Guide to Choosing a Plan for a Florida Lot

The right plan starts with the lot, not the floor plan. Work through these seven steps before you fall in love with a design, and you'll avoid buying a plan that won't fit, won't pass review or costs far more to build than expected.

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1. Get your lot's buildable area. Start with the lot's width and depth from your survey. Subtract the front, rear and side setbacks from your zoning or HOA rules. What's left is the box your home, lanai and pool must fit inside. Our lot-size search shows plans that may fit.

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2. Check your flood zone. In Lee and Collier County many lots sit in a flood zone with a required floor elevation. A high elevation can mean raising the whole house on a stem wall or putting the living space above a ground-level garage. See our elevated house plans.

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3. Face the lanai the right way. Think about where the afternoon sun hits and where the view is. A lanai that faces the water or the preserve, with shade from the west sun, will get used every day. The plan orientation option can flip a plan to suit your lot.

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4. Read the HOA and deed rules. Many communities set minimum square footage, roof materials, colors and styles, and require architectural review. Some also limit similar-looking homes nearby, which is why some of our plans are reviewed by location before purchase.

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5. Pick a style that fits the neighborhood. The most popular styles in our collection are Modern, British West Indies, Contemporary, Coastal and Mediterranean. Driving the neighborhood is the quickest way to see what fits and what your HOA will approve.

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6. Choose the construction type. Most Southwest Florida homes are built with concrete block (CMU) exterior walls and stucco. Check which exterior wall option your builder prefers before you order.

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7. Budget for more than the plan. A stock plan is the starting point. Expect to pay for a survey, site-specific engineering, energy calculations and permit fees, plus any changes to the plan.