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NEW CONSTRUCTION IN BREVARD

A builder incentive is only valuable when the full deal works.

Explore how to compare new-home packages without getting distracted by a headline credit. Use our worksheet for deposits, rate buydowns and lender incentives, then review the actual financing and timing.

Jesse Griffith, pictured on the left, outdoors with a woman holding a dog
Jesse GriffithA local face for your next conversation.
Compare the builder's offer →Talk with JesseCall Jesse · 321-501-9579Apply for a mortgage ↗
Aerial sunrise view along Cocoa Beach
The new-build decision desk9 practical guidesLocal questions. Clear next steps.
Cocoa Beach, Florida · Photo by Sky GallianLocal scenery, not a property listing. Photo credits
Locally focused on Brevard CountyJesse Griffith · NMLS #2023557Mortgage services: New American Funding
START WITH YOUR QUESTION

Look at the offer from every angle.

01Put offers side by sideCompare credits, points and financing on consistent terms.02Read before you depositBring the right questions to the builder contract.03Budget for the finished homeWork through taxes beyond the vacant-lot assessment.
BUILDER OFFER WORKSHEET

Compare the upfront pieces

Enter promotional credits you believe would be usable under each written offer. This comparison does not calculate financing costs or assume upgrades equal cash.

Illustrative builder-side price plus upgrades less usable credits$417,000
Outside-lender illustration: $426,000

These are simple comparison figures, NOT actual purchase prices or cash-to-close quotes. Rate, discount points, APR, temporary buydowns, lock duration, title fees and credit restrictions could reverse the apparent advantage. Incentives cannot automatically be applied against every expense.

YOUR NEXT STEP

Compare the full written offers

Review the rate, fees, usable credits and closing timeline alongside these upfront figures.

Ask about builder financing →

Scenario numbers stay on this page. They are not included in your inquiry link.

PRACTICAL LOCAL INFORMATION

Compare the whole offer—not one promotional number

A builder may advertise closing-cost credits, design-center upgrades, rate buydowns or a special lender promotion. Those features do not all have the same economic value. A lower sticker price, a permanent reduction in the financing rate, a temporary buydown and a cash credit can affect your initial cash and long-term cost in different ways. Compare offers with consistent loan terms and verified settlement estimates.

01

Builder deposits and completion schedules

Review the purchase agreement before paying a non-refundable builder deposit. Note construction milestones, deadlines for financing, inspection rights, upgrade selections, appraisal rules and what happens if delivery is delayed. A rate lock may expire before the home is ready, and extensions can add costs.

  • Separate lot premiums from base price and upgrades
  • Ask about deposit refund rules if financing or construction changes
  • Confirm rate-lock duration, extension fees and float-down restrictions
02

Builder lender versus outside lender

A builder's preferred lender may offer valuable credits, but the incentives can be tied to specific rate, loan, closing or title conditions. Obtain a comparable written estimate from an outside lender using the same price, loan program, rate-lock window, points and projected closing date. Compare APR and total cost as well as the payment.

  • Request a line-item Loan Estimate where available
  • Compare points, origination fees and lender credits
  • Check whether a temporary buydown ends with a higher required payment
03

Brevard property costs and timing

New-home valuations and payments still depend on tax assessment, insurance, flood exposure and HOA or community development district fees where applicable. Do not assume the builder's model-home tax bill represents the finished home's taxes after sale. Ask about warranties and inspections before closing.

  • Verify HOA or CDD dues and planned increases
  • Use completed-home tax and insurance estimates
  • Budget for landscaping, blinds, appliances and other exclusions
THE SPACE COAST NEW CONSTRUCTION KNOWLEDGE CENTER

Go deeper on the questions that matter.

Choose a practical guide, work through the checklist, and keep the official sources handy for your next conversation.

View all 9 guides →
FREE TAKE-HOME RESOURCE

Leave with a plan you can actually use.

Print a Space Coast New Construction worksheet or save it as a PDF. It includes questions to ask, a checklist to bring to your next conversation, and room for notes. No account or personal financial information required.

Ask about your situation →

SPACE COAST HOMEOWNER RESOURCE

Space Coast New Construction

Compare the whole offer—not one promotional number

Planning worksheet

A builder may advertise closing-cost credits, design-center upgrades, rate buydowns or a special lender promotion. Those features do not all have the same economic value. A lower sticker price, a permanent reduction in the financing rate, a temporary buydown and a cash credit can affect your initial cash and long-term cost in different ways. Compare offers with consistent loan terms and verified settlement estimates.

Before your next appointment

  • Separate lot premiums from base price and upgrades
  • Ask about deposit refund rules if financing or construction changes
  • Confirm rate-lock duration, extension fees and float-down restrictions
  • Request a line-item Loan Estimate where available
  • Compare points, origination fees and lender credits
  • Check whether a temporary buydown ends with a higher required payment
  • Verify HOA or CDD dues and planned increases
  • Use completed-home tax and insurance estimates
  • Budget for landscaping, blinds, appliances and other exclusions

Questions to bring with you

  1. Should I always take the builder's lender?
  2. Is a 2-1 buydown a permanent rate reduction?
  3. When should I discuss the rate lock?

Notes / follow-up

spacecoastnewconstruction.comJesse Griffith · NMLS #2023557 · New American Funding · 321-501-9579

Educational worksheet only. Not a financing quote, preapproval, promise of assistance funds, commitment to lend or legal/tax advice. Program rules, availability and property costs must be independently confirmed. All loans are subject to lender approval. Do not write Social Security numbers, account numbers or other sensitive information on this handout.

FOR BREVARD REALTOR PARTNERS

Give buyers and homeowners a resource worth saving.

Share this guide, provide a take-home checklist, and make your next client conversation easier. Our Realtor toolkit creates ready-to-send links and printable handouts.

Open Realtor toolkit →
SOURCES AND NEXT STEPS

Research beyond this page

CFPB compare loan offers Florida DBPR licensing information Brevard Property Appraiser

Program rules, funding, listing schedules, rates and eligibility can change. Review official agency information and a current lender Loan Estimate. This page does not quote a rate, promise assistance funds or guarantee approval.

COMMON QUESTIONS

What should I know next?

Should I always take the builder's lender?

No. Compare the preferred offer and outside financing on the same terms, including credits, points, fees, APR and the time you expect to keep the loan.

Is a 2-1 buydown a permanent rate reduction?

No. A temporary buydown typically reduces the initial effective payment for a limited period. Qualification and the payment after that period depend on the underlying note rate.

When should I discuss the rate lock?

Early, especially if closing depends on construction completion. Availability and price of extended locks vary.

Jesse Griffith, pictured on the left, outdoors with a woman holding a dog
Jesse GriffithA local face for your next conversation.
WHEN YOU ARE READY

Take the next step with a real person.

Ask a Brevard-based mortgage loan officer to work through your payment, closing costs, timing and options. Sensitive financial documents belong in the lender's secure application, not a general contact form.

Request mortgage guidance →Schedule a conversationStart secure New American Funding application ↗