Encinitas is defined by its comfortable atmosphere, healthy outdoor lifestyle, and—most of all—its beautiful, expansive beaches. Its mild, Mediterranean climate draws in surfers who enjoy its great waves, but the neighborhoods are full of young professionals with families who want to settle down in a pleasant beachside neighborhood.
Building a custom home in this quaint city is not a problem with the high-quality local contractors in the vicinity. Our list provides eight of the top custom home builders in Encinitas. Some of them are headquartered right in Encinitas; others are in neighboring cities but still very capable of building your beach town dream home. Our team put together this ranked list based on portfolio strength, service area, awards, press features, and principal background.
If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.
8) Hanley Construction
993 Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Solana Beach, CA 92075
Hanley Construction is the culmination of Joe Hanley’s work as a framing carpenter, cabinetmaker, and job foreman. After acquiring experience in all of these jobs, he launched his own company, initially focusing on remodeling and small additions. Soon, he became engaged with custom home building and new construction. Hanley works with talented architects and interior designers in the San Diego area to create exceptional custom homes and complex remodeling jobs.
A strong suit of the firm is its versatility in terms of style. It has done Tuscan estates, Meditteranean villas, Cape Cod, English Tudor, farmhouse, and even contemporary homes. Hanley Construction has built these homes in the coastal communities of Del Mar, Solana Beach, and Cardiff-by-the-Sea in Encinitas as well as the inland communities of Meadows Del Mar, Rancho Pacifica, and Rancho Santa Fe. With this geographical specialization, the firm is in a position to give continuous personal supervision and can ensure that all projects run according to schedule.
7) Rimmer Construction
2611 S Highway 101 Suite #100, Cardiff, CA 92007
Father-and-son team Ron and Randy Rimmer successfully captain Rimmer Construction: a general contractor, custom home builder, and historic renovator serving the seaside communities of Encinitas. Ron established the company in 1980 and started in the spec home building industry. Soon, it evolved into a custom home building firm that also does remodeling services in the greater San Diego area. Ron’s son, Randy, joined the company in 1997. Together, they have completed hundreds of projects with their team of subcontractors who have been with the company for over 30 years.
Rimmer Construction’s portfolio consists of inland homes with lush gardens and coastal homes right by the sand. Natural materials are prominent its work, like brick, clay, stone, and wood. Styles like Spanish Colonial, Mediterranean, farmhouse, and contemporary are also evident. Another unique aspect of the firm is that it can be versatile in terms of contracts. Clients can opt for a fixed bid project or a fee-based project. Fixed bids give clients flexibility in material choice and an allowance section that covers finishes; fee-based projects allow the firm to base its fee on the client’s budget, which eliminates overbudgeting.
6) Pro Pacific Builders
5631 Palmer Way, Suite D, Carlsbad, CA 92010
With over 35 years of collective experience, Pro Pacific Builders displays commitment and expertise in each project it does in North County. The firm is a family-owned full-service residential building firm offering remodels, renovations, additions, and custom home building. It is headed by brothers Scott and Mike Jaeger. Scott has been in the building industry for more than two decades. His passion for building and woodworking is evident in his hands-on approach to every project. Mike heads the sales team of the company, building life-long connections with each client.
The firm is adept in a variety of styles, from clean contemporary to charming farmhouse and cottage. This beautiful Craftsman home in Olivenhain proves simplicity is sophistication. Its white palette is contrasted by earth tones form the stone, brick, and weathered wood accents. The firm’s other homes can be found in Encinitas, Carlsbad, Cardiff, and Rancho Santa Fe.
5) Spaces Renewed
1107 South Coast Hwy., Oceanside, CA 92054
Spaces Renewed is a general contractor and custom home builder that specializes in coastal homes. Based in Oceanside, it has mastered building a unique paradise for each homeowner along the San Diego coast as well as in the inland neighborhoods. While the firm’s styles range from mid-century modern to traditional farmhouse, every home captures the laidback vibe of coastal living through natural materials and neutral palettes. As a design-build firm, it challenges the traditional approach of builder and architect by combining their services under one roof. Clients of the firm benefit from its seamless home building process, tasteful design, and expert team.
Husband and wife Marshall and Beth Booth lead the firm’s experienced team. Marshall is the chief construction engineer, having been in the industry since he was 18. Beth provides design; she is certified by the National Kitchen and Bath Association as well as the ASID. Also part of the team is architect Paul Spadone. His career is decorated with ASID Design Excellence Awards, a LEED Certification, and an NAHB Builder of the Year Award.
4) La Costa Builders
619 S Vulcan Ave. Suite #209, Encinitas, CA 92024
Family-owned since 2009, La Costa Builders creates custom homes in an engaging and comfortable atmosphere for every homeowner. It prides itself on exceeding most standards and giving complete attention to detail. Based in Encinitas, it also serves neighboring cities in the North County like Cardiff, Leucadia, Rancho Santa Fe, and Del Mar. Its portfolio displays its custom homes which are often contemporary coastal or traditional farmhouse. Its stunning homes have been featured in luxury magazines such as the San Diego Premier and Dream Homes Magazine.
The firm’s principal and current owner is New School of Architecture graduate Kahle Steinmetz. His diverse project background enables him to complete any request of a homeowner. He has worked as a project manager for both the commercial and high-end residential industries, building everything from 12,000 square-foot estates in Rancho Santa Fe to surgical centers in medical buildings.
3) Flagg Coastal Homes
1014 Ninth St., Coronado, CA 92118
This Coronado design-build firm specializes in coastal homes that are scattered throughout Coronado, Oceanside, Point Loma, Del Mar, and Encinitas. The firm’s careful selection of design and materials are all geared towards making each home withstand the harsh weather of seaside locations and allowing it to stand strong for generations to come. Since 2006, the firm has completed more than fifty luxurious custom residences in Southern California. One of these is the Coastal Living Idea House in 2014, which has received thousands of guests during the summer Open House tour.
The firm’s expertise in coastal homes comes from founder John O’Brien. He is a U.S. Naval Academy Graduate and former Naval Officer with 37 years of experience in real estate and construction. John wanted to address the demand for nautically-inspired homes in Coronado so he gathered a team of builders, designers, and project managers that can provide these homes. A great example is this expansive coastal residence on Moonlight Beach in Encinitas. Its grey and white palette mirrors the ocean waves while the full front balcony and porch provides an outdoor entertainment space for guests and family.
2) Tourmaline Properties
2079 Garnet Ave., San Diego, CA 92109
Tourmaline Properties is an award-winning custom home builder and developer. Its bespoke homes have won Icon Awards from the BIA of San Diego and have been finalists for the National Association of Home Builders’ 2017 nationwide award for Best Design of a Custom Home. As a leader in sustainable home building, it has also built a LEED-certified home and has participated in San Diego Green Building Council’s Tour of Homes.
The firm boasts a powerhouse leadership team headed by president Ben Ryan. A former Navy SEAL officer, he repurposed his leadership skills towards real estate abroad until he developed his own company in Philadelphia. Supporting him is COO Jake Hunter, who brings extensive experience in commercial real estate in Los Angeles to the Tourmaline team in San Diego. Together, they lead a crew of craftsmen, designers, and artisans who do all the work in-house.
The firm builds coastal homes in contemporary and traditional styles in coastal San Diego and coastal North County, including Encinitas and La Jolla. This coastal home uses the whites and blues of the ocean for its aesthetic. While its silhouette is traditional, its amenities and interior finishing lean towards modern, completed with clean lines and minimal details.
1) Eco-Minded Solutions
9466 Black Mountain Rd., Suite #210 San Diego, CA 92126
Jack Rosenthal, Barry Thau, and David Milton are partners who aimed to create eco-friendly homes without compromising craftsmanship, quality, and style. So, the three established Eco-Minded Solutions in 2007 to address the need of the greater San Diego area for smarter landscapes and homes. The firm’s whole operation is motivated by environmental sustainability, from design-build custom home building and renovation to landscape design and maintenance.
With its eye for outstanding homes that move and co-exist with the environment, the firm has earned the praise of its peers and clients alike. It was voted Best of San Diego by readers of the San Diego’s Union-Tribune and has earned three San Diego Beautification Awards of the California Landscape Contractors Association. Its work has also been featured in San Diego Home & Garden Magazine, Del Mar Magazine, Coastal Living Lifestyle, and it has made appearances on HGTV, and CNN.
The firm favors the farmhouse and contemporary styles, which you can see in Encinitas, Cardiff by the Sea, La Jolla, and Rancho Santa Fe. This beautiful ranch home in Encinitas features open accordion doors that provide a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors. The traditional color palette of clean eggshell whites, wood, and brick is easy on the eyes and relaxes visitors and residents before they even enter.
How can I find a home builder near me?
Read our latest articles on the best custom home builders near Encinitas. If you don’t see your city below, just let us know – we are happy to create a tailored recommendation list just for you.
Custom Home Builders in San Diego
Custom Home Builders in Chula Vista
About Our Rankings
This list takes a range of ranking criteria into consideration, including but not limited to: work history, customer satisfaction, awards and recognition, geographic area of work, cost, building permits, and clientele. We spent over 40 hours researching local contractors before calculating the final ranking for this post. If there is additional information about your business that could affect these rankings, please fill out this form and we will take it into consideration
Get Bids For Your Build
If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.
