6 One of Us
Ponte Vedra Recorder · October 29, 2015
Where are you from originally?
I’m originally from Charlottesville, Virginia, and I ended up down here because
I attended Flagler College. I moved back
to Jacksonville a long time ago after college. I was with a corporation, MCI, for
13 years and then I started a company in
Atlanta called the Condo Store. I sold that
after seven years and opened up Lifestyles
here. I just recently moved back and
started the Condo Group.
Your online bio calls Jacksonville
your true home?
It’s always been my home. In my heart,
it’s my home. I got back from Charlottesville and I couldn’t wait to get back
to warm weather. I’ve always considered
this home. My mother lived here for a
long time and was a member of the Ponte
Vedra Club. It’s just natural. All my friends
are here. This has always been my hub, I
guess.
What is your role at The Condo Group?
I’m the principal of the Condo Group.
I have Kathy Browning who is my vice
president and principal. I’m the sales leg
and she’s the marketing leg. We manage
everything from concept to closing – from
when they have the idea and they’re looking at the land to the closing. We look at
finish levels. We help with crown molding, granite, condo docks, sales and marketing materials, inventory control – every
aspect of the condominium offering, we
are involved in it. It’s extremely processoriented.
What’s different about this
from your past businesses?
My other company was huge; Lifestyles
was 450 people in 11 cities over five
states. I had speech writers – I had all that
stuff – and I don’t want that this time. I
want to get involved in every project and
I don’t want to leave North Florida. I want
to do a great job here and be well-known
for doing a great job here in Florida.
Tell me about this project, The Palazzo
on St. Johns.
This was a takeover from another company not from Jacksonville.
Michael W. Bugg
is the founder and principal
of The Condo Group in Jacksonville Beach – but his history with real estate is
much longer and more storied than that. Bugg founded The Condo Store and
Piedmont Brokers in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1993. The company was the first of its
kind specializing in resale as well as new home sales, and quickly became a
driving force in the burgeoning condominium market in Atlanta. Bugg returned
to Jacksonville in 2001 to open Lifestyles Realtors. A Flagler graduate, Bugg has
been very involved in The Flagler Alumni Association and has contributed to an
annual Student Scholarship for students recognized for their outstanding “Entrepreneurial Studies.” He is also involved in Doctors Without Borders, First Start for
Women and a member of St. Mark’s Methodist Church.
— Kelly H. McDermott
The Recorder
Does it make a difference being based
in Jacksonville?
Absolutely. We’re very different – we’re
a small town. Large companies come in
and they throw in things that really are
not our town. The community involvement is essential here – that’s how the
word gets out. They just didn’t know Jacksonville and they weren’t getting traffic.
What do you like to do for fun?
I love architecture. I love remodeling
houses and building houses. Real estate
has always been an enormous joy. It’s not
even work to me. I like design and architecture. I love taking an ugly duckling and
making it beautiful. I walk a lot and I’m
running again – but I don’t have tons of
interests other than my work!