Buying New Construction in Royal Palm Beach: What to Expect, Step by Step

"Buying a new construction home works differently from buying resale, and knowing the sequence ahead of time makes the whole process less stressful. Here's what actually happens, from your first visit to getting your keys, when you buy at a community like Lakeside Landing. This is general information, not financial or legal advice — talk to your own lender and, if you have one, an attorney about your specific situation.

Step 1: Visit and pick a floor plan

You'll start by touring the available floor plans — at Lakeside Landing, that's Bondi and Waverly — and, if homes are under construction or available, seeing what's actually built or close to finished. This is also when you'll hear about current incentives, since those genuinely change month to month.

Step 2: Get pre-approved

Before you can put a home under contract, you'll typically need a mortgage pre-approval, which tells you (and the builder) how much you can actually borrow. This is worth doing early, even before you've picked a specific floor plan, so you know your real budget going in.

Step 3: Sign the purchase agreement

Once you've picked a home or a homesite, you'll sign a purchase agreement and typically put down an initial deposit. Read this document carefully — it will spell out your closing timeline, what's included in the price, and what happens if either side needs to back out.

Step 4: Selections and design (if applicable)

Depending on how far along construction is, you may have some choice in finishes — though at communities like Lakeside Landing, where the standard features package is already set, this step is usually shorter than it would be on a fully custom home.

Step 5: Construction and inspections

If your home isn't finished yet, this is the waiting period. Reputable builders bring in third-party inspectors during construction, separate from their own internal inspections — ask what inspection process applies to your specific home.

Step 6: The final walkthrough

Before closing, you'll do a walkthrough with a builder representative — sometimes called a new-homeowner orientation — to go through the home room by room and flag anything that needs attention before you take ownership.

Step 7: Closing

At closing, you'll sign the final paperwork, pay your remaining costs, and get your keys. Closing costs on a new construction home typically run a few percent of the purchase price, covering things like title insurance, recording fees, and loan origination costs — your lender can give you an exact estimate based on your specific loan.

What to ask before you sign anything

A few questions worth asking at any new construction community, including Lakeside Landing: What exactly is included in the base price versus what's an upgrade? What's the estimated closing timeline? What does the warranty actually cover, and for how long? Is a third-party inspection part of the process? What's the current incentive, and does it change if I wait?

Should you get a home inspection on new construction?

Yes — even on a brand-new home, an independent inspection is worth the cost. New construction can still have workmanship issues (a loose fitting, a wiring mistake) that a fresh set of eyes might catch before you move in, and it's far easier to get something fixed before closing than after.

Financing your new construction home

Most new construction buyers use a standard mortgage, the same as they would for a resale home — conventional, FHA, or VA loans are all commonly used, depending on your situation. The main difference from a resale purchase is timing: if your home isn't finished yet, your lender will typically want to lock your rate or set up a rate-lock extension that covers your expected closing date, since construction timelines can shift. Ask your loan officer specifically about rate-lock options for new construction, since they can differ from a standard 30-day resale lock.

Builders sometimes offer financing incentives through an affiliated or preferred lender — a lower rate, a credit toward closing costs — but you're not required to use that lender. It's worth comparing what a preferred lender offers against your own bank or mortgage broker before deciding, since the better overall deal isn't always the one with the incentive attached.

What can delay a new construction closing

A few common things can push a closing date later than originally expected: permitting delays with the local municipality, material or appliance backorders, weather delays during construction (a real factor in Florida during hurricane season), and delays on the buyer's side, like financing that takes longer to finalize than planned. None of these are unusual, and a good sales team will keep you updated as your closing date approaches — it's reasonable to ask for regular updates if you're not getting them.

A realistic timeline expectation

If you're buying a home that's already complete or nearly complete, you can often close within 30 to 60 days, similar to a resale transaction. If you're buying a home that hasn't started construction, ask for a current estimate specific to that home and community — construction timelines vary by builder, by community, and by how busy that builder's local division is at the time.

After closing: the first year

Once you've closed, the first year is when your 1-year workmanship warranty is most relevant. It's worth keeping a running list of small items you notice — a sticking door, a hairline crack in drywall, a fixture that's loose — rather than calling about each one individually, so the builder can address them together during a scheduled service visit. Most builders, including D.R. Horton, have a formal process for submitting warranty requests; ask about it at your final walkthrough so you know exactly how to use it if you need to.

Moving logistics worth planning early

Beyond the purchase itself, a few logistics are easy to overlook until the last minute: scheduling movers well ahead of your closing date, since good movers book up quickly around the first and last of each month; setting up utilities (electric, water, internet) to start on your closing day rather than after; and updating your address with your bank, employer, and the post office. None of this is specific to new construction, but it's worth a mention here because a firm closing date on new construction can sometimes shift, which means holding your moving plans a little loosely until the date is confirmed.

Common Questions

Ready to take the next step?

Call 561-704-0091 to talk with a National House Search specialist, or Start Your Lakeside Landing Visit — Schedule Now.

Related reading: Homes for Sale in Royal Palm Beach, FL: A Buyer's Guide, What Is a Townhouse? A First-Time Buyer's Guide, Condo vs. Townhouse vs. Single-Family Home: What's Really Different, What's Included at Lakeside Landing, Plus the D.R. Horton Warranty, and the Lakeside Landing community page. "