BuilderFest 2018 Tackles Effect of New Tax Law on Building a Home in Sarasota

Nautilus Homes president Ryan Perrone was a panelist during the Sarasota Herald Tribune’s second annual BuilderFest event, held Saturday, February 23, 2018. This year’s event focused on the effects of the new federal tax laws and was titled “Home Building (and Owning) in a New Tax Climate.”

The panel was moderated by Harold Bubil, former real estate editor of the Herald-Tribune, who frequently writes, lectures, and gives tours celebrating real estate and architecture in southwest Florida. (Read Mr. Bubil’s column about the event, here.) Mr. Bubil posed many questions of this panel and several other panels held on varying topics throughout the day-long event. Topics covered included whether or not the new tax law will heal or hurt local property values, and whether it might motivate residents of New York and other high-tax states to move to Florida (which does not have a state income tax).

During Ryan’s panel, Mr. Bubil posed questions about the cost of construction in the southwest residential market, and as part of a larger conversation Ryan commented that “Cost is the difference between value and expense … our clients are essentially developers and we can help guide them to create valuable projects.” Recognizing the tremendous investment homeowners make in their residences, and helping clients maximize the fullest value for that investment, is a Nautilus Homes specialty.

The audience was encouraged to ask questions as well, and when one audience member asked how builders deal with the current labor shortage being experienced by the construction industry at large, Ryan talked about his experience with the local chapter of the ACE Mentor Program of America, which inspires high school students to pursue careers in construction, design, engineering, and architecture.

Ryan, who visits Sarasota’s Riverview High School once a week to meet with students and give them real-world insights into the hard work and opportunities of the design and building industry, told the BuilderFest crowd, “I work with the ACE program to inspire young people to go into this industry and to show them that they can make a great living while having the freedom of their own business and the pride of having a craft.”