A to-be-built home in Central Florida follows the same skeleton whether you buy in Sunbridge, EverBe, or Horizon West: permits, foundation, framing, rough-ins, drywall, finishes, and a final inspection. The total elapsed time from contract to closing is usually several months for a production home, longer for custom. What buyers most often underestimate is not any single phase, but the cumulative effect of permit runs and finish work, so plan your lease and your moving date with room to spare.
Phase one: contract, deposits, and permits
After you sign, the builder orders the permit and starts engineering review. County permitting timelines vary, and a busy season can stretch this first step. Your deposit is typically held in escrow, and this is also when your loan enters formal processing.
Phase two: foundation and slab
Clearing, grading, underground utilities, and the concrete foundation come next, including inspections of the plumbing and the rebar before the pour. Florida builds sit on slabs or elevated structures, so drainage and block placement matter more than in many other states.
Phase three: framing and rough-ins
Framing goes up fast and looks exciting, but the rough-in phase that follows, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC running through the walls, is where quality lives. This is the moment for a pre-drywall inspection, because once the drywall is up, most of the structure disappears behind it.
Phase four: drywall, finishes, and the design center
Drywall, paint, cabinets, counters, tile, and trim make the house feel real. This phase is also where schedule compression happens: late design center selections can delay your home, while early selections protect your place in line. Have all finishes decided before construction starts if you can.
Phase five: final inspections, walk, and closing
Before closing, the builder runs its own quality inspections, the county issues the certificate of occupancy, and your inspector and you do final walks. Expect to hand over a punch list of small items: paint touch-ups, cabinet adjustments, and the like. Any surprises found at the final walk belong in writing, with a completion date attached.
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Written by Tyler Gibson
Florida-licensed Realtor, team leader, and investor with 150+ transactions. Have a new-construction question this guide did not answer?