Tracewater Homes Podcast

Brent Hanish, Matt Hanish, Jeanee Hanish

The Tracewater Homes Podcast brings you inside the world of modern homebuilding, market trends, and the partnerships shaping the future of residential construction. Known for their innovative steel-frame homes, Tracewater dives into what today’s buyers want, how the industry is evolving, and the experts who help bring every project to life. Whether you’re a homeowner, agent, or builder, this podcast delivers insights, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes conversations from the front lines of construction.

  1. Oct 20

    Women in Business: From Rock Bottom to Building a Brand

    Tracewater Homes Podcast

    Women in Business: From Rock Bottom to Building a Brand

  2. Oct 13

    Beyond County Code: Why TraceWater Homes Partners with First Defense Inspections

    Tracewater Homes Podcast

    Beyond County Code: Why TraceWater Homes Partners with First Defense Inspections

  3. Oct 13

    Protecting Your Home: Termite Prevention & Pest Control Strategies

    Tracewater Homes Podcast

    Protecting Your Home: Termite Prevention & Pest Control Strategies

  4. Oct 13

    From Sketch to Shoreline: Overcoming Home Building Challenges

    In this episode of the Tracewater Homes podcast, the host, Brent, and Tracewater team member, Matt, interview Amy, a homeowner, to discuss the process of building her home in the Florida panhandle.Discovering the Location and Getting Started Amy and her partner were inspired to move to the area after a visit to Topsail Park.They fell in love with the region's beauty, pristine beaches, and outdoor recreational opportunities, eventually deciding to build a retirement home there.With the help of a broker, they evaluated numerous potential lots before selecting the specific one they ultimately built on.They chose Tracewater Homes because of the team's professional build process and attention to detail, which they observed while touring another home the company was constructing.Overcoming Build Challenges Throughout the construction process, the team encountered several unexpected hurdles that required creative, collaborative solutions: Utility Access: Although the lot was believed to be serviced by the city, they discovered it was not. Bringing city utilities to the site would have required an prohibitively expensive extension of the main line.Permitting: To address the utility issue, the team pursued a variance to install a well and septic system, which required Amy and her partner to present their case during a meeting before obtaining approval.Site Preparation: Although the lot was sold as "pad ready," workers discovered buried tree trunks and root systems, which made digging for footings and the well and septic systems difficult.Water Quality: Due to the site's proximity to the bay, the shallow well produced water that required a whole-home filtration system to address sulfur and iron content.Design and Construction Amy provided the initial home design herself, which the architect adapted and refined.The project utilized "Builder Trend," an online tool that facilitated communication, material selections, and budget tracking while Amy and her partner were building remotely from Orlando.Amy emphasized the value of visiting the site in person to physically touch and see samples of materials, as computer screens can distort colors.The team maintained a focus on budget, helping the homeowners make cooperative decisions, such as choosing a metal roof over a traditional driveway.Completion and Warranty Despite initial concerns about the tight timeline, the home was completed and ready for move-in on the scheduled date.A 12-month warranty walk-through identified only minor issues, such as baseboard adjustments caused by house settling and the installation of additional cabinet lighting.The team also addressed minor cosmetic touch-ups—including door repairs caused by the homeowners' dogs—at no cost to the homeowners.Amy expressed high satisfaction with the durability of the home, specifically noting that the Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring has been excellent for managing sand and pet-related wear.

    From Sketch to Shoreline: Overcoming Home Building Challenges

  5. May 18

    Designing the Perfect Home: Building Houses That Make Sense with Paul Giorgio

    In this episode of the Tracewater Homes podcast, hosts Brent and Matt are joined by Paul Deorgio, the architect behind the company’s home designs, to discuss the intricacies of residential architecture and custom home building. The discussion focuses on the collaborative process between builder and architect to create efficient, high-quality living spaces tailored to a homeowner's lifestyle. Key topics from the episode include: Design Philosophy and Background: Paul shares his journey into architecture, driven by a childhood fascination with 80s housing construction. He highlights his passion for residential design and his 30-year career focused on merging creative ideas with technical construction quality.The Tracewater Homes Collaboration: The team discusses the two-year iterative process used to develop the flagship plan line, emphasizing the challenge of creating versatile designs that fit various site conditions while maintaining a consistent value for buyers.Optimizing the Living Space: Paul explains his strategies for making every square foot count, such as minimizing hallways to increase room sizes, optimizing traffic patterns for furniture placement, and ensuring functional details like the strategic placement of electrical outlets in bedrooms.Customization vs. Production: Matt outlines the balance between semi-custom and full-custom options. He notes that while interior walls can often be manipulated within the flagship plans, significant changes to exterior walls or foundations move a project into the "full custom" category due to the need for re-engineering.Outdoor Living and Regional Features: The episode touches on the importance of maximizing outdoor spaces in southern climates, highlighting Trace Water's unique offerings like built-in pools, outdoor kitchens, and "southern basements"—finished upstairs storage spaces.Overcoming Site Challenges: The team shares examples of conquering difficult building lots, including using pilings for steep topography and reconfiguring designs to accommodate specific environmental setbacks or utility constraints.

    Designing the Perfect Home: Building Houses That Make Sense with Paul Giorgio

  6. May 4

    Partnering for Success: How Tracewater Homes Adds Value for Agents

    In this episode of the Tracewater Homes podcast, hosts Brent and Matt are joined by Kiara Proctor of the Abbott Martin Group to discuss the booming real estate market in Florida's "West Market," specifically Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The conversation explores the advantages of semi-custom home building, innovative investment strategies, and the unique lifestyle offered by the Pensacola area. Key topics covered in the episode include:   * **The Semi-Custom Advantage**: Kiara highlights Tracewater's ability to offer a streamlined, transparent building process that allows clients to customize their homes from the comfort of their couch using digital design tools.  * **Real Estate Investing and "House Hacking"**: The group discusses Tracewater's upcoming duplex plan, designed for both investors and those looking to build generational wealth through "house hacking"—living in one unit while renting out the other to cover mortgage costs.  * **Financing and Market Trends**: Discussion on current interest rate trends and the benefits of construction-to-permanent loans, which allow buyers to lock in today’s pricing while potentially benefiting from lower future interest rates.  * **Pensacola Market Growth**: Kiara details the rapid growth of the Pensacola area, driven by major attractions like the Blue Angels and NAS Pensacola, and the diverse landscape ranging from coastal beaches to spacious inland ranch properties in areas like Milton and Pace.  * **Agent Partnerships and Marketing**: Exploration of how Tracewater supports the real estate community through broker presentations, referral commission programs, and a unique "sign program" that helps agents market vacant lots by showcasing pre-approved floor plans.  * **Navigating Challenging Sites**: Reassurance for buyers interested in coastal or complex lots, noting that Tracewater is experienced in building in flood zones and on sites requiring pilings or specialized site prep.

    Partnering for Success: How Tracewater Homes Adds Value for Agents

  7. Apr 14

    Choice, Control, and Custom Building: Clay Phillips on the Tracewater Process

    In this episode of the Tracewater Homes podcast, hosts Matt and Brent are joined by Clay Phillips from the Abbott Martin Group. Phillips, a sales agent with over 20 years of experience in professional operations and management, discusses the unique opportunities and challenges in the Eastern Florida market, specifically covering areas from Bay County and Panama City Beach up to the Alabama line. The discussion highlights the benefits of building with Tracewater Homes, focusing on: The Shift in Market Trends: A movement toward tear-downs of older beach cottages and single-story homes on individual lots in Panama City Beach, as large tracts of land for traditional development become scarce.Choice and Control for Buyers: How Tracewater Homes fills the gap between rigid production builders and expensive fully custom builds by offering a semi-custom process where buyers can choose their own colors, pallets, and floor plans on their own land.Expert Guidance: The team's commitment to acting as advisers and confidants, helping clients navigate site challenges like utility hookups, septic systems, and building on difficult or wetland-heavy lots.Streamlined Financing: The advantages of the construction-to-permanent loan program, which allows buyers to roll land costs into their financing and lock in interest rates early.Agent Partnerships: Tracewater’s agent-friendly approach, including a commission structure that pays agents early in the process—at the close of the construction-to-perm loan.For more information or to find a dream lot in the Panama City area, viewers are encouraged to visit tracewaterhomesfl.com and reach out to Clay Phillips.

    Choice, Control, and Custom Building: Clay Phillips on the Tracewater Process

  8. Mar 24

    Tracewater Homes Podcast Ep.12 | The 5-Step Streamlined Build Process

    In this episode, the team at Trace Water Homes breaks down their streamlined five-step process for building a custom home. Designed to remove the typical stress and uncertainty of construction, these steps provide homeowners with transparency and clarity from the first contact to the final walk-through. Key highlights from the episode include:   * **Lot Selection & Evaluation:** How the sales team uses specialized tools to provide "apple-to-apple" cost comparisons between potential lots.  * **One-Time Close Financing:** The benefits of construction-to-permanent loans that wrap land, site costs, and build costs into a single package.  * **Upfront Insurance Clarity:** Why obtaining insurance quotes early in the process prevents costly surprises at closing.  * **Interactive Selection Process:** Using digital portals to choose structural options and finishes at your own convenience.  * **The Construction Phase:** What to expect during weekly app updates and special opportunities for personalization, like placing handprints in the foundation.  * **Welcome Home Orientation:** Ensuring your home is 100% complete and move-in ready before the final orientation. Whether you already own a lot or are just starting to dream, this episode explains how Trace Water Homes handles the heavy lifting to make building your home a simple, enjoyable experience.

    Tracewater Homes Podcast Ep.12 | The 5-Step Streamlined Build Process
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About

The Tracewater Homes Podcast brings you inside the world of modern homebuilding, market trends, and the partnerships shaping the future of residential construction. Known for their innovative steel-frame homes, Tracewater dives into what today’s buyers want, how the industry is evolving, and the experts who help bring every project to life. Whether you’re a homeowner, agent, or builder, this podcast delivers insights, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes conversations from the front lines of construction.

Information

  • Creator
    Brent Hanish, Matt Hanish, Jeanee Hanish
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Brent Hanish, Matt Hanish, Jeanee Hanish