New Home Insights Podcast Smith Douglas Homes and Building Affordably by Design
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Nov 26, 2025 Greg Bennett, CEO of Smith Douglas Homes, shares his expertise on building affordable housing for workforce families. He discusses the importance of balancing affordability with market demands and outlines how his company focuses on minimizing costs through design efficiencies and trade partnering. Bennett highlights innovative scheduling methods that lead to quicker builds, and he emphasizes the significance of creating homes that meet the needs of first-time buyers and downsizers alike. His insights paint a hopeful picture of accessible housing in the Southeast.
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Workforce Buyers Define Affordability
- Smith Douglas targets workforce buyers like police, fire, nurses and teachers to deliver true affordability.
- Their mission is to provide homeownership by building affordably and focusing on workforce needs.
Price Homes Around Rent Parity
- Use local rents and resale prices to set attainable payment targets tied to rent parity and within ~10% of average resale.
- Prioritize markets with positive job formation to support buyer demand and commute thresholds.
Affordability Pulls You Outward
- Affordability pushes builders further from cores, but location must stay within a reasonable commute.
- Smith Douglas targets about a 30-minute commute and seeks as-close-in sites as affordability allows.