Introduction To Your Custom Home Builder In Florida

Build Your Beautiful Custom Home In Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota, Clearwater, or Anna Maria Island, Florida

Building a home in Florida is not the same as building anywhere else. Coastal exposure, hurricane code, flood zones, and the cost of doing it right all push the price of a custom home higher than most buyers expect when they first start looking. Glades & Bay Construction has been navigating that reality for five generations. They build custom homes, semi-custom "Build Our Plan" homes, and multi-family infill projects across Florida's Gulf Coast, with the local knowledge and the resilient design discipline that the climate actually requires.

The financing has to match the build. That is where most Florida custom home projects either save real money or quietly lose it to fees buyers do not see until closing. As a registered lender for Glades & Bay, BuildBuyRefi finances these builds through The Federal Savings Bank, a federally chartered FDIC-insured direct lender. Every loan is originated, underwritten, and draw-managed in-house. Nothing is brokered. Nothing is sold off after closing.

Bobby Atkisson, Senior Vice President of our Construction Division, is the preferred banker for Glades & Bay buyers and will be your point of contact from pre-qualification through final draw.

Glades & Bay is already approved with our bank, and that matters more than it sounds. Builder approval is usually the slowest part of starting a construction loan with a lender the builder has never worked with before. Financial paperwork. License and insurance verification. Approval calls most builders would rather not take. None of that is on your timeline because Glades & Bay has already been through it. Your approval is the only one left, and that alone shaves 30 to 60 days off the front end of your loan.

Five Generations Of Florida Roots, Built Into Every Home

Glades & Bay Construction is led by Jon Edwards DeBellevue, a second-generation builder and real estate professional whose family has called Florida home for five generations. That heritage is not marketing language. It shapes how the team picks materials, designs for the climate, and builds homes meant to last in Florida specifically.

Jon also operates as a licensed Florida Realtor through LPT Realty, which gives Glades & Bay a structural edge most Florida builders cannot match. If you already own your lot, this is a non-issue. If you are still searching, the same team that will build your home can help you find and evaluate the right parcel first, including zoning, flood zone, elevation, and off-market infill opportunities. That alone prevents the most common Florida custom home failure: buying a lot that does not actually support the home you want.

What Property Styles Glades & Bay Construction Builds

Glades & Bay is licensed to build one, two, and three-family residential properties, plus accessory structures like ADUs, pool homes, garages, and detached workshops on the same lot.

In practice, that breaks down into three project types.

Custom Homes

Designed from scratch around your lot, your lifestyle, and your architectural preferences. This is the right path when you have a specific vision and want every decision to be yours.

Build Our Plan (Semi-Custom)

A curated collection of refined Florida floor plans you can start from and customize. Most buyers find that 80% of what they wanted in a fully custom home is already here, at a faster timeline and a more predictable price.

Multi-Family And Infill Development

Duplex and triplex builds, infill projects on tight urban lots, and small subdivision build-outs. This is a real niche in the Tampa Bay market, and most custom builders in Florida do not handle it.

Specialty Construction

ADUs, pool homes, and detached garages are built under the same standards, whether they are part of a new home or added to a property you already own.

Every project category is supported by an in-house Project Designer, an in-house Project Manager assigned at permitting, and an in-house Warranty Manager introduced at New Home Orientation.

Build On Your Lot Or Find One First

Glades & Bay handles both paths.

If you already own your lot, the build starts with a site evaluation covering the things that actually shape what can go on the parcel: zoning, flood zone, elevation, and access. From there, the team matches the lot to either a custom design or a Build Our Plan layout that fits. Your land equity counts toward the loan-to-value on the financing side, and a lot owned free and clear often eliminates the down payment entirely on qualifying programs.

If you do not own a lot yet, Jon's Realtor operation through LPT Realty is folded into the build process. Lot search, evaluation, and acquisition happen with the same team that will eventually build on it. That continuity is the structural advantage. Most Florida buyers piece this together across three or four parties who do not talk to each other.

The Glades & Bay Build Process

Initial Consultation. The team works through your vision, lot, budget, and timeline. If you do not have all of that figured out yet, that is normal. Most buyers do not.

Plan Development And Touring. You tour completed homes and supplier showrooms to see real finishes and fixtures before locking anything in. This is also where the design and the budget get reconciled.

Final Plan, Specs, And Contract. Floor plans, elevations, and the full specification list are finalized and reviewed with you. Once you sign, design selections and permitting begin in parallel.

Design Selections. You work with the in-house Project Designer to choose every interior and exterior finish while permitting moves forward. The complete Design Package is locked before construction starts.

Permitting And Construction. Florida permitting typically runs two to four months depending on the plan and the jurisdiction. Once permits are issued, you meet your Project Manager, who runs the build and keeps you updated. Expedited timelines are available at additional cost.

Move-In And Warranty. The home goes through Glades & Bay Quality Control before closing. At New Home Orientation, you are introduced to the in-house Warranty Manager, who is your point of contact for anything that comes up after move-in.

Florida Coastal And Hurricane Code Construction

Florida construction operates under a different rulebook than the rest of the country. Coastal exposure, hurricane code, and flood zone classification all directly affect what gets built, how much it costs, and how the loan gets underwritten.

Florida Building Code and hurricane zones. Glades & Bay builds to current FBC standards: wind mitigation, impact-rated windows and doors, hurricane straps, reinforced roof-to-wall connections, and code-compliant garage doors. These features show up in both the construction budget and the as-completed appraisal, which is one of the reasons a lender unfamiliar with Florida construction can underwrite a loan that does not actually appraise.

Flood zones and elevated foundations. Tampa Bay, Pinellas, and Anna Maria Island contain significant AE and VE flood zone acreage. Building there often requires elevated foundations, breakaway walls, and construction methods that affect both cost and insurance. If you are building in a flood zone, ask Bobby specifically about how flood insurance, elevation certificates, and the appraisal interact. That conversation saves problems later.

Wind mitigation and FORTIFIED Home certification. Wind mitigation features can meaningfully reduce homeowners insurance premiums in Florida, and FORTIFIED certification can reduce them further. The upgrades can be folded into the construction budget if you want them included.

Coastal materials. Salt air, humidity, and storm exposure shorten the lifespan of materials that perform fine inland. The specifications you choose during construction either prevent or guarantee expensive repair cycles five and ten years out.

The financing has to match the build. Our underwriting team has financed Florida coastal construction across every flood zone, foundation type, and code requirement the state has, and the same banker stays with you from origination through final draw.

In-House Florida Construction Financing Through BuildBuyRefi.com

Building with Glades & Bay is one half of the equation. The financing structure is the other half, and it is where most Florida buyers either save real money or quietly lose it to fees they did not see at the start.

BuildBuyRefi is a division of The Federal Savings Bank, a federally chartered, FDIC-insured direct lender. Every construction loan is originated, underwritten, funded, and draw-managed in-house. Nothing is brokered. Nothing is sold off after closing. The same banker who opens your file stays with you through final draw and permanent conversion.

That structure makes a deeper set of construction loan programs possible than what most Florida lenders can offer. Below are the programs Glades & Bay buyers most often use.

VA Construction Up To 100% Financing.

Eligible veterans and spouses can finance up to 100% with no mortgage insurance. Standard VA construction is available up to $1.5 million, with an in-house exception pathway up to $3+ million when the project profile supports it. Most VA construction lenders cap out at $1 million if they offer the program at all, which makes a real difference on Tampa Bay coastal builds. We offer this program in the one-time close, two-time close, and hybrid construction loan, all available in-house.

The Hybrid Construction Loan.

Built in-house to combine the streamlined experience of a One-Time Close with the rate flexibility of a Two-Time Close. Both sets of loan documents are handled upfront, the build operates as a single-close transaction, and the permanent rate stays flexible until completion. Eligible for VA and FHA streamline refinance on the permanent loan in qualifying scenarios. No broker can replicate this structure.

FHA And Conventional Construction.

Available as One-Time Close, Two-Time Close, or Hybrid. 640 minimum credit score. Conventional fits primary residences, second homes, and standard custom builds. FHA is the right path for lower credit profiles or higher debt-to-income ratios.

Jumbo Construction Up To $4.5 Million.

For builds where land plus a hurricane-code custom home pushes past conforming limits, common in Anna Maria Island, Davis Islands, Snell Isle, and waterfront South Tampa. 720 minimum FICO. One-Time Close runs up to 18 months as a portfolio ARM that converts automatically. Our Jumbo Two-Time Close Construction Loan runs 12 months interest-only with a no-cost six-month extension when requested in advance. Borrowers above $3 million have tiered reserve requirements; talk to Bobby for the specifics.

Multi-Family And Investment Property Construction.

Two-Time Close construction-to-permanent for one to four unit site-built properties. 700 FICO at up to 75% LTV, or 680 FICO at up to 70%. This program fills a real gap. Most construction lenders offer no investment construction option at all, which is why Tampa-area developers usually end up cobbling together bridge financing and figuring out permanent financing later. We close it as a single underwritten path.

Second Home Construction.

Conventional and Jumbo programs for vacation homes and non-primary residences on owned or simultaneously purchased land. FHA and VA programs do not extend to second home construction.

ITIN Construction.

A One-Time Close ground-up program for primary residence builds for borrowers who file taxes with an ITIN rather than an SSN. 680 minimum FICO. Co-borrowers with SSNs are permitted. We are one of the only direct construction lenders in the country offering this in-house.

Renovation And 2nd Mortgage Construction.

Not every project starts from raw land. For Florida homeowners using Glades & Bay for an addition, an ADU, a detached pool home, a primary suite or second-story expansion, or a hurricane-resilience remodel, two paths exist.

The first is the standard renovation suite: FHA 203K, FNMA HomeStyle, VA Renovation, and Jumbo Renovation up to $4.5 million. These wrap the renovation into a single first mortgage and fit buyers purchasing a property to renovate.

The second is what most Florida lenders do not currently offer. If you locked in a low first mortgage rate during 2020 or 2021, a cash-out refinance to fund a renovation often costs more in lifetime interest than the renovation itself. Our 2nd Mortgage Construction-to-Permanent Loan finances the project during construction and converts to a fixed-rate closed-end 2nd lien at completion. Your first mortgage stays in place. Your original rate is preserved. The new work is financed as a separate loan in 2nd lien position. Same in-house draw management, same 640 floor, same approved-builder requirement.

Land Equity As Down Payment.

If you already own your Florida lot, the equity counts toward the loan-to-value calculation and often eliminates the cash down payment entirely on qualifying programs. If the lot carries a balance, we pay it off at closing and roll it in. In high-cost Tampa Bay markets where buyers often own a lot purchased years ago at a fraction of current value, this can effectively cover the down payment on a $1 million-plus build.

Construction Loan Program Comparison At A Glance

Seven programs, one table. Find the row that fits your scenario and Bobby will walk you through the specifics during a no-credit-pull eligibility review.

What Other Lenders Don't Tell You About Florida Construction Loan Fees

A construction loan with a competitor often looks attractive on the rate sheet and falls apart on the closing disclosure. Brokers and correspondent lenders frequently embed administrative fees that add $40,000 to $100,000 or more to the financed loan amount. These fees do not pay for materials, labor, land, or anything else that builds your home. They cover the lender's operational structure and investor margin.

In Florida, those embedded fees create a second problem at the appraisal. Florida coastal markets are already tight on appraised value because of insurance, flood zone, and elevation adjustments that out-of-state underwriters miss. When fees push the financed amount past what the property can appraise for, the buyer brings tens of thousands of dollars to closing to cover the gap, or walks away from the build entirely. That is one of the most common ways Florida buyers lose earnest money and a year of planning.

We do not embed administrative fees in our construction programs. Origination is disclosed on the Loan Estimate. There is no third-party draw team waiting on the back end, and no handoff between the banker who approved your file and whoever is supposed to manage your construction draws.

Ask any other Florida lender these five questions before you commit:

1. Are there any administrative, processing, or program fees beyond standard origination?

2. Will my loan be underwritten, drawn, and serviced by your institution or passed to a third party?

3. Who manages my construction draws and inspections after closing?

4. What happens if my construction project needs a timeline extension because of permitting or hurricane season?

5. Will the same team that opened my file be available throughout the build?

If the answers are vague, the loan probably has fees the buyer has not seen yet.

Exclusive BuildBuyRefi Benefits For Glades & Bay Buyers

Up To *$50,000 Extra Before, At, Or After Closing

Qualified borrowers can access up to *$50,000 in additional funds at any point in the loan timeline. Florida buyers most often use it for hurricane-rated impact windows, FORTIFIED home upgrades, outdoor living build-outs, smart home systems, debt consolidation, or to add an ADU or pool cabana on the same lot. The funds are flexible. You decide where they go.

Up To 30% Off Real Estate Commissions In All 50 States

Qualified buyers selling an existing home or purchasing land outside Florida can save up to 30 percent on listing-side commissions through our participating national agent network. Savings come back as a closing cost credit or as a rate buy-down on your construction loan.

Low Or No Down Payment Options

Qualified buyers can move forward with little or no cash down depending on program eligibility and Florida lot equity. VA-eligible buyers can finance up to 100 percent.

No Administrative Fees On Construction Programs

Origination is disclosed on the Loan Estimate. No embedded program fees, no investor margin baked into the loan amount, no administrative layers buried in the closing disclosure.

In-House Decisions, Including Extensions

Builder approval, draw releases, inspections, and extension requests are all handled inside The Federal Savings Bank. That matters in Florida specifically when permitting delays, hurricane season, or material delivery issues push the timeline. Extensions are decided by the same team that opened your file, not by an outside servicer who has never seen your project.

Available Seven Days A Week

Construction loan questions do not follow a Monday through Friday schedule, and neither do we.

Meet Bobby Atkisson, Senior Vice President And LPO Manager

Glades & Bay Construction buyers are assigned to Bobby Atkisson, Senior Vice President of our Construction Division and LPO Manager with BuildBuyRefi.com, powered by The Federal Savings Bank. NMLS #28045. He is Glades & Bay's preferred banker for construction financing and the assigned point of contact for buyers using BuildBuyRefi for their build.

Bobby holds the highest level of construction lending certifications available in our institution. He is an FHA 203K Specialist, FNMA HomeStyle Specialist, Veteran Lending Specialist, New Construction Loan Specialist, Construction Loan Specialist, and VA Renovation Specialist. He is also fully qualified on Conventional, FHA, Portfolio, VA Jumbo, Jumbo Construction, and 2nd Mortgage Construction programs, which is the program suite needed to actually fit Florida custom builds, multi-family scenarios, coastal jumbo construction, and existing homeowner renovations.

To be assigned to Bobby for your Glades & Bay project, complete the eligibility quiz or schedule a call directly through his calendar. Both options route to him.

Check Your Eligibility for a Glades & Bay Construction Loan Today

• Once you’ve submitted your information, Bobby, our Glades & Bay Construction Team preferred banker, will guide you through the steps from start to finish.

• To be assigned to Bobby Atkisson, complete the eligibility or calendar forms on this page.

Would you prefer to speak with Bobby Atkisson directly?

• Book a one-on-one consultation with Bobby Atkisson, Sr. Vice President of BuildBuyRefi, a lead construction division banker who proudly serves our Glades & Bay Construction registered builder relationship.

• You must complete the eligibility or calendar forms on this page to be assigned to Bobby.

Why Florida Homeowners Choose Glades & Bay Construction

Buyers who land with Glades & Bay tend to want a few specific things.

They want:

• A builder who actually understands Florida code, not someone learning it on their lot

• Help finding the right lot, not just building on one they already chose

• Predictable cost decisions, not a low number that climbs every change order

• Coastal-grade materials and resilient design from day one

• A real warranty contact after move-in, not a phone tree

Glades & Bay responds with:

• Five generations of Florida operating history, applied to current FBC and hurricane code standards

• Integrated lot search and evaluation through Jon's Realtor operation at LPT Realty

• In-house Project Designer balancing every selection against the agreed budget before construction starts

• Materials and systems specified for salt air, humidity, and storm exposure

• A named in-house Warranty Manager introduced to you at New Home Orientation

It is a model built on local knowledge, resilient construction, and the kind of accountability you only get when the people who designed and built your home are still the ones answering the phone after closing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Glades & Bay Construction And Florida Construction Loans With BuildBuyRefi

1. Where does Glades & Bay Construction build?

Glades & Bay builds across Florida's Gulf Coast and central regions, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Anna Maria Island, Sarasota, and surrounding redevelopment markets. They also handle subdivision build-outs and infill projects across Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, and Pasco counties.

2. What types of homes does Glades & Bay build?

Custom homes, semi-custom homes through their Build Our Plan process, and multi-family residential up to three-family structures. Their Florida Building Contractor license also covers accessory structures including ADUs, pool homes, garages, and sheds, plus the related site work.

3. What's the difference between a custom home and a Build Our Plan home with Glades & Bay?

A custom home is designed from scratch around your lot, lifestyle, and architectural preferences. A Build Our Plan home starts from a curated, refined floor plan and is customized through finishes, features, and minor layout adjustments. Build Our Plan typically delivers most of the custom experience at a more efficient price point and timeline.

4. Are you really an approved lender for Glades & Bay Construction?

Yes. Glades & Bay is a registered builder with BuildBuyRefi.com, powered by The Federal Savings Bank. Builder approval is already complete, which means the only approval left when you start the loan process is yours. That alone can shave 30 to 60 days off the construction loan timeline compared to starting fresh with a lender who has never financed a Glades & Bay project.

5. What loan programs are available for Glades & Bay homes?

VA, FHA, Conventional, and Jumbo construction loans up to 4.5 million. Available structures include One-Time Close, Two-Time Close, and our in-house Hybrid Construction Loan. Investment property construction, second home construction, and ITIN construction are also available. For existing Florida homeowners using Glades & Bay for an addition or ADU, the 2nd Mortgage Construction-to-Permanent program is available.

6. What's the minimum credit score for a Glades & Bay construction loan?

640 for Conventional, FHA, and VA construction programs. 680 for ITIN construction. 700 for investment property construction at up to 75 percent LTV. 720 for Jumbo construction across all loan amounts.

7. Can I use my Florida lot equity as a down payment?

Yes. If you own your Florida lot free and clear, the equity counts toward the loan-to-value calculation and can reduce or eliminate your cash down payment requirement on qualifying programs. If the lot carries an existing loan balance, we pay it off at closing and roll it into the construction loan. In high-cost Tampa Bay markets where buyers often own a lot they bought years ago at a fraction of current value, the land equity can effectively act as the down payment on a 1 million-plus build.

8. Can I build with Glades & Bay in a Florida flood zone?

Yes. Glades & Bay routinely builds in AE and VE flood zones across Tampa Bay, Pinellas, and the Anna Maria Island area, using elevated foundations, breakaway walls, and code-compliant construction methods where required. Our construction loan underwriting accommodates flood zone elevation, foundation, and inspection requirements. Buyers in flood zones should ask Bobby about how flood insurance, elevation certificates, and the appraisal interact on a Florida coastal build.

9. Does Glades & Bay build hurricane-resistant homes?

Yes. Every Glades & Bay home is built to current Florida Building Code standards, which include wind mitigation features, impact-rated windows and doors, hurricane straps, reinforced roof-to-wall connections, and code-compliant garage doors. FORTIFIED Home certification can be incorporated where applicable, which may reduce homeowners insurance premiums. Ask the Glades & Bay team about wind mitigation upgrades during the design selection phase.

10. Can I use Glades & Bay for an addition or ADU on my existing Florida home without losing my low first mortgage rate?

Yes. Our 2nd Mortgage Construction-to-Permanent program finances the new work during construction and converts to a fixed-rate, closed-end 2nd mortgage at completion. Your first mortgage stays in place, and the original low rate is preserved. The renovation, addition, ADU, garage, or pool home is financed as a separate 2nd lien.

11. Does Glades & Bay build for investors and developers?

Yes. Glades & Bay handles ground-up multi-family residential up to three-family structures, infill development on tight urban lots, and subdivision build-outs. Our Two-Time Close investment property construction program supports one to four unit site-built builds for qualifying investors at a 700 minimum FICO with up to 75 percent LTV.

12. How does the On Your Lot process work with Glades & Bay?

If you already own your Florida lot, Glades & Bay starts with a site evaluation covering zoning, setbacks, flood zone classification, soil and elevation, drainage, and any HOA or municipal restrictions. From there, they match the lot to either a fully custom design or a Build Our Plan layout. Land equity counts toward the loan-to-value on the financing side. If you do not yet own a lot, Jon's Realtor operation through LPT Realty handles in-state lot search, evaluation, and acquisition with the same team that will eventually build the home.

13. How long does the Glades & Bay construction loan process take?

Pre-qualification can be completed in roughly an hour with a complete file. Florida permitting on the Glades & Bay side typically runs two to four months depending on the plan, customization level, and jurisdiction. Construction timelines vary by scope. Because Glades & Bay is already approved with our bank, the lender side of the process moves significantly faster than starting from scratch with a builder we have not worked with before.

14. What happens if my Glades & Bay build runs into a permitting or hurricane season delay?

Construction timeline extensions may be available subject to program guidelines. On the Two-Time Close Jumbo program, borrowers have the option to extend the construction term for six months at no cost and with no rate change, provided the borrower is current and requests the extension in advance. Proactive communication with Bobby well before the loan term expires is the most important step when a Florida-specific delay develops.

15. Can foreign nationals build a Florida home with Glades & Bay?

Yes, in qualifying scenarios. Borrowers who file taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number rather than a Social Security number may qualify for our ITIN Construction Loan, a One-Time Close ground-up program for primary residence builds at a 680 minimum FICO. Co-borrowers with Social Security numbers are permitted on the loan. We are one of the only direct construction lenders in the country offering this program in-house.

Contact Glades & Bay Construction

Glades & Bay Construction 4014 Gunn Hwy, Suite 125 Tampa, Florida 33618

📞 Phone: (813) 550-5613

🌐 Website: www.LivingSaltLife.com

The Glades & Bay team is ready to walk through your lot, your design ideas, and your timeline, and explain what is possible within your budget.

For construction financing and loan structure, connect with:

Bobby Atkisson Senior Vice President and LPO Manager BuildBuyRefi.com, powered by The Federal Savings Bank NMLS #28045 | Direct: (573) 347-3560

Discover how you can build your Florida dream home. Check your eligibility today or schedule an appointment with our team for fast, VIP-level guidance.

Other Registered Florida Builders Worth Comparing

Glades & Bay is one of several registered Florida builders in our directory. Depending on your project type, these may also be worth a look:

• Custom site-built (FL & GA): Quality Family Homes, LLC

• Modular & manufactured: Next Modular, Impresa Modular

• Log & timber frame: Blue Ridge Log Cabins, Gastineau Log Homes, Timberhaven Log & Timber Homes

• Florida Panhandle (Panama City area): Coastal Classic Homes

• Ocala & Central Florida on-your-lot: Brije Homes & Real Estate

• Barndominium & metal homes: Titan Metal Homes

View all registered builders →

Begin Your Glades & Bay Custom Home Project Today

Discover how you can build your Florida dream home with Glades & Bay Construction and finance up to 100 percent through BuildBuyRefi.com. Check your eligibility today or schedule a call with Bobby Atkisson, Senior Vice President and LPO Manager, for a one-on-one review of your construction loan options.