Florida is a state that has endless appeal. Whether you’re drawn to the otherworldly sunsets and seashells of southwest Florida, the spectacular beaches of Northeast Florida, or anything in between, this is a place that offers gorgeous weather year-round, a desirable cost of living, a strong economy, and endless attractions to explore.
You aren’t alone if you’re looking to build a custom home in the Sunshine State. Several Florida cities top the list of U.S. cities where the newest homes were made last year, and seven out of the top ten fastest-growing U.S. places are in Florida.
You’ve finally decided to build your dream home, which is a huge step. Choosing where to create the home you’ve been waiting for can feel overwhelming.
Luckily, there is a long list of custom home communities in Florida to choose from– from family-friendly communities and charming villages to elite gated communities with out-of-this-world amenities. Let’s look at some of the best custom home communities in the state.
Note: This list of the best custom home communities in Florida is not ranked, and the communities appear in no particular order.
Adelaide – Viera
Located on the pristine shores of Lake Adelaide, Adelaide is the premier luxury community in Viera, Florida, in the heart of Brevard County. The estate homes in this community offer elevated lakefront and preserved views, and you can find countless appealing amenities nearby. Boasting a genuinely hard-to-find combination of nearby access to A-rated schools, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and privacy, Adelaide offers a truly luxurious lifestyle to its residents.
There are currently more than 120 sites in four neighborhoods, each with its distinct atmosphere and amenities.
The first is The Lakes, which features large homes centered on the main lake or directly adjacent to the lake. The Preserve is a neighborhood that abuts a 25-acre water-to-wetlands preservation area that offers excellent privacy. The community has easy access to major highways, making it an ideal location for those who need to travel for work or pleasure. In addition, Adelaide provides a secure and secluded lifestyle with 24-hour staffed gate security and an onsite concierge service.
The Reserve is a private gated community within Adelaide, where there are eighteen homesites for home builders that are looking to live in one of the most exclusive spots in all of Brevard County. Finally, there is the Park, which is newly available and offers a private neighborhood of twenty-four homes.
Casa Bella – Melbourne
Casa Bella is an upscale community in Melbourne renowned for its high architectural standards and Spanish-influenced designer elements. Many existing homes have luxury features, including chef’s kitchens, opulent bathrooms, impressive open-concept floor plans, and marble flooring. The homes in Casa Bella are designed for today’s modern families with spacious floor plans, gourmet kitchens, elegant baths, and home automation systems. Plus, there are plenty of outdoor amenities, such as a resort-style swimming pool, walking trails, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and a clubhouse.
The area is part of the Brevard County Public School District, which ensures that your children receive a quality education. This family-friendly and safe neighborhood features a private fenced pathway throughout the community that leads right to the nearby elementary school. On top of that, a secure playground was designed and built using top-of-the-line materials and equipment. Additionally, Casa Bella is conveniently located close to major shopping centers, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
Only 10 minutes from the beaches of the Atlantic and an hour from the Town of Viera and Orlando, Casa Bella is conveniently located to offer individuals with the most distinguished tastes the opportunity to enjoy a safe, beautiful, and luxurious lifestyle without sacrificing convenience.
Before you dive into designing and building your home, you’ll want to learn more about our Custom Home Guidebook and Workshop. Without taking specific precautions and going through the process in a particular order, it’s easy to find yourself going way over budget when building your dream home.
Lansing Island – Indian Harbour Beach
One of the most elite communities in all of Florida, Lansing Island is a private neighborhood that can only be accessed by crossing a guarded bridge. On the other side, you’re immediately met with gorgeous foliage and sparking waters before setting your eyes upon the truly lavish waterfront homes of the community.
Residents of this prestigious neighborhood have easy access to the river from most of the island, where your family can enjoy year-round water activities. Thanks to the beautiful weather throughout the year, there are ample opportunities to spend time fishing, boating, kayaking, or simply enjoying the beautiful natural environment.
Lansing Island is located on the Indian River Lagoon, which is by some accounts the most bio-diverse habitat in all of North America. For individuals that are looking for a luxury lifestyle that prioritizes spending much of their time in the great outdoors, this is the perfect location.
This community has received global attention, so the available lots are in high demand; near the 27-acre Gleason Park, complete with a pool, exercise paths, gazebos, a boardwalk, a beautiful lake, and charming Victorian lights illuminating the paths.
Are you beginning the process of interviewing architects? Make sure you read these twelve interview questions before you pick up the phone.
Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club – Indian River County
Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club is a member-owned Florida golf community that is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic and the Indian River. Featuring genuinely remarkable homes and a few remaining home sites, the architecture in this community is inspired by the beautiful colors, shapes, and vibes of the West Indies.
If you’re looking for a lifestyle that is at once luxurious and unpretentious, this might be the spot for you. Here you’ll find much of the laidback experience that you imagine when you think of island living– more than a mile of a secluded beach, a private kayak launch, an excellent tennis center, an incredible seafood restaurant, and a relaxing spa right in the community. If all of that doesn’t sound good enough, there’s also a golf course that was designed by Arnold Palmer himself.
Another noteworthy feature of the Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club is that the community has been a Certified Audubon Sanctuary since 2005. With one of the most bio-diverse ecosystems in the world, it would be hard not to enjoy living in harmony with more than 1,500 wildlife species, including white pelicans, manatees, ospreys, otters, leatherback turtles, and roseate spoonbills.
Orchid Island is committed to offering the ability to live a healthy lifestyle for all its residents, featuring more than 11,000 square feet of space for fitness and wellness. With more than 35 group exercise classes and state-of-the-art machines, private exercise areas, and a pilates studio, it’s never been so easy to stay in shape.
Finding the perfect lot for your home can be a challenging task. If you’re looking for advice on selecting the ideal property for your custom home, watch our video to see how we can help you find the spot that is best for the house of your dreams.
Lakewood Ranch
Made up of more than two dozen unique villages, Lakewood Ranch offers something for everyone. Some neighborhoods are geared toward luxury home builders– such as Monarch Acres and Kingfisher Estates– while others are age-restricted or more focused on family-friendly living.
There’s a little something for everyone at Lakewood Ranch, which is located south of St. Petersburg and Tampa. Whether you’re looking to golf, play tennis, enjoy the village spa, stroll on the walking paths, take your four-legged friend to the dog park, or head over to the clubhouses or fitness center, you’ll be hard-pressed not to find a community that suits your needs.
Are you trying to decide between stock and custom plans for your luxury home? This guide goes over the pros and cons of each option to help you determine what makes the most sense for your needs and lifestyle.
Saltleaf on Estero Bay – Bonita Springs
Located Southeast of Fort Meyers Beach, Estero Bay is an estuary home to Estero Bay Preserve State Park, the first aquatic preserve in the state. Saltleaf on Estero Bay is a new community that offers access to a private lagoon and pools, not to mention Ritz-Carlton Residences, which offer a concierge team, restaurant, spa, and so much more.
Both refined and relaxed, this new luxury custom home community lies next to the Estero Bay Preserve. It offers unprecedented access to one of the last great stretches of waterfront in Southwest Florida.
If you choose to live here, you can boat to the lovely islands of Captiva or Sanibel, take a sunrise stroll to the Saltleaf Marina, or enjoy a trip into the charming city of Naples. At the same time, there’s plenty to enjoy in Bonita Springs and the community.
Are you curious about other luxury communities and builders in the Southeast? Look at our guides to the best custom home builders in Lake Keowee, South Carolina, and Georgia’s Lake Oconee.
Mediterra Golf and Beach Club – Naples
Mediterra has been named the community of the year award by the Collier Building Industry Association twelve times and is located in Naples, Florida– a place consistently rated as one of the happiest and healthiest places to live in the U.S.
Living here offers an acclaimed array of amenities and access to a 60,000-square-foot members-only clubhouse, a private beach club, two Tom Fazio-designed championship golf courses, and a state-of-the-art sports club. Beyond that, there are tennis, bocce ball, pickleball courts, and eight miles of walking and biking trails.
Signing the right contracts and hiring the right builders is essential to ensure your home-building process is stress-free and on budget. In a community like Meidterra Golf and Beach Club, one builder creates all of the homes. While this isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker, it’s worth understanding how important builder selection is to making an on-time and on-budget experience.
Arden – Palm Beach
If you and your family are dedicated to healthy living, you might be intrigued by the Palm Beach community of Arden. With a five-acre working farm and event barn that all neighborhoods have access to, you can enjoy fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruits right in this sweet community.
Both vibrantly social and blissfully private, Arden is a community home to lovely parks, lush landscaping, beautiful vistas, and outstanding architectural features.
Arden has twenty miles of wandering trails, grassy parks, playfields, and a fitness center. Beyond that, there are incredible lakes you can enjoy endless hours, whether your sport of choice is kayaking, fishing, or simply relaxing.
Though you feel like you’re miles away from the bustling world when you’re at home, Arden offers direct access to major highways and is nearby to West Palm Beach. You’re always close to the white-sand beaches of the Treasure Coast here, and you’ll find many world-class golf courses, equestrian venues, and country clubs within a stone’s throw. With A-rated schools, shopping, restaurants, and entertainment only minutes away, this is where you can indeed have it all.
Don’t Rush the Process of Choosing the Right Community
The process of building your new home can be so exciting that it’s easy to want to rush toward the finish line. However, the choices you make at the beginning have a tremendous impact on your final outcome. You will want to consider more than just each community’s amenities and atmosphere. You’ll also want to carefully select your parcel– thinking about everything from the direction your home will face, the yard’s slope, the house’s proximity to the views, and the neighborhood’s future development.
Believe us– it is worth the time and effort to find the community best suited to your lifestyle and needs and select a plot that will serve as the ideal location for your dream home.
At Dream Home Studio, our passion is helping people build the perfect home they’ve always imagined for themselves. After many years in the business, we’ve learned that all too often, this incredible process gets tarnished by the many potential frustrations of creating a custom home.
Not only do we want to ensure that you receive the outcome you’re looking for, but we want to make sure it happens on time and on budget, too.
If you’re interested in learning more about building your custom luxury home without any expensive surprises or unnecessary stress, make sure you watch our videos!
