How Davila Homes has built a legacy of luxury, innovation, and client-centric excellence in Central Florida
Established in 2010, Davila Homes has earned its reputation by building stellar homes that consistently redefine the meaning of luxury living in Central Florida. Recognized multiple times across the industry for excellence in both design and construction, the company stands as a benchmark for quality, innovation, and client-focused service in the region’s high-end residential market. At the core of Davila Homes is a belief that is both simple and uncompromising: the homeowner is always the center of every decision. Every aspiration, every preference, and every detail matters – from the first conversation through to the final walkthrough and even long after move-in.
Much like that of its Owner, Founder, and Chief Executive Officer, Thiago (TJ) Davila, Davila Homes’ journey is one of persistence, creativity and entrepreneurial drive. It all began when TJ emigrated from his home city of São Paulo, Brazil, to the United States in 2000.
“My journey in construction actually began a few years before Davila Homes,” TJ begins. “In 2004, I founded US Aluminum Services, which grew to earn a spot on the Inc. 500 list. That success gave us the foundation to launch Davila Homes. Over the years, we have completed more than 800 residential units across Central Florida, building a reputation for quality craftsmanship and a client-first approach.
“What’s exciting right now is that we are in the middle of a significant evolution as a company. Historically, we were known for fully custom, one-of-a-kind luxury homes built entirely around each individual client’s vision. We still do that at the highest end of the market. But we have strategically expanded our model to include semi-custom production homes within our own master-planned communities. This means we develop the land, design the community, and offer a curated selection of thoughtfully designed floor plans with premium finishes, giving buyers the feel of a custom home without the full custom timeline or price point. Our communities range from boutique townhomes and single-family enclaves to ultra-exclusive estate collections, spanning price points from the $600,000s up to $8 million and beyond.”
Trust and commitment
Today, TJ is known across Central Florida market for his forward-thinking approach and willingness to push creative boundaries in pursuit of better design and better living, with his wife, Michelle Sanchez, by his side as company President. Guided by the couple’s hands-on leadership, their team is driven by a shared philosophy of trust, resilience, and purpose, championing a fully integrated approach that provides a closely-collaborative, seamless, and unified experience for its clients.
“I have worked side by side with my husband to help his visions and ideas come to life by creating teams, strategies, and systems that make it possible. I am his biggest cheerleader and the person that looks out for his interests in everything we do,” Michelle emphasizes. “My role is primarily involved in leading our leaders, HR, sales, marketing, finance, and business planning. Our partnership shapes the company as a true family-led, values-driven business where vision and execution sit at the same table every day.
“Because we are spouses, the way we treat each other sets the tone for how we expect everyone in the company to treat one another: with loyalty, transparency, and mutual respect,” she adds. “Our team sees that we don’t just talk about trust and commitment – we live it – and that has created a culture where people feel safe bringing ideas, owning problems, and staying for the long term. The business is an extension of our home, so we are very intentional about protecting a sense of care, high standards, and doing the right thing, even when it’s hard.”
Hands-on approach
Championing this ethos, Davila Homes operates around the belief that building a custom home is one of the most significant decisions a family can make, and it treats it as such by offering a structured yet highly personalized experience. Clients are guided through the process by a dedicated point of contact who oversees every stage of the journey, ensuring clarity, accountability, and consistency throughout. Every project begins with a deep understanding of how the clients live, what they value, and how they envision their future home.
“Whether we are building a fully custom estate or a semi-custom production home within one of our communities, the philosophy is the same: design should be both beautiful and livable,” TJ elaborates. “We think deeply about how a family will actually use a space – the flow of natural light, the connection between indoor and outdoor living, the practicality of the layout for daily routines. Our in-house team of architects, interior designers, and construction managers works together from day one to ensure that every aesthetic decision also serves a functional purpose. Even within our production-style communities, buyers can personalize finishes and selections through our design process, so the home still feels tailored to them rather than off-the-shelf.”
This hands-on approach ensures that every home is both highly customized and cohesively designed. The emphasis is not only on aesthetics, but on durability, performance, and long-term livability. Two of the company’s ongoing communities in particular – Lakeview and Signature – excellently demonstrates its breadth of capability.
“Lakeview Village represents the next evolution of our semi-custom production community model, and it is a project we are incredibly proud of,” TJ describes. “It’s a boutique 40-home community located right in the heart of Winter Garden. Construction is in full swing, and we expect the first phase of homes to be completed by early Fall. It includes 26 single-family homes and 14 town homes; all designed with elevated finishes and a design-forward aesthetic that is very much in line with the Davila brand.
“Signature by Davila Homes is on the other end of the spectrum – an ultra-exclusive collection of just seven fully custom estates in the prestigious Golden Oak corridor near Windermere,” he continues. “We are currently developing the site, and these homes will be priced at $5 million and above. Each residence is individually conceived and designed offering true architectural distinction and uncompromising craftsmanship. It is a private collection for discerning buyers who want something truly singular.”
Creating experiences
These two communities, however, form just a fragment of Davila Homes’ evolutionary developments. “We are entering one of the most exciting growth phases in our history. In addition to Lakeview Village and Signature by Davila Homes, we have several other major projects currently in development that reflect both the diversity and long-term vision of our company,” Tatiana Souza, Chief Development Officer, shares. “The Grove, for instance, continues to be an important luxury community for us, and we are preparing for the launch of The Acreage in St. Cloud, which will bring a unique lifestyle-driven product to the market.”
Over the next five years, the vision for Davila Homes is to become one of the premier luxury and lifestyle-driven homebuilders and developers in Florida. “We want to continue growing strategically through well-designed communities, while maintaining the elevated design standards and personalized experience that differentiate our brand,” notes Otavio Camara, Chief Operations Officer. “Internally, we are building a company with strong systems, strong leadership, and a culture designed for long-term sustainability. Our vision is not simply to build more homes: it is to create communities, experiences, and a company legacy that people are proud to be part of for generations.”
“What makes Davila Homes special is that despite our growth, we have remained deeply connected to our original values. We are still a relationship-driven company that genuinely cares about the families we build for, the people who work alongside us, and the communities we help create,” Tatiana affirms. “This next chapter for Davila Homes is about much more than building houses. It is about building meaningful communities, creating lasting experiences for homeowners, and establishing a long-term legacy rooted in quality, design, innovation, and trust. We are incredibly excited for what is ahead and grateful for the team, partners, and clients who continue to grow with us.”