Big news if you’re seeking a new custom Florida home! The question of whether to buy new residential construction or a resale is a significant one for many ICI Homes customers, with price and value usually among the most important considerations.
That’s a notable observation because the sales price of new-construction homes usually trends higher than that of resale homes, for several practical reasons. There’s never been a better time to buy a new custom Florida home.
Key takeaways
- As of mid-2025, new-construction homes are now often more affordable than resale homes, reversing a 25-year trend
- Median price of new homes in June 2025 was $28,000 less than resales, with cost-per-square-foot also lower
- New homes come with modern materials, energy-efficient systems, and updated layouts, giving buyers more value and less maintenance
- Builders are offering incentives like interest rate buydowns and closing cost assistance, increasing affordability
- ICI Homes offers custom single-family homes and townhomes across Florida, making it a smart time to build new instead of buying used
Here’s why new homes are trending as better buys than resales.
What statistics say
According to Realtor.com®’s quarterly New-Construction Insights Report for the second quarter of 2025: “New-construction homes are generally larger than existing homes, so on a per-square-foot basis, new construction has a significant affordability edge on existing homes, at $218.66 per square foot compared with $226.56.”
The website also reported the $407,200 median sales price of new homes in June was approximately $28,000 less than the median price for resale homes. That’s a 6.5 percent discount. Realtor.com® also called this price flip between new-construction homes and resale homes the biggest such occurrence in 25 years.
In July, the difference between surprisingly less-expensive, new-construction homes and surprisingly more-expensive, resale homes shrank to approximately $19,000, or 4 percent.
The website noted that July was the fourth consecutive month of lower median sales prices for new-construction homes, and the longest such stretch on record.
Reasons why
New-construction homes are built with the latest materials, techniques, appliances and mechanical systems. The cost of those, plus labor and land, is nearly always higher because you’re buying the latest of everything rather than an older version.
To borrow an automotive metaphor, a used car is less expensive than a new car because it’s been “used.” So are homes. A new home with the latest components and designs awaits its first occupants while a resale home has some mileage on it no matter how young or lightly occupied.
Builder incentives also have played a role, dropping new-construction “sticker” prices even lower with limited-time savings such as discounts for design costs, interest-rate buydowns, and paying a portion of closing costs.
Many builders, including ICI Homes, also now offer townhomes and smaller, versatile single-family homes to offset affordability issues and the United States’ long-term housing shortage.
Realtor.com®’s New-Construction Insights Report for the second quarter of 2025 also noted home-sale listings as plentiful in the South, especially for new construction, and that this strong supply has contributed to lower prices for new homes.
Ready for your new custom Florida home? Talk to ICI Homes here.