Where new homes are going up around Sarasota
Land inside the City of Sarasota is largely built out, so most new neighborhoods are in unincorporated Sarasota County east of I-75, along Fruitville Road, Lorraine Road and Clark Road. ZIPs 34240 and 34241 cover much of this area. They had Zillow typical values of $744,115 and $583,450 in August 2026, blending new and older homes. Our Sarasota ZIP codes page has the rest.
Active communities and builders to compare
Windward, Lakewood Ranch
Neal Communities' Windward has its model center at 2618 Paradise Plum Drive, Sarasota, 34240. The builder offers villas and single-family homes in four series from 1,433 to 4,443 square feet, priced from $340,990 to $1,056,990 when we checked in September 2026. Amenities listed include a pool, fitness center, tennis and pickleball, dog parks and trails. Neal lists Tatum Ridge Elementary, McIntosh Middle and Booker High as the assigned schools; confirm with Sarasota County Schools. The Windward at Lakewood Ranch CDD was created by Sarasota County Ordinance 19-050 in December 2019 and covers about 417 acres. Its website says it had not issued bonds and was being funded by the developer.
Waterside, Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch lists five Waterside villages: Bungalow Walk, Emerald Landing, Kingfisher Estates, Shellstone and Wild Blue, alongside Windward and the Waterside Place town center. In Bungalow Walk, Dream Finders Homes listed single-family homes in the $400s to $700s with a $190 monthly fee that includes maintenance. Parcels here can carry a Lakewood Ranch stewardship district levy, which appears on the Sarasota County tax roll.
Skye Ranch
Taylor Morrison builds at Skye Ranch, east of I-75 in southeast Sarasota County. Its Esplanade neighborhood has its own clubhouse for Esplanade residents, and the shared amenity center, The Hub, is at 8208 Summer Night Road, Sarasota, 34241. Taylor Morrison describes Skye Ranch as an all-ages community. Skye Ranch School, a Sarasota County public K-8 school, opened in August 2025.
Coming later: Hi Hat Ranch
Hi Hat Ranch covers about 10,000 acres east of I-75 between Clark and Fruitville roads and is planned for more than 13,000 homes in phases. A first-village application has been in county review since 2023, and in February 2025 the County Commission halted work on a proposed road agreement with the developer. Treat timelines here as uncertain until you see approvals.
Further south: Wellen Park
If you are open to the Venice and North Port area, Wellen Park is a master-planned community of about 9,600 acres, mostly inside North Port, served by the West Villages Improvement District. It is a separate market from Sarasota proper, with its own tax and district charges.
New construction communities compared
The table summarizes the communities above from builder and district sources. Prices change often and exclude lot premiums and options, so ask each sales office for a written price sheet.
| Community | Builder | Location | Homes | Prices (Sept 2026) | District to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windward | Neal Communities | Lakewood Ranch, 34240 | Villas and single-family, 1,433 to 4,443 sq ft | $340,990 to $1,056,990 | Windward at Lakewood Ranch CDD (no bonds issued, per its site) |
| Waterside: Bungalow Walk | Dream Finders Homes | Lakewood Ranch | Single-family | $400s to $700s, $190 monthly fee | Lakewood Ranch stewardship district levy may apply |
| Skye Ranch (incl. Esplanade) | Taylor Morrison | Southeast Sarasota County, 34241 | All-ages; Esplanade has its own clubhouse | Ask the builder | Check the tax bill |
| Del Webb Catalina | Del Webb | Lakewood Ranch, 34211 | Gated 55+, 1,405 to 3,970 sq ft | From $358,990 | Check county and district |
| Hi Hat Ranch | Various (planned) | East of I-75, Clark to Fruitville roads | More than 13,000 homes planned | Not yet selling | In county review |
| Wellen Park | Various | Mostly North Port | Master-planned, about 9,600 acres | Varies | West Villages Improvement District |
CDD and HOA fees: the costs many buyers miss
A community development district is a special government that finances roads, drainage, water and sewer lines and sometimes amenities, then repays that cost through a yearly assessment on each lot. The assessment is billed on your property tax bill, so it does not show up in the HOA fee a sales office quotes.
The 2025 Sarasota County tax roll lists more than a dozen CDDs and similar districts, including Windward of Lakewood Ranch, LT Ranch, Central Parc, Lakes of Sarasota, Toscana Isles, Stoneybrook, Sarasota National, Laurel Road, Gracewater and Rustic Oaks. For any new home, check these four things.
Debt service assessment
Ask for the debt assessment on the specific lot, how many years remain and whether it can be paid off early.
Operations and maintenance assessment
This part continues after the debt is repaid, so budget for it for as long as you own the home.
HOA or master association fee
Ask what it covers, such as lawn care, amenities or gate staffing, and whether a master association bills separately.
Future bonds
Ask whether the district has issued bonds yet. If it has not, future bonds could add a debt assessment later.
Add those to property tax. The 2025 countywide rate for most of Sarasota County was 11.4737 mills before any special district. Our Sarasota County property tax guide explains the rest of the bill.
New construction vs resale: comparing the cost
A new home often costs more up front than a similar resale, but some costs are lower in the first years. Compare the full monthly figure, not just the price.
Insurance
A new roof, impact glass and current building codes usually help homeowners premiums, and Del Webb, for example, lists impact glass as included at Catalina. Get quotes on both homes you are comparing.
Fees and assessments
New communities more often carry a CDD debt assessment on top of the HOA fee, while many older neighborhoods have neither. Put both on a monthly basis.
Maintenance and upgrades
A new home should need little maintenance at first, but upgrades, window treatments and landscaping can add thousands. An older home may need a roof or HVAC sooner. Price both.
Inspections, warranties and your legal timeline
New does not mean defect-free. Book an independent inspection before drywall and another before closing, and read the builder's written warranty for what it covers and for how long.
Florida's construction defect notice
Under chapter 558 of the Florida Statutes, before you can sue over a construction defect you must serve a written notice of claim at least 60 days before filing, or 120 days for an association representing more than 20 parcels. The notice lets the builder inspect and offer to repair.
The 7-year limit
Florida law requires an action based on the design, planning or construction of an improvement to real property to be brought within 7 years, generally counted from the certificate of occupancy or completion. Keep your inspection reports and warranty claims organized from day one.
Buying new with a local agent
Use your own agent
The sales office works for the builder. A buyer's agent can compare incentives and resale values across communities.
Read the deposit terms
Check when deposits become non-refundable and whether they are held in escrow.
Get independent inspections
Book one before drywall and one before closing, even on a new home.
Compare incentives as cash
A rate buydown and a price cut affect your payment differently. Ask the lender to show both.
Check flood and drainage
Ask for the lot's elevation and the finished floor height, and look the lot up on the FEMA flood map.
Check resale competition
In a community still selling new homes, your future resale competes with the builder.
Looking for a 55+ new build?
Age-restricted options in the Lakewood Ranch area include Del Webb Catalina and Kolter's Cresswind Lakewood Ranch, both with Lakewood Ranch 34211 addresses. Lakewood Ranch spans Manatee and Sarasota counties, so confirm the county on the parcel record. Our Sarasota 55+ communities page compares them, and our gated communities page covers controlled-access options.
Common questions
Where are new construction homes in Sarasota?+
Most are in unincorporated Sarasota County east of I-75, around Fruitville, Lorraine and Clark roads. Active communities include Windward and the Waterside villages of Lakewood Ranch and Taylor Morrison's Skye Ranch. Larger future projects, such as Hi Hat Ranch, are still in the approval process.
What is a CDD fee in Sarasota?+
A CDD fee is a yearly assessment from a community development district, a special district that pays for infrastructure in a new community. It appears on your property tax bill, separate from the HOA fee. Ask for the debt and maintenance amounts on the specific lot and how many years of debt remain.
How much do new homes cost in Sarasota?+
Prices vary widely by builder and home size. In September 2026, Neal Communities listed Windward homes from $340,990 to $1,056,990, and Dream Finders listed Waterside Bungalow Walk homes in the $400s to $700s. Add CDD and HOA fees, insurance and property tax to compare the true monthly cost.
Do I need a real estate agent to buy new construction?+
You do not have to use one, but the builder's sales team represents the builder. Your own agent can compare communities, review the contract and incentives, and help with inspections. Check how your agent will be paid before you visit the model, because some builders require the agent to register you on the first visit.
Do new construction homes in Sarasota come with a warranty?+
Builders usually provide a written warranty, but coverage and length vary, so read the document before you sign. Florida law also gives you a legal route: chapter 558 requires a written notice of claim before a defect lawsuit, and actions over construction generally must be brought within 7 years. Get independent inspections before drywall and before closing.
Is it cheaper to buy new or resale in Sarasota?+
It depends on the full monthly cost. New homes often have lower insurance and maintenance at first, but they can carry CDD debt assessments and upgrade costs. Resale homes may cost less up front but need a roof or systems sooner. Put the mortgage, HOA, CDD, insurance and property tax for each home on the same monthly basis.
Sources
- Neal Communities: Windward
- Windward at Lakewood Ranch CDD
- Lakewood Ranch: New home villages
- Lakewood Ranch: Waterside
- Taylor Morrison: Skye Ranch amenities brochure (July 2023)
- Your Observer: Construction projects are on the move in Sarasota's schools (July 2025)
- WUSF: Sarasota County halts massive Hi Hat Ranch land development deal (February 2025)
- Wikipedia: Hi Hat Ranch, Florida
- Wikipedia: Wellen Park, Florida
- Sarasota County Tax Collector: 2025 ad valorem taxes and non-ad valorem assessments
- Sarasota County: Notice of public hearing on LT Ranch South CDD
- Zillow Research: Home Value Index and market data (August 2026)
- Del Webb: Del Webb Catalina
- Kolter Homes: Cresswind Lakewood Ranch
- Wikipedia: Lakewood Ranch, Florida
- Florida Statutes: section 558.004, notice and opportunity to repair
- Florida Statutes: section 95.11, limitations other than for the recovery of real property
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Antonio Roberts
Antonio Roberts has spent five years helping more than 500 Florida buyers and sellers choose the right real estate agent. He is not a real estate agent himself: he researches what matters in a Florida move and connects people with licensed local agents, free of charge.
Reviewed by a licensed Florida real estate agent. Before publication, this guide was checked for accuracy by a licensed Florida real estate agent on our team. It is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
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