Trace Water Homes Podcast Episode 10 focuses on the newest plan in the Trace Water portfolio: the duplex, and the benefits of owning one in the Florida Panhandle market. Host Brent is joined by TJ of Avid Martin Group, Tammy from the finance team (the Fritz), and other team members to discuss the simple, turnkey process for investors.

Key takeaways from the discussion include:

• Simplicity and Team Trace Water Homes offers a simple investment process where the team assists with identifying the lot, ensuring proper zoning (like R2 zoning in the west end of Panama City Beach), financing, design, and connecting with property management and insurance.
• Financing Financing for investment property is easy today, with options like full documentation loans that use 75% of the rental analysis to offset the payment, or the DSCR (Debt Service Covered Ratio) loan. The DSCR loan only verifies rental income, credit score, and assets, and can close in as little as six or seven days.
• Duplex Versatility The duplex plan, featuring two three-bedroom sides for a total of six bedrooms, offers unique marketability. It can be marketed as two separate units or a single six-bedroom home, appealing to large groups. The versatility allows for combinations like long-term renting one side and short-term renting the other.
• Construction Quality and Savings The homes use steel framing, which offers better windload ratings, fire resistance, and termite resistance than wood framing. Other features like impact windows, impact doors, and LP SmartSide siding contribute to asset protection and better insurance rates. This high quality can significantly lower operating expenses (opex) and repair costs, potentially reducing the opex percentage from 20% down to 5%.
• Investment Opportunity For approximately $500,000 in build cost, an investor gets a well-appointed six-bedroom duplex. This price point makes it easier for new investors to enter the market. Additionally, the new construction and high-quality materials often lead to insurance rates being rated as masonry construction, which is a better rating. The investment can also be used as a tax shelter for bonus depreciation and write-offs.

This episode of the Tracewater Homes podcast features Leslie Dion of Abbott Martin Group EXP Realty, the sales agent for the Walton and Okaloosa County area, who discusses the value, quality, and convenience of building a new home with Tracewater Homes.

The key points of the discussion include:

• Convenience and the Building Process: Leslie highlights that her favorite aspect of Tracewater Homes is the convenience of their simple 12-step process, which helps alleviate the stress and nervousness buyers often have about new construction. Tracewater Homes manages the entire process, including lot clearing and utility coordination, to provide a complete "turnkey product," taking the burden off buyers who may only build one or two homes in their lifetime.
• Affordability and Market Growth: Leslie, who lives and works in the area, discusses the increasing value and affordability of homes north of the bay, in areas like Niceville and Freeport, compared to locations closer to the coast like Santa Rosa Beach. She notes that the lack of developable land near the coast is driving growth north, creating a lot of opportunity in places like Freeport and DeFuniak. Tracewater Homes offers a lower price per square foot by providing options like second-story additions.
• Value and Quality: The team emphasizes Tracewater Homes' commitment to quality, including standard features such as 9-foot ceilings and hooded kitchen vents, which are typically considered upgrades by other builders.
• Benefits to Buyers and Agents:
  • Customization and Design: The Builder Trend app allows clients to be as hands-on or hands-off as they prefer, even designing their home from the comfort of their couch. The app allows clients to preview and see the financial impact of their selections, and all selections and pricing are finalized upfront.
  • Financial Stability: Pre-pricing all selections before construction allows clients to secure financing for the full cost before closing on their construction loan, limiting the chances of them having to pay out-of-pocket for change orders later.
  • Insurance and Longevity: New construction with Tracewater Homes helps solve the problem of high insurance costs in Florida. The use of materials like steel framing and LP Smart Side results in lower insurance rates and also eliminates the risk of termite damage, a "silent killer of homes". The goal is to build homes that will be good for 20, 30, or 40 years.
  • Communication: For agents, Tracewater Homes provides convenience by taking over weekly client communication and job site updates with photos via the Builder Trend app.
  • Timeframe: The typical construction window is about eight months from the time the building permit is secured.

The hosts and Leslie conclude by emphasizing the company's focus on being a family-owned business that provides a good product, customer service, and customer experience for everyone involved.

In this episode of the Trace Water Homes podcast, host Matt speaks with TJ Martin, President of Abbott Martin Group, about the current state of the real estate market in the Florida Panhandle. TJ Martin, whose group represents Trace Water Homes across the entire Panhandle from Pensacola to Panama City, shares insights into new construction.

Key discussion points include:

• The current market is showing "new synergy" with downward pressure on interest rates.
• An economist, Zel Charles (who is one of the top economists in the country in regards to real estate and is driven heavily in the new construction world), provided insight that the Panhandle is significantly underserved in new construction and lots being developed.
• New construction sales are expected to "continue to tick up".
• They discuss why now is the ideal time to buy, noting that if buyers "lock in on a contract now," they are paying 2025 prices for their home and getting 2026 rates when the home is completed.
• Matt mentions that their preferred lender, Chevlin Lachler of Acushure Mortgage, has construction perm programs with a current interest-only rate of 6.99% during the construction period.
• Trace Water Homes' product offerings, such as metal studs and specific finishes, help mitigate high insurance costs, lower utility bills, and address pain points like storms, hurricanes, and termites for homeowners in Florida.
• They explain the seamless process for engaging with the Trace Water Home sales team and the advantages of utilizing Trace Water's pre-designed plans over a full custom build, which saves time, money, and "brain damage".

The hosts encourage listeners to be curious and reach out to the sales team. For pre-approval information, visit Chevlin Lachler's website at lockwithler.com. To connect with the Trace Water Homes sales team, visit tracewwaterhomes.com.