What's being built in Winter Haven, Florida?
Most new homes in the Winter Haven area are single-family houses and townhomes in builder subdivisions; VillaMar, for example, is in ZIP 33884 on the south side. Across all of Polk County, the Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey counted 6,725 single-family homes permitted in 2025, down about 21% from 8,514 in 2024, plus 1,336 units in buildings with five or more homes. Building has slowed from its peak, but there is still plenty of choice, so ask each builder what incentives it is offering.
Many of these subdivisions sit in unincorporated Polk County even though they carry a Winter Haven mailing address. Only about 47.6% of ZIP 33884's land is inside the city, per the Census Bureau's 2020 ZIP-to-place file. That affects your tax rate, your impact fees and who maintains the roads.
Who are the new home builders in Winter Haven, FL?
Prices below are builders' advertised starting prices as published in September 2026. They change often and may exclude lot premiums and options, so confirm with the sales office.
VillaMar (Highland Homes, D.R. Horton, Maronda Homes, 33884)
A master-planned community with resort-style amenities. Highland Homes advertises single-family homes with three to five bedrooms from the $250s. D.R. Horton and Maronda Homes also build in VillaMar, so you can compare three builders' floor plans and incentives in one place.
Harbor at Lake Henry, single-family (Highland Homes)
Highland Homes lists single-family homes with three to six bedrooms from the $270s. Ask which homesites face the lake and whether any lake access is shared or private.
Harbor at Lake Henry, townhomes (Highland Homes)
Three-bedroom townhomes from the $240s, according to Highland Homes, the lowest published entry price we found for a new home in Winter Haven. Ask what the townhome association covers, such as exterior maintenance and roof replacement.
Ashton Covey (Ryan Homes)
Ryan Homes describes oversized homesites, three-car garages and some lakefront lots. We could not confirm a starting price; ask the sales office for the current price sheet.
Lake Lucerne (KB Home)
KB Home builds single-family homes at Lake Lucerne in Winter Haven. Its site did not return pricing we could verify, so get the current base price and included features in writing.
Southern Homes communities
Southern Homes lists several Winter Haven-area communities of single-family homes. Prices were not published in a form we could verify.
Winter Haven new construction communities compared
| Community | Builder | Home type | ZIP | Advertised from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VillaMar | Highland Homes (also D.R. Horton, Maronda) | Single-family, 3-5 bed | 33884 | $250s (Highland) |
| Harbor at Lake Henry | Highland Homes | Single-family, 3-6 bed | Ask builder | $270s |
| Harbor at Lake Henry | Highland Homes | Townhomes, 3 bed | Ask builder | $240s |
| Ashton Covey | Ryan Homes | Single-family, large lots | Ask builder | Not published |
| Lake Lucerne | KB Home | Single-family | Ask builder | Not verified |
| Various | Southern Homes | Single-family | Ask builder | Not verified |
How to find out about new construction in your area
Builder websites and sales offices
Each builder publishes its active communities and quick move-in homes. Visit two or three, and ask each for a written price sheet with fees and incentives.
Permit and planning records
The Census Bureau's permit survey shows countywide trends. For specific projects, Polk County and the City of Winter Haven post planning and zoning agendas, where new subdivisions appear before building starts.
A local agent
An agent can show you new-build and resale options side by side, and builders often let your own agent represent you if they are registered on your first visit. See how that works on our Winter Haven realtor guide.
What is the best neighborhood to live in Winter Haven, Florida?
There is no single best neighborhood; the right one depends on your budget, how you use the lakes and where you commute. Compare these points instead:
- Price: Zillow's typical values run from $251,610 in 33880 to $295,517 in 33884 (August 2026).
- Water: a home on a navigable lake in the Chain of Lakes is a different product from one on an isolated lake or off the water.
- Tax district: city parcels pay 18.6979 mills (2025), or 19.0232 where the Lake Region Lakes Management District levies; unincorporated parcels pay 12.9291.
- Age of home: new builds mean newer roofs and codes; older areas offer established lots and no CDD.
For the lifestyle side, read is Winter Haven a good place to live.
Impact fees on new Winter Haven homes
Impact fees pay for the roads, schools and services a new home uses. The builder pays them at permit and usually folds them into the price.
Unincorporated Polk County
Under the county ordinance schedule effective January 1, 2025, a single-family detached home paid an educational fee of $14,338, transportation of $3,185 to $4,103 depending on district, parks $1,864, correctional $662, law enforcement $578, fire rescue $377, library $188 and EMS $153. In the highest transportation district that totals about $22,263. Amounts may have changed since, so confirm the current schedule with the county.
Inside Winter Haven
The City of Winter Haven sets its own residential impact fees, which add to or replace some county fees. We could not open the city's 2026 fee guide, so ask the city or the builder for the fees on your lot.
CDD and HOA fees on Winter Haven new builds
Many new Polk subdivisions are financed through a community development district (CDD), which adds an annual assessment to the property tax bill, on top of any HOA fee. We did not find verified CDD amounts for the Winter Haven communities above.
What the builder must disclose
Florida Statutes section 190.048 requires the first sale contract for a home in a CDD to state, in bold type just above your signature, that the district may levy taxes or assessments in addition to county and other local taxes.
What to ask
Ask for the CDD's annual debt and operations assessment on your lot, how many years the bond runs, whether you can pay it off early, and the HOA budget. Our Florida CDD fee guide explains each part.
New build or resale in Winter Haven: the cost difference
At the published starting prices, new homes here are close to the typical resale. Zillow's typical Winter Haven value was $272,484 in August 2026, against new single-family homes from the $250s and townhomes from the $240s.
Monthly payment
At Freddie Mac's 7.03% 30-year rate, a $250,000 home costs about $1,335 a month in principal and interest with 20% down, or about $1,502 with 10% down. A $240,000 townhome with 20% down is about $1,282. The typical resale at $272,484 is about $1,455 with 20% down.
Running costs
A new build may carry a CDD assessment that a resale in an older neighborhood does not, but it should need no roof or major system replacement for years. Get insurance quotes on both. Compare total monthly cost, not price.
Inspections, warranties and flood checks
Hire your own inspector
Book independent inspections before drywall and before closing; builder walk-throughs are not a substitute. Our inspection checklist lists what to check.
Warranties and licenses
Get the builder's warranty terms in writing, and look up the builder's contractor license on the Florida DBPR search.
Flood zone
Lots near lakes can sit in a flood zone. Check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and Polk County's flood lookup before you pick a homesite.
Buying new in Winter Haven with your own agent
The builder's sales staff work for the builder. Your own agent can compare incentives across builders, check the contract's deposit and delay terms and weigh a new home against resales. Builders often require your agent to register on your first visit, so arrange that first. Compare the market east of the city with Davenport new construction, or see Lakeland new construction to the west. Our statewide new construction guide covers the process.
Common questions
How much is a new construction home in Winter Haven, FL?+
Builders' published starting prices in September 2026 began in the $240s for Highland Homes townhomes at Harbor at Lake Henry and the $250s for Highland single-family homes at VillaMar. Harbor at Lake Henry single-family homes started in the $270s. Lot premiums and options add to these prices, so ask for a full price sheet.
Where can I find new construction homes for sale in Winter Haven?+
Start with the builders active in the area: Highland Homes, D.R. Horton and Maronda Homes at VillaMar, Highland at Harbor at Lake Henry, Ryan Homes at Ashton Covey, KB Home at Lake Lucerne and Southern Homes. Their websites list quick move-in homes. A local agent can also show new builds alongside resales.
Do new homes in Winter Haven have CDD fees?+
Some do. Many new Polk County subdivisions use a community development district that adds an annual assessment to the property tax bill. Florida law requires the first sale contract to disclose this in bold type above your signature. Ask the builder for the exact CDD and HOA amounts on your lot before you sign.
Are new construction homes in Winter Haven inside city limits?+
Not always. Only about 47.6% of ZIP 33884's land and 12.1% of 33880's is inside the City of Winter Haven, based on the Census Bureau's 2020 ZIP-to-place file. Check the parcel's taxing district with the Polk County Property Appraiser, because city and county millage differ by about six mills.
Is it cheaper to build or buy a house in Winter Haven?+
At current published prices, a builder home in Winter Haven can cost about the same as a resale: new homes start in the $240s to $270s, while Zillow's typical value was $272,484 in August 2026. The difference usually comes down to CDD fees, lot premiums, and repair and insurance costs on older homes.
Do new homes in Winter Haven pay impact fees?+
Yes. The builder pays impact fees when it pulls the permit and usually includes them in the price. In unincorporated Polk, the January 2025 schedule totalled about $22,263 for a single-family home in the highest transportation district. The City of Winter Haven sets its own fees, so ask for the amounts on your lot.
Sources
- Highland Homes: VillaMar, Winter Haven
- Maronda Homes: VillaMar
- Highland Homes: Harbor at Lake Henry single-family homes
- Highland Homes: Harbor at Lake Henry townhomes
- Ryan Homes: Ashton Covey
- KB Home: Winter Haven communities
- Southern Homes: Winter Haven communities
- U.S. Census Bureau: Building Permits Survey, county annual 2025
- U.S. Census Bureau: Building Permits Survey, county annual 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2020 ZCTA to place relationship file
- Polk County: impact fee ordinance and schedule (September 10, 2024)
- Polk County Tax Collector: 2025 final millage rates
- Florida Legislature: section 190.048, CDD sales disclosure
- Zillow Research: ZHVI, August 2026
- Freddie Mac: Primary Mortgage Market Survey (30-year fixed 7.03%, week of September 24, 2026)
- FEMA: Flood Map Service Center
- Polk County: Am I in a flood zone?
- Florida DBPR: license search