Highland Ridge: New Homes in Winter Garden FL by Meritage Homes (2026 Guide)

If you have been hunting for new homes in Winter Garden FL that still start under $550,000, Highland Ridge by Meritage Homes deserves a spot on your tour list. Tucked off Hartzog Road just west of the SR-429 expressway in southwest Winter Garden, this bungalow-style community pairs a genuinely affordable entry price with the amenity package and school zoning buyers expect from Horizon West.

Highland Ridge Quick Facts

About Meritage Homes

Meritage Homes is one of the largest builders in the country and has built its brand almost entirely around energy efficiency — it was the first national builder to make ENERGY STAR certification standard across every home it builds. At Highland Ridge that translates into high-performance air filtration, Indoor airPLUS qualification, a multispeed HVAC system with whole-home dehumidification, and spray-foam insulation as standard rather than upgrade-list items.

The included-features list is unusually generous for this price point: 42-inch Timberlake cabinets with crown molding, granite countertops, stainless Whirlpool appliances, and a 10-year structural warranty. For buyers comparing new build communities near Winter Garden, that matters — a lower base price means little if you have to spend $40,000 at the design center to reach a livable spec.

Floor Plans & Pricing at Highland Ridge

Highland Ridge is built around seven two-story bungalow plans, all with 2-car garages:

• Austen — 1,678 sq ft, 3 bed
• Hurston — 1,788 sq ft, 3 bed
• Faulkner — 1,985 sq ft, 3 bed
• Hughes — 2,011 sq ft, 4 bed
• Baldwin II — 2,088 sq ft, 3 bed
• Ellison — 2,114 sq ft, 4 bed
• Thompson II — 2,424 sq ft, 4 bed

Pricing has been running from roughly $472,990 into the $540s, with move-in ready and quick-delivery homes appearing regularly alongside build-to-order options. New construction pricing and incentives change month to month, so treat these figures as a starting point and confirm current numbers before you tour.

Amenities at Highland Ridge

Highland Ridge keeps its amenity package tight and functional, which is exactly why the HOA stays near $100 a month. Residents get an amenity center with a resort-style pool and cabana, a pickleball court, a basketball court, a park, and a tot lot. There is no golf course or lazy river inflating your monthly dues — a real consideration in Horizon West, where HOA fees commonly run $150 to $350 per month before CDD assessments.

Location: Why Southwest Winter Garden Works

The Hartzog Road corridor is one of the better-connected pockets of Horizon West. From Highland Ridge you are minutes from the SR-429 interchange, which puts the Florida Turnpike, I-4, and the 408 within easy reach for commuters headed to downtown Orlando, Lake Nona, or the attractions corridor.

Day to day, Hamlin Town Center sits just south with its grocery, dining, cinema, and medical offices. Winter Garden Village at Fowler Groves is a short drive north for Target, big-box shopping, and dozens of restaurants. Historic downtown Winter Garden — Plant Street Market, the brewery scene, the Saturday farmers market, and the 22-mile West Orange Trail — is about 10 minutes away. Walt Disney World is roughly 15 to 20 minutes south, which is part of why homes for sale in Winter Garden FL hold their value the way they do.

What Makes Highland Ridge Stand Out

Is Highland Ridge a good value compared to other new homes in Winter Garden FL?

Yes, on a price-per-square-foot and cost-of-ownership basis. Most new construction homes in Winter Garden FL for 2026 start closer to $500,000–$600,000, and several of the marquee Horizon West communities carry double or triple the HOA. Highland Ridge's combination of a sub-$480K entry point, a roughly $100 HOA, and standard energy-efficient construction is a rare pairing in this submarket.

Who is Highland Ridge best suited for?

First-time buyers priced out of Ovation and Oakland Park, right-sizing empty nesters who want low exterior maintenance, and families who want Horizon High School zoning without a $700,000 purchase price. The 1,678 to 2,424 sq ft range is efficient rather than sprawling — if you need a 4,000 sq ft estate home, this is not your community.

What should I watch out for?

Lot premiums and CDD assessments. As with every builder in Horizon West, base price is not final price, and CDD charges can add $1,500 to $3,000 a year on top of the HOA. Ask for the CDD disclosure and the full options sheet in writing at your first appointment, not your third.

Ready to Tour Highland Ridge?

I tour Winter Garden, Windermere, and Clermont new construction every week and I represent buyers at no cost to you — builders pay the co-broke, and having your own agent at the table is how you make sure incentives, lot premiums, and inspection timelines actually work in your favor. Let's compare Highland Ridge against everything else on your list.

Rebecca Hamaoui, REALTOR® | Bella Trae Realty | 📞 407-922-8986 | ✉ rebecca@bellatraerealty.com