Whether it’s an evening stroll or daily run, stepping out one’s front door onto miles of trails and sidewalks is a must-have for many people searching for their new custom Florida home.
That’s not an observation solely from us at ICI Homes.
A recent study by Homes.com revealed that buyers are prioritizing new-construction homes in walkable communities near services, retail and dining hubs, along with the ease of being able to walk far and wide in their own neighborhood.
It’s a trend that accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many of us used walking and other outdoor activities for recreation and exercise. Half a decade later, walking remains a popular pursuit and is now a factor in today’s residential real estate market, with walkability in new-construction communities appealing to buyers of all ages, thanks to its ease and fitness, and long-term accessibility.
We at ICI Homes can vouch for that. We’ve built new custom Florida homes all over the state for 45 years and walkability is a critical component in the master-planned communities we develop and those in which we’re preferred builders.
Key takeaways
- Buyers are increasingly prioritizing new construction homes in walkable communities that offer easy access to trails, sidewalks, retail, dining, and services.
- Recent Homes.com research confirms that walkability ranks as a top feature for both first time and experienced buyers, alongside affordability and suburban or urban locations.
- Walkable neighborhoods appeal to buyers of all ages because they support daily activity, fitness, convenience, and long term accessibility.
- ICI Homes designs and builds in master planned communities where walkability is a core feature, with sidewalks, paths, bike lanes, and nearby town center amenities.
- From Jacksonville to Orlando and Sarasota area communities, ICI Homes offers multiple walkable and golf cart friendly neighborhoods that align with this growing buyer preference.
Data backs it up
One of the latest confirmations comes from Homes.com’s “New Construction: What Buyers Want Survey” which dropped in mid-September.
A partnership with YouGov, it queried more than 1,000 participants aged 25 years and older with minimum incomes of $50,000 who bought a new-construction home within the past two years or plan to do so during the next two years.
Unsurprisingly, affordability was the top priority for both first-time and experienced buyers. But nearly six in 10 survey participants cited walkable neighborhoods with easy access to retail and activity resources as very or extremely important, while seven in 10 participants cited a preference for urban or suburban communities rather than exurban and rural locations.
Get walking with ICI Homes
We have plenty of options for potential customers prioritizing this trend.
We’re active in five master-planned communities that include on-site access to “town-center” retail, services, dining and activity amenities: EverRange (Jacksonville), Seven Pines (Jacksonville), Wellen Park (Sarasota area), Nocatee (Ponte Vedra) and Laureate Park at Lake Nona (Orlando).
All five communities feature sidewalks, recreational paths and bike lanes. Nocatee — long one of the nation’s top-selling master-planned communities — is the first northeast Florida community to be electric-vehicle-approved (EV). That means golf carts to most of us, along with their constantly evolving spinoffs. And we’re on trend there too.
Three ICI Homes master-planned communities — Middlebourne (St. Johns), Amelia National Golf & Country Club (Fernandina Beach) and Plantation Bay Golf & Country Club (Ormond Beach) — are golf-cart or EV communities, with Amelia National and Plantation Bay offering golf courses as part of their resident amenities.
Other golf-cart or EV master-planned communities where we’re preferred builders are Nocatee, of course, Wellen Park and Silverleaf (St. Augustine).
Ready for your new custom Florida home? Talk to ICI Homes here.