There's a new builder in Daytona Beach. Here's what we know about them.
DAYTONA BEACH ― After completing the 285-home Westport community in Port Orange a few years ago, Jones Homes USA is finally embarking on another new single-family home development in Volusia County.
The Orlando-based builder recently purchased 95 homesites from Meritage Homes at the new Legends Preserve community at LPGA International in Daytona Beach.
"We currently have 10 homes under construction with the first closing set to take place in April," said Tina Lee, a sales specialist with Jones Homes USA. "We are very excited to be back here in Volusia County."
The Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon-cutting event on Friday, from 4 to 5 p.m., to welcome Jones Homes USA to Daytona Beach. The event will be at the model home/sales center at 3220 Legends Preserve Drive.
What is Jones Homes USA?
Jones Homes USA is a U.S. subsidiary of The Emerson Group, one of the largest privately owned property development companies in the United Kingdom. Its Jones Homes division is one of the U.K.'s leading home builders.
Another Orlando-based Emerson Group subsidiary, Emerson International, developed the 360-unit Sanctuary at Westport luxury apartments in Port Orange in 2016, the year before Jones Home USA began its Westport single-family home community next door.
Both communities are off of Town West Boulevard, between South Williamson Boulevard and Tomoka Farms Road.
Emerson International also recently developed the 336-unit Sanctuary at Daytona luxury apartment community at 1600 LPGA Blvd. in Daytona Beach.
Where is Legends Preserve?
Legends Preserve is located on 141 acres just west of LPGA Boulevard and the headquarters for the Ladies Professional Golf Association, on the south side of International Golf Drive.
The City of Daytona Beach approved the final plats for 264 homesites at Legends Preserve in October 2021. Meritage sold a portion of those homesites to Jones Homes USA in November 2023, and is building the rest, said Lee.
What kind of homes are they offering?
Jones Homes USA is offering seven different floorplans with the homes ranging in size from three bedrooms/2.5 baths and a total of 1,987 square feet of living space up to five bedrooms/four baths and 4,957 square feet of living space. All come with a three-car garage.
The lots are 60 feet wide by 125 feet deep.
"We've sold 18 of our 95 homesites so far," said Lee on Monday. "Prices start in the mid-$500,000s and go all the way up to $800,000."
Customers willing to pay extra can further customize their homes, she added.
Lee said the floorplans her company offers at Legends Preserve have drawn strong interest, both from people looking to move here from other parts of the country as well as some who already live in the Daytona Beach area.
They hope to build more communities here
Lee said her company is constantly looking for locations to build new residential subdivisions in Volusia County. "We're looking to grow with many more communities coming this way," she said. "I know we already own some land in Ormond Beach."
They offer a 'Daytona' floorplan, but not in the actual Daytona Beach
The website for Jones Homes USA lists a floorplan the builder offers called "Daytona," but it's not available at Legends Preserve.
"Right now, we are only offering them at our 55-plus community in St. Cloud," said Lee.
What others say
Tony DiNizo of Luxury Builders Inc. in Ormond Beach is this year's board president for the Volusia Building Industry Association.
While he did not know much about Jones Homes USA when contacted on Monday, he said, "Many of the larger national homebuilders are seeing the value of building in our area. We're the best-kept secret."
"They're building bigger, more expensive homes to cater to cash buyers that are not affected by (rising) interest rates."
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: There's a new builder in Daytona. Here's what we know about them.
