In this episode of The Norris Group Real Estate Podcast, Joey Romero is joined by Craig Evans, CEO of The Norris Group, and Douglas Brooke Homes for an in-depth discussion on the upcoming Florida Bootcamp and the current state of the Florida real estate market. The conversation covers key macro trends driving migration into Florida, including domestic vs. international population shifts, the long-term outlook for housing demand, and how rising interest rates and insurance changes have reshaped buyer behavior. The team also breaks down their current build-to-rent model, highlighting affordability-driven construction, stable cash flow projections, and why new construction continues to outperform aging rental stock in today’s market.

They also dive into the structure of the Florida Bootcamp itself—what attendees can expect over two days, from classroom-style learning and migration data analysis to on-site property tours and one-on-one strategy sessions. The episode emphasizes the Norris Group’s hands-on approach, including vetted land acquisition, funds control protections, and a fully managed construction and leasing process designed to reduce risk for investors.

Craig Evans is the CEO of The Norris Group, where he oversees investment strategy, development projects, and investor education initiatives focused on real estate opportunities in high-growth markets like Southwest Florida. Douglas Brooke Holmes is part of the leadership team at The Norris Group, contributing to development oversight, operations, and investor relations. Joey Romero is a host and representative of The Norris Group Podcast, focused on delivering insights from industry leaders and market experts.

Learn more about the Florida Real Estate Investing Bootcamp here:
https://thenorrisgroup.com/event/florida-real-estate-investing-bootcamp-2026

In this episode:

• Joey introduces the Norris Group Podcast and sets up the discussion on the Florida Bootcamp
• Overview of the upcoming Florida Bootcamp and why it is being relaunched
• Breakdown of Florida migration trends: domestic slowdown vs. continued international inflows
• Impact of remote work, hurricanes, insurance shifts, and rising home prices on migration patterns
• Why Florida’s population continues to grow despite a “migration boom slowdown”
• How migration is driving long-term rental demand in the state
• Introduction to the “1515 model” build-to-rent strategy
• Breakdown of project costs, land acquisition, construction pricing, and rental assumptions
• Expected cash flow, NOI, and cap rate (~5.12%) and why appreciation is treated as upside only
• Discussion of affordability as the core strategy shift in today’s market
• Why new construction reduces risk (no rehab, no inherited tenants, predictable costs)
• Comparison of Florida investment model vs. BRRRR strategy
• Role of funds control, insurance partners, and vetted land acquisition
• Overview of build timelines: permitting (~45–65 days after process starts) and construction (~7 months after permit in conservative estimates)
• Rental absorption expectations (typically 30–60 days when priced correctly)
• Bootcamp structure: classroom education, field tours of build sites, and one-on-one investor meetings
• Who this strategy is for: active investors, W-2 professionals, and 1031 exchange participants
• Pricing, discounts for spouses/partners, and rebate option for investors who build
• Q&A discussion covering insurance stability, permitting timelines, ADUs, lot types, and competition
• Final thoughts on Florida wealth migration, economic growth drivers, and long-term demand outlook

The Norris Group originates and services loans in California and Florida under California DRE License 01219911, Florida Mortgage Lender License 1577, and NMLS License 1623669.  For more information