Trying to decide between a brand-new home and an older one in Pace? You are not alone. With new communities expanding and resale homes offering more variety, the choice can feel less like a simple price comparison and more like a lifestyle decision. This guide will help you compare what buyers are actually seeing in Pace right now so you can make a more confident move. Let’s dive in.
Pace housing options at a glance
Pace is a growing community in Santa Rosa County with a strong owner-occupant base. The U.S. Census Bureau reports 24,684 residents, 9,328 households, and an 83.0% owner-occupied housing rate. That helps explain why both new construction and resale homes continue to draw attention from buyers who want a primary residence in the area.
Current pricing shows overlap between the two categories. Recent market snapshots place Pace in the low-to-mid $300,000s, with Redfin reporting a March 2026 median sale price of $340,000 and Zillow showing a typical home value of $325,306 as of April 30, 2026. Since those figures come from different sources and dates, it is best to treat them as a range, not a single exact number.
New construction in Pace
New construction in Pace is concentrated in a few active communities and builder-driven developments. Current examples include Lennar’s Eagle’s Ridge - Watermill Collection, Stonechase, Holiday Builders’ Floridatown community, and Mahogany at Jubilee. These communities give you a clearer sense of what a new home in Pace often looks like today.
At Eagle’s Ridge - Watermill Collection, homes range from $294,000 to $319,000 with 3 to 4 bedrooms and floor plans starting at 1,474 square feet. Stonechase lists new single-family homes from $276,990 to $399,990 with floor plans from 1,744 to 2,294 square feet. Mahogany at Jubilee reaches from the low $300,000s into the mid-to-high $400,000s, with 20 floor plans ranging from 1,246 to 2,614 square feet.
What stands out about new homes
Many new homes in Pace are designed around modern, standardized layouts. Builders highlight open floor plans, newer finishes, and features like quartz countertops. Eagle’s Ridge also promotes ENERGY STAR certified homes and ENERGY STAR-qualified windows.
New homes may also appeal to you if you want fewer immediate repair projects after closing. Holiday Builders says its homes include a one-year transferable warranty and a 10-year structural warranty. That does not mean zero maintenance, but it can reduce the chance of dealing with older systems right away.
Community amenities and planning
Another reason buyers lean toward new construction is the neighborhood setup. Master-planned communities like Jubilee often promote shared amenities and a more structured neighborhood design. Holiday Builders says its first phase includes 83 homes on 260 acres with planned features such as a dog park and pickleball courts.
If you like the idea of newer streetscapes, organized community design, and amenity packages, this style of neighborhood may feel like a better fit. In many cases, you are choosing not just the house, but the full community plan around it.
Resale homes in Pace
Resale homes in Pace tend to offer more variation. You may find differences in age, lot size, updates, and overall neighborhood feel from one listing to the next. That can make the search more interesting, but it also means you need to compare homes carefully.
One current Pace example is 4805 Pembrook Place, built in 2004, with 2,052 square feet on a 0.5-acre lot. The listing describes it as a fixer-upper sold as-is, which shows how resale homes can sometimes offer a lower entry point or room for improvement. Other resale examples in Pace highlight large lots, mature trees, and features like a brand-new roof with a transferable warranty.
What stands out about resale homes
Resale homes often appeal to buyers who want a more established setting from day one. Some current Pace listings describe tree-lined entrances, grassy community areas, private loop streets, and neighborhoods with mature landscaping. That kind of neighborhood character is often hard to replicate in newer developments.
You may also find more flexible lot patterns and larger parcels in resale inventory. While that is not true of every home, current examples suggest resale can offer more variety if yard size, spacing, or neighborhood maturity matters to you.
The tradeoff with older homes
The biggest tradeoff is condition. Resale homes can vary widely in roof age, exterior wear, prior renovations, and overall upkeep. Some homes may be move-in ready, while others may need repairs or updates shortly after purchase.
That is why inspections and due diligence matter so much when you are shopping resale in Pace. A home with more land or more character may still be the right choice, but you want a clear picture of what ownership could look like after closing.
Key differences buyers weigh in Pace
When you compare new construction vs resale homes in Pace, a few local factors tend to come up again and again.
Layout and design
New construction usually leans toward open layouts and builder-selected finishes. You may have limited floor plan options, but the overall design often feels current and cohesive. That can be helpful if you want a home that feels move-in ready without a renovation plan.
Resale homes tend to offer more architectural variety. You may find different room layouts, larger footprints, or homes built in different periods. If you want something less standardized, resale may give you more options.
Lot size and neighborhood feel
In Pace, new communities often follow planned street layouts, HOA structures, and shared amenity designs. Resale neighborhoods more often show mature trees, established landscaping, and more individualized lot patterns. That visible difference can shape how a neighborhood feels when you drive through it.
If you picture a home in a more settled environment, resale may stand out. If you prefer a newer development with a more uniform design and community features, new construction may make more sense.
Timeline and transaction details
If your move-in timing is tight, some new communities in Pace do offer immediate or near-term inventory. That can work well if you want a newer home without waiting through a full build cycle. Still, a build-from-plan purchase may involve county permitting and plan review.
Santa Rosa County requires building permits for new construction and notes that development growth is increasing plan-review times. The county also requires septic documentation when sewer is unavailable. That means timing and property utility details should be part of your early questions, especially if you are comparing a to-be-built home with a resale option.
Sewer vs septic matters in Pace
This is one local detail buyers should not overlook. Santa Rosa County’s 2023 Utility Operational Status Report says only 53% of Pace Water System single-family homes were connected to centralized sewer, and it estimates that about half of the county’s single-family homes use septic tanks. In simple terms, septic is common enough here that you should ask about it early.
Whether a home is sewer-connected or septic-served can affect due diligence and long-term maintenance expectations. This applies to both new and resale homes, so it is worth confirming before you get too far into the process.
Budget and ownership costs
Because pricing overlaps in Pace, the decision is often about value priorities, not just sticker price. New communities currently range from the mid-$200,000s to the mid-to-high $400,000s. Resale market snapshots are centered in the low-to-mid $300,000s.
That puts many buyers in a real comparison zone. You may be weighing a newer home with a warranty and newer systems against an older home with more land, more character, or a different price point. The best fit depends on what matters most to you over the next few years, not just on closing day.
Which option may fit you best?
A new construction home in Pace may be a strong fit if you want:
- A modern layout
- Newer materials and systems
- Possible builder warranties
- Community amenities in a planned development
- Less immediate repair work after move-in
A resale home in Pace may be a strong fit if you want:
- More variety in style and floor plan
- A larger or more flexible lot
- Mature trees and established streetscapes
- Potential value-add opportunities
- A neighborhood that feels more settled today
How to shop smart in Pace
If you are comparing both options, it helps to keep your search focused on the details that will matter most after closing. Pace offers enough overlap in price that the better choice is often the one that matches your timeline, maintenance comfort level, and neighborhood preferences.
As you narrow your options, pay close attention to:
- Move-in timing
- Lot size and layout
- Warranty coverage
- Roof and system age
- Sewer or septic service
- Community amenities
- Commute routes such as I-10 and US-90 access
For many buyers, seeing both types of homes in person makes the decision much easier. What looks best online is not always what feels best once you walk the property and the neighborhood.
If you are weighing new construction vs resale homes in Pace, a side-by-side strategy can save you time and help you avoid second-guessing. With the right local guidance, you can compare the real tradeoffs and choose the home that fits how you want to live.
When you are ready to explore Pace with a local perspective, Kathryn Paro can help you compare neighborhoods, timelines, and home types so you can move forward with confidence.
FAQs
What is the price difference between new construction and resale homes in Pace?
- In today’s market, there is meaningful overlap. New construction in Pace currently ranges from the mid-$200,000s to the mid-to-high $400,000s, while resale market snapshots sit in the low-to-mid $300,000s.
Are there move-in-ready new homes available in Pace?
- Yes. Current builder communities in Pace include some immediate or near-term move-in inventory, although build-from-plan homes may still involve longer timelines.
Do Pace homes use sewer or septic systems?
- Both exist in Pace. Santa Rosa County reports that only 53% of Pace Water System single-family homes were connected to centralized sewer, so it is important to confirm each property’s setup early.
Are resale homes in Pace usually on larger lots?
- Some resale homes in Pace do show larger or more flexible lot patterns, along with mature trees and established landscaping, but this varies by property and neighborhood.
What should buyers compare when choosing between new and resale homes in Pace?
- Focus on price, layout, lot size, neighborhood feel, move-in timeline, utility setup, warranty coverage, and the likely maintenance needs after closing.
