New Construction Homes in Palm Beach County: The Complete Buyer's Guide

If you're considering a new construction home in Palm Beach County, you're looking at one of the most active building markets in South Florida. From the master-planned communities west of Wellington to the luxury enclaves in Palm Beach Gardens, there's more inventory and more variety than at any point in the last decade.

But more options also means more complexity. Builders price differently. HOA and CDD fee structures vary wildly. School zones are shifting as new schools open. Insurance costs have changed the math on what you can actually afford. And the builder's sales team? They work for the builder, not you.

I've been selling real estate in western Palm Beach County for 28 years. My family has been here for five generations. I've personally closed over 1,500 transactions and helped hundreds of buyers navigate new construction purchases in communities across the county. This guide is built from that experience — not recycled builder marketing copy.

Below you'll find an honest breakdown of the major new construction communities, what they actually cost, what life looks like once you move in, and the decisions that will save or cost you real money.

Where New Construction Is Happening in Palm Beach County

The building activity in Palm Beach County is concentrated in four zones, each with a different character, price point, and lifestyle profile.

Western Corridor: Wellington, Loxahatchee & Westlake

This is the heart of new construction activity. Arden by GL Homes brought the agrihood concept to Loxahatchee with a working farm, resort-style amenities, and homes starting in the high $400s. Westlake by Minto is Florida's newest city — literally incorporated in 2016 — with townhomes from the mid-$300s, single-family homes from the mid-$400s, and no CDD fees. Lotis Wellington is the newest mixed-use development bringing 100 single-family homes and 72 townhomes to a walkable community adjacent to Wellington Regional Medical Center. Cresswind Palm Beach by Kolter offers 55+ active adult living from the upper $400s.

For families, this corridor offers Wellington-zoned schools, equestrian access, and significantly more space per dollar than the coast. For retirees, the 55+ communities here offer club-style amenities without the premium of coastal addresses.

Palm Beach Gardens: Avenir & Surrounding Communities

Avenir is the largest single development in Palm Beach County — 4,763 acres with nearly 4,000 planned homes, a future Town Center, and multiple distinct neighborhoods from seven different builders. Pricing spans from the high $600s at Regency at Avenir (Toll Brothers, 55+) to over $22 million at Panther National, where custom estates surround a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. In between, you'll find GL Homes at Apex, Akel Homes at Solana Bay, Kolter at L'Ambiance, DiVosta at Ancient Tree, and Kenco at Orchid Isles.

Avenir appeals to buyers who want a Palm Beach Gardens address with access to the Gardens Mall, PGA-area dining, and Jupiter beaches within 20–25 minutes. The trade-off is price — you'll pay a premium for that east-county location compared to similar floor plans in Arden or Westlake.

Southern Palm Beach County: Boynton Beach, Lake Worth & Beyond

Canyon Trails by GL Homes in Boynton Beach offers family-oriented living with A-rated schools and proximity to the coast. Communities like Artistry Palm Beach by Kolter and newer Mattamy and Lennar developments in the Lake Worth corridor provide additional options in the $500K–$900K range. This zone is ideal for buyers who work in Boca Raton or Delray Beach and want new construction without the commute to the western communities.

Northern Corridor: Jupiter, Tequesta & Hobe Sound

Northern Palm Beach and southern Martin County have limited new construction inventory, but select boutique communities and custom home opportunities exist for buyers who prioritize the Jupiter lifestyle, A-rated schools, and coastal access. Pricing reflects the premium location.

Palm Beach County New Construction Communities at a Glance

This table covers the highest-volume communities currently selling. Each community name links to a detailed guide with full pricing, floor plans, school zones, and honest pros and cons. Prices and fees reflect current market conditions and are subject to change.

How to Buy a New Construction Home in Palm Beach County

The process of buying new construction is fundamentally different from buying a resale home. Here's what actually happens and what most buyers don't know going in.

Step 1: Get Pre-Approved and Understand Your Real Budget

Your real budget isn't just the purchase price. It's the purchase price plus the lot premium (which can add $10,000–$80,000+), plus design center upgrades (where most buyers spend $30,000–$100,000+), plus HOA fees, plus CDD assessments, plus property insurance at current Florida rates. I've watched buyers fall in love with a model home, only to realize the total cost exceeds their budget by six figures. Run the full math before you walk into a sales center.

Step 2: Tour Communities With Your Agent — Not Alone

Most builders require that your agent accompany you on your first visit to register you as a represented buyer. If you walk in alone and register with the builder's sales team first, you may forfeit your right to agent representation. This is one of the most expensive mistakes buyers make in new construction, and it happens every week in Palm Beach County. Bring your agent on the first visit. Period.

Step 3: Understand the Builder Contract

Builder contracts are not standard real estate contracts. They're written by the builder's attorneys to protect the builder. Deposit structures typically require 10–20% of the purchase price in stages. Completion timelines are estimates, not guarantees. Cancellation terms heavily favor the builder. Escalation clauses can increase your price after contract. Your agent should review every clause and explain what's negotiable and what isn't — because some of it is, and builders won't tell you that.

Step 4: Navigate the Design Center Strategically

The design center is where builders make a significant portion of their profit. Some upgrades are worth doing through the builder because they're structural and can't be added later: impact window upgrades, electrical pre-wires, plumbing rough-ins for future outdoor kitchens, extended lanais, and upgraded flooring throughout (because they install it before cabinets). Other upgrades like backsplash tile, cabinet hardware, lighting fixtures, and closet organizers are dramatically overpriced at the design center. A $5,000 backsplash at the design center might cost $1,500 through an independent contractor after closing.

Step 5: Get Independent Inspections

Two inspections are essential. The pre-drywall inspection happens after framing, plumbing, and electrical are roughed in but before drywall goes up. This is your one chance to verify that what was promised in the plans is actually what was built. The final inspection happens before closing and covers everything from HVAC to paint to grade. Both should be performed by an independent licensed inspector — not the builder's own quality assurance team. I've seen pre-drywall inspections catch missing hurricane straps, incorrect plumbing runs, and electrical code violations that would have been invisible after drywall.

Step 6: Coordinate the Sale of Your Current Home

If you're selling a home to buy new construction, timing is everything. List too early and you're homeless before the new home is done. List too late and you're carrying two mortgages. Most builders don't accept home-sale contingencies. The solution is strategic timing: we monitor your build progress, list your existing home when the new build is 60–75% complete, and use leaseback agreements or bridge financing to bridge any gap. This requires an agent who understands both sides of the transaction, not just the purchase.

The Real Pros and Cons of Buying New Construction

What You Gain

• Everything is new. No deferred maintenance, no previous owner's shortcuts, no surprise repair costs in the first several years.
• Modern building codes. Homes built after 2002 in Palm Beach County meet stringent hurricane standards. Current builds exceed those standards with impact glass, reinforced roof-to-wall connections, and concrete block construction.
• Energy efficiency. New HVAC systems, insulation standards, and window technology reduce utility costs significantly compared to homes built before 2010.
• Customization. With a to-be-built home, you choose your finishes, layout options, and structural upgrades. You're not inheriting someone else's taste.
• Builder warranties. Most new construction in Palm Beach County comes with 1-year workmanship, 2-year mechanical, and 10-year structural warranties. These have real value when used properly.

What You Give Up

• Lot size. Master-planned communities typically have smaller lots than established neighborhoods. If you want a half-acre or more, you're looking at Loxahatchee acreage or Avenir's premium estate sections.
• Mature landscaping. New communities have young trees and fresh sod. It takes 3–5 years for landscaping to fill in and provide real shade and privacy.
• HOA and CDD costs. These ongoing fees can add $300–$800+ per month to your housing cost and they increase over time. Factor them into your budget from the start.
• Construction delays. Supply chain issues, permitting backlogs, and weather can push your closing date by weeks or months. Your builder contract likely gives them flexibility on timing that it doesn't give you.
• Living in a construction zone. Until the community is fully built out, you'll share roads with construction trucks, deal with dust, and watch empty lots around you for years. In a community like Avenir, full buildout is projected to take another decade.

What Most Guides Won't Tell You: Insurance, Taxes & Hidden Costs

Florida's property insurance market has fundamentally changed the economics of homeownership. New construction homes are generally easier and cheaper to insure than older homes because they meet current building codes, but premiums have still increased dramatically. Budget $4,000–$12,000+ annually for property insurance depending on the home's value, location, and wind mitigation features. Flood insurance may be required depending on the community's flood zone designation.

Property taxes in Palm Beach County run approximately 1.8–2.1% of assessed value depending on the municipality. On a $600,000 home, that's roughly $10,800–$12,600 per year before homestead exemption. Remember: your first year's tax bill on new construction will be artificially low because it's based on unimproved land value. The real number hits in year two.

Between HOA fees, CDD assessments, property taxes, and insurance, your non-mortgage housing costs on a new construction home in Palm Beach County can easily run $1,500–$3,000+ per month. I walk every client through this math before they sign a builder contract. No surprises.

Frequently Asked Questions About New Construction in Palm Beach County

Do I need my own agent when buying new construction in Palm Beach County?

Yes. The builder's sales team represents the builder, not you. Your agent negotiates on your behalf, reviews contracts, coordinates inspections, and identifies issues the builder's team will never flag. Their commission is typically paid by the builder, so representation costs you nothing.

Can I negotiate the price on a new construction home?

Base price is usually firm, but incentives are negotiable. Builders regularly offer closing cost credits, design center allowances, lot premium reductions, and rate buydowns. The key is knowing what's available and when to ask. End-of-quarter and model closeouts offer the strongest leverage.

What are CDD fees and how do they affect my monthly payment?

Community Development District fees fund the infrastructure that was built before your home existed — roads, drainage, parks, utilities. They appear as a separate line on your tax bill, typically $1,500–$4,000 annually depending on the community. Some communities like Westlake have no CDD fees, which saves thousands per year.

How long does it take to build a new home in Palm Beach County?

Timeline depends on the builder and whether you're buying a spec home or building from scratch. Quick move-in homes can close in 30–60 days. To-be-built homes typically take 8–14 months from contract to closing. Custom estates in communities like Panther National at Avenir can take 18–24 months.

Should I sell my current home before buying new construction?

It depends on your financial position and the builder's contract terms. Most builders require a deposit at contract and may not allow a home-sale contingency. We help clients time the sale of their existing home to align with the new build completion, often using bridge financing or leaseback agreements.

What inspections should I get on a new construction home?

Every new construction home needs a pre-drywall inspection and a final walkthrough inspection by an independent inspector — not the builder's quality assurance team. The pre-drywall inspection catches framing, plumbing, and electrical issues while walls are still open. This is non-negotiable.

Are builder upgrades worth the cost?

Some upgrades add real value and are nearly impossible to do after closing — structural changes, electrical rough-ins, plumbing relocations, impact windows, and extended lanais. Others like backsplashes, lighting fixtures, and cabinet hardware are drastically overpriced at the design center and can be done for half the cost after closing.

What's the difference between spec homes and to-be-built homes?

Spec (speculative) homes are already under construction or completed without a specific buyer. You can move in faster but have fewer customization options. To-be-built homes start construction after your contract, giving you full design center access to choose finishes, upgrades, and structural options.

How do Palm Beach County property taxes work on new construction?

Your first year's tax bill will be based on the land value only, which is significantly lower than the full assessed value. The second year is when your tax bill adjusts to reflect the completed home. Budget for the full assessed value from day one so there's no payment shock.

What school zones serve the major new construction communities?

School zoning in Palm Beach County changes. Arden and Westlake are currently zoned for Wellington-area schools including the new Saddle View Elementary opening in 2025. Avenir is zoned for Palm Beach Gardens schools. We verify current zoning for every client because assignments can shift with new school openings and redistricting.

Why Work With Brian Wilder for New Construction

I'm not a general-purpose agent who happens to sell new construction on the side. My team and I specialize in Palm Beach County new construction communities. We know which builders are running incentives this month, which lots have the best exposure, which design center upgrades hold resale value, and which communities are delivering on time.

My family has been in Palm Beach County for five generations. I've personally closed over 1,500 transactions in 28 years. I've sold homes in nearly every community mentioned on this page. When I tell you what life is actually like in Arden versus Westlake versus Avenir, I'm not reading a brochure — I'm telling you what my clients who live there say every day.

Our team includes Jennifer Wilder (buyer specialist), Diane Wilder (luxury and country club communities), Blake and Jonas Wilder (waterfront), and Lucy Lopez (bilingual Spanish services for our Hispanic community). Whatever your situation, someone on our team has deep expertise in exactly what you're looking for.

Explore Individual Community Guides

Each guide below includes detailed pricing, floor plan analysis, school zone verification, honest pros and cons, and a downloadable buyer's guide specific to that community.

Master Community Guides

• Avenir New Construction Guide
• Arden New Construction Guide
• Westlake New Construction Guide
• Lotis Wellington Guide

Additional Community Guides

• Cresswind Palm Beach at Westlake — Coming Soon
• Canyon Trails (Boynton Beach) — Coming Soon
• Solana Bay at Avenir — Coming Soon
• Regency at Avenir — Coming Soon
• Ancient Tree (Palm Beach Gardens) — Coming Soon
• Watermark at Avenir — Coming Soon
• Sky Cove South at Westlake — Coming Soon
• Amara at Westlake — Coming Soon

Community Comparison Guides

• Avenir vs. Westlake
• Arden vs. Westlake
• Avenir vs. Arden
• Westlake vs. Loxahatchee Acreage
• Lotis Wellington vs. Arden

¿Habla Español? Estamos Aquí Para Ayudarle

Nuestro equipo incluye a Lucy Lopez, especialista bilingüe en bienes raíces con experiencia en comunidades de construcción nueva en todo el condado de Palm Beach. Lucy entiende las necesidades únicas de la comunidad hispana y puede guiarlo a través de todo el proceso en español — desde la primera consulta hasta el cierre.

Lea nuestra guía completa en español →

Brian Wilder | The Wilder Real Estate Group at Keller Williams Wellington | 28 years, 1,500+ transactions | 5th-generation Palm Beach County resident

Last updated: February 2026. Prices, fees, and community details are subject to change. Verify all information with your agent before making purchase decisions.