Frequently asked questions
Building a House in Southeast Florida: Your Questions, Answered
Is it cheaper to build or buy? What does it cost to build a house in Florida, what's fixed and what can change, and how do you follow a build from anywhere? Straight answers about construction management at real cost from Jupiter to Melbourne, FL.
Book your free virtual Strategy Session →The model
Building at cost vs. buying from a builder
How construction management works, and why it can cost you less than buying a new home from a traditional builder.
Is it cheaper to build a house or buy one in Florida?+
When you buy a new home from a builder, the price includes the builder's margin on every material and every trade. When you build at real cost with a construction manager, you pay the same materials and labor without that margin. We estimate the difference at around 20–30% versus a builder price, even after our fee, but it's a range, not a promise: the market and your choices set the final number. Whatever happens, a builder pays those same costs and adds its margin on top; with us, you don't.
What is a construction manager, or owner's representative?+
A construction manager works on your side. Instead of selling you a finished house, we plan, hire and supervise every subcontractor for you, and pay each one only after we inspect and approve the work. You own the lot and the home; we run the build at real cost for one fixed fee.
Why a fixed fee instead of a percentage?+
Because a percentage grows when your costs grow. Our fee is fixed, so we're on your side of every cost decision, and finishing on time is in our interest too: the sooner you get the keys, the sooner you can rent, sell or move in.
Do I need to be an owner-builder in Florida?+
No. You keep the advantage of building at real cost without having to manage the permits, the trades or the job site yourself. That's our job.
What kind of homes do you build?+
New single-story homes only, for investors who want to rent, sell or live in them. We don't build two-story or commercial projects, and we don't sell homes or have model homes to visit: every home we finish goes to an investor.
Costs & payments
How much it costs, and how the money moves
The one number that's fixed from day one is our fee. Construction costs are real costs, and you see every one of them.
How much does it cost to build a house in Florida?+
It depends on your lot, your plan, the finishes you choose and the market: material prices like lumber, block and steel can go up or down. In your Strategy Session we give you a first estimate. Once the contract is signed, we give you an approximate budget by trade, based on our General Contractor's experience and the market, plus a 5–10% contingency that stays with you. It's never an exact number: each trade's final cost is set when it's quoted and bought.
What's fixed and what can change?+
Our fee is fixed: you know it from your first Strategy Session and it doesn't change. Construction costs are real costs, so they move with your finishes and with the market. Once a trade is quoted, though, that price is held for at least 30 days while it's funded and built. You see every quote and bill in your investor portal.
How do you get paid?+
One fixed fee, never a percentage of your build, paid in 4 equal milestones of 25%: at contract signing, when the foundation slab is poured, when the roof is sheathed and at keys.
How are subcontractors paid?+
Each trade's quote is shared with you in your investor portal, with no markup. You fund it into our dedicated construction account before the work starts, and we pay the final bill only after we inspect and approve the work. See how the money moves →
Can I pay online?+
Yes, if you prefer. You can pay by bank transfer (ACH) or card from your investor portal, from your verified U.S. bank account or a U.S.-issued card in your name or your company's. These payments may carry processing fees charged by the payment provider, not by Smart Builds.
Can I use a construction loan in Florida?+
Yes. You can use a construction loan or other financing, as long as the funds are ready before each trade starts. If a loan draw is delayed, the work waits for it. A shorter build also means fewer months of construction-loan interest.
Process & timeline
From the first call to the keys
What happens first, how long it takes and what we can and can't promise.
What happens in the free Strategy Session?+
It's a 30-minute Zoom call, or more than one if you need it, to get to know your goal, your capital and where you want to build, and to give you a first look at whether building at cost makes sense for you. It's a first approach with estimates only, and it's where you learn our fixed fee.
When does the real work start?+
When the contract is signed online. From that day our team goes to work on your project: your plans, your budget and your permits. Nothing starts before the contract.
How long does it take to build a house?+
Our target is about 7 months of construction from permit approval to keys, with a buffer already built in for weather, hurricane season, rain, material shortages and trade delays.
How long do permits take?+
It depends on each city or county, not on us, so we never promise permit dates. We prepare and submit the permit package for you and do everything we can to keep approval time as short as possible.
What happens if there are delays?+
The 7-month target already includes a buffer. If something moves the schedule, you see it in your investor portal and hear it from us right away. And since our fee is fixed, a longer build doesn't earn us a dollar more.
Who chooses the subcontractors?+
We do. We select and supervise every subcontractor independently, and a Certified General Contractor runs quality control on each phase before the next one starts. See the full process, step by step →
Lot & house plans
Your lot and your plans
Where your home goes and which plans it's built from.
Can you build on my lot?+
Yes. We build single-story homes on your lot anywhere from Jupiter to Melbourne, FL.
I don't have a lot yet. What are my options?+
We're not realtors, so we don't sell or search for land. Work with your trusted realtor, or we can introduce you to an independent realtor in the area; you hire them directly. Once the contract is signed, we check the lot you're considering from the construction side (setbacks and the site work it needs), so you don't spend a dollar on land that doesn't work for your plan.
Do you sell house plans?+
No. You can bring your own plans, start from an existing single-story design that an independent licensed engineer adapts to your lot, or have a new home designed from scratch. If you don't have an engineer, we can introduce you to an independent licensed engineer in the area. You hire the engineer directly, and plans can be signed and sealed digitally. See single-story house plan options →
Which cities do you build in?+
Seven cities on Florida's Southeast coast: Jupiter, Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Melbourne and Palm Bay.
From anywhere
Building from out of state or abroad
Every step can be done online, so you can invest in Southeast Florida from wherever you live, and visit your build whenever you like. You'll just need a U.S. bank account in your name or your company's: see how the money moves →
Can I build with you if I live out of state or abroad?+
Yes. You sign contracts electronically, the documents the city or county requires from the owner are notarized online, and we submit them for you. During the build you follow everything in your investor portal and on the live cameras on site.
What will I see in my investor portal?+
Every quote and bill, your financial summary, the schedule, progress photos, documents (you can upload yours too), change approvals and messages with our team, on your computer or the mobile app. Go to the investor portal →
Can I watch my home being built?+
Yes. A live camera covers your lot from the foundation onward, and once the drywall is up, a second camera inside focuses on the kitchen.
Will we ever talk face to face?+
If you'd like, we meet with you on Zoom at every key milestone (foundation slab, roof and keys), plus any extra call your build needs. And if you come to Florida, you're welcome to visit your build in person. It's always your choice.
Do you speak Spanish?+
Yes. Our whole team is bilingual, English and Spanish.
Who is on your team?+
A construction manager who is your point of contact, a Certified General Contractor in charge of quality control (Florida license CGC1509510) and a general contractor for field operations. Together, 30+ years of experience. Meet the team →
Still have questions? Ask us on a free call.
Book a free virtual Strategy Session. In a 30-minute video call we'll get to know your goal (rent, sell or live in), your capital and where you want to build, and answer the questions this page didn't. It's a first approach with estimates: the real work on your project starts once the contract is signed.
In your free 30-minute virtual Strategy Session
- Your goal: rent, sell or live in
- Your capital or financing, and where you want to build
- Our fixed fee: the one number that's set from day one
- A first look at estimated build costs vs. a builder price
- 100% virtual: join by Zoom from anywhere