By David Siracusa
In 2008, while much of America was watching financial markets collapse, my business partner, Kim Cecil, and I quietly opened the doors to a new venture on Highway 441 in Leesburg, Florida. The timing couldn’t have been worse to start a new business.
Lehman Brothers had just declared bankruptcy, and the housing market was in freefall. But Kim and I had a different perspective. We always believed that people save their whole lives to retire in the sun, and even in tough times, they’ll find a way to make it happen.
So, with a shoestring budget, some paintbrushes, and a lot of determination, we launched SunBelt Home Sales, Inc., also known as SunBelt Mobile Home Resales. One week after putting our name on the marquee, we sold our first home — a bank-owned property in Water Oaks Country Club Estates. The profits from that single sale funded our early marketing, and the momentum never stopped.
Teamwork at the Core
From the very beginning, I knew I wanted SunBelt to be different. We didn’t just want to call ourselves a team — we wanted to operate as a true group, where everyone took ownership of our work. Early on, we hired six agents, including one who would become our cornerstone: Ed Salvatore.
Ed’s persistence, professionalism, and commitment to clients set the tone for our company culture. His motto — “7 to 7, seven days a week” — still echoes through our office today. That mentality paid off. What started as a two-person operation has grown into one of Central Florida’s leading manufactured home resellers, recognized for professionalism, reliability, and outstanding customer service.
Changing Minds, Protecting Seniors
As the housing crisis progressed, people were losing their homes left and right. Many were forced into apartments and condos, unsure of what came next. Manufactured housing was often misunderstood — stigmatized by old terms like trailers or mobile homes. We knew that had to change.
During the housing crisis, Ed and I launched The Mobile Home Show, a weekly, one-hour radio program that ran for 10 years — well before social media and podcasts became common. More recently, we’ve launched the MHLive podcast. The goal, as always, is to educate the public, reshape perceptions, and highlight the new era of modern manufactured homes — safe, affordable, and built for long-term living.
Without social media, we relied on broadcast and community engagement as our voice. We invited insurance agents, financial advisers, and housing experts to speak directly to buyers. Our goal was always simple: tell the truth, protect seniors, and empower them to make informed choices.
We reminded people that owning a home — even one priced between $10,000 and $20,000 with a $600 monthly lot rent — could mean freedom, security, and community. We encouraged residents to plant flowers, take pride in their spaces, and build neighborhoods that felt like home. It wasn’t just about selling houses. It was about educating the public, rebuilding trust, and protecting seniors who deserved honesty and dignity. We emphasized buying over renting, as well as the individuality and freedom that home ownership provides.
A Smarter Way to Operate
While other brokerages boast hundreds of agents, I knew that a more focused approach would work better. Each of our agents works with one to three assistants, allowing them to manage more deals without compromising quality.
It’s not uncommon for multiple agents at SunBelt to have 10 or more deals going at once, and that wouldn’t be possible without our support team. This structure leads to fewer mistakes, faster closings, and a better customer experience. Our reputation backs it up — the 4.7-star rating associated with Google reviews, which reflects our consistent service and clear communication.
A Proven Process
• Our community liaison contacts clients to explain every step.
• Park approvals and any back fees are handled promptly.
• The closing agent prepares the title and escrow paperwork.
• Clients are updated at every milestone until the sale is complete.
This process reduces stress and inspires confidence—something we’ve refined over nearly two decades.
Diverse Services, One Trusted Partner
SunBelt Home Sales has grown far beyond traditional resales. Today, we offer a wide spectrum of services for both homeowners and community operators:
Our Services Include:
• Retail brokering of homes in communities
• New home sales for park and community owners
• Full setup and installation
• Rehab and teardown services
• Home purchasing for resale or relocation
• Title, escrow, and closing management
• Park inventory liquidation
• Selling communities (we’ve sold five in the past three years)
• Real estate services
This full-service approach makes us a go-to partner for park owners throughout Central Florida. If a park owner needs something done, we either handle it or know exactly who can get the work done.
Current Operations, Growth
SunBelt Home Sales is active across all of Central Florida in Lake, Marion, Sumter, Volusia, Osceola, Alachua, Citrus, Hernando, Hendry, Orange, and Seminole counties.
We’re proud to serve both private clients and community owners. We recently completed a large project with Roots Management in three Florida communities, selling approximately a great majority of their homes within the last year.
We’ve also partnered with American Dream Communities in their expansion into Florida from Texas, where we designed, ordered, installed, and closed 20 new homes. Between larger projects, we continue to assist independent park owners with smaller-scale home sales, typically three to 10 homes per community.
For community owners, the value of our service nearly pays for itself. Beyond sales, we bring a complete management, closing, and marketing infrastructure that increases velocity and improves results. Owners operating from out of state especially appreciate it.
Eighteen Years of Growth
It’s hard to believe nearly two decades have passed since Kim and I opened our first office in Central Florida. Since then, SunBelt Home Sales has grown into a respected regional leader, known for professionalism, integrity, and innovation.
We built this company one handshake, one home, and one happy client at a time. Our foundation is simple — hard work, communication, and treating people right. We sell homes for a living, but people are our business.
David Siracusa is co-owner of SunBelt Home Sales and brings decades of experience in hospitality and manufactured housing to the company’s leadership. After earning an associate degree in restaurant management from Morrisville College, his early career was with Marriott Hotels as a banquet and executive chef. He transitioned into manufactured housing with Four Star Homes and later worked with RPH Properties, collaborating directly with leadership to place new homes throughout Florida communities. In 2008, recognizing opportunity during a challenging market, David co-founded SunBelt Home Sales.
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