Spotlight On: Michelle Esposito Young, Director of Developer Services, Michael Saunders & Company

Key points:

• Michael Saunders & Company is expanding its West Coast footprint through mixed-use, luxury, and developer-led projects ahead of the next cycle.

• An integrated residential, developer services, and commercial platform allows the firm to support the full real estate life cycle.

• Talent, service culture, and deep community engagement remain central to sustaining long-term growth.

January 2026 — Invest: sat down with Michelle Esposito Young, director of developer services at Michael Saunders & Company, to discuss the firm’s expanding West Coast footprint, its integrated residential, developer and commercial platform, and how it is positioning for the next cycle. “Ultimately, what we offer is a total package: an integrated team that understands every stage of the real estate life cycle,” she said.

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Over the past year, what developments have most shaped Michael Saunders & Company and its role across the Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida markets?

Even in a year when parts of the real estate environment were slower, it was a period of meaningful change and growth for us. New development and pre-construction planning have been part of our DNA since we were founded with a new-construction project on Longboat Key, and they remain central to our strategy.

In the Tampa Bay area, we have served as the listing broker of record for The Residences at 400 Central in St. Petersburg for about four years. That full-block, mixed-use community — with office, retail and 301 luxury residences — has given us a deep understanding of the St. Pete and Tampa markets. Building on that, we are opening our own brokerage office at 400 Central, with a secondary office under way because interest from local agents has been strong enough that we are already planning for additional space.

At the same time, we have continued expanding south into other growth hubs along the West Coast. We opened in Wellen Park, a major master-planned community in the Sarasota–Tampa Bay region, and extended our presence into the Sanibel, Captiva, and Fort Myers markets. All of this is happening in a region that is seeing sustained demand in both residential and commercial real estate, creating a more continuous luxury footprint from Naples up through Sarasota and toward Tampa. Our focus is to be slightly ahead of that curve so that when the next upswing arrives, our people, offices, and projects are already in place.

How are you approaching talent attraction and retention across your developer services business and the broader Michael Saunders & Company platform?

Real estate is fundamentally a people business, and our model relies on the quality of our agents and staff. Across our divisions — general real estate, new construction and commercial — we are approaching 750 agents, supported by a professional staff. Most agents are independent contractors to us, but they are central to the brand, so our first priority is maintaining consistent standards and culture across every office and division.

We are very intentional about the type of talent we attract. The people who thrive here are knowledgeable, service-oriented, and committed to continuous learning. We offer robust training and mentoring so that agents and staff can deepen their expertise while staying current with technology and client expectations. That commitment to development is a key reason experienced professionals seek us out when we open new offices.

We certainly value real estate experience, yet many of our strongest hires come from the hospitality sector. I began my career in luxury hospitality before moving into advertising, development and, ultimately, this side of the business. That background trains you to be relentlessly focused on service and solutions — you are always asking how to make something happen rather than why it cannot be done. This mindset is what Michael Saunders & Company is looking for, and that makes us successful.

Technology is also a key part of the profile. This is a 24/7 business, and clients expect responsive, data-driven advice, so we need people who are comfortable with the tools that support that. At the same time, some roles require a strong in-person presence. Like many companies, we have had to find the right balance in the post-COVID environment between flexibility and the on-site collaboration that complex transactions demand.

In commercial real estate, we are actively recruiting seasoned advisors with deep, boots-on-the-ground knowledge of the Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida markets. When you combine that caliber of commercial advisor with our developer services and residential platforms, it creates a talent ecosystem that supports the full life cycle of a project.

What are the most important trends you are seeing in Tampa Bay’s real estate and development markets right now?

On the commercial side, the strongest growth has been in retail and medical. Population migration into the Tampa Bay region has driven steady demand for neighborhood retail and healthcare services. Industrial has also been an important part of the story, supported by the ports in the Tampa area and regional highway connectivity. More recently, some older industrial products have begun to soften as newer facilities come online, so there is a clear quality distinction within that sector.

Mixed-use development, which has been a hallmark of the region’s urban evolution, has felt the impact of higher interest rates, construction-cost inflation, and financing uncertainty. Some projects were paused or slowed because the economics did not pencil out. The encouraging sign today is that interest rates are easing, construction costs are stabilizing, and both lenders and developers are adjusting to the “new normal” for materials. Today, we are seeing more developers move off the sidelines and re-engage in pre-development planning so they can be ready to launch over the next several seasons.

On the residential side, migration patterns have shifted in ways that are very favorable to Florida’s West Coast. Historically, this region drew heavily from the Midwest and Toronto. During COVID we saw a pronounced influx from the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic and other major metros. Many people may first experience Florida through Miami or Fort Lauderdale, but increasingly they discover the West Coast and choose to make Tampa Bay or Sarasota their home base.

Another major trend is the rise of branded residences. Sarasota was an early leader with the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota with private residences atop the hotel opening 2001. Michael Saunders & Company was the listing broker for this project and the next three Ritz-Carlton towers. The momentum behind luxury hospitality branded residences in our region including from Pendry and Waldorf Astoria in the Tampa–St. Pete corridor to St. Regis and Rosewood in Sarasota.

For many buyers, especially high-net-worth individuals, the hospitality flag signals a clear level of service, finishes and amenity programming. It is not always necessary to brand a spectacular waterfront location, but when you pair a strong site with a trusted brand that fits the market, it can be a powerful value driver.

Looking ahead two to three years, what are your top priorities for Michael Saunders & Company and for developer services specifically?

Across the company, our priorities center on growing the brand while keeping the agent and customer experience at the core of everything we do. That means continuing to invest in tools, training and leadership that help our people perform at a high level, regardless of whether they sit in general real estate, developer services or commercial.

From a market perspective, we will keep deepening our presence along Florida’s West Coast. We have already worked on projects from North Tampa down to Fort Myers on the new-construction side, and as we open more offices in those markets, it reinforces our position as the West Coast leader in luxury brokerage. That leadership extends across new development, general brokerage and commercial, which is important because our clients increasingly think about their portfolios holistically.

Within developer services, our goal is to be at the table as early as possible, helping developers with site selection, highest-and-best-use analysis, product positioning and go-to-market strategy. My background on the developer and agency sides, combined with colleagues who have run major new-development platforms in other gateway markets, gives us the perspective to add value well before a sales gallery opens.

Ultimately, what we offer is a total package: an integrated team that understands every stage of the real estate life cycle and a brand that has spent nearly five decades setting and maintaining a high standard on Florida’s West Coast. Over the next few years, our focus is on strengthening that platform, expanding thoughtfully into growth markets and continuing to deliver the level of service and execution that our clients and agents expect.

How does community engagement continue to shape your identity as a company, and are there any recent initiatives or milestones you’re particularly proud of?

Giving back to the communities we serve and call home has always been a top priority for Michael Saunders & Company. The MSC Foundation was founded in 2011 and has awarded more than $1.5 million to over 200 non-profit organizations including programs focused on youth, family, homeless and mental health services as well as at-risk arts programs. Fully funded by employees, our agents and our leadership, the Foundation has improved the lives of thousands of people across Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, Pinellas, and Lee Counties.  

Beyond the Foundation, we step in where needed! Even as our own brokerage offices were shut down due to damage from the hurricanes, our entire company pitched in to establish meal sites and help neighbors with clean-up. Every branch office opened its doors as needed — from WiFi to water — to serve their local community. This is the true spirit of Michael Saunders.

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