Building new, with the real numbers.
Lot prices, declared permit values, timelines and builders: the record behind 1,506 custom homes and 644 builders since 2021 in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Boca Raton and Delray Beach.
Four steps, from lot to keys.
Find the lot
$2M
Fort Lauderdale $2M · Boca Raton $2.85M · Delray Beach $2.05M · Pompano Beach $1.2M
Median price paid for a waterfront lot that became a new home. Most are teardowns: a demolition permit comes first.
Pick the builder
644
Fort Lauderdale 340 · Pompano Beach 75 · Boca Raton 166 · Delray Beach 160
Builders with new-home permits since 2021. Compare them on build time and past work, then talk to the few who build what you want where you want it.
Design and permit
7 mo
Fort Lauderdale 8 mo · Boca Raton 5 mo · Delray Beach 6 mo · Pompano Beach 9 mo
Typical time from filing the permit to the first foundation documents. Design before that often takes 4 to 8 months; waterfront lots add dock and seawall permits.
Build
28.2 mo
Fort Lauderdale 33.1 mo · Pompano Beach 37.5 mo · Boca Raton 23.9 mo · Delray Beach 25.9 mo
Median waterfront build, permit to certificate of occupancy. The middle half take 23 to 37 months. How long builds take.
Median declared permit value on a new-home permit: $650K across every city, $1.25M on the water. That’s what builders declare to the city; the real cost usually runs well higher. What it costs to build.
How long it takes, and what it costs, city by city.
How long it takes
Permit to certificate of occupancyA typical new house, priced out
Lot, build and soft costs- On the water
- Inland
Builders who’ve done it where you want to build.
Pick a city, a neighborhood and what matters most. Builders are ranked by the homes they’ve actually permitted and finished, not by who paid for placement, and their pace is read against the typical build in each home’s own city.
Briskel Pointe at Boca Harbour · Delray Manors · Boca Raton Riviera · 3 cities · median declared permit $566K · 2 months faster than typical in their cities
Coral Ridge · Poinsettia Heights · Victoria Park · median declared permit $536K · 6 months faster than typical in Fort Lauderdale
Spanish Village · Boca Raton Riviera · Golden Harbour · median declared permit $1M · 4 months slower than typical in Boca Raton
Osceola Park · Pineapple Road · Asea · 2 cities · median declared permit $758K
Cason Court · Delray Beach · Las Palmas · 2 cities · median declared permit $925K · 3 months slower than typical in their cities
Victoria Park · Poinsettia Heights · Tarpon River · median declared permit $675K
Planning a build? Start with the lot.
A licensed agent who works new construction can help you find the lot, check what the zoning and flood rules allow, shortlist builders who’ve built what you want, and pressure-test the budget before you sign anything.
- Lots on and off the market, including teardowns that haven’t listed
- Water depth, bridges and dockage for the boat you have or want
- Builders’ real timelines and past work, on the record
Looking for a lot?
See what builders pay in each neighborhood, or get a lot report for any address, with the land price a new home there would support.
Rather buy new?
Likely spec homes look built to sell, and most don’t reach the MLS until they’re nearly done. Browse likely spec homes rising now, and ask for early access on any of them.
Talk it through
Lots, builder contracts and timing are easier with someone who does this every week. Tell us what you’re planning and a licensed agent will get back to you.