Brandon Carrero
Shelter. It’s one of the fundamental needs of every human being. Beyond that visceral need, however, we long for a place to call “home.” Unfortunately, with each passing year, housing seems to become more and more unaffordable. Even for those who can afford the price of an average home in the United States, many people cannot qualify for a mortgage loan. Until now, the only other option was to rent, and too often, rental payments are as much or more than a mortgage.
Thankfully, Brandon Carrero is disrupting that status quo with two companies that are changing everything people know about homeownership. Founded in 2021 with locations in Miramar, Florida, and Corpus Christi, Texas, Boxx Builder Corporation (www.boxxbuilder.com) is melding luxury with affordability with their high-quality, innovative container homes. Touted as “The Homebuilder for Today’s Generation,” they are turning renters into homeowners.
In their inaugural year, Boxx Builder was featured on ABC, CBS, and NBC and presold their first line of Amore homes, achieving over a million dollars in revenues. At the start of 2022, they’d already received presale deposits, representing over $2 million in projected sales, from customers eager to own a Boxx Builder container home. And, with his second company, Carrero Mortgage Advisors, Brandon is helping buyers to finance their purchases.
Carrero Mortgage Advisors, NMLS 1734670 (www.carreromortgage.com) equal housing lender, specializes in both residential and commercial mortgages, as well as construction finance, and both portfolio and private investor mortgages. The company was voted the 2021 Top Mortgage Company in Hollywood Florida by expertise.com. With conventional and alternative financing options, they’ve not only assisted Boxx Builder clients but a throng of other buyers, to the tune of around $100 million in closed loans. As Brandon says, they “Run the gamut of lending.”
“By combining the services of Boxx and Carrero, we provide a fully integrated approach to designing, building, and financing, as well as assisting our realtor partners in the process,” Brandon says. “We’re looking to address the affordable housing crisis in America by providing superior, high-quality container homes at a price that’s attainable for everybody, which we are very excited about!”
It seems that Brandon has done what few others have been able to—he’s delivered a high-quality, long-lasting home that consumers can be proud of while making it affordable and attainable in a market where those options are nonexistent. And, more impressively, he didn’t do it for personal gain.
With his reputation in the real estate and mortgage industries, Brandon could have started a firm specializing in glistening, multibillion-dollar high-rises. He could have launched a company that served only the uber-wealthy, with palatial gardens and mansions that harken to Italian villas, tucked far away from the “people.” Instead, driven by the benevolence of faith and the kind of expertise that only comes with a veteran of his stature, Brandon set out to serve the heart of the nation—mainstream homebuyers. And he’s on a mission to deliver the American Dream into the hands of all.
The average price of a Boxx home is just $219K, versus the U.S. median home cost of $360K, and most units boast 1,440 square feet, 3 bedrooms, and 2 baths. To put this in perspective, the mortgage payment for the average Boxx home is about 40% less than that of the U.S median home. Based on extensive multiyear research, Boxx has developed a proprietary construction methodology that easily allows the addition of square footage as the homeowners’ needs grow. To boot, a box home features upgrades from Tesla, Google Nest, Amazon Ring, Apple, and more.
We spoke with Brandon to learn more about Boxx Builder and Carrero Mortgage Advisors, and their combined efforts to make homeownership a reality for those who had previously only dreamed of it.
Brandon, where did the idea for Boxx Builder come from?
We’re just trying to do good things—for our clients, for our employees, for humanity. I knew I had to do something when, as a loan officer, I qualified people for mortgages. I’d speak with hard-working people who wanted to buy but could not afford the cost of a decent home. I thought, “There’s got to be a better way. How can we bring housing costs down and meet the needs and budgets of the average American?” I couldn’t stand not being able to help, so I did something about it.
How does Carrero Mortgage Advisors complement Boxx Builder?
I wanted to build a team and a business from scratch that I could be proud of. After all, what good is 19 years of knowledge if I can’t use it to help others? I’m a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist, so I put a mortgage plan in place to help Boxx Builder buyers become homeowners. My team and I work with all different types of credit and life situations. Our mantra is, “Everyone is qualified, it’s just a matter of work and time.”
Are you seeing increasing demand for Boxx Builder homes?
Yes, the scalability factor is generating great interest, making a Boxx home personal yet affordable for homebuyers. For example, our fifth unit was sold to someone who is disabled, so we modified it by lowering the counters and customizing the entryway. Housing needs are changing—more people are cohabitating and multigenerational houses are becoming the norm. Our additional housing unit, or ADU, allows owners to easily increase their living spaces. Even if the primary residence is not a Boxx home, one can be added to the property. Through this feature, we’re disrupting the housing market, and that’s what makes us special.
How serious is the housing shortfall and how are you addressing it?
The estimated shortage of homes is currently at 5.5 million and is expected to outpace available supply over the next 20 years if home building continues at the same rate. Approximately less than 7% of new home construction falls into the starter home category, which is at a 50-year low. Starter homes just aren’t being built. Most developers are building houses that are well outside the financial reach of a good portion of the population. There’s such a divide in that and that’s not okay. We’re really trying to reintroduce the starter home, while also making it luxurious and affordable.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
As a man of faith, I’m driven to serve, both personally and professionally. A lot of people come to me because I’m a mortgage specialist. When things go south for them, I’ll find a way. I’m driven by the challenge. Sometimes I feel like I’m in surgery, operating on a deal to save it. Other times, I’m in mortgage court, advocating on behalf of my clients to the underwriter. That’s my day. That’s what I do. That’s why I love helping others.
Brandon is a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist (CMPS) and holds an MBA with a concentration in real estate.
Brandon Carrero, NMLS 314143
Co-Founder and CEO of Boxx Builder Corporation & Carrero Mortgage Advisors
