Choosing a home in Wild Blue at Waterside involves more than selecting a builder and floor plan.
The homesite matters too.
Two buyers can choose similar homes but end up with very different outdoor living experiences based on lot width, water views, rear exposure, neighboring properties, home placement, and available space around the residence.
Those differences can also affect the price.
For buyers considering new construction in Wild Blue, understanding homesite pricing before signing a contract can help prevent surprises later.
So, is paying more for a particular homesite worth it?
The answer depends on what the additional cost actually provides and how important those characteristics are to the buyer.
What Is a Lot Premium?
A lot premium is an additional cost associated with a particular homesite because of its location, dimensions, view, or other characteristics.
In Wild Blue, buyers shouldn't assume every builder prices homesites the same way.
Some builders may identify the homesite separately. Others may present pricing that includes the lot within a larger building package.
The terminology can differ as well.
That's why buyers should focus less on whether something is technically called a "lot premium" and more on the total cost of building their preferred home on the specific homesite they're considering.
How Much Can a Wild Blue Homesite Cost?
There isn't one standard Wild Blue homesite price.
Current builder-published information illustrates the difference.
AR Homes has published Lot 93 at $399,000 and describes the property as being on the first small lake in Wild Blue.
John Cannon Homes currently states that its Wild Blue lots are priced in the mid-$800,000s and are approximately one-third of an acre or larger.
Those numbers shouldn't be viewed as direct comparisons.
The builders may be offering different lot dimensions, locations, building programs, home designs, and pricing structures.
A buyer comparing Wild Blue homesites should evaluate the individual property rather than assuming one builder's lots are simply more or less expensive.
It's important to understand that this is the homesite price, not the total cost of a completed home. Once the cost of construction and other selections is included, Wild Blue home-and-lot packages start at approximately $1.7 million or more.
What Can Affect the Price of a Wild Blue Homesite?
There are several characteristics buyers should examine when comparing lots.
Water Views
Water is likely to be high on the list for many Wild Blue buyers.
But the words "water view" don't tell the entire story.
One homesite may provide a broad outlook across the water, while another may offer a different angle or relationship with neighboring properties.
Buyers should consider where the home will actually sit on the property and what will be visible from the main living area, lanai, and pool.
The specific view matters more than the label attached to the lot.
Homesite Width
Lot width can have a direct relationship with the homes buyers are able to build.
STOCK Luxury Homes currently organizes its Wild Blue floor plans into different homesite widths.
Its current collections include plans intended for:
- 64-foot homesites
- 78-foot homesites
- 90-foot homesites
- 100-foot homesites
Larger homes generally require wider lots.
That means paying more for a larger homesite may not simply be about getting additional land. The lot may be necessary for a particular floor plan or garage configuration.
Buyers who already have a preferred home design should determine its homesite requirements early in the process.
Rear Exposure Matters in Florida
Another consideration is the direction the back of the home faces.
Lake View
Preserve View
Rear exposure can affect how sunlight reaches the lanai, pool, and outdoor living area throughout the day.
A buyer who expects to spend mornings outside may have different preferences from someone who plans to use the pool primarily in the afternoon.
Sunset views may matter to one buyer while another may prioritize shade during certain parts of the day.
There isn't one rear exposure that's automatically preferable.
The better question is how the home's orientation fits the buyer's daily routine.
How Much Privacy Does the Homesite Offer?
Privacy deserves a closer look, especially in a community where neighboring homes may still be under construction.
An empty lot next door can make a homesite feel more private than it eventually will be.
Buyers should review the site plan and consider:
- Neighboring homesites
- Planned home positions
- Nearby streets
- Future construction
- Pool and lanai locations
- Distance between residences
Understanding what can eventually be built nearby gives buyers a more realistic picture of the homesite.
Lot Depth and Shape Can Be Just as Important as Width
A larger lot doesn't necessarily mean more usable outdoor space.
The shape and depth of the homesite can affect how the house, pool, lanai, landscaping, and remaining yard fit together.
Buyers planning a substantial outdoor living area should ask the builder to show how their preferred home and pool configuration would sit on the actual property.
That can be far more useful than simply comparing lot dimensions on paper.
The Floor Plan Can Determine the Homesite
Sometimes a more expensive homesite is necessary because of the home a buyer wants to build.
STOCK's current Wild Blue offerings demonstrate this relationship clearly.
Its floor plans are organized around homesite widths ranging from 64 feet to 100 feet.
Buyers interested in one of the larger home designs may therefore need a wider lot.
In this situation, the additional homesite cost isn't necessarily being paid solely for a view or additional yard space.
It's also providing enough room for the desired residence.
Is a Lake Homesite Worth Paying More For?
It can be, but the decision should be based on the actual property rather than the word "lake."
Buyers should compare the view from each homesite.
Questions worth asking include:
- How broad is the water view?
- Where will neighboring homes be located?
- How will the home sit in relation to the water?
- What will be visible from the lanai?
- Which direction will the outdoor living area face?
- How much space will remain between the house and water?
- Does the homesite provide the setting the buyer actually wants?
A buyer may decide that one particular water view is worth paying more for while another isn't.
Seeing the homesite in person can make that decision considerably easier.
Is a Wider Homesite Worth the Additional Cost?
That depends on why the additional width is needed.
If a wider lot allows the buyer to build the floor plan or garage configuration they want, it may be an important part of the purchase.
But buyers shouldn't assume that bigger automatically means better.
Someone who prefers a smaller home may decide that additional money would be better allocated toward a pool, outdoor kitchen, interior selections, or another feature they'll use regularly.
The home and homesite should be considered together.
Could a Smaller Home on a Preferred Homesite Make More Sense?
For some buyers, yes.
Consider two choices:
A larger home on an interior homesite, or a somewhat smaller home on a property with the water view and rear exposure the buyer prefers.
There isn't a universal answer.
Someone who spends significant time outdoors may place more value on the homesite.
Another buyer may prioritize additional bedrooms, a larger office, bonus room, or garage space.
This is why square footage alone isn't a particularly useful way to compare Wild Blue opportunities.
How Does the Homesite Affect the Total Building Budget?
This is where buyers need to look carefully at builder pricing.
An advertised floor-plan price doesn't necessarily represent the final cost of building that home on a specific Wild Blue lot.
Depending on the builder and contract, the overall budget can include the:
- Home or base package
- Homesite
- Lot premium, if applicable
- Structural selections
- Pool and spa
- Lanai and outdoor living features
- Interior selections
- Landscaping
- Other builder-specific costs
Builder pricing structures aren't necessarily identical.
For example, AR Homes currently states that its Wild Blue pricing starts at approximately $2 million including the lot and outdoor living packages.
John Cannon Homes currently publishes Wild Blue homesite pricing in the mid-$800,000s while separately stating that home pricing starts in the $2 millions.
Those numbers shouldn't be compared without determining exactly what each builder includes.
Is a $399,000 Homesite Better Than an $800,000 Homesite?
Price alone can't answer that question.
AR Homes has published a Wild Blue homesite at 399,000,whileJohnCannoncurrentlyidentifiesitsWildBluelotsasbeingpricedinthemid-800,000s.
That doesn't mean one is automatically a better purchase.
The homesites may differ in size, location, water position, available home designs, builder requirements, and other characteristics.
Buyers should compare similar properties whenever possible and request a clear explanation of what is included with each opportunity.
Does Paying More for a Homesite Guarantee a Higher Resale Price?
No future resale result can be guaranteed.
A particular homesite may have characteristics that future buyers appreciate, but resale value will depend on more than the lot.
Future market conditions, the home itself, condition, age, competing inventory, buyer preferences, and other factors can affect the eventual sale.
For that reason, buyers should be cautious about justifying a large homesite premium solely on an assumption about future appreciation.
A more practical question is whether the characteristics of the lot are worth the additional cost based on how the buyer expects to use and enjoy the property.
What Should Buyers Check Before Reserving a Wild Blue Homesite?
Before committing to a lot, buyers should get clear answers to several questions:
- What is the homesite price?
- Is there an additional lot premium?
- What characteristics account for the difference in price?
- Which floor plans can be built on the property?
- Which direction will the rear of the home face?
- What is planned behind the property?
- What can eventually be built on neighboring lots?
- Where could neighboring pools and lanais be positioned?
- How much outdoor space remains after the home is built?
- Are there easements or other property considerations?
- Will the preferred pool and outdoor living area fit?
- What will the view look like from the position of the finished home?
- Are there current builder incentives associated with the lot?
- What is the estimated finished cost of the preferred home on that specific homesite?
That final question is particularly important.
The home price and lot price shouldn't be evaluated separately if the goal is understanding the buyer's actual budget.
Should Buyers Visit the Homesite More Than Once?
When possible, yes.
A homesite can feel different depending on the time of day.
Buyers can pay attention to the position of the sun, nearby roads, surrounding construction, neighboring properties, and how the water or open space appears from the lot.
Relocation buyers who can't easily return several times can ask their real estate professional to provide additional photos or video from the property at different times.
This can provide more context than a site plan alone.
Don't Choose a Wild Blue Homesite From a Map Alone
A site plan is useful for understanding dimensions, streets, neighboring lots, and the general position of the property.
It doesn't completely show what the finished setting will feel like.
Whenever possible, buyers should stand on the homesite and consider where the future home, lanai, pool, and neighboring residences will be positioned.
Then the site plan becomes much more meaningful.
So, Is a Wild Blue Lot Premium Worth Paying?
Sometimes.
The important question is what the additional money actually buys.
For one buyer, that may be a preferred water view.
For another, it may be a wider homesite that accommodates a larger floor plan.
Someone else may care more about rear exposure, outdoor living space, or the relationship with neighboring properties.
Paying more simply because a homesite is presented as a premium option isn't enough reason on its own.
Buyers should understand the property, compare alternatives, and determine whether the characteristics they're paying for matter to the way they plan to live.
Homesite availability, builder pricing, lot premiums, incentives, floor plans, and building requirements can change. Buyers should verify current property-specific information and contract terms before making a purchase decision.
Want a Closer Look at Wild Blue at Waterside?
Watch my Wild Blue at Waterside Community Guide for a closer look at the community, its amenities, builders, model homes, and what you should know before deciding if Wild Blue is right for you.
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