The DR Horton Buying Process in Polk County: From Contract to Closing

Step one: Tour the model and get pre-approved

The process starts at the model home, where you choose a community, a floor plan, and a homesite. Before you sign anything, get pre-approved for a mortgage. DR Horton runs its financing through its affiliated lender, DHI Mortgage, and buyers who finance through DHI usually unlock the builder's incentive package, which can include rate buydowns and closing-cost credits. DR Horton's free DHI Mortgage Home Buyers Club program is designed to help buyers prepare, and it is worth asking about on your first visit.

Step two: Sign the purchase contract

Once you pick a home, you sign DR Horton's purchase agreement. This is a detailed contract, often 30 to 50 pages, and it is important to read it before signing. It covers the price, the deposit, the construction timeline, and the terms that apply if you miss the closing date, so a real estate professional who works with DR Horton daily can walk you through each clause. Under the agreement you typically apply for your loan within a set number of business days of signing, so have your pre-approval ready.

Step three: Financing and the build

After the contract is signed, your loan application moves through underwriting while construction gets underway. For a build-to-order home, DR Horton's production builds in Florida generally run about five to seven months of active construction, with the full contract-to-closing process often taking six to nine months. A quick move-in or inventory home already under construction can close much faster, sometimes in roughly 90 days. Along the way you will have a pre-drywall walkthrough to see the framing, plumbing, and wiring before the walls go up.

Step four: The final walkthrough

Before closing, you do a final walkthrough of the finished home to confirm everything is complete and matches the plan. This is your chance to note any unfinished details or minor issues so they can be addressed, and to verify that the features you were promised are in place. Bring your contract and your list of what should be included, and take your time. This is the moment to ask questions about the home's systems, the warranty, and how to operate everything from the smart hub to the irrigation.

Step five: Closing

In Florida, closings run through a title company, and the closing day is when ownership transfers to you. You will review and sign the final documents, pay your closing costs and down payment, and receive the keys. The title company coordinates the settlement, so bring the funds you need and a valid ID. Once the deed is recorded, the home is yours, and your DR Horton warranty begins.

How long the whole process takes

Timelines vary by community, phase, and whether you buy a quick move-in home or build to order. As a general guide, a build-to-order DR Horton home in Florida typically takes six to nine months from contract to closing, while a quick move-in home can close in as little as a few weeks because the builder has already constructed it ahead of demand. If you are on a deadline, ask your sales team which quick move-in homes are available in the Polk County communities you like, because they are the fastest path to the keys.

Talk to a Polk County DR Horton specialist

The MC Collective | Future Home Realty works exclusively with DR Horton across Polk County, so we know the communities, the floor plans, and the contract from the buyer's side. Call 863-270-2706, email Michelle@MCCollectiveRealEstate.com, or book a consultation at mcrequest.com, and we will walk you through the process step by step.