“You don’t have to build the biggest, baddest, sexiest house on the block to run a profitable business.”

That’s the perspective of Trent Waldrop (aka The Country Builder), a Mississippi-based builder who’s made a career out of delivering semi-custom homes for everyday families. While many builders chase luxury projects with million-dollar price tags, Trent and True Craft Builders have carved out a niche serving a market that’s often overlooked: middle-class families who want a solid, affordable home built on their land.

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And he’s proving it can be done profitably.

A Builder for the People

Trent didn’t start out as a homebuilder. His path ran through architecture school, civil engineering, and even the car business before he eventually found himself building his own barndominium in 2012. Long before the term “barndominium” had gone viral, neighbors were knocking on his door just to get a look.

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That curiosity turned into demand, and eventually, a business. But unlike many builders who dream of luxury portfolios, Trent stayed focused on entry-level custom and semi-custom homes in the $200,000–$400,000 range. Why? Because he relates to his clients.

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“I grew up around welders, machinists, HVAC techs- people who work hard and want a home they can be proud of. Those are my people,” he says.

Profitability at Any Price Point

One of the big misconceptions about “affordable” homes is that they can’t be profitable. But Trent knows the numbers tell a different story.

• Margins matter: Even at lower price points, he aims for 10–12% net margin, often landing closer to 18%.
• Tight tracking is non-negotiable: On smaller homes, missing even $5,000 in costs can wipe out profitability. That means every expense (from anchor bolts to appliances) gets captured and billed.
• Better estimating = fewer overruns: In the last 10 homes, Trent hasn’t exceeded a 10% financing contingency, giving him the confidence to move back toward fixed-price contracts.

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As he puts it: “When you’re building a lower-margin product, you’ve got to track it like a hawk.”

Serving an Underserved Market

Trent’s buyers aren’t looking for marble floors or six-car garages. They’re young couples, teachers, factory workers- people who often start out considering a manufactured home until they realize they can afford something better.

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This market is huge, especially in rural areas where family land is common. And the payoff isn’t just for Trent’s business, it’s for his clients too.

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Many of his homeowners move in with six figures of equity right out of the gate. That’s not just a house; that’s generational wealth being created.

Why It’s Worth It

Trent admits he’s not rolling up to job sites in brand-new trucks or running a fleet of equipment. He stays lean, watches every penny, and keeps his focus squarely on delivering a product his customers need.

The reward? The satisfaction of handing the keys to a young family who thought they’d never own a new home.

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As he says: “It’s mainly about putting people in houses who didn’t think they could afford one. That’s what keeps me going.”

The Bigger Picture

At a time when the U.S. faces housing shortages, affordability crises, and rising interest rates, builders like Trent are showing that there’s another path forward. One that’s about meeting people where they are, building homes that last, and running lean, profitable businesses that don’t rely on inflated bids or endless change orders.

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And with trends like homesteading, smaller homes, and higher-quality materials gaining traction, Trent might just be ahead of the curve.

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