This month, we take a dive into who the production builders are in Lake Nona. The term “production” is used to identify high-volume construction allowing only pre-priced and architecturally drawn changes, or options.
From time to time, production builders may allow custom requests on a case-by-case basis. When they say no to a custom option, most likely it is due to the logistics required to satisfactorily complete the request. Changes to architectural blueprints involve every department, so a custom change could make or break the home building experience.
Lake Nona communities that feature new home construction are Laureate Park, Enclave at VillageWalk, and Somerset Park. With varying home types, buyers are sure to find a floor plan that suits their needs. Home designs include condos, single family front-load garages, single family rear-load garages, estate homes, and two-, three-, or four-story townhomes.
As important as the floor plan is, the lot you select is just as critical. Lot sizes will vary with each floor plan. A larger floor plan will have to be built on a larger homesite. Is the direction of the sun important to you? Do you want neighbors to the rear and sides? In new communities, these are important question to think about. For example, just because you can see a view of the lake during the selection process, this does not guarantee a forever view.
If you are ready to move in right away, you can chose a model that is already complete, also called an inventory or quick move-in home. If you have a home to sell before moving, or prefer to uniquely personalize, you may want a build-to-order home. There are pros and cons to both.
Just remember, pricing and availability change quickly, which leads to my disclaimer: What is written in this article today might change in the future.
In alphabetical order, starting with the largest Lake Nona community, here we go:
Laureate Park
Located on Tavistock Lakes Boulevard, adjacent to Medical City.
Amenities include: pocket parks, bark park, LP Fitness Center, Aquatic Center, community gardens, paths and trails, playgrounds, high-speed internet.
Ashton Woods Homes
Founded in 1989, privately held, builds in six states.
Home Types: Three-story townhomes, single-family rear-load garage, single-family front-load garage.
Townhomes: 2,227-2,395 square feet.
Single family: 1,961-2,705 square feet.
What makes this builder unique:
“Ashton Woods offers an unparalleled design experience, including a variety of flexible floor plans with many structural options to choose from, as well as thousands of selections and finishes available at our studio. The possibilities to personalize are endless, and the result is a home that is uniquely yours.” – Kristin Vuckovic, marketing manager
Beazer Homes | Gatherings of Lake Nona
Beazer Homes homebuilding roots run deep, back to George Beazer in England in 1696. The company began U.S. operations in the 1980s, publicly held since 1994, trades as BHZ, builds in 13 states.
Home types: active adult 55+ condos.
Two-bedroom condos 1,368-1,549 square feet.
Three-bedroom condos: 1,799-1,809 square feet.
- In addition to Laureate Park amenities, Gatherings of Lake Nona offers residents maintenance-free living with elevator access, dedicated clubhouse, resort-style pool, fire pit, pickleball court, bocce ball court and a dog park.
What makes this builder unique:
“Gatherings of Lake Nona is 55+ active adult living in a totally unique lifestyle solution for the local area. Residents enjoy low maintenance, high efficiency homes close to everything that matters in the Lake Nona community. Secure entries, garage space for every home, elevators and private balconies create homes of both style and substance. Not only are amenities like a resort pool and expansive clubhouse part of the equation, but pickleball, bocce, a dog park and more recreational opportunities raise the quality of life. At the same time, many buyers and visitors tell us they are lowering their cost of living compared with other housing options. Consumer research has shown a large number of baby boomers plan to move to an age-restricted community when they reach 55 or beyond. Beazer Homes designed Gatherings to provide an attractive option in this housing style.” – Russ Beymer, marketing manager
Craft Homes
Founded in 2015, privately held, builds exclusively in Laureate Park.
Home types: Two-story townhomes, single-family rear-load garage.
Townhomes: 2,040-2,079 square feet.
Single family: 1,864-2,952 square feet.
What makes this builder unique:
“We believe that your home should be guided by the life you want to live. It should be built smartly, with ambitions standards for design and technology. Its design should be purposeful, developed to thoughtfully intersect with and enhance the lives of those who live there. And we believe the home building process should be collaborative, with open communication and a guided design process all along the way.
“That led us to a philosophy based on respect – for your time, your vision, and your needs – that gives you the strongest voice in the homebuilding process. Our approach – and our company – is different because we take great strides to listen, to connect and to understand your needs and the needs of your family so the home you build matches the life you live.” – Ashley Schlageter, VP of sales and marketing
David Weekley Homes
Founded in 1976, privately held, builds in 13 states.
Home types: single-family front-load and single-family rear-load garage.
Single family: 1,628-4,284 square feet.
What makes this builder unique:
“David Weekley Homes brings more than 40 years of homebuilding experience to Laureate Park at Lake Nona. As the nation’s largest privately-held builder, we deliver the exceptional quality, resources and choices of a larger builder, while maintaining a strong commitment to providing the unparalleled, personalized customer experience you’d expect from a boutique builder.
In addition to making a difference in the lives of our customers, our team members are living out our purpose of building dreams, enhancing lives through the volunteer and philanthropic efforts of our CARE program. By working together, our team members, homeowners, homebuyers and community partners are enhancing lives in the communities in which we work and live!” – Valerie Wagoner, marketing coordinator
Dream Finders Homes
Founded in 2008, privately held, builds in seven states.
Home types: single-family rear-load garage.
Single family: 1,956-2,459 square feet.
What makes this builder unique:
“Dream Finders Homes is so excited to be the newest single-family home builder in Laureate Park! It is our distinct privilege to join some of the finest, most reputable production builders in the nation here in Lake Nona.
“In partnership with our preferred lender, Jet Home Loans, DFH is pleased to pay all closing costs and prepaid items to every buyer when they choose to work with Jet or pay cash for their new home. This is our everyday incentive and has been a huge help for many families in being able to purchase their new home in Laureate Park!
“As awesome as this opportunity is for our buyers, Lionel and I also get the pleasure of being able to say ‘yes’ a lot. ’Yes’ to moving a wall, changing a room, adding doors or windows and allowing the homeowner to put their unique personal touches on their new home. Most builders will not allow for custom changes to their plans. Dream Finders Homes has a very different approach to homebuilding and home buying.
“We work with our new home owners to design their new home to fit their family, instead of making the family fit the home. Knowing we are helping families to improve their lives is a rewarding feeling.” – Melissa Schemmel and Lionel Jacquemond, dream team consultants
Minto Homes
Founded in 1955, privately held, builds in Canada and Florida.
Home types: Two-story townhomes, single-family rear-load garage.
Townhomes: 1,650-1,944 square feet.
Single family: 2,016-3,159 square feet.
What makes this builder unique:
“Minto’s easy care, low maintenance home choices at Laureate Park offer designs to suit any lifestyle from young professionals to family living to empty nesters and multi-generational households. Single-family floor plans include three or four bedrooms, plus loft and den, and all have two-car garages. Homes range in size from 2,016 square feet under air to 3,159 square feet under air. Options are available to add a second floor retreat and three-car garage to selected floor plans. Courtyard home floor plans range from 1,650 square feet under air to 1,944 square feet under air. Courtyard homes include two or three bedrooms, plus a unique loft with 10-foot ceilings that can function as a playroom, hobby room or private retreat.” – Steve Svopa, vice president
Pulte Homes
Founded in 1950, publicly traded as PHM, builds in 24 states.
Home types: Four-story townhomes with optional rooftop terraces.
Single family: 2,107-2,167 square feet
What makes this builder unique:
“Pulte Homes is adding to the mix with a luxury four-story townhome design that features incredible views from the rooftop terrace. The modern open concept floor plans are ideal for entertaining with oversized islands that overlook the gathering room and kitchen, all within walking distance to the amenities and trails that Laureate Park has to offer. Come visit us today at the Laureate Park sales office located at 18602 Waksman Place, Orlando, FL 32827. You may call to make your personal appointment at 303-552-6016.” – Alexis Jahnke, sales consultant
Taylor Morrison | The Preserve at Laureate Park
Founded in 2007, publicly traded as TMHC, builds in nine states.
Home types: Single-family front-load garage estate homes.
Single family: 2,748-4,983 square feet.
What makes this builder unique:
“What sets us apart as a builder is trust, having won America’s Most Trusted™ Home Builder by Lifestory Research 2 years in a row.
“What makes us unique in Laureate Park is that we have our own gated retreat within the community. Only 151 estàte homes spread across 56 acres, securely nestled within the confines of one of our nation’s fastest growing master planned communities. We are offering 14 four+ bedroom neoclassical tradition floor plans to place on homesites as large as a half acre!” – Wendee Burnette and Karin Jimenez, sales consultants.
Enclave at VillageWalk
Located on Lake Nona Boulevard, adjacent to USTA and Lake Nona Golf and Country Club.
Amenities include: executive home gated community with 70-foot wide homesites, three-car garages and tile roofs with high speed internet.
Pulte Homes
Founded in 1950, publicly traded as PHM, builds in 24 states.
Home types: single-family front-load garage.
Single family: 2,909-5,118 square feet.
What makes this builder unique:
“With luxurious home designs in one of the city’s most sought after areas of Orlando, Enclave at VillageWalk at Lake Nona is the perfect place to call home in the heart of Lake Nona. This luxury, gated community attracts families looking for exceptional schools, plenty of living space and world-class amenities.
“We have introduced two new floor plans to our portfolio of six different home designs to fit your family’s needs. We are now ½ ‘sold out,’ so don’t miss out on your chance to own the ideal home in this wonderful community. Come visit us today at the Enclave sales office located at 11754 Savona Way Orlando, FL 32827. You may call to make your personal appointment at 407-313-1055.” – Katy Arrington, sales consultant
Somerset Park
Located on the west side of Lake Nona, off of Lake Nona Boulevard.
Amenities include: gated community, high-speed internet with community pool and playground.
Century Homes
Founded in 2014, privately held, builds exclusively in Florida.
Home types: single-family front-load garage.
Single family: 1,593-3,826 square feet.
What makes this builder unique:
“At Century Homes, our goal is to be a family builder. For us, these are not just empty words but are indeed the creed by which the owners manage the company. Our new homes are specifically designed with families in mind in an effort to bring together value and superior design.
“Our new home designs are well thought out, with architectural plans focused on one main theme: bringing the family together. Century Homes’ floor plans include centrally located computer centers in convenient, open areas where parents can guide their children’s activities on the internet as well as functional family rooms and kitchens that provide ample space for gathering. Our master suites are spacious dream retreats. All house plans offer rear porches to smartly combine outdoor spaces with inside spaces. We also include more storage space than other production builders, so our customers can park their car in their oversized garage. And the exterior look and feel of our homes was created by the best team in the market, offering customers a custom feel at a production price.
“The team itself at Century Homes is a family, made up of courteous and capable professionals who work with pride to ensure that your home is built with the quality and value that they would want for their own loved ones.” – Ashley Schlageter, VP of sales and marketing
MI Homes
Founded in 1976, publicly traded as MHO, builds in eight states.
Home types: single-family front-load garage.
Single family: 1,758-4,068 square feet.
What makes this builder unique:
“The commitment to our owners with our 15-year warranty and the quality of our construction to support it. We have 40 years experience in building new homes. We test every home to ensure 3.1 Energy Star Efficiency Certification.” – Veronica Maurovich, sales consultant.
