Building a House in Florida – Styles, the Process & the Costs

Building a house in Florida comes with an incredible list of perks. The food, the beach, and YEAR-ROUND-SUNSHINE! Yes, please! It’s no wonder this state’s population continues to grow.

Let’s learn about what it takes to build a home in Florida and check out some of the most popular Florida house plans on the market!

The Style – Building a House in Florida

House Plan 7383 - Building a House in Florida — House Plan 7383
2,766 Square Foot, 4 Bed, 3.0 Bath Home

House Plan 7383: Northridge – A Customer Inspired Home

The redesigned Northridge house plan is a great example of one of Florida’s most popular architectural styles – a Southern mix of sunny Mediterranean and classic European charm. This home is one of the newest additions to our ever-growing collection of customer-inspired home plans – America’s Choice House Plans.

By marrying traditional spaces with the needs of a modern family, this mid-sized floor plan is truly unique. The open-concept kitchen and family room are perfect for entertaining family and close friends, while the formal dining room and living room create an air of sophistication for your more formal gatherings.

Check out that master suite! Our customers have fallen in love with the generous master bedroom and en-suite, more typically found in larger homes. You can also check out the popular home plan that inspired it – Westover – House Plan 4093.

The Process – Building a House in Florida

Each state, county, and city has a list of specific rules to follow when building your new home. The sunshine state is no exception.

Step 1: Finding Land

Step one to building a new home is finding that perfect plot of land. This step can be challenging, especially on Florida’s southern coast. According to Paul Owners from Southern Florida’s SunSentinal, “a shortage of lots is by far the biggest problem.” So, if building a house in Florida seems like a daunting task, take a deep breath, conquer this first step, and you’ll be well on your way to your dream home!

Step 2: Choose a Home Plan!

Step two to building a house in Florida is admittedly our favorite. Finding and purchasing the perfect home plan brings your dream so much closer to reality! Start by browsing our full collection of Florida house plans, or get help from a real person in real time! Our home plan specialists are available to talk by phone at 866-214-2242 and by LiveChat throughout the day and evening!

Check out our comprehensive advanced search option to find EXACTLY what you’re looking for!

Step 3: Connecting with a Builder

Step three takes time, thoughtfulness, and a few phone calls. Finding the right builder for your home is incredibly important, because it sets the tone for your build! And not all builders, even great builders, are created equal. In general, each contractor has a typical size and style home that they build, so take the time to ask. Our Preferred Builders list and Houzz’s local professional finder are perfect places to start! Try searching by location, size, and even price to see what you find.

Your builder will “hold your hand” through the rest of your building process, but here are a few key things to keep in mind going forward.

Keep in Mind…

Stay budget conscious: The products with the largest price tags aren’t always your best or only option. Do your research. Read up on the products, supplies, and finishes available to you before purchasing.
Engineering: The state of Florida requires all blueprints to be examined, modified, and stamped by a local engineer. This can be a bit costly, but it ensures your home is prepared to face the extreme weather and geological changes the state is known for.
Take a deep breath and try to take in the beauty around you. You’re not just building a house, you’re building a home!

The Cost to Build a House in Florida

According to a 2020 Homeadvisor.com survey the average cost to build a house in FLA costs between $240,000 to $350,000. According to the a 2019 US Census Bureau Report, it costs on average $110.19 per square foot to build a house in the south but ranged from $60/sq. ft. to over $150/sq. ft.

You’ll want to check with local builders as some areas in Florida conform to hurricane building codes, requiring sturdier structures and materials.The best and most accurate way to get an estimate of cost to build is by talking directly with your builder while looking over your home’s blueprints.

You may want to purchase a “study-set” or “bid-set” first. These are nearly complete sets of your blueprint, emailed to you directly. This file may be sent to as many builders as you’d like – perfect for getting estimates! Then, when you’re ready to upgrade to the full and buildable blueprint, just pay the price difference – not a penny lost!

If you haven’t quite settled on a home plan yet, pick a plan and then use our cost to build estimation tool. This estimation tool uses your selected plans square footage and the Florida zip code, along with the U.S. census, to determine an estimated cost to build. Change the foundation type or modify the home’s square footage to get an even more accurate estimate!

An additional option is to speak briefly with a local builder, without using a home’s blueprint. Simply ask what the average cost, per square foot, to build a home in your area is.