Is New Construction Really Cheaper Than Resale in Orlando? County Prices Compared (2026)
Quick answer
Not always. Nationally, the median new home sold for $413,500 in August 2025. Around Orlando, most new construction is in Osceola and Polk counties, where the average resale price in August 2025 was about $468,000 and $346,000, compared with about $660,000 in Orange County. Location, not new versus resale, explains most of the gap.
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| U.S. median sales price of new houses sold, August 2025 | $413,500 |
| U.S. average sales price of new houses sold, August 2025 | $534,100 |
| U.S. new houses for sale, end of August 2025 (seasonally adjusted) | 490,000 |
| Orange County average sale price, August 2025 | About $660,000 |
| Osceola County average sale price, August 2025 | About $468,000 |
| Polk County average sale price, August 2025 | About $346,000 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau and HUD, Monthly New Residential Sales, August 2025 (Sept 24, 2025); county average sale prices as presented in Jared Jones’ Oct 15, 2025 video (MLS data).
Why did sellers pull back in late 2025?
2025 started with a surge of new listings in Florida. By the second half of the year, far fewer sellers were listing than a year earlier, and many who did not need to sell chose to wait. In the video, Jared shows Orlando’s year-over-year growth in active listings falling to about 2%, the lowest in roughly four years.
Is new construction cheaper than resale?
National headlines often compare the median new home price with the median existing home price and conclude new construction is cheaper. Around Orlando, that comparison mixes very different locations.
Orange County, the core of the metro, has little open land left for large new communities. Most new construction is in Osceola and Polk counties and other outlying areas, where land costs less and resale prices are also lower. The gap you see is mostly location.
How do Orange, Osceola and Polk counties compare?
In the August 2025 MLS data shown in the video, the average sale price was about $660,000 in Orange County, about $468,000 in Osceola County and about $346,000 in Polk County. Orange County prices were largely flat compared with 2023, not falling sharply.
What are the tradeoffs of buying new farther out?
A new home in an outlying area can come with builder incentives, modern systems and lower prices. Weigh that against commute time, tolls, CDD fees and how much builder competition you may face when you resell. Our new construction guide covers inspections and Florida’s defect-claim rules.
Could lower rates bring buyers and sellers back?
Jared expects that if 30-year rates move meaningfully lower in 2026, more owners holding low-rate mortgages will be willing to move, bringing both listings and buyers back. Rates often move when the Federal Reserve signals a change, before the change takes effect.
Have questions about buying or selling here? Call or text 407-706-5000 or visit jaredjones.com.
Jared Jones Team, Brokered by eXp Realty.
Frequently asked questions
Is new construction cheaper than resale in Orlando?
Not on a like-for-like basis in many cases. Most new construction around Orlando is in Osceola and Polk counties, where resale prices are also lower. Compare a new home with resale homes in the same area, not with the metro average.
What was the median new home price in August 2025?
The U.S. Census Bureau reported a median sales price of $413,500 and an average of $534,100 for new houses sold nationally in August 2025.
Where is most new construction around Orlando?
Much of it is in Osceola County, including St. Cloud, Kissimmee and Poinciana areas, and in northern Polk County around Davenport, along with outlying parts of Lake County. Orange County has relatively little open land left.
Why are Orlando sellers pulling their listings?
Many owners have low mortgage rates and no need to sell, so when buyer demand cools they wait. In late 2025, that slowed the growth in active listings in Orlando to about 2% over the prior year, as shown in Jared’s video.
What should I compare before buying new construction?
Compare total monthly cost including HOA dues and CDD fees, commute and tolls, builder incentives against an outside lender quote, and resale prices of similar homes nearby.