Guides to buying new in Orlando
What to know before you buy a new home in greater Orlando, with a source for every fact. New to Orlando? Start with the first guide below.
Figures checked October 2026.
About Orlando
The place itself, for anyone thinking about moving here.
Living in OrlandoPopulation of the city and metro, weather by month, hurricane season, taxes, SunRail and Brightline, cost of living, jobs and utilities.
Start here · Weather by month table · 26 sources
Best places to live near OrlandoThe suburbs where new homes are being built, sorted by what you put first: price, the drive to work, zoned schools, property tax or flood risk.
Area comparison table · from each community’s sources
Costs and fees
What a new home really costs, up front and every month.
What it costs to buy a homeDown payment minimums by loan type, Florida’s closing taxes, the homestead exemption, insurance averages and a worked example.
Worked example · 13 sources
Florida Amendment 3The $150,000 and then $250,000 homestead exemption voters approved in 2026: who qualifies, the five-year rule for people moving here, and the saving on a $400,000 home.
Savings by tax district · from the amendment’s text
What is a CDD?What a Florida community development district pays for, how the yearly fee is billed, and what to ask before you buy.
CDD fees by community · 7 Florida laws cited
Compare communities
The communities we cover, side by side on the numbers that matter.
Most affordable, by monthly costEstimated monthly cost of each community’s lowest-priced plan: mortgage at today’s rate, HOA, CDD and 2026 property taxes.
Monthly cost table · rate, tax and community sources
Best new-construction communitiesHow the communities selling new homes compare on price, HOA and CDD fees, school grades and choice of builders.
Side-by-side table · sources on each community page
New home prices by communityBuilder starting prices and price per square foot for each community, by area, next to the Orlando-area median sale price.
Price per square foot table · REALTOR® market data
- Orlando housing market
The Orlando-area median sale price by month and by year, homes sold and for sale, mortgage rates, and builders’ starting prices next to them.
2 charts · REALTOR® market data, updated monthly
- Schools, commute and walkability
Zoned school grades, drive times to downtown, the airport and Disney, and everyday places within a mile, for every community.
3 comparison tables · state and OpenStreetMap data
Check before you buy
What to look up for a specific home before you sign.
- How to check safety before you buy
Where to look up crime data for any address, how to find a home’s FEMA flood zone, and what to ask about storm readiness.
Flood risk table · 5 sources
Stuck on a word? The glossary defines HOA, CDD, millage, lot premiums and the other terms builders use.