The Best Custom Home Builders in Oregon

Last updated on July 22nd, 2024 at 02:20 pm

Building a custom home is a significant investment, and finding the right builder in Oregon is essential to ensure a smooth and successful project. A top-tier custom home builder has strong relationships with suppliers, enabling them to secure the best building materials, fixtures, and other requirements at favorable prices. This access to high-quality products and discounts ensures that your home will be built to the highest standards without compromising quality.

The market for custom homes is competitive in Oregon, where the population is approximately 4.24 million, and the median home value stands at $500,157. The cost of building a custom home in Oregon averages between $150,000 and $400,000, with high-end projects reaching up to $500,000. At an average cost of $68.64 per square foot, these projects represent a significant financial commitment, often taking up to 24 months to complete. Therefore, choosing the right builder is crucial to navigating the complexities and ensuring the best possible outcome for your investment.

This article will introduce you to some of the best home builders in Oregon. These builders are distinguished by their expertise, strong supplier relationships, and proven track records in delivering high-quality custom homes. Whether you’re envisioning a modern urban dwelling or a sprawling countryside retreat, these builders have the skills and connections to bring your dream home to life, ensuring every detail is meticulously crafted and tailored to your vision.

Overview: The Best Custom Home Builders in Oregon

See Ranking Methodology at the bottom of this article to learn more.

Pacwest Builders

170 SW Scalehouse Loop, Bend, OR  97702

Pacwest Builders has been redefining luxury for the Pacific Northwest’s residential construction market for two decades. Spencer Williams, a licensed architect and University of Oregon graduate, founded the firm and makes the design decisions that have put this team on top. Partner Steve Van Sant provides over 35 years of experience erecting large luxury communities.

Homes by Pacwest Builders, which cost up to $5M, can be found in Deschutes River Woods, Tumalo, Powell Butte, and Crosswater. Most show the firm’s skill at taking on challenges, such as building a home on the hillside at North Rim. Another typical build is a Black Butte estate with sound-insulated walls and a full-thick, stone-faced fireplace. Special luxury features on this home come from wrought iron grillwork on two stone fireplaces, beadboard details on the ceiling, and hand-scraped hickory floors. Pacwest Builders has won awards in all categories from the COBA Tour of Homes, including Best of Show and Best Architectural Design.

Riverdell Construction

3262 Old Stage Road, Central Point, OR 97502 

Riverdell Construction specializes in Energy Star-certified custom homes and green buildings, which have brought the company national recognition. Its founder and president, Matt Bryant, had yet to learn he would end up in the construction industry. He was an economics major at Oregon State University and used his Bachelor of Science to land corporate positions. He soon realized that he preferred working with his hands to sitting at a desk, so he pursued construction jobs and found them a good fit. 

Among the best custom home builders in Oregon, Riverdell Construction made national headlines in 2015 when Jim Belushi asked Bryant to build the comedian’s dream home along the Rogue River in Southern Oregon. For the project, Bryant worked with a DIY network crew to construct the timber-framed structure out of reclaimed materials used for the beams, siding, and roof. Throughout the process, Bryant and his team were filmed. They appeared on all six episodes of the DIY TV show Building Belushi.

Lifestyle Homes

PO Box 398, Bend, OR 97709 

Lifestyle Homes represents the newest trends in homebuilding philosophy. It is firmly rooted in systems that produce high-performing, eco-friendly homes that blend into the homeowner’s natural environment. President Mike Arnett is a Certified Master Builder (CMB). He learned the trade from his father, who ran Bear Construction, a residential contractor in Portland. Arnett started as a simple carpenter for his father and later became a construction supervisor. By 1991, he was ready to start his own firm.

Arnett’s designs range from classic Prairie to contemporary, Craftsman, and modern farmhouse. They are priced between $400k and over $2M. Regarding press coverage, Oregon Builder Magazine, Builder|Architect, Portland Business Journal, and The Oregonian have profiled Arnett as a leader of the green building movement. He is past president of the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Metropolitan Portland. The firm’s numerous awards include Best Single Family Home at $550k to $649k from Oregon Home Magazine. In 2008, Arnett was honored by the nonprofit Champions for Children for his work on renovating a shelter for abused teens.

Winsome Construction

520 Powerhouse Drive, Suite 628, Bend, OR 97702  

This insulated concrete form (ICF) home builder focuses on high performance and sustainable design. To date, Winsome Construction has completed over 25 ICF projects and ranks as one of the most experienced ICF builders in the state.

The firm is run by Shan and Wendy Stassens, husband and wife. Shan is from a carpenter family. His grandfather opened a construction firm in the 1940s and enjoyed several decades of success. Shan spent his childhood learning the trade before becoming a licensed contractor in 1990. Today, he is an active member of the HBA of Metropolitan Portland and the NAHB 20 Club. Wendy gained her sustainable design expertise from working with an internationally known green architect, Will McDonough, at the University of Virginia. Wendy later taught environmental engineering at the University of Mexico. She was the sustainability coordinator for Ashforth Pacific, a diversified real estate operating company that owns, develops, and invests in commercial and multifamily assets on the East and West Coasts.

Winsome Construction’s $1M to $10M+ homes are available in over 15 towns, including Bend, McMinnville, Portland, and the surrounding area, and the North Oregon Coast, including Pacific City. The firm’s net-zero and LEED Platinum-certified homes received an Energy Star Builder Award and attracted much local press.

Westlake Development Group

9206 SE Idleman Road, Happy Valley, OR 97086 

These top-performing custom home builders in Oregon have spent over three decades perfecting luxurious home designs and heading efforts to change how homes are built. Oregon native Gerald Rowlett opened this firm two decades ago. He landed in construction by accident. After high school, he took a job with a roofing company and then moved on to a position with a local remodeling firm. After he married, Rowlett purchased a small plot of land and built his own house — an experience he realized he could never tire of.Having successfully positioned itself among the leading custom home builders in Oregon, the firm has developed expertise in steep slope construction. Home prices range between $600k and $20M. The firm serves 24 communities, including Damascus, Happy Valley, Johnson City, Portland, and Battle Ground. Rowlett’s innovative designs have achieved national recognition. He was featured on the ABC TV show Made in America and The Wall Street Journal. Industry accolades include many Excellence Awards from HBA of Metropolitan Portland. In 2012, Rowlett founded the nonprofit Building a Better America Council to encourage homebuilders to use products made in America.

Adair Homes

3853 SW 21st Street, Redmond, OR 97756 

As the Pacific Northwest’s largest on-your-site homebuilder, Adair Homes believes it has solved two problems facing most of the region’s homeowners: the exorbitant costs of land and homebuilding. The company’s business model, known as the “Adair Home Building Concept,” intends to make custom-built homes affordable. 

Under this concept, which was introduced in 1969, the company sold new builds without requiring customers to invest out of pocket. Instead, the new homeowners would acquire about $20,000 of equity on move-in day. The company also builds on the client’s site so homeowners do not have to join a subdivision. The niche market has allowed the firm to sell over 17,000 homes and open 14 branches. Known as one of the preferred custom home builders in Oregon, the firm was featured in an article from PR Newswire.

Today, Adair Homes is run by President and CEO Byron Van Kley, a Michigan Technological University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Most of its homes blend modern and contemporary styles. A signature build offers a 3,500-square-foot structure with cathedral ceilings, winding staircases, and master suites on the main level.

Cellar Ridge Construction

109 NW 5th Street, McMinnville, OR 97128 

This McMinnville home builder was established two decades ago to become a market leader in green building and sustainable design in Oregon. Co-owner John Mead received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Oregon State University. His partner, Carson Benner, a former vice president of an international airline, brought senior management expertise to the team.

Cellar Ridge Construction works with sustainable building technology throughout its entire process, including water conservation, indoor air quality measures, and environmentally responsible source materials. A Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) is assigned to every new home build. The firm works throughout Yamhill County and the Portland metropolitan area, primarily in the Willamette Valley. It has twice received LEED Platinum certification and won Energy Star Home of the Year for the ” Passive House project project.” A renowned pick among the many Oregon custom home builders, the firm has a project featured in an article from Architect Magazine. Mead was recently profiled in Portrait of Portland for his expertise in crafting European-style villas with sustainable practices in wine country.   

Hammer and Hand

1020 SE Harrison Street, Portland, OR 97214 

Passive houses and high-performance construction are what motivates this high-profile “company of carpenters.” Hammer and Hand have been widely recognized for using cutting-edge technology and building science to erect new zero-energy, certified green builds. Technology has been a passion of founder and president Sam Hagerman ever since he studied construction technology at Reed College. When Hagerman started to assemble the Hammer and Hand team, he made knowledge of energy consumption processes a job requirement. Today, he employs CPHC personnel who are experts in energy-efficient construction. Hagerman is a current member and past president of the Passive House Alliance United States (PHAUS).   

This firm is known for structures like “Madrona House,” which has a rooftop solar system to provide most of the home’s energy. This and many other of the firm’s projects have been covered in Green Builder Magazine, Gray Magazine, and Curbed. Hammer and Hand’s substantial achievements include winning the Earth Advantage Green Home Builder of the Year and the Beyond Green Merit Award from the National Institute of Building Sciences. In 2016, the firm’s “Madrona House” received an award from the US Department of Energy.

Timberline Bend

1655 NE Lytle Street, Bend, OR 97701 

“True” green building is the goal for these Central Oregon custom home builders run by partners with 40 years of experience between them. James Fagan, SHP, did high-end new home construction for about two decades in San Francisco, where he worked with big-name architects like Mark Mack. After relocating to Oregon in the mid-1990s, Fagan met current partner Kristian Willman, who had owned a local roofing company and was project manager for a major Northwest housing developer. Sharing the same enthusiasm for building environmentally sustainable homes, the two formed this company 20 years ago.

Among the best Oregon custom home builders, Timberline Bend has added about 200 custom homes to its portfolio and garnered critical acclaim. An example is the project “Constructed Desert Rain Home.” Offering net-zero energy and net-zero water features with solar power, rainwater catchment, and recycled materials throughout, the project won the 2014 Earth Advantage Green Home Builder of the Year Award for having the lowest energy performance score (EPS). Other honors for this team include Central Oregon Builders Association (COBA) awards for Green Builder Home of the Year and Best Architectural Design in the $700k to $800k category. 

Hayden Homes

2464 SW Glacier Place, Redmond, OR 97756 

Thirty years of providing top-quality and affordable homes have made this construction company the largest privately owned and family-run homebuilder in the Pacific Northwest. Yet, its roots are in the Southeast. In the late 1980s, real estate developer and Virginia resident Robert Watson started building homes for middle-class families in his town. A few years later, Watson and his wife Virginia relocated their thriving business to Oregon and opened Hayden Homes with the same mission of “building better communities.”

Today, Hayden Homes estimates that it has given $2.5B to local economies in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington, creating about 5,500 jobs each year. Charitable giving remains at the core of its business model. Working with several nonprofits in the Pacific Northwest, Hayden Homes has given over $13.3M to philanthropic organizations. It also continues to construct value-driven homes, and it has a long list of industry accolades. In 2017 alone, several of the company’s Oregon projects received five COBA Awards for Best Feature, Best Interior Finish, and Best Kitchen in homes priced between $335k and $410k. Among the best home builders in Oregon, it was also featured in an article from the Portland Business Journal.

Stone Bridge Homes

4230 Galewood Street, Lake Oswego, OR 97035 

This Lake Oswego-based firm focuses on blending classic architecture with energy-efficient assets. Founder and President Kelly Ritz, who studied environmental law in college, enjoyed a successful land acquisition and development career until she opened this firm. Her mission is to continue leading the Earth Advantage building movement in Oregon.

A signature built by the firm aims for a linear design that offers an airy feel. The team likes to combine modern luxury in contemporary farmhouse settings, such as adding pillars to covered front porches and roofs on the façade. Ritz has amassed dozens of awards, including the HBA of Metropolitan Portland Builder of the Year and COBA Tour of Homes Best Architectural Design and Best of Show. In 2013, the firm was named to the Earth Advantage Hall of Fame. In 2017, Ritz was featured in the Know Your Builder video series produced by the HBA of Metropolitan Portland.  

Renaissance Homes

16771 Boones Ferry Road, Lake Oswego, OR 97035 

The founder of this Lake Oswego contracting firm built his first house at age 20. The next year, he opened this firm. Randy Sebastian, born and raised in Oregon City, has been committed to energy-efficient practices ever since. His firm is the largest Oregon builder of single-family residences with Energy Star certification. One of the best home builders in Oregon, the firm offers clients a design studio headed by award-winning interior designer Lynnette Sandgren, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and a 20-year veteran of the field.  

Sebastian and his team work mostly in the Portland metro area. The team is known for creating modern builds with an urban farmhouse flair, which have received much coverage in Portland Monthly and Oregon Home. Renaissance Homes has received numerous awards. It has won 40 Street of Dreams awards, including six for Best of Show, which is the most given to any contractor. In 2011, the firm was named Builder of The Year by HBA of Metropolitan Portland. It was ranked #55 on Builder Magazine’s list of the fastest-growing home builders.  

Everett Homes

3330 NW Yeon Avenue, Portland, OR 97210 

Everett Homes is a high-profile developer leading Oregon’s modern building design and Accessory Dwelling Unit movement. Founders Wally and Vic Remmers are father-and-son partners. Vic, a former Oregon State University basketball player, runs the firm. Vic learned the construction trade from his father, a successful builder in the area. After receiving his business degree from Oregon State University, Vic handled real estate transactions for Arbor Custom Homes. He opened Everett Homes after hand-picking local building experts to join his team.

The firm is known for cutting-edge duplexes and Irvington-style structures in Lake Oswego, Portland, Raleigh Hills, West Haven, and West Slope. Prices are between $600k and $1.5M. Every home is certified by Earth Advantage, most of which are at the Platinum level. The firm’s innovative home designs often appear in Green Home Builder Magazine. In 2017, the custom home builder in Oregon was inducted into the Earth Advantage Hall of Fame for exceptional design and development. In 2017, Vic, a member of the Oregon HBA, was honored in Professional Builder Magazine’s 40 Under 40.  

Ranking Methodology

To evaluate the performance of builders, our methodology employs a systematic approach that considers various factors contributing to customer experience and satisfaction. We focused on assessing the custom home builders in the Oregon area. The methodology involves assigning weightings to specific categories based on their significance in determining customer service quality. Here’s the breakdown of the categories and their respective weightings:

• Average Customer Satisfaction (35%): This metric represents the average rating given by customers across the same review platforms as the Average Customer Satisfaction Score. A higher average rating indicates greater overall satisfaction with the service provided.
• Service Rating Score (25%): We analyze the ratio of high (4-5 stars) to low (1-2 stars) ratings for each business across multiple review platforms: Google, Houzz, and Yelp. A higher percentage of positive reviews contributes to a higher score, reflecting better customer satisfaction.
• Complaint Percentage (25%): We analyze the ratio of complaints to total reviews for each business. A lower complaints ratio indicates better service quality and results in a higher score.
• Business Hours and Availability (10%): The operating hours of each business are assessed to gauge accessibility. Companies with extended operating hours are awarded a higher score, as they offer greater convenience to customers.
• License Status (5%): We verify the licensing status of each contractor with their local licensing board to ensure legal compliance. Companies with valid licenses receive a higher score, reflecting professionalism and adherence to regulations.
• Total Score: We determined the overall rating for every contractor by calculating a weighted average, with the category weight determining the amount the subscore contributed to the total score 

Additional Note: Service Rating Score, Average Customer Satisfaction, and Complaint Percentage are calculated with a Bayesian estimate to account for if the contractor has a low number of total reviews. A Bayesian average is a statistical method used to calculate the average of a set of data points while taking into account prior information or beliefs about the distribution of the data. It combines the observed data with a prior distribution to generate a more accurate estimate of the true average.