Q&A with Trey Hopper, VP of Operations
- What is Hopper Communities’ biggest strength as a Charlotte home builder?
Our biggest strengths are our size and family mindset. We are a small- to medium-sized home builder in Charlotte, depending upon how you define that. We are larger than your typical custom builder, but smaller than the publicly traded production home builder.
We have the automated processes of a large builder. We do our own estimates, buy much of our own materials, and automate the build process through an online builder portal. We also operate like a smaller builder in that each project is custom designed to fit the neighborhood it is in. We have done modern homes in Southend, Craftsman homes in historic Wesley Heights, and farmhouse homes in Ballantyne. We have an in-house architect who can quickly draw up new elevations to fit different parts of town.
Our family mindset is our other strength. The entire company meets for lunch on Tuesday to foster a collaborative work environment. Weekly Monday meetings set the pace for the week, and everyone works together to accomplish goals established in the meeting. We are all rowing the boat in the same direction and celebrating together when we finish a new community. - What trends do you see taking shape in the homebuilding industry/Charlotte real estate market in 2026?
The market is increasingly moving towards move-up buyers, so we are adapting and have new communities in the pipeline that cater to these buyers. Many of these buyers purchased their homes 7–8 years ago and have seen their home values increase, but are looking for less maintenance, such as landscaping included in the HOA, and newer, more modern finishes, such as open-concept living and work-from-home spaces.
- How do you determine which neighborhoods are the best fit for Hopper Communities to build homes? What about locations for land development projects?
This decision is a huge part of our business. Being on the vertical team, I want to build on every piece of dirt we touch. But the truth is, some projects don’t fit the Hopper Communities mold for vertical construction. For projects we plan to build ourselves, we generally assess the site’s location first. We typically build townhomes in desirable areas where there are things you can walk to nearby. We have built all around the light rail stations in the Southend and LoSo areas. We also built in Davidson, NC, because the downtown is one of the best in the state. We are excited to be part of its very unique culture and vibe. For projects involving the development and sale of lots to other builders, we assess nearby schools and the pricing of comparable homes sold by large builders in the area. The area’s average home sales price is a major factor in the decision whether to sell lots to other builders. We have a good relationship with many of the national builders and understand what they are looking for before we purchase property.
- What specific, unique value/quality sets your homes apart from other builders in the area?
There are a lot of things that set Hopper Communities homes apart from other builders, but my favorite is that we design all our homes in-house. I have really enjoyed designing the homes we build, from the inside floor plan to the exterior elevation. For me, it is like painting, and I really didn’t know I would enjoy “painting” as much as I have the last couple of years. When we started, we hired outside architects, and they did much of the “painting” with Hopper Communities weighing in on overall concepts. Recently, we have hired our own architect, so the “paintbrush” is only an office away, and I have really enjoyed being a larger part of the design process. Hopper’s architect and I obsess over every detail from so many different points of view—the homeowner who will live there, the construction team who will build it, the purchasing team who will find the right materials, and the trade partners who put it together. It’s fun to plan it out on paper and then watch it come to life.
- What is a typical home-buying process timeline for a Hopper Communities home?
We offer both move-in-ready homes and to-be-built (TBB) homes. The process and timeline are very different between these options. For move-in-ready homes, the home is already complete, so we can close it quickly. As fast as a week, but typically it takes 30–45 days for mortgage companies to do their work. For our TBB homes, the buyer selects each and every option in their home. This is their opportunity to make the home feel like just theirs, and they will be a part of the ride from foundation to final walkthrough. That process is generally around 6 months, but it depends on the home they select. Both types of buyers will have one sales agent they work with exclusively throughout the process. It’s nice to have one point of contact for any and all updates or questions. When the home is ready, the buyer will have a walkthrough with one of Hopper Communities’ superintendents to learn about some of the unique features, water and power shutoff locations, and do a final quality control check on the home. Every home is inspected by a Hopper Communities manager before this walkthrough. Every home is signed off as complete by the buyer before they move in.
- What is a move-in-ready home? And who are they best suited for?
A move-in-ready home is one we have already completed, and you can move into quickly. These homes are best suited for a buyer looking to move out of their apartment before their lease renews or for a buyer selling their current home. The home is completed, and all the finishes can be seen in person. The cabinet color, countertop style, and hardwood selections have been made by our sales team, so you know it looks good!
- What are some of the major takeaways or lessons you’ve learned over the years in homebuilding?
My dad is the founder and President of Hopper Communities, and he could tell you a lot about surviving the Great Recession and some of the life lessons he learned during that time. I am very proud of him for starting Hopper Communities and surviving that tough time when many other companies didn’t. Things are always changing in this industry but he always likes to say that if it was easy, everyone would do it.
Charlotte has made building more and more challenging by creating new hoops to jump through. We are professional hoop jumpers now that we have the hang of it, but it was challenging the first time.
- What goals do you have in mind for Hopper Communities in 2026 and beyond?
For 2026, we are launching our first single-family-home community. I am very excited to share everything we have worked so hard on, but I think the sales and marketing team has it locked down until they are ready for the big reveal. It’s killing me not to share the floor plans and elevations, but I’d better listen to them. Looking beyond 2026, I would like Hopper Communities to continue to grow in the Charlotte market and become a solidly medium-sized builder of townhomes and single-family homes. It is nice to be diversified and hit multiple buyer profiles. I also want Hopper Communities to remain the family-focused company we have always been, and to grow locally so we can support our current employees, and hopefully some new ones, professionally and personally. My faith is very important to me, and people who work here know I am always available to help them find their way because we exist to do more than build houses.
