One of North Carolina’s largest municipalities, Cary takes great pride in being recognized as one of the country’s safest cities. It provides its homeowners with excellent schools and the weather and amenities make it the perfect place to raise families and establish a career. Homes here are affordable and showcase a fantastic range of themes.
This list encompasses 15 of the best custom home builders in the area behind some of Cary’s most beautiful houses and spaces. They were chosen based on their respective backgrounds, experiences, and portfolios.
Ange Signature Homes
113 Edinburgh South Drive, Suite 100, Cary, NC 27511
Ange Signature Homes specializes in luxury custom home building and remodeling services. The firm has worked on some of the Triangle’s most prestigious neighborhoods in the area and adheres to the highest industry standards and techniques. Established in 1995, the firm is the brainchild of Rusty Ange and his father, Elton, both professionals with extensive experience in project management. Under their leadership, the firm has secured a solid reputation for itself and has become known for its expertise in a variety of architectural themes. It also often infuses sustainability techniques and methods into its projects, ensuring that its homes lower utility bills and are highly efficient. The firm often, for example, installs special sheathing on the roof to block the sun’s radiant energy and reduce attic temperatures. The Carey team goes the extra mile to realize its clients’ visions.
In the project we’ve decided to showcase, the Agne Signature team opted for brick exteriors. It then coupled that exterior with a combination of hipped and several dormer windows. The clean slate roof completes the effect.
Baron Custom Builders
723 Chelsea Dr., Sanford, NC 27332
Baron Custom Builders offers a complete and comprehensive range of custom home building and remodeling services. It keeps itself up to date with the latest designs and uses only the best materials and practices. The firm employs sustainable, green elements in its work, ensuring their long-lasting quality. At the firm’s helm is its founder and namesake, Dave Baron. He has lived in the Triangle area for the better part of four decades and holds a degree from North Carolina State University. He is experienced in every facet and phase of the building process and is the proud recipient of numerous awards and distinctions. That includes several accolades from the annual Parade of Homes and an Award of Distinction from Residential Warranty Corporation for financial stability, quality artistry, and superior customer service.
The “Stonegate” project is a great example of the firm’s work. The firm’s team opted for wonderful architectural features and custom cabinetry and combined them with an excellent floor plan. The home’s ceilings rise ten feet and present period moldings and elegant light fixtures. It provides five bedrooms, features its own home theater, and has two large attic rooms.
Bold Construction
50051 Governors Drive Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Bold Construction provides luxury custom home building, renovations, and the occasional commercial project. The firm extends its services throughout Chapel Hill, Durham, Hillsborough, and Pittsboro. The firm uses a design-build approach and incorporates several green building elements into its processes, renderings its homes energy-efficient. The firm custom assembles a team for each project it takes on and collaborates with only the area’s top subcontractors and artisans. The firm also employs an in-house interior designer, which ensures that each of its projects has a beautiful finish. The firm has been recognized multiple times throughout its tenure in the industry. The firm was named by Inc 5000 as one of its fastest-growing companies in 2017 and 2018 and has been consistently included in the Triangle Business Journal’s list of the area’s best custom home builders. The firm maintains affiliations with organizations like the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).
Completed in Governors Club in Chapel Hill, the project above features five bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and two half bathrooms. It also has a luxurious gourmet kitchen complete with a full Thermador appliance package and a large scullery as well as a walk-in pantry. Its universal design also allowed for an elevator, a zero-entry shower, and wide doors and hallways. Outside, several porches wrap around the home and there’s a detached pavilion.
Bost Homes
1941 Evans Road, Cary, NC 27513
Bost Homes draws inspiration from over three decades of industry experience. It maintains affiliations with various vital industry organizations such as EnergyStar, the US Green Building Council, and the Remodelers’ Council of its local Home Builders’ Association. That said, the firm often incorporates various sustainability and energy-efficient practices into its methods. This ensures that all of its homes are low-maintenance, environmentally-friendly, and highly efficient. The firm meets these high standards through recycled and local building materials, rain-water harvesting and reuse, advanced water and air filters, and geothermal elements. Bost Homes also makes use of a design-build approach, allowing it to handle every aspect of a project and lessen the burden for homeowners in terms of looking for extra subcontractors.
The firm has been in business since 1986 and is regarded as one of North Carolina’s premier custom home builders. Rex Bost, its principal, and founder, personally oversees each of the firm’s projects to ensure that all of its homes receive the benefit of his experience. Under his supervision, the firm has become no stranger to distinction. Some of its most noteworthy accolades include the Best of the Best Custom Builder, the Best Product Design, and Best Innovative Feature distinctions from the 2018 Raleigh/Wake MAME awards.
Brightleaf Development Co.
110 Adams St. Cary, NC 27513
Brightleaf Development offers a full and comprehensive range of custom home building, renovation, and home addition services. The firm takes pride in its stellar award-winning designs and provides its clients with over two decades of experience in the industry. It has cultivated a talented team and network of skilled and qualified professionals and artisans. Together, they have secured an excellent reputation for the firm for the timeless elegance, modern sophistication, and classic craftsmanship of its projects. Numerous publications like the Triangle Business Journal have recognized Brightleaf several times as among the area’s top custom home builders. Most of the firm’s best projects can be found in the best neighborhoods and communities in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Cary. And it provides work throughout the entirety of the Triangle region of North Carolina.
Bernie and Judy Malloy serve as the company’s founding partners and personally oversee each of its projects. Bernie draws inspiration from over four decades of industry experience. He has worked in various facets of the industry, including supervising office buildings, land developments, multi-million dollar homes, and a significant reconstruction effort in St. Thomas following hurricane Marilyn. Judy, on the other hand, manages Brightleaf’s financial and administrative side.
Folland Custom Homes
104 Dallavia Court Morrisville, NC 27560
Folland Custom Homes anchors itself on quality craftsmanship, honest customer service, on-time completion, and on-budget performance. Since its inception, the firm has built an excellent clientele list for itself. The firm assists clients throughout every phase of the process, from lot selection and custom home design to the final walkthrough and follow-up service. Folland is noted for its incredible attention to detail, professionalism, and commitment to the highest standards. Owner Greg Foland first got his glimpse into the industry at an early age, which has helped shape the firm into the company it is today. Greg holds a degree in Business and Finance from the University of Rhode Island. After earning his degree, he worked in an international telecommunications company where he managed multi-million dollar projects and oversaw a team of over a hundred members. That experience influenced his management skills, which would come in handy upon his firm’s establishment in 2004.
Greg is a licensed general contractor and makes use of a highly hands-on approach. He works with the firm’s team throughout the entire project and is also experienced in personnel and customer management. Through his meticulous methods, the firm has been able to complete all of its projects on-time and within budget.
Gray Line Builders
804 Preston Village Way, Cary, NC 27519
Established in 2009, Gray Line Builders provides turnkey solutions through the use of a design-build approach. The firm specializes in custom home building, home remodels, and renovations. The firm begins its process by meeting clients and getting to know them to better understand their lifestyles and needs. It often uses modern floor plans and assists clients with lot selection, comprehensive design and construction work, extensive selections, floorplans, and various other custom features. Aside from its new homes, the firm has also been noted for its excellent large-scale remodels, kitchen and bathroom renovations, and home additions. It has also taken on several garage, office, and apartment projects. The firm is locally owned and operated and extends its services throughout the Triangle. It maintains affiliations with organizations like NAHB, the Triangle Builders Guild, the Home Builders Association of Raleigh, and EnergyStar. Its memberships with these organizations demonstrate its commitment to sustainable design and construction, as well as its stellar reputation throughout North Carolina.
All of the firm’s homes come with excellent warranties. The project showcases the firm’s craftsmanship. It spans 3,688-square-feet, features four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, a half bathroom, and a three-car garage.
Hayes Barton Homes
1528 Carr Street, Raleigh, NC 27608
Operating out of its office in Raleigh, Hayes Barton Homes specializes in custom-built traditional homes with cool modern touches using a highly hands-on approach. It works throughout the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area and particularly emphasizes high-end design and personalization. It strives to incorporate a client’s lifestyles and needs into all of its work and showcases expertise for a varying range of architectural themes. Principal Allen Wells specializes in niche design touches that mix the traditional with the modern. He draws inspiration from over three decades of working in and around the industry and has overseen the design and construction of a multitude of luxury homes for families and individuals in the area. He has been particularly noted for his excellent, elegant interior trims.
Wells oversees a talented team of experienced professionals. Together, they work in collaboration with some of the area’s best experts. The firm’s portfolio depicts an excellent range of modern and traditional homes that often blend themes.
Legacy Custom Homes
3304 Six Forks Road, Suite 100 Raleigh, NC 27609
Legacy Custom Homes has been in business for nearly four decades, extending its services throughout Raleigh and its surrounding areas. It uses a highly client-centered approach and dedicates itself to challenging projects resulting in unique and excellent results. It also offers its services at competitive rates and has worked with some of the area’s best and leading artisans and professionals. The firm uses only the best materials and has worked on numerous luxurious custom homes, often priced in millions of dollars. Ward Russell leads the firm and takes great pride in Legacy being the largest privately-held custom home builder in the area. He supervises the firm’s staff and various coordinators and assists with its detailed paperwork and pricing methods. Unlike most firms on this list, Legacy has its very own in-house design center, which offers its clients numerous samples from hardwood floors and ceramic tile to granite counters, cabinets, and plumbing fixtures.
Showcased above is one of the firm’s craftsman homes. For this project, the team opted for wood-paneled exteriors that are reminiscent of classic farmhouses. It also features several dormers and shuttered windows. A neutral color palette with hints of blue can also be observed and touches of brick brighten its exteriors.
Loyd Builders
2501 Reliance Avenue Apex, NC 27539
Now on its second generation of builders, Loyd Builders focuses on custom homes, remodels, and additions. The firm assists throughout the entire process from design to completion. It has been regarded for its excellent living spaces, interior trim work, exquisite custom cabinetry, advanced building materials, and cutting-edge home automation. Its namesake Tripp Loyd leads its team. He first gained experience working with his father, a custom home builder in Fayetteville, which allowed him to learn every facet of the home building industry. Tripp holds a civil engineering degree from North Carolina State University. Under his leadership, the firm has had the honor of building custom homes in the Triangle area and securing relationships with numerous clients and professionals.
Throughout its years in business, the firm has won numerous distinctions from the annual Parade of Homes and MAME. The project above is an excellent example of one of its distinguished homes. It was honored with a Gold Award from the 2019 Parade of Homes and it featured a modern French Country theme.
Pomarico Construction
PO Box 5123 Cary, NC 27512
Pomarico Construction is one of the area’s leading and premier custom home builders for the past four generations. It specializes in ground-up construction work and home additions, remodels, and light commercial projects. It has been honored with numerous awards throughout its years in business and maintains affiliations with vital organizations like NAHB—it has been a member since 1957. The firm extends its services throughout the Triangle and surrounding communities and employs a highly thoughtful and personalized process. It has designed and crafted projects in some areas leading neighborhoods such as The Governor’s Club and The Hills of Rosemont. The firm has mastered the design-build approach and has had the privilege of working with noteworthy architects like Bill Hirsch, Steve Clipp, and Keith Shaw.
Currently, it is led by a father-son team composed of Bill and Billy Pomarico. Bill draws inspiration from nearly five decades of experience and has worked on hundreds of new homes, commercial buildings, commercial renovations, and residential remodeling. On the other hand, Billy has nearly 20 years of construction experience and oversees the firm’s operations.
TriSmith Construction
2853 Jones Franklin Road Raleigh, NC 27606
TriSmith Construction is a fully licensed and operated firm specializing in custom home building, renovation, and remodeling services. It has also taken on numerous home additions, and on occasion, commercial construction work. It has been in business since 2004 and extends its services throughout Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay Varina, Garner, Knightdale, Clayton, and Wake Forest. The firm is composed of a team of talented professionals who guide its clients throughout the entire process and are experienced in every phase. The firm ensures that homeowners’ expectations and needs are met. The firm has been particularly noted for its beautiful kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor living spaces. It collaborates with only the best subcontractors in the area and also has several financial experts on its team, assuring clients of its excellent budget and planning analyses.
The firm begins its process with an in-person design meeting, during which it thoroughly understands and lays out a full understanding of a homeowner’s ideas and vision. He works with its architects to provide accurate renderings and designs and assists clients with material selection. It offers detailed timelines, which it adheres strictly to throughout the entire process. All of its homes are Energy Star Certified and include numerous Energy Saving Features.
Wardson Construction
1000 Darrington Drive, Suite 105 Cary, NC 27513
Wardson Construction is a family-owned business that extends its services throughout the Triangle. Established in 1985, it is led by Raleigh natives Kyle and Steve Ward, who were joined soon afterward by Carol Ward, a celebrated interior designer. The firm works with some of the area’s most respected and excellent general contractors and has crafted a great network for itself. Since its inception, the firm has worked on over a thousand homes and spaces. Additionally, it has become the recipient of numerous awards, ranging from regional to national accolades for its architectural and interior design. The firm is also known for its exquisite attention to detail and meticulous methods. Clients may opt for one of the firm’s various in-house plans, which they can also request for its team to personalize or craft an entirely customized floorplan. Either way, they can expect excellent and high-quality results.
All of the firm’s homes have the benefit of its personalized Design Center. This center allows homeowners to work on various personalized details with Carol Ward to assist throughout every phase. It offers the highest-quality selections of granite, tile, plumbing fixtures, cabinetry, hardware, trim, decorative vanities, specialty carpets, and lighting.
Triple A Homes
2002 Production Drive Apex, NC 27539
Headquartered in Raleigh, Triple A Homes is an award-winning custom home builder that offers its clients a comprehensive and personalized range of services. It specializes in design and development and has been noted for its numerous luxury homes. Dan Morse serves as both its president and owner. He established the firm in 2015, naming the company after his three children’s initials, and he has offered homebuyers a personal experience ever since. Under his leadership, the company provides finish home solutions, full design service, and an onsite design studio. He oversees a team of professionals with nearly three decades of experience and guarantees excellent results.
The firm also gives back to its community in a variety of ways. It works in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity of Wake County. Additionally, it has won numerous awards from the Home Builders Associate of Raleigh-Wake County and the annual Parade of Homes.
