Potter Homes brings together waterfront expertise, family leadership, and ambitious expansion across Florida and Tennessee
From elevated beachfront estates overlooking the Gulf of Mexico to bayfront residences built for Florida’s unique coastal conditions, Potter Homes has spent more than two decades crafting custom homes in Southwest Florida. Bill Potter started the family-owned company in 2001, blending technical expertise with a relationship-first approach and taking on a limited number of projects each year. Now, Bill’s three sons have joined him as the business expands into Tennessee. Owner Tom Potter leads the next phase of growth in Florida, keeping the approach that has set Potter Homes apart since the beginning.
Tom’s journey into the business wasn’t set in stone. Although he grew up around job sites and learned the construction trade from his dad, he expected a career in Sports Management after finishing his college baseball career and graduating from the University of Florida. However, by 2005 Bill needed some help and he asked Tom to join him in the family business. The opportunity to work with his dad was too good not to try, but Tom still wasn’t sure if construction would become his career. The plan was to give it at least a year, as he shares: “I worked with dad for a year and saw a future with Potter Homes in Naples. My wife and I decided to put down roots here in Naples and that was 21 and a half years ago.”
Today, Potter Homes is known for building custom homes on some of the region’s most sought-after waterfront sites. The team also handles renovations and inland projects, but waterfront work still defines the company’s portfolio.
That focus demands expertise most homeowners never see: engineering, environmental, and regulatory challenges that shape every phase of a project. “Our niche has been waterfront homes in North Naples. Building on the waterfront is a different animal. When we build on the waterfront, we drive concrete pilings into the ground to support the house. The soil on the beach shifts. You’re building on sand or, on the bay side, you’re building on mud,” Tom explains. Flood regulations add another layer of planning, especially in areas prone to storms and rising water. “When you build a house in a flood zone, we don’t put any living space on the ground level. We must raise the house to a certain elevation under FEMA flood requirements.”
The work balances technical requirements with homeowners’ lifestyle aspirations: beachfront views and sunsets for some, direct boating access for others, occasionally both. A current project on Casey Key shows what that looks like. “Out your front door you’ve got the beach, and out your back by your pool you’ve got a boat on the dock. It’s the best of both worlds.”
Faith, family & excellence
For Tom, the people behind each project matter as much as the finished home. One project on Fort Myers Beach stands out. The team started building a new home right after Hurricane Ian tore through the area. “The house was started right after the hurricane came through, and it was a beautiful home for wonderful clients. With so much destruction around us, building this new home almost felt like a beacon of hope for the community. Life will go on. Even though so many people lost their homes, you can rebuild and restore,” Tom reflects.
Relationships connect everything Potter Homes does. “The pillars for our company are faith, family, and excellence,” Tom notes. Instead of chasing volume, the company focuses on relationships and connections built over time. “Many builders can deliver a great house. For us, it’s about the relationship. We care deeply about the people involved. We focus on building that relationship and the family memories that will unfold in these homes.” It’s that vision that is shaping succession. Bill Potter is still involved, but now he mentors rather than handles daily operations, while Tom, and his partners, brother Ryan Potter and brother-in-law Nate Johnson refine the systems that support growth in new markets without losing the company’s culture.
That commitment doesn’t end at project completion. With Potter Signature Care, the team supports homeowners after move in. It’s the start of a new phase, not the end. “We don’t just hand over the keys and say goodbye. Every home comes with one year of Potter Signature Care. The idea is to teach our clients how to properly maintain their new house, so it performs at its best,” Tom adds. Most homeowners choose to continue the program following the first year.
Nashville expansion
Potter Homes’ move into Tennessee grew out of conversations with existing clients: many who’d built in Southwest Florida were also living life in Nashville, and the same request kept coming up. “We kept hearing from clients, ‘We’re going to build a house in Nashville. We wish you were there,’” Tom remembers. Rather than jump into a new market, Potter Homes spent years building connections and learning the landscape first. “Expansion hasn’t been a quick decision. It’s been in the works for the last couple of years,” Tom says.
Nate’s move to Tennessee, where he now leads the Nashville division, was part of that groundwork. The team already has projects underway, backed by partnerships with architects, subcontractors, and local stakeholders. Tom sees Nashville as a chance to bring that same Potter Homes standard north. “We felt there was a gap. We wanted to bring a high-end experience to the client and deliver the finished details these discerning homeowners expect. Everything is being received just as we hoped,” Tom observes.
Alongside the Tennessee launch, Potter Homes Florida is preparing several waterfront residences, a multi-home development, a major renovation in downtown Naples, and a teardown-and-rebuild project. This growth is happening against a calmer backdrop, as the pandemic-driven migration and hurricane recovery of recent years give way to steadier ground. Tom’s focus now is long-term: strengthening operations, developing talent, and growing both offices.
“I’m excited about what’s ahead as we keep pressing into our systems, processes, and strategic initiatives. We want Potter Homes to be known for high service and strong relationships. We want to walk alongside our clients, create their dream homes, and provide transparency and trust every step of the way,” Tom concludes.
At the center of every project and every change is a simple goal: build exceptional homes and nurture the connections that will shape Potter Homes’ future.