At a glance
| Main new-build area | Southeast Orlando: Lake Nona, Laureate Park, Storey Park |
|---|---|
| Laureate Park builders | Craft, David Weekley, Dream Finders, ICI, Toll Brothers (Alora), plus custom builders |
| Lowest listed start | Upper $300s, Pulte townhomes at Somerset Lakes |
| 55+ option | Gatherings of Lake Nona by Beazer Homes, condos from the $400,000s |
| CDD law | Florida Statutes chapter 190 |
| Where CDD fees show up | Non-ad valorem section of the Orange County tax bill |
Where are new homes being built in Orlando?
Inside the city, the largest share of active new-home building is in the southeast, in and around Lake Nona, the master-planned community next to Lake Nona Medical City. Laureate Park is one of its main neighborhoods. Storey Park sits nearby and has its own community development district, created in 2015.
Further out, Tavistock's Sunbridge project is moving into Orange County. Sunbridge's own site says Heron Bay Sunbridge, a Taylor Morrison community planned for late 2026, will be the first chance to live in Sunbridge in Orange County. Its earlier neighborhoods, including Weslyn Park, are marketed from an information center in St. Cloud.
Older master-planned communities such as Avalon Park in east Orlando and Eagle Creek near Lake Nona still see some building, but builder line-ups change often. Ask the builder's sales office which phases are still open and whether the lot you like is in the city or in unincorporated Orange County, because that changes your millage and services.
Which builders are active in Lake Nona right now?
The table below comes from the neighborhood pages on lakenona.com, the developer's official site, checked in September 2026. Prices are builder-reported starting points. They exclude lot premiums, options and closing costs, and they change without notice.
| Neighborhood | Builder | Home type | Listed start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laureate Park | Craft Homes | Single-family, townhomes | $500,000s |
| Laureate Park | David Weekley Homes | Single-family | $500,000s |
| Laureate Park | Dream Finders Homes | Single-family | $600,000s |
| Laureate Park | ICI Homes | Single-family | Low $700,000s |
| Alora at Laureate Park | Toll Brothers | Three-story townhomes | High $500s |
| Somerset Lakes | Pulte Homes | 3-bedroom townhomes | Upper $300s |
| Gatherings of Lake Nona (55+) | Beazer Homes | Condominiums | $400,000s |
| Lake Nona Golf and Country Club | Custom | Custom homes | $1,600,000s |
Laureate Park also lists DeVoe Custom Homes, Envy Custom Homes and Barcellona Homes as custom builders, without published starting prices. For context, Zillow's typical home value in August 2026 was $715,622 in Lake Nona South and $517,889 in Northlake Park at Lake Nona, against $371,120 for Orlando as a whole. Read more on the Lake Nona guide and the Laureate Park guide.
If you are shopping for a 55+ community, Gatherings of Lake Nona is age-restricted housing for older persons. Our Orlando 55+ communities guide covers the wider area.
What is a CDD and why does it matter in Orlando?
A community development district is a local special-purpose government created under chapter 190 of the Florida Statutes. The Legislature set it up as a way to plan, finance and maintain community infrastructure such as roads, drainage, utilities and amenities without leaning on the city or county budget. The district pays for those improvements and their upkeep through assessments on the lots inside it.
Three points from the statute matter to buyers:
- It is a government, not an HOA. A five-member board of supervisors runs it. At first, landowners elect the board, one vote per acre, so the developer usually controls it. Once the district is at least six years old and has 250 or more qualified electors, resident-elected seats start replacing landowner seats.
- It levies non-ad valorem assessments. These are charged per unit or per lot, not on your home's value, and they are collected on your county property tax bill.
- You are owed disclosure. Section 190.048 requires that a buyer receive the district's required disclosure documents before closing. Read them, rather than signing a receipt and filing them away.
Storey Park's district, for example, describes itself as a special-purpose government under chapter 190 with a professional district manager. That is typical. Many newer Orlando neighborhoods have both a CDD and an HOA, and they are separate bills for separate things.
How do you find the CDD assessment on an Orange County tax bill?
In Orange County, the Tax Collector mails property tax bills by November 1 each year. The full amount is due by March 31, with a 4% discount if you pay in November, 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February. Non-ad valorem assessments, which is where CDD charges sit, appear on the same bill as your regular taxes.
- Search the parcel. Use the Orange County Tax Collector's property tax search by address or parcel ID. Open the most recent bill.
- Find the non-ad valorem section. Look for a line with the district's name, such as a CDD, next to items like solid waste or streetlighting.
- Check the Property Appraiser's TRIM notice. The Orange County Property Appraiser's notice of proposed taxes lists proposed or adopted non-ad valorem assessments for the coming year.
- Ask the district manager two questions. How much of the assessment repays bonds and how much covers operations? When is the bond portion scheduled to end?
On a brand-new home, the last bill may reflect vacant land, not a finished house. Ask the builder for the expected first-year assessment in writing. Our Orange County property tax guide explains millage and homestead, which apply on top of any CDD charge.
What should you check before signing a builder contract?
- Total monthly cost. Add principal and interest, property tax, the CDD assessment, HOA dues and insurance. Compare that total across communities, not the base price.
- City or county. Confirm the parcel's jurisdiction. It sets your millage, your police and fire provider and your permitting office.
- What is included. Builder base prices usually leave out lot premiums, design-center options and some closing costs.
- An independent inspection. Book inspections before drywall and before closing, even on new construction. Our Florida home inspection checklist covers what to ask for.
- Schools and future phases. Check your assigned schools with the district's address lookup and ask what is planned for nearby land. See our Orlando schools guide.
Resale homes in the same communities can cost less than new builds once options are counted. Compare both on the Orlando housing market page.
Common questions
Where are the most new construction homes in Orlando?+
Inside city limits, most active new-home building is in southeast Orlando around Lake Nona, Laureate Park and Storey Park. Lake Nona's official neighborhood pages listed builders including Craft Homes, David Weekley Homes, Dream Finders Homes, ICI Homes, Toll Brothers, Pulte Homes and Beazer Homes in September 2026. Phases open and sell out quickly, so confirm availability with each builder's sales office.
Do new construction homes in Orlando have CDD fees?+
Many do. A community development district is a special-purpose government under Florida Statutes chapter 190 that finances infrastructure and charges lot owners non-ad valorem assessments on the county tax bill. Not every community has one. Look up the parcel on the Orange County Tax Collector's site and check the non-ad valorem section for a district line before you sign.
Is a CDD the same as an HOA?+
No. A CDD is a local government created under state law, run by an elected board of supervisors, and its assessment is collected on your property tax bill. An HOA is a private association that bills dues directly and enforces community rules. Many new Orlando neighborhoods have both, so budget for each one separately.
When are Orange County property taxes and CDD assessments due?+
The Orange County Tax Collector mails bills by November 1, and the full amount is due by March 31. Paying early earns a discount: 4% in November, 3% in December, 2% in January and 1% in February. CDD assessments collected on the tax bill follow the same schedule because they are part of the same bill.
Sources
- Lake Nona: Neighborhoods
- Lake Nona: Laureate Park
- Lake Nona: Alora at Laureate Park
- Lake Nona: Somerset Lakes
- Lake Nona: Gatherings of Lake Nona
- Sunbridge: Our Homes
- Florida Legislature: Chapter 190, Community Development Districts
- Storey Park CDD: CDD Information
- Orange County Tax Collector: Property Tax
- Orange County Property Appraiser: TRIM FAQ