Smart Home Features in New DR Horton Homes in Polk County

What is included in the Smart Home package

Across DR Horton's new communities, the Smart Home package centers on a touchscreen control hub that runs the home's smart systems. Around it sit a smart thermostat for heating and cooling, a video doorbell at the front door, a keyless entry deadbolt with a touchpad, and smart lighting controls. The equipment and its installation are included with the home itself, so you are not buying the hardware separately or renting it from a vendor. Exact components can vary a little by community and division, which is one more reason to confirm the details on the model home you tour.

The technology is part of the home price

Because the Smart Home package comes with the home, its cost is folded into the price you finance, which means no separate check for the hardware at closing. You will still want to budget for your own internet service, because the doorbell, thermostat, and hub connect through your home's Wi-Fi. Professional security monitoring is optional and available through DR Horton's safety and security partner for a monthly fee, but the everyday smart features do not require a monitoring contract.

How the system works day to day

The hub puts the whole system in one place. Lock or unlock the front door from your phone, let a guest or service technician in with a temporary code, see who is at the door through the video doorbell before you answer, and adjust the thermostat from the couch or from the airport. For a vacation home or an investment property, which many Polk County buyers own, the ability to check the door and the climate remotely is genuinely useful.

What to ask at the model home in Polk County

Every DR Horton community is a little different, so take ten minutes in the model to ask which smart devices are standard in this community, whether the hub is live so you can see the thermostat and doorbell working, whether the lot you are considering has the internet options the system needs, and whether any community or HOA rules touch on cameras or doorbells. Polk County's newer communities, from Winter Haven to Lakeland, are built with the wiring and network runs the technology needs, but asking on site keeps your expectations exact.

The Polk County market right now: what fall 2026 looks like

Current data gives prepared buyers real leverage this season. Florida Realtors reported Polk County issued roughly 3,200 single-family permits in the latest reporting period, down about 18 percent from a year earlier but still one of the busiest counties in the state. Redfin data through mid-2026 put the county's median sale price near $315,000, slightly below a year earlier, with homes selling in about 55 days. Thirty-year mortgage rates climbed to 7.28 percent in the week ending October 1, 2026, the highest level since November 2023, after six consecutive weekly increases, according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey, roughly a full percentage point above a year earlier. DR Horton has said its buyer incentives ran in the low double digits of a home's price during fiscal 2026, and recent promotions have offered special rates on select inventory. More inventory, softer prices, and strong incentives add up to a favorable window for buyers who are ready to move.

Rates, incentives, and permit numbers shift, so treat that as a snapshot rather than a guarantee. The way to use it is to talk with a local specialist who can confirm what applies to the exact community and phase you are considering this month.

Talk to a Polk County DR Horton specialist

The MC Collective | Future Home Realty works exclusively with DR Horton across Polk County, so we have walked buyers through model homes, incentive sheets, and the features that come standard. Call 863-270-2706, email Michelle@MCCollectiveRealEstate.com, or book a consultation at mcrequest.com, and we will help you compare communities and confirm exactly what your new home includes.