in your house will be clean and fresh and ready for you to make it your own.
Many buyers also value customizing a new house. When looking at older homes, finding exactly what you want can be difficult, such as a kitchen with a big island, walk-in closets, a home office, or bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. However, with a new house, you can get many of these desirable, modern features.
A new house also comes with another bonus. Because everything is new, you will typically have minimal maintenance and repair costs for years after purchasing the house. You won’t need to replace an old roof, windows, or an outdated HVAC system for years, giving you low maintenance (and low cost) living.
New houses also tend to be far more energy efficient compared to older construction.Newer appliances, windows, and other new building materials can save you a lot of money on electric and other utility bills. For example, your air conditioning system won’t have to work as hard when your new house is well-insulated and fitted with low-e glazed, triple-pane windows.
Finally, many Floridians are fans of new construction because it allows them to build more hurricane-resistant homes. As West Central Florida experiences more tropical storms and hurricanes, homeowners want to increase their homes’ ability to withstand storm surges and heavy winds. New construction can include features like tie-down straps, hurricane clips and plates, impact-resistant doors and storm-resistant windows, advanced framing systems, and the use of mold—and mildew-resistant materials.
There are a lot of benefits to buying a new construction house. If you are interested in exploring some of the communities around Tampa - or building your own custom home - reach out to Eaton Realty to talk to one of our seasoned Tampa Realtors.
What to Consider When Buying New Construction
Anytime you buy a house, you must take your time and make smart decisions. However, there are different considerations at play when you buy new construction as opposed to an older home.
Pre-Construction Vs. New Construction
First, consider whether you want to buy a house before it is built (pre-construction) or when it is completed. A few years ago, housing in the Tampa region was in short supply, so it often made sense to sign a contract for a house before it had been built. Now that the housing demand has eased up, it may be a better idea to buy a house that is already complete (or close to completion) so that you know exactly what you are getting.
Builder Reputation
You will want to dig into the reputation of both the builder and the project itself. To learn more about the builder, you can check out online review sites and forums. You can also talk directly to your real estate agent to get the inside scoop on the contractor. They will almost certainly have worked with the building company or know someone who has - and can give you their opinion on the builder’s reputation for quality construction and customer service.
Community Reviews
At the same time, you can ask around about the project itself. Most new construction homes in Tampa are built in planned communities - and as with anything else, the quality of the construction and the neighborhood can vary. You might learn that there are issues with the design of the community, traffic, and congestion around the neighborhood, or that the builder isn’t responsive to problems there. You might also learn that residents are really happy to live there - which can influence your ultimate decision about whether or not to buy there.
Home Availability
Along the same lines, you will want to find out what percentage of the houses in the development are sold. If the community is almost sold out, you might be able to get a good deal if the developer wants to close out the project. It is also a good indication that the community is desirable. However, if there are a lot of homes available, it might indicate an issue or that you will have a problem selling your house down the road.
Builder Incentives
You will want to determine if the developer will offer any concessions if you purchase a home from them. Given that there is currently a surplus of new construction homes in Florida, you might be able to score a financial incentive such as free or reduced closing costs. A buyer’s agent can help you negotiate these concessions.
Home Inspection
Finally, you should absolutely hire a Tampa home inspector to perform an inspection before closing. Even in new construction, issues like improperly installed water tanks can occur. Getting a home inspection before completing the purchase will allow you to address any problems.
In any purchase of a new construction house, it is a good idea to be represented by a real estate agent. They can negotiate a deal for you, learn information about the builder and the community, and guide you through each step of the process - from finding a lender to securing a new construction guarantee to representing you at the closing. At Eaton Realty, we have expertise in the construction industry as well as the real estate sector - which makes us ideally suited to help you purchase a new construction home in Tampa.
Work with Our Award-Winning Tampa Realtors
Our real estate agents have guided home buyers as they search for new construction homes in neighborhoods throughout Tampa. While finding the perfect home can be stressful, our goal is to make the process as simple as possible.
We take a three-step approach to the home-buying process so that our clients know exactly what to expect:
- Pre-approval: before you start looking for a new construction house, it is important to know your price range. We can help you by matching you with a bank for pre-approval for a mortgage or construction loan. You can also use our mortgage calculator to estimate your monthly mortgage payment.
- Search: once you have a better idea of your budget, we will sit down with you to make a list of your needs and wants regarding the perfect home. Using your criteria for everything from community amenities to the number of beds and baths to preferred schools, we will find listings that meet your requirements and book showings for homes you’re interested in seeing.
- Close: when you have found your dream home, we will offer advice on every aspect of the process - including the reputation of the builder, how to get developer concessions, and the pre-closing steps that you should take. We will help you negotiate a great price and offer referrals for experts like home inspectors and more. We will work with you through closing - when you will finally get the keys to your brand new house.
Ready to start the process of buying a new home? Click the button below to contact the Eaton team.
Nearby Cities
If you’re open to exploring new construction homes outside of Tampa, our real estate agents can set up a search radius that includes neighboring suburbs. Cities near Tampa include: