5 Simple Steps to Make Your Dream Home a Reality

Updated April 25, 2023

“Don’t dream your life, live your dreams" — Author Unknown

Dreaming is a powerful force, and turning your dream into a goal you can achieve is a powerful step toward making your desires a reality. With the right planning, your dream home can become not just a fantasy that exists on your Pinterest boards, but a dream come true.

Here are five steps to owning the Florida new home of your dreams!

Step 1 - Determine Your Buying Power

Talk to a mortgage lender to find out what you can afford! Our lender partners will learn about your personal situation and assist you with mortgage options that fit your needs. They will help you understand your credit score and financial situation, go over your mortgage and down payment options, and determine how much house you can afford based on your household income and existing bills. Low down payment finance options are available for qualified buyers, and when you finance with a Highland Homes lender partner, we will even pay select closing costs to save you even more money on your Florida new home.

Step 2 - Location, Location, Location

Whether you wish to be near family and friends, your job, attractions and entertainment, or all of the above, location plays an important part in finding your dream home. After all, the convenience of being near what’s most important to you can have a large influence on your quality of life. Would you want to live in a rural, urban, or suburban area? The location you desire can affect the price of the home and the property value of the home as well. Other things to keep in mind when thinking of a location are the schools, commute to work, proximity to grocery stores and shopping plazas, and the surrounding area.

Step 3 - Decide on New or Used

When buying a home, much like buying a car, you have two main choices - new or used. Some people like used (or resale) homes because they are in older, established neighborhoods with towering trees, and often near urban city centers. On the con side, used homes can come with pest infestations, roofing, foundation, and mold problems. With renovations to tear out old flooring, wallpaper, cabinets, and countertops, and install the colors and features you’ve been dreaming of, buying used can end up costing you more money and effort than you expect.

New construction homes are desirable for many because they are built to the latest Florida building codes for structural stability, energy efficiency, and your health and safety. New homes feature modern designs and layouts and have that intoxicating “new car" smell along with providing the peace of mind that everything is brand-new, with no wear and tear or hidden damages.

When you build your new home in Florida with Highland Homes, you select the colors and features to personalize your dream home to your style and needs, and your home is built exclusively for you. No costly renovations after move-in - and, your new home is covered by a full builder warranty plus a 2-10 Homebuyers Warranty, providing protection for your investment.

If you’re not sure of your preference, we suggest you do some research. We’ve written a number of articles on why to buy new and Florida Realtors® can help you evaluate both options.

Step 4 - Find Your New Home in Florida

Are you a fan of wide, open living areas? A formal dining room for entertaining? A luxurious (and private) en-suite bathroom with room for two? If you’ve decided to look into building your dream home, our New Home Specialists are ready to help you find the home you've been dreaming of and show you Florida new home neighborhoods in desirable cities throughout Tampa Bay, Metro Orlando, Lakeland-Winter Haven, Ocala, and Bradenton-Sarasota. With more than 30 home plans with a variety of sizes and layouts, and are sure to have the right home for you whether you are seeking your first home or looking to move into a larger home. 

Step 5 - Follow your Pins and Design to Your Dreams

Best of all, when you build your new home with us, it will come fully loaded with quality design and features. The professional designers at the Highland Homes Personal Selection Studio will help you to navigate included and upgrade design options to personalize your new home to match your dream style, needs, and budget. Select from a wide variety of included colors and features, as well as luxurious upgrades to add to your home - If your dream kitchen has granite countertops and staggered cabinets, make it happen! Design upgrades can increase your property value, without adding much to your overall mortgage payment.

To help kick-start your dream home design, we offer an online Inspiration Gallery showcasing homes built by Highland Homes in Florida, and have many boards on Pinterest which can be a great resource to start planning the colors, features, and decor for your new home.

Overall, making your dream home a reality isn’t just conceptual, it’s doable! Our New Home Specialists will walk you through every step, from qualifying with a Lender Partner to closing and moving into your new home. Before you know it you will be living your dreams.

To start down the path to homeownership, connect with our New Home Specialists by calling or emailing us today!