Pictured: Together, John Cannon and Wayne Visbeen hope to expand their work on waterfront homes across the Gulf Coast of Florida. Photo courtesy of John Cannon Homes

John Cannon Homes, a luxury custom homebuilder based in Lakewood Ranch, recently announced a collaboration with Wayne Visbeen of Visbeen Architects, a firm specializing in custom residential and commercial design. Together, the two aim to enhance design efficiency, streamline construction and expand their portfolio of custom waterfront homes across Florida’s west coast.

John Cannon Homes sets itself apart with an in-house team of residential and interior designers, allowing them to streamline the building and design process. Visbeen will collaborate with this team on floor plans and exterior designs to create exactly what clients imagine for their future homes.

John Cannon, chief executive officer and president of John Cannon Homes, says his firm has formed long-term relationships with vendors, allowing them to purchase materials in bulk and provide clients with fixed pricing. The partnership with Visbeen brings further cost savings by consolidating design and architecture into one integrated process. “We're saving people a substantial amount compared to what they would pay with a typical architectural firm and the process of hiring an architect to do drawings,” Cannon says.

Visbeen, whose career began designing lakefront homes in Michigan, was impressed by Cannon’s extensive waterfront experience. “I saw John Cannon Homes as a Lakewood Ranch custom homebuilder. What I didn't know was that they were, and have been, the largest custom homebuilder in Sarasota, and have done over 250 waterfront homes,” he says. That realization sparked the idea for a partnership—one that extends beyond efficiency to shared ambition. The two now hope to expand their firms’ work on waterfront homes, spanning from St. Petersburg down to Punta Gorda.

Following a particularly challenging 2024 hurricane season, Cannon notes that all of their homes are built to be hurricane-resistant. He noticed last year that homes his firm had built sustained little to no damage, regardless of location. However, Cannon and Visbeen see an opportunity to rebuild in areas that suffered significant damage. “A lot of people’s homes, unfortunately, didn't come through. It's sad, but now we're seeing a tremendous opportunity for people who want to get on the water, because a lot of former residents are choosing not to rebuild or can't afford it,” Cannon says.

Looking ahead, Visbeen is optimistic. “We'll be able to take the homes in Florida, in Sarasota especially, to the next level, and certainly for less money,” Visbeen says. “If clients can get more for less and still have all the quality of my design and Cannon’s incredible quality of building, there's not going to be a team like us. We're going to be unstoppable.”

Pictured: Together, John Cannon and Wayne Visbeen hope to expand their work on waterfront homes across the Gulf Coast of Florida. Photo courtesy of John Cannon Homes