When it comes to building homes in Florida, Michael Vitale isn’t your average story. He wasn’t born into construction. He didn’t grow up swinging a hammer. He came from the Italian military and police force—then landed in Florida, fell in love, and said yes to a challenge that would flip his life upside down.

His father-in-law offered him a chance: a line of credit and the opportunity to build a home. No hand-holding, no training wheels. Just a sink-or-swim opportunity. Michael dove in headfirst.

In this episode of Builder Straight Talk, Michael shares how he built Vitale Homes from scratch—studying the field, scouting the trades, and earning trust by promising what the big national builders couldn’t: 15-day pay and a personal relationship.

It started with 50 lots carved out of a distressed subdivision. That first build? He dug the permit trench himself. The garage became his office, the model home was his headquarters, and his sales rep worked out of the spare bedroom. Every inch of it was earned.

“I knew I wasn’t going to be the biggest,” he says. “But I could be the best at building trust.”

Today, Vitale Homes builds 60 to 120 homes a year, mostly in master-planned communities. He runs a semi-custom model: standardized floor plans with enough flexibility to let buyers choose colors, tiles, and design tweaks. It’s not fully custom—but it feels personal.

His success in building homes in Florida didn’t come from flashy marketing. It came from discipline, leadership, and being in the field. Michael still spends time with construction managers, office staff, and sales—staying hands-on while building up each department.

He credits his military background with helping him handle stress, lead teams, and think on his feet. For him, delegation isn’t about barking orders—it’s about guiding people, being on-site when it counts, and showing your team the way.

“You don’t lead with authority,” Michael says. “You lead by example. That’s how you earn loyalty.”

His trades followed him into hurricane recovery work—not because they had to, but because they believed in him. That loyalty was forged over years of doing what he said he would, treating trades like partners, and never letting his name down.

Now Vitale Homes is growing into luxury waterfront homes, with starting prices at $2.5 million and up. But even as the price tags rise, the principles stay the same: build quality, build trust, and never stop showing up.

Michael also raises real concerns about the future of the trades. With an aging workforce and fewer young people entering the industry, the labor shortage is real. He believes part of the solution is rebranding the trades—showing the next generation that plumbing, electrical, and HVAC are not fallback careers. They’re paths to wealth, ownership, and respect.

“We’ve got to get the trades back in schools,” he says. “It’s not about avoiding college—it’s about creating opportunity.”

To see what Michael’s building next, visit VitaleHomes.com.

Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen here or on your favorite podcast platform.