New Construction in Pinecrest: Custom Homes and the Teardown Market

New construction in Pinecrest is almost entirely custom single-family homes built on lots acquired through teardown. There are no new developments or planned communities here - the city is built out and its charter prevents the kind of development that would create new housing tracts.

The Teardown Market

A significant portion of Pinecrest real estate activity involves buying older homes (1960s-1980s Florida ranch style), demolishing them, and building custom homes. The lots are the primary asset and the homes are secondary. A teardown lot in good Pinecrest location sells for $700,000-$1.2M. The completed custom home on that lot might sell for $2.5M-$4M.

Custom Home Style

New construction in Pinecrest tends toward contemporary-tropical design - open floor plans, high ceilings, outdoor-indoor living with large sliders opening to pool areas, and modern finishes. The city does not have Coral Gables’ architectural requirements so design is more flexible, though neighborhood character influences what buyers choose to build.

What Buyers Looking for New Get

New construction buyers in Pinecrest are typically commissioning custom builds on teardown lots or buying recently completed spec homes (built speculatively by developer/builder teams). Spec homes in Pinecrest are typically 4,500-7,000 sq ft, 5-6 bedrooms, pool, summer kitchen, and priced at $2.5M-$4.5M. They sell to buyers who want new without the 18-24 month custom build timeline.