Posts by Skillful Antics

Howey-in-the-Hills rewards homeowners who want elevation, scenery, and a quieter Lake County setting. Rolling terrain and lake views create rare building opportunities. They also demand careful design. Slope, drainage, and orientation matter as much as the floor plan.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 count, Howey-in-the-Hills is a small Lake County town with 1,643 residents. That scale supports a refined residential character. Homes here should feel private and intentional—not squeezed into a one-size-fits-all footprint.

At Highland Homes, we build fully custom homes in Howey-in-the-Hills. We walk your lot first. We study slope, sunlight, view corridors, and long-term comfort before we lock a layout. That approach comes from decades of building across Central Florida.

Start With the Land, Not a Catalog Plan

Hillside lots open creative options—walk-out levels, layered outdoor rooms, and living spaces aimed at the view. They also raise practical questions that stock plans often ignore.

  • Place living areas toward views and natural light
  • Plan covered outdoor rooms for Florida heat and summer storms
  • Set driveways, grading, and drainage to manage runoff
  • Protect privacy with smart window placement and landscaping buffers

These choices settle the home on the lot. They also reduce costly changes later. When the site leads, the floor plan follows with fewer surprises.

Covered stairs and outdoor living designed for a hillside custom home in Howey-in-the-Hills FL

Design Outdoor Living for Elevation and Comfort

Outdoor living is part of daily life in Howey-in-the-Hills. A lanai, screened porch, or outdoor kitchen should connect cleanly to the kitchen and great room. On sloping lots, we design that flow early so stairs, terraces, and covered spaces feel natural—not bolted on.

Energy performance belongs in the same conversation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that ENERGY STAR certified new homes use at least 10% less energy than homes built only to minimum code. Smart envelopes, efficient HVAC, and thoughtful shading keep cooling costs in check through Florida’s long summers. Better insulation and sealed ducts also mean fewer hot and cold spots indoors.

We use the same lot-first thinking in nearby communities such as Yalaha and Montverde, where terrain and outdoor living shape the home from day one.

Why Custom Wins in Howey-in-the-Hills

Unique land deserves a unique home. Custom building lets you size rooms for how you live, add multi-use spaces, and plan outdoor living that works with elevation—not against it. You can prioritize a quiet primary suite, a flexible guest wing, or storage for lake and yard life without forcing your wish list into a production plan.

As a family-owned builder serving the area since 1983, Highland Homes focuses on quality over volume. We guide you from concept through final walk-through with clear communication and local know-how. Browse more ideas in our resource center, then talk with us about your lot.

Ready to explore custom homes in Howey-in-the-Hills, FL? Schedule a free consultation with our team. We’ll walk your goals—and your land—and show you what is possible.

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Highland Homes of Clermont is a family-owned custom home builder committed to crafting personalized, high-quality homes that reflect the unique lifestyles of Central Florida families.

(352) 394-8686
1135 East Avenue,
Clermont, FL 34711.

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TESTIMONIALS

WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING

Olivia M
5 months ago
Building with them almost three years ago now was honestly one of the best decisions we made. We went into the process nervous because you hear so many horror stories about building a house, Matt made everything feel so much easier than we expected. Mimi is exceptional and lovely to speak with. They were always available when we had questions, kept us updated through every step, and never made us feel rushed or brushed off. It really felt like they cared about getting things right and making sure we were happy with every detail. One thing I appreciated a lot was how helpful they were with ideas and workarounds such as wiring set for a custom vanity in the master closet. We love our home here in Clermont đź’•
sebastian Martinez
5 months ago
We honestly had such a great experience building our home with them. From the very beginning, communication was amazing and the whole process felt easy and stress free. They always listened to what we wanted and made us feel like our opinions truly mattered throughout everything. Any questions we had, they were always there to help and explain things in a way that made sense. You can tell they really know what they’re doing. They even suggested ideas and little details for the house that we never would’ve thought about ourselves, and it ended up making the home even better. What stood out the most was how much they genuinely cared. They didn’t make us feel like just another client. They made the experience personal and they truly wanted us to love our home. I honestly don’t know anyone else with customer service this good. We’re so thankful we chose them!
Lynn Di Filippo
5 months ago
We had an amazing experience building our custom home in Florida with Highland Homes from start to finish. Their entire team was honest, loyal, professional, and always kept us updated throughout the whole building process. Any questions we had were answered quickly, and they truly made us feel valued every step of the way. Building a home can be stressful, but Highland Homes made the experience smooth and exciting for our family. The quality, communication, and attention to detail exceeded our expectations. We are so thankful for everything they did and would absolutely build another home with them again in the future. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a trustworthy builder!
Deborah Collins
5 months ago
I had a wonderful experience building my home in Highland Overlook with Matt Ladd of Highland Homes of Clermont. From start to finish, Matt was professional, knowledgeable, and always responsive. The quality of construction is excellent, and I am very pleased with the craftsmanship and attention to detail throughout my home. Any warranty items I had after closing were addressed within a couple of days, which showed Matt’s commitment to customer satisfaction even after the home was completed. I also want to recognize Mimi, the office manager, who was consistently helpful whenever I had questions. Overall, I am extremely happy with my new home and highly recommend Matt Ladd, Highland Homes if Clermont to anyone looking for a quality builder who stands behind their work.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the kind words! We had so much fun working with you and are so happy you love your home. We truly appreciate the recommendation and are grateful we had the opportunity to build your home.
Five stars to Matt Ladd and Mimi, Highland Homes of Clermont built a gorgeous custom home for us, if you want someone who truly cares, has knowledge, and has integrity this is your choice, The process was smooth and they always had attention to detail We receive compliments of everyone that goes to our home, people truly gets amazed, we are more than happy with our beautiful home I recommend 100 percent this custom builder, Give them a call
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the kind words and for trusting us with your home. We're so happy you love it and truly appreciate the recommendation!
Michael Conena
5 months ago
Highland Homes built our house in 2022 and we could not have had a better experience. Working with Matt Ladd was wonderful. He let us know everything up front and there were no unexpected surprises. Everyone he put us in touch with for picking out cabinets to tile flooring to granite countertops was an easy and seamless process. We even went with his suggested architect and Pool company and both were great. Our outdoor lanai was built exactly to what we wanted and we love it. I would highly recommend choosing Highland Homes if planning to build .
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the wonderful review and recommendation. I'm thrilled to hear you had a great experience throughout the process and that the lanai turned out exactly as you envisioned! Working with you was an absolute pleasure.
Maria Darias
5 months ago
Just wanted to thank Matt for all the hard work he has put together for us in our new home. He always had everything completed in a timely manner. He always reassured me that he would correct any issue or concern I had and made it a better experience. I think it is natural to have some anxiety as a customer to go thru the building process and Matt always kept me informed and explained the process well. I love our home and I am happy with our experience with Highland Homes of Clermont. Thank you for always taking my call at all hours of the day and thanks for being patient with us as customers. We are truly grateful!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the thoughtful review and kind words. I truly appreciate your trust throughout the process and am grateful for the opportunity to build your home. I'm so happy you love it!
Bryan Johnson
3 years ago
Excellent builder with very high standards. Mimi and the office staff was amazing. Vanessa and I absolutely love this builder. Five stars is not enough.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much! We truly appreciate your kind words and are grateful we had the opportunity to build your home!
Tania
5 years ago
Highland Homes stands for high quality homes and the standard options available to you at no additonal cost are of high quality as well. When I got my home professionally inspected the inspectors were absolutely impressed with Highlands work. Additionally, in the community I live in no one wants to leave their Highland Home. The only person that has sold their Highland Home in my community has actually built another home with Highland Homes. I worked directly with Matt and he was always kind and super professional. If you ever have a concern throughout the process just speak with him and he will help you right away. I highly recommend Highland Homes as your custom home builder.
Alex Metka
6 years ago
My Wife and I are about to break ground on our 2nd Custom Home with Highland Homes of Clermont. Their attention to detail throughout the process lead to an extremely beautiful home with very few surprises during the build. Matt was extremely diligent in explaining the endless options that come with building a Custom Home and providing honest feedback on where our money was best spent for a amazing home within budget. We are very excited to be building with them again. Highly Recommend!