A builder who thinks beyond square footage.
In Naples, a recent afternoon looked less like a corporate volunteer effort and more like neighbors helping neighbors. Inside a local thrift store, GL Homes volunteers worked alongside Youth Haven and St. Matthew’s House, sorting donated items that would support families transitioning into stable housing. The effort was tied to the company’s “Good Night’s Sleep” program, which provides essential household items to individuals moving out of homelessness.
It was simple work, but the impact extended far beyond the room.
For Misha Ezratti, president of GL Homes, this reflects what homebuilding should look like beyond construction. His approach has helped shape a company mindset where development does not just end at move-in, but extends into how the communities function long after residents arrive.
Across Florida, that philosophy shows up in how GL Homes communities are designed, planned, and connected to the people who live in them.
The Ezratti family legacy and GL Homes’ founding.
That way of thinking has deep roots in how GL Homes was founded nearly 50 years ago and has evolved over time.
GL Homes was established by Itzhak Ezratti, who built the company around a simple idea: homes matter most when they create lasting communities. What began as a Florida homebuilder has grown into one of the state’s most established residential developers, known for large-scale, master-planned communities shaped by long-term vision.
From the beginning, the focus was not only on construction volume, but also on how neighborhoods function and how a community develops over time.
That foundation was passed down through experience. Misha Ezratti began his career at GL Homes as a construction superintendent, working on job sites and learning the building process firsthand before advancing through the organization. That path shaped his understanding of how each stage of development connects.
Today, as president, Misha Ezratti carries that foundation forward, maintaining continuity in values while responding to Florida’s population growth and housing demand.
Misha Ezratti’s leadership philosophy: building with long-term vision.
At the center of Misha Ezratti’s leadership is a planning philosophy that begins before construction starts. GL Homes’ smart planning process evaluates each site’s geography, environmental conditions, and natural features, often preserving green space and integrating mature trees into community layouts when possible.
Across communities, stormwater systems and lakes are designed for both function and environmental balance. These systems include littoral zones, native landscaping, and hydrozoning techniques that support water conservation and ecological health.
This planning approach also shows up in daily life. In Riverland in Port St. Lucie, the Paseo Greenway is a more than 5-mile eco-friendly pathway that connects neighborhoods, parks, and amenities through a traffic-free system of landscaped trails, allowing residents to move through the community on foot, bike, or golf cart.
Rather than treating connectivity as an add-on, it is built into the structure of the community itself, with amenities like fitness centers, walking trails, and clubhouses integrated into that network to encourage daily interaction.
As GL Homes often notes, a home is just the beginning. Under Misha Ezratti’s leadership, communities are designed as connected environments built for long-term livability.
Beyond homes: GL Homes’ mixed-use expansion
As Florida’s population growth continues to reshape how communities are planned, Misha Ezratti’s approach has focused on integrating residential living with retail, dining, and essential services. That strategy is reflected in GL Homes’ Apex at Avenir community in Palm Beach Gardens.
At the center of Avenir is a planned mixed-use town center featuring more than 200,000 square feet of retail, dining, and office space designed to serve both residents and the surrounding area. The development is intentionally pedestrian-friendly and golf-cart accessible, reinforcing a connected “live-work-play” environment rather than a traditional suburban layout.
A Publix supermarket, now open, serves as a primary anchor, with additional restaurants, shops, and commercial tenants planned throughout the broader town center. Over time, the surrounding Avenir area is also expected to include expanded commercial space, civic infrastructure, and supporting amenities such as a fire station and charter school, further embedding daily necessities within the community framework.
The philanthropy imperative: GL Homes’ three pillars.
Beyond development, Misha Ezratti’s leadership is reflected in GL Homes’ philanthropic framework, focused on three pillars: breaking the cycle of homelessness, combating hunger and supporting children and education.
Homelessness support includes partnerships with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County, where donated furniture, appliances, and materials are redirected to help families transition into stable housing. Programs like “Make a House a Home” extend this effort by turning surplus resources into essential household items.
Hunger relief efforts include ongoing partnerships with Feeding South Florida, Harry Chapin Food Bank, and St. Matthew’s House, supporting food distribution across the state through both donations and employee volunteer efforts.
Education initiatives include “Read with Me” with the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County, which provides literacy support and books to elementary students, along with broader partnerships with Boys & Girls Clubs across Florida.
What the Valencia brand means for active adult living in Florida.
The Valencia brand has become closely associated with active adult living in Florida, reflecting a 55+ lifestyle built around connection, convenience, and daily engagement.
Valencia communities are located across key Florida markets, including Naples, Fort Myers, Tampa, Boynton Beach, and Port St. Lucie, positioning residents near established areas with access to dining, healthcare, and recreation.
At the center of each community is a large clubhouse that serves as a social hub, offering resort-style amenities, fitness facilities, and a steady calendar of clubs, classes, and events led by a dedicated lifestyle team. Homes are also designed for low-maintenance living, with open layouts, flexible spaces, and features that support long-term comfort.
The latest community coming soon, Valencia Vista at Riverland in Port St. Lucie, expands this model within a larger master-planned setting, adding new home designs and an enhanced clubhouse experience.
Together, the Valencia brand reflects Misha Ezratti’s approach to 55+ living, where community design, amenities, and programming are integrated to support an active and connected lifestyle.
Industry recognition and what it signals.
Misha Ezratti’s leadership has been recognized with honors, including being named a South Florida Business Journal Power Leader and Ultimate CEO. While not the focus of the company’s strategy, these awards reflect broader industry recognition of GL Homes’ long-term, community-driven development model.
They reinforce a consistent approach aligned with Florida’s ongoing population growth and housing demand.
The road ahead: Misha Ezratti’s vision for GL Homes in 2026 and beyond.
Looking ahead, GL Homes continues to expand its communities across Florida, with a focus on master-planned developments that integrate residential living with amenities, infrastructure, and long-term planning. As demand for housing remains strong, the emphasis is increasingly on creating communities that balance growth with livability.
Under Misha Ezratti’s leadership, smart planning remains central to that direction. This includes continued investment in environmentally conscious design, thoughtful land use, and community layouts that prioritize connectivity and quality of life. New and upcoming communities are expected to build on this foundation, reflecting both current housing needs and longer-term demographic trends across the state.
What Florida real estate can learn from GL Homes.
Florida’s housing market continues to evolve under sustained population growth and changing buyer expectations. Within that environment, GL Homes offers a clear example of how large-scale homebuilding can adapt while maintaining long-term focus.
Under Misha Ezratti’s leadership, development is defined not only by homes built but also by how communities function over time. From planning and amenities to infrastructure and lifestyle programming, the emphasis remains on creating environments where residents can live, connect, and stay long-term.
For the broader industry, the takeaway is clear: success in Florida real estate is increasingly defined not just by building more, but by building with purpose, integration, and longevity.
