Short answer: Royal Highlands is where you go for a new home on half an acre with no HOA and no CDD, near the Suncoast Parkway, for well under $400,000. The trade-offs are a well and septic, no amenities, and a patchwork of homes of different ages and styles.
Royal Highlands at a glance
- Location: north Weeki Wachee, ZIP 34614, east of US-19 toward the Suncoast Parkway
- HOA / CDD: none (Maronda Homes)
- Lots: mostly about half an acre (100 x 200 feet), some combined to an acre or more (BHHS listing)
- Utilities: private well and septic (Max Life Realty)
- New homes: about $339,000–$390,000 (Stellar MLS, 2026); median sale about $375,000 (Momentum Realty, 2026)
- Lots: about $19,000–$45,000 for half-acre lots (Stellar MLS, 2026)
What the homes are like
Royal Highlands was platted decades ago and sat mostly rural until recently, so you’ll see 1980s and 1990s homes next to brand-new builds. Maronda Homes, Century Complete and local builders such as Chouinard Builders are building three- and four-bedroom homes with two-car garages on scattered lots.
Building on a lot
Buying a lot and building is a real option here. Budget for the well, septic, clearing and impact fees on top of the build price. On lots over one acre (43,560 sq ft), a nitrogen-reducing septic system may not be required, which can save money (BuyOwner listing). Confirm current septic rules with the Florida Department of Health in Hernando County.
Buying new here
- Bring your agent on the first visit. Some builders won’t let you add one after you register on your own.
- Ask for the full fee sheet: HOA, any CDD assessment, and what each covers.
- Compare the quick move-in homes with to-be-built pricing; incentives often go to inventory homes.
- Get your own inspection, even on a brand-new home.
Getting around
The Suncoast Parkway is about 10 minutes away. Weeki Wachee Springs is about 5 miles away, and groceries and shopping are 5 to 10 miles away (Maronda Homes).
Schools
Listings show Winding Waters K-8 and Weeki Wachee High School. Confirm the assigned schools for the address with Hernando County Schools.
What to check before you buy
- Well and septic: inspection on resales, permits and cost on new builds.
- What’s next door: with no HOA, neighbors can park boats and RVs or build workshops, and so can you.
- Paved vs. unpaved road for the lot.
- Flood zone: most lots are outside one, but check the map.
Nearby neighborhoods to compare
- Sandal Key: new construction with a lagoon, an HOA and a CDD
- Woodland Waters: acre lots with a low HOA
- Brooksville Acreage & Horse Country: more land east of the parkway
Thinking about Royal Highlands?
Tell me your budget and must-haves and I’ll send recent closed sales in Royal Highlands, the current HOA and CDD numbers for the street you like, and how it compares with the neighborhoods above. You can also get an alert the moment a home here lists.