Homes Of The Future, With Alejandro Bonet
An Interview With Jason Hartman
Homebuilding in the US has indeed seen remarkable growth, and it’s exciting to be part of this evolution. One of the most noteworthy trends in recent years is the introduction of our innovative interior design concept, InteriorSelect. This technology enables buyers to virtually customize their homes, from flooring to lighting, in a user-friendly 3D platform. It’s a game-changer that empowers buyers to take creative control and streamline the design process.
As a part of our series about “Homes Of The Future”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Alejandro Bonet.
Alejandro Bonet co-founded LD&D in 2008 and has since overseen day-to-day operations, business development, and strategic partnerships.
Alejandro began his career in real estate. In 2005, he became a Partner at Ingenia Real Estate Group, a boutique real estate brokerage, where he led the firm’s investment department. Shortly thereafter, he co-founded LD&D, which has established itself as one of the leaders in design and development markets in South Florida, boasting a portfolio of over 600 custom construction projects.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
I hold both a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of Miami. I am a Licensed General Contractor as well.
Back in 2009 I saw a need in the market for a fully integrated interior design, architecture, and construction company — one with the capacity to oversee a project from beginning to end under the same management. My aim was to eliminate the notorious finger-pointing in the industry, which often negatively impacts clients.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Certainly, there have been several fascinating moments throughout my career. One of the most interesting stories that stands out is in 2016 when we were able to combine all of my experience and the company that I had developed since 2009, and joined forces with my brother who was bringing his more financial and institutional experience. This collaboration allowed us to start developing large real estate projects together, combining both of our experiences and knowledge.
This moment marked the convergence of two critical aspects in the real estate industry: the creative and innovative design and construction expertise, together with my brother’s strong financial acumen and institutional insights. It was a strategic alliance that synergized our respective strengths.
This collaboration has since borne fruit, with multiple ongoing projects across different cities, each reflecting our shared vision and the culmination of our combined experience.
Are you able to identify a “tipping point” in your career when you started to see success? Did you start doing anything different? Are there takeaways or lessons that others can learn from that?
I’d say there have been several tipping points at different moments in my career.
The first one was identifying a niche in the market in which there wasn’t much competition — a niche that would simplify the end-consumer’s life and make projects more efficient by having one company control and take responsibility for the entire project from start to finish.
I was also very fortunate when I asked my mother, a very talented interior designer, to be a partner in this new venture and lead the design department.
Secondly, we’ve been very successful at creating strategic partnerships with high-end condominium developers in South Florida, offering turnkey solutions to buyers in these developments. We’ve recently developed a first-of-its-kind personalized Home Configurator that we’ve named InteriorSelect, and we believe this will revolutionize the way developers offer custom and upgraded options to their buyers. We’ll talk more about this later.
The third important turning point was in 2016 when I joined forces with my brother, Diego Bonet, who previously worked at Goldman Sachs and Carlyle Group in their Real Estate group. In 2016, we opened our Real Estate development division, combining all of our design, construction, and institutional underwriting talents for this venture. Currently, we have six ongoing projects in Wynwood, Surfside, Palm Beach, Tampa, and Williamsburg, NY.
A key takeaway for success, in my opinion, is dedication to hard work, putting in countless hours, and always staying attuned to market dynamics. Being nimble and adaptable to seize new opportunities is essential.
Do you have a book, podcast, or talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us? Can you explain why it was so resonant with you?
One piece of content that significantly influenced my thinking was the book “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell. The concept of the “10,000-hour rule” and the idea that exceptional success often comes from a combination of talent, hard work, and opportunity resonated deeply with me. It reinforced my belief that sustained effort and dedication are essential in achieving success.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
One of my favorite life lesson quotes is, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” This quote has been highly relevant to my life and career. It emphasizes the connection between hard work and success, highlighting that diligence often leads to opportunities and positive outcomes. In my journey, I’ve witnessed firsthand how putting in the effort consistently has yielded fruitful results and opened doors to new possibilities.
Ok super. Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. Homebuilding in the US has grown tremendously. We’d love to hear about some of the new trends and techniques that are being used to build the homes of the future.
Homebuilding in the US has indeed seen remarkable growth, and it’s exciting to be part of this evolution. One of the most noteworthy trends in recent years is the introduction of our innovative interior design concept, InteriorSelect. This technology enables buyers to virtually customize their homes, from flooring to lighting, in a user-friendly 3D platform. It’s a game-changer that empowers buyers to take creative control and streamline the design process.
Imagine virtually stepping into your future home to hand-select flooring, window treatments, and detailed elements like lighting and trims, room by room, all with a click of a button.
Currently, this technology is only being offered for new residential developments. It will first be available at one of our current projects, Aria Reserve in Miami, FL. The cutting-edge, user-friendly platform empowers buyers to customize their future residence through a virtual 3D experience, allowing creative control that is input to LD&D’s design team in real-time. With access to their specific floorplan and the ability to save multiple versions, users can explore customization options before finalizing a complete, tailor-made design package — a curated concept we will then bring to life. Designers are also available to accommodate requests beyond the program’s selections.
I strongly believe that InteriorSelect is a game-changer for residence customization at properties looking to enhance the buyer experience. This is a win-win for developers and homeowners alike. Providing future dwellers complete control of their home design and the ability to fully immerse themselves in personalizing their space, in turn, allows our team to approach each resident’s vision effectively, efficiently, and creatively. This revolutionary technology will ensure homes are ready long before the move-in date, allowing a seamless and distinctive experience from the start.
Can you share with us a few of the methods that are being used to make homes more sustainable and more water and energy efficient?
Sustainability and energy efficiency are paramount in modern homebuilding. Some methods include the use of advanced insulation materials, energy-efficient appliances, and solar panel installations. Additionally, home automation systems help optimize energy usage by allowing homeowners to control lighting, heating, and cooling remotely.
There is a lot of talk about Smart Homes. Can you tell our readers a bit about what that is, what that looks like, and how that might help people?
A Smart Home is a residence equipped with connected devices and systems that can be remotely controlled and automated. These systems enhance convenience, security, and energy efficiency. For instance, homeowners can control lighting, thermostats, security cameras, and even appliances through a smartphone or voice commands. Smart Homes offer greater control, comfort, and energy savings.
Aside from Smart Homes, can you talk about other interesting tech innovations that are being incorporated into homes today?
I think InteriorSelect, as discussed above is a very innovative approach to the future of interior design and homes today.
We created this interface in partnership with Tecma Solutions, a digital real estate business platform, which enables residents to easily visualize their future living spaces, ensuring every detail meets their unique preferences, budget, and aesthetic taste.
With this technology, homeowners can select from an assortment of options per category, including lighting, flooring, wall color, windows, closets, and more. Additional upgrades include AV packages; home automation options; kitchen cabinetry and countertops with backsplash and waterfall selections; and custom doors.
How about actual construction materials? Are there new trends in certain materials to address changes in the climate, fires, floods, and hurricanes?
Yes, builders are increasingly using materials designed to withstand climate challenges. For instance, fire-resistant roofing materials and siding can help protect homes in fire-prone areas. Flood-resistant building techniques, including elevated foundations and flood barriers, are being employed to mitigate flood risks. Hurricane-resistant windows and reinforced concrete construction are also utilized in hurricane-prone regions such as Miami where my company LD&D is based.
For someone looking to invest in the real estate industry, are there exciting growth opportunities that you think people should look at more carefully?
Absolutely, real estate offers many diverse investment opportunities. Growth areas include investing in emerging markets with strong economic fundamentals. This has been one of our investment theses from day one.
Let’s talk a bit about housing availability and affordable housing. Homelessness has been a problem for a long time in the United States. But it seems that it has gotten a lot worse over the past five years, particularly in the large cities, such as Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, and San Francisco. Can you explain to our readers what brought us to this place? Where did this crisis come from?
The homelessness crisis in large cities has multiple causes, including rising housing costs, economic disparities, and limited affordable housing options. Home builders can contribute by partnering with government agencies and nonprofits to develop affordable housing solutions. For example, our Wynwood Haus development, which is slated to open next month, has a 40% affordable housing component and it’s located within a government created opportunity zone.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
If I could inspire a movement, it would be centered around sustainability and responsible development. This movement would encourage builders, developers, and policymakers to prioritize sustainable practices and create communities that are environmentally friendly, socially inclusive, and economically viable. It would aim to leave a positive impact on the planet and improve the quality of life for all.
How can our readers follow you online?
Yes, you can follow us on Instagram @ldnd_studio and LD&D on LinkedIn.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
About The Interviewer: Jason Hartman is the Founder and CEO of Empowered Investor. Jason has been involved in several thousand real estate transactions and has owned income properties in 11 states and 17 cities. Empowered Investor helps people achieve The American Dream of financial freedom by purchasing income property in prudent markets nationwide. Jason’s Complete Solution for Real Estate Investors™ is a comprehensive system providing real estate investors with education, research, resources and technology to deal with all areas of their income property investment needs. Through Jason’s podcasts, educational events, referrals, mentoring and software to track your investments, investors can easily locate, finance and purchase properties in these exceptional markets with confidence and peace of mind.
Starting with very little, Jason, while still in college at the age of 19, embarked on a career in real estate. While brokering properties for clients, he was investing in his own portfolio along the way. Through creativity, persistence and hard work, he earned a number of prestigious industry awards and became a young multi-millionaire. Jason purchased a California real estate brokerage firm that was later acquired by Coldwell Banker. He combined his dedication and business talents to become a successful entrepreneur, public speaker, author, and media personality. Over the years he developed his Complete Solution for Real Estate Investors™ where his innovative firm educates and assists investors in acquiring prudent investments nationwide for their portfolio. Jason’s sought after educational events, speaking engagements, and his popular “Creating Wealth Podcast” inspire and empower hundreds of thousands of people in 189 countries worldwide.
While running his successful real estate and media businesses, Jason also believes that giving back to the community plays an important role in building strong personal relationships. He established The Jason Hartman Foundation in 2005 to provide financial literacy education to young adults providing the all-important real world skills not taught in school which are the key to the financial stability and success of future generations. We’re in a global monetary crisis caused by decades of misguided policies and the cycle of financial dependence has to be broken, literacy and self-reliance are a good start. Visit JasonHartman.com for free materials and resources.
