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At CLB Network, we celebrate the best in residential and commercial design-build. Our mission is to recognize firms whose work goes beyond aesthetics — those who deliver exceptional service, outstanding results, and sustainable yet innovative solutions. We honor those who don’t just build, but who shape environments, elevate neighborhoods, and set new standards in design, construction, and client satisfaction.
Certified Luxury Builders highlights key industry trends and success strategies, real-life examples, simple processes, and timely results for luxury builders and remodelers.
What We Recognize
Design-Build Leadership — Companies who lead with vision, seamlessly integrating architectural design, engineering, and construction to deliver efficient, beautiful, and enduring spaces.
Residential & Commercial Excellence — From bespoke homes to large-scale commercial projects, we benchmark quality across all dimensions: function, aesthetics, durability, and impact.
Service & Client Outcomes — It isn’t just the finished build. We pay attention to collaboration, communication, timeliness, budget management, and how deeply client expectations are understood and exceeded.
Innovation & Sustainability — Use of cutting-edge materials, sustainable building methods, energy efficiency, adaptive reuse, or other creative approaches that move the industry forward.
Our Core Values
Integrity – Transparent processes, honest assessment, and credible standards.
Excellence – Not settling for good enough; pushing for craftsmanship, detail, and holistic success.
Innovation – Embracing new ideas, sustainable practice, and creative solutions.
Client-First Mindset – Prioritizing communication, trust, delivery on promise, and real measurable impact.
Join Us
Whether you’re a design-build firm seeking to demonstrate your best work, a project partner interested in new ideas, or a client wanting to engage the very best — CLB Network is your platform for recognition, connection, and inspiration.
Okay. So have you ever wondered what it really takes to turn, like, a personal idea of home into a big deal luxury business across multiple markets?
Speaker 2:Yeah. It's fascinating. Right? That mix of vision, business smarts, and, really focusing on the client.
Speaker 1:Exactly. And if that sounds interesting to you, then this deep dive is definitely for you. Today, we're digging into the story of Michael Carrier.
Speaker 2:The guy behind Waterstone City Homes. And that new newsletter.
Speaker 1:That's the one. The On the Level Luxury Living Insider Newsletter. Our whole mission here is to look at the sources you sent over and figure out how an entrepreneur, well, he specifically spotted these market gaps.
Speaker 2:And then built this award winning luxury brand, became a sort of guide really for high end real estate, Tampa, Park City, these booming places.
Speaker 1:Right. So the sources we're using are his professional profile, pretty detailed, and the very first issue of that On the Level newsletter, which actually just came out today, 07/16/2025.
Speaker 2:Okay. Cool. So where does his story start? It's not just about building houses from day one, is it?
Speaker 1:No. Not at all. He actually has these deep roots in Tampa. Moved there young, grew up there, went to University of South Florida, got finance degree.
Speaker 2:Finance. Okay. Interesting. So not architecture or construction initially?
Speaker 1:Nope. Started as a financial adviser, then, shifted into lending. And this is key. He became a top mortgage professional, specialized in construction loans for custom home builders.
Speaker 2:Ah, okay. So he was seeing the money side of building custom homes first Yeah. Before he ever, you know, laid a brick himself.
Speaker 1:Exactly. How do you think seeing it from that angle, the finance and risk angle shaped what he did later?
Speaker 2:Oh, massively, I guess. I mean, dealing with construction loans, you see where things go wrong, the hidden costs, the, communication nightmares, the delays, all that stuff.
Speaker 1:Right. You'd learn what not to do.
Speaker 2:Exactly. It's like getting a master class in the industry's problems. He wasn't just funding projects. He was probably mentally cataloging all the pain points. That's a huge strategic advantage later on.
Speaker 1:Which makes that leap he took in 2007 really stand out. He didn't jump straight to Waterstone. He cofounded a building materials company with his brother.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah. Successful.
Speaker 1:Hugely successful, apparently. He got popular in, like, over 23 countries.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:But then he sold his share.
Speaker 2:You walked away from that.
Speaker 1:Yep. The sources say friends questioned it, you know, thought he was crazy, but he knew he wanted something more. Walking away from that kind of success Mhmm. That takes guts.
Speaker 2:Or a really clear vision of what that something more was. What drove that, do you think?
Speaker 1:I think it points to a specific kind of entrepreneurial drive, not just general success, but, like, chasing a very personal goal.
Speaker 2:Right. He'd seen all these homes get financed, all these builders work.
Speaker 1:And he thought, I can do this better. That seems to be the core of it. His dream was building those kinds of homes, the ones he'd finance, but with that one big caveat, do it better.
Speaker 2:And the profile calls him a great dealmaker. Someone who can spot or create value like few others. That sounds crucial.
Speaker 1:Definitely. That ability to see potential where maybe others don't, and wanting to share that insight, that feels like the foundation for Waterstone City Homes.
Speaker 2:So Waterstone comes out of that desire Yeah. To fix the process, basically.
Speaker 1:Pretty much. It was born of a desire to bring the custom homebuyer experience to a greater level of collaboration and communication. That's the mission statement almost.
Speaker 2:Aiming for a better product, obviously, but also a better outcome for the client. Less stress, maybe.
Speaker 1:I think so. They focus on building custom homes, yes, but also remodeling luxury homes and condos. Tampa Bay area, mostly.
Speaker 2:And they've done well in what's probably a pretty tough luxury market.
Speaker 1:Seems like it. They've picked up some serious recognition. Ranked hashtag one in Tampa by hoes.com. Got the top of the market award by CLB Network.
Speaker 2:Wow. Okay. So how did they get that traction so quickly? What's the secret sauce?
Speaker 1:It really seems to boil down to that client process. They didn't just talk about being client focused, they actually built their whole operation around it.
Speaker 2:How so?
Speaker 1:It's streamlined, the source says, describe what you want, the Waterstone design team draws it, you approve it, and Waterstone builds it. Very clear steps.
Speaker 2:Less room for error or misunderstandings.
Speaker 1:Right. And they promise that five star experience where you'll love coming home. That implies a smooth, transparent journey. Shared vision from the start.
Speaker 2:That collaboration piece sounds huge, but it's about the house itself. Right? The design.
Speaker 1:Oh, absolutely. They have this framework called the seven Waterstone Elements. It seems to define their whole approach.
Speaker 2:Seven elements? Like what?
Speaker 1:Things like natural lighting, environmentally inspired finishes, premium fixtures. It sounds quite detailed.
Speaker 2:So not just generic luxury terms. They're specific. Like, what does natural lighting mean in their context?
Speaker 1:Well, the source mentions designing for quiet breakfasts, suggesting they think about how light works in the space at different times for different activities and environmentally inspired finishes for a nature connection.
Speaker 2:Okay. So they're engineering moods almost. Atmospheres. Not just putting up walls. That level of intention.
Speaker 2:What's the strategic value of that in Luxury?
Speaker 1:Well, I think these elements show a deep grasp of what high end buyers really want emotionally and practically.
Speaker 2:Beyond just square footage or brand names?
Speaker 1:Exactly. Take that natural lighting idea. It's not just big windows. It's probably about orienting the house perfectly, planning where the morning sun hits the breakfast nook or, you know, where you get that golden hour light.
Speaker 2:Creating these little micro environments inside the home that enhance daily life.
Speaker 1:Right. And that kind of detailed intentional design, it feels truly custom, which probably helps with resale value too, right? It's a differentiator.
Speaker 2:Definitely. That meticulousness from lighting to finishes, it really speaks to that vision of quality of seeing value others might miss.
Speaker 1:And it's that same kind of foresight, that same drive that seems to be behind this new newsletter, the On the Level Luxury Living Insider.
Speaker 2:Ah, okay. Connecting the dots. Mhmm.
Speaker 1:Yeah. It's positioned as like your key to staying ahead, specifically in Tampa, in Park City, Utah, these hot markets.
Speaker 2:So it's him taking his market knowledge and sharing it more broadly, an extension of that seeing value thing.
Speaker 1:Exactly. It's like democratizing his insider view. The newsletter's aimed at luxury home buyers, investors, realtors, anyone who needs that edge. A real insider scoop as they call it.
Speaker 2:Okay. So for those players, what's the big draw? What makes it different from just, you know, reading market reports?
Speaker 1:I think it's the exclusivity factor. It promises first looks at premium properties.
Speaker 2:Meaning?
Speaker 1:Exclusive previews. Spec homes, prime lots, custom builds before they hit the MLS or Zillow or whatever.
Speaker 2:Ah, okay. So actual off market intelligence. Stuff Michael knows about through his network. Pre market land deals, maybe developer chats.
Speaker 1:That seems to be the implication. That's the real competitive edge. Right? Plus, offers market intelligence you can trust. Data on specifics like waterfront lot availability in Tampa or Park City's demand surge.
Speaker 2:Making it actionable. Proactive investment kind of stuff.
Speaker 1:And it's not just data dumps. It mentions insider deals and opportunities. Access to off market listings again, maybe early bird pricing, connections.
Speaker 2:To builders, architects, designers, the whole ecosystem.
Speaker 1:Right. And there's a lifestyle angle too, lifestyle inspiration, showcasing Tampa's coastal elegance and Park City's mountain sophistication. So it's the whole picture.
Speaker 2:Okay. Let's dive into those markets then. What's the newsletter actually saying about Park City? Modern mountain luxury.
Speaker 1:Yeah. It's Spotlight's a specific build. A $4 two metre build build, Park City's next great view home gives specs, 4,500 SQE, five beds, six baths.
Speaker 2:Fancy. What are the highlights?
Speaker 1:Big emphasis on floor to ceiling windows, obviously, for the views. Smart technology, eco friendly design, ticks all the modern luxury boxes.
Speaker 2:Sure. But is it just about fancy vacation homes?
Speaker 1:No. And that's interesting. There's a feature story. Why executives are relocating to Park City year round? It argues the appeal is way beyond just skiing now.
Speaker 2:Right. Summer trails culture?
Speaker 1:It's exactly world class skiing to summer trails in a vibrant cultural scene. And the essential section talks about the cultural and food scene, but also this idea of work from anywhere meets luxury living.
Speaker 2:Ah, the pandemic effect maybe. Yeah. High end remote work.
Speaker 1:Seems like it. A mix of, refined luxury, flexibility, good design, amenities catering to that mobile executive type.
Speaker 2:And framing Park City as a smart investment. Booning market. Exceptional long term potential. But what specifically signals that long term potential beyond just rising demand? Is it demographics?
Speaker 2:Economy?
Speaker 1:The newsletter implies it's that shift from seasonal spot to year round hub, attracting a different kind of resident high net worth folks, families looking for a primary home that blends lifestyle and, you know, professional opportunity.
Speaker 2:Okay. So it's a fundamental shift in who's moving there and why. That makes sense as an investment signal.
Speaker 1:Yeah. That seems to be the story behind the number.
Speaker 2:Alright. So Park City is modern mountain year round appeal. What about Tampa? The Newsletter calls it the Waterfront Squeeze. Sounds intense.
Speaker 1:It does. The focus is tight. Tampa's last luxury waterfront lots. It's his prime spots in South Tampa are just vanishing, disappearing fast.
Speaker 2:Because demand is through the roof.
Speaker 1:Demand soaring. Exactly. And here's where it loops right back to Michael Carrier's company. Waterstone City Homes builds and remodels right there in that exact area.
Speaker 2:Ah, so the newsletter highlights a problem or an opportunity that his company is perfectly positioned to solve.
Speaker 1:Precisely. It connects everything. His foresight, providing these insights and opportunities at the intersection of Luxury Homebuilding and High Return Real Estate Investment.
Speaker 2:It's the whole ecosystem. Spotting the scarce resource waterfront lots, understanding the market pressure, building the product to meet the demand, and then guiding others to invest wisely in that same space, seeing the whole value chain.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Pretty impressive. So we've kinda walked through this journey. Right? From finance guy to builder to now this market insider sharing insights, transforming a passion into a leading company and a resource.
Speaker 2:Mhmm. A lot there.
Speaker 1:So here's something to maybe think about after this. What does it really mean to design with intention? We talked about physical stuff like natural lighting for breakfast nooks or environmentally inspired finishes.
Speaker 2:Right. With the details in the home.
Speaker 1:But also that broader strategic intention. Seeing a market gap like the Tampa Waterfront and acting on it. How does all that intentionality, big picture and small details create, well, what they call quiet design, loud impact? What does that really mean for you in luxury living and investing?
Speaker 2:Good question to chew on. That idea of quiet design, loud impact.