Last updated on May 28th, 2024 at 08:15 am
Maryland is definitely high-end custom home country. It has the highest median income in the nation, and it is tied to the center of much of the world’s wealth and power by its proximity to Washington DC. The Baltimore – Washington DC metropolitan area, which includes the District of Columbia, greater Baltimore, and Northern Virginia, is the richest, most-educated, and fourth-largest combined metro area in the country, with about 10 million people. From the cool historic neighborhoods of Baltimore City, to the tony suburbs in Anne Arundel County, to the Chesapeake Bay and the nation’s capital, the residential options in the state are quite varied, as is the construction industry.
This list brings together the very best home builders in Maryland. These are the companies that build sprawling mansions, architecturally distinct and innovative masterpieces, and luxury estates for the rich and famous. These leading 15 home builders have most experience, education, and skill. They have won prestigious awards for construction and design and are recognized leaders in the region.
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.
14) Raphael Homes
110 Painters Mill Road, Suite 205, Owings Mill, MD 21117
Maryland custom home builder Rick Raphael, founder and owner of Raphael Homes, is a highly experienced and knowledgeable construction industry expert. A second-generation custom home builder in greater Baltimore, Raphael works on new builds and remodeling jobs all over Maryland, including in Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties. Raphael earned a bachelor’s degree in building construction from Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture and Urban Studies. He started Raphael Homes in 1993 after working as a finishing supervisor and project manager for other home builders.
Ranging from $400k to more than $1M, Raphael’s gorgeous homes include a contemporary net-zero home in Anne Arundel County’s Tracy’s Landing. The company works in a variety of styles and partners with some of the top architects in Maryland. These include the award-winning Baltimore firm 2e Architects, which in 2018 was named one of the Top 10 architects in the city by Baltimore Architects. Raphael Homes works with clients from the first design to final move in, and they offer energy-efficient and handicap-accessible features.
13) Mueller Homes
7520 Main Street, Sykesville, MD 2178
Since 1992, Mueller Homes has been building luxury properties throughout Maryland and Washington, DC. The Maryland custom home builder also works in Anne Arundel, Howard, Carroll, Montgomery, and Frederick counties. CEO Paul Mueller Sr. is a longtime industry professional, and President Paul Mueller Jr. graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in construction management. Mueller Homes is a member of the Maryland Building Industry Association (MBIA) and the Residential Warranty Corporation. They have three in-house carpenters and a foreman, each with more than 30 years of experience in the building and home remodeling industry.
The family-owned construction company is a member of the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) prestigious high-end Builders 20 Club. They have received Gold Awards from the Homebuilders Association of Maryland (HBAM) and the MBIA, including the 2017 Custom Home of the Year Award for a home over $2M. The award-winning project is an 11,000-square-foot luxury estate in Maryland’s Greenspring Valley. Also high-end remodelers, the company won a 2016 Remodeling Award from the MBIA for Historic Renovation $250k to $400k.
12) Anthony Wilder Design|Build
7913 MacArthur Boulevard, Cabin John, MD 20818
Anthony Wilder Design|Build has been working on construction projects in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia for more than 20 years. The company offers high-end architecture, interior design, and construction services. Wilder has seven architects on staff, including two who are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified (LEED AP). The company also has six in-house interior designers and more than 20 construction experts on staff, many of whom have advanced credentials. The company is owned and operated by husband and wife Anthony and Elizabeth Wilder.
The home design and construction company is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Institute of Interior Design (ASID), the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), and the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). Anthony Wilder has appeared on MSNBC and HGTV’s Curb Appeal, and the company’s work has been featured in many national and local publications. These include the Washington Post, Home & Design Magazine, Washingtonian Magazine, and DC Modern Luxury. Among many honors, the residential contractor has received Contractor of the Year Awards from NARI, and the NKBA Kitchen & Bath Design Award.
11) Edgemont Builders
2509 N. Charles Street, 1st Floor, Baltimore, MD 21218
This Maryland custom home builder works in many of Baltimore City’s historic neighborhoods, including Butchers Hill, Canton, Charles Village, and Highlandtown. In addition to constructing new homes in urban neighborhoods, Edgemont also takes on multi-family housing, historic preservation, green building, light commercial, and urban infill projects. President Jake Wittenberg founded the company in 2014. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University with a degree in international studies and economics, Wittenberg worked as a superintendent, cost engineer, project manager, and principal for Harbor Development before going out on his own.
A LEED Certified builder, the company has won numerous awards for its work. These include the 2018, 2017, and 2016 Baltimore Heritage Award for historic preservation, as well as Home Builder of The Year and Superintendent of the Year Awards from the MBIA. The builder was also been named on of the area’s 50 Fastest Growing Companies by Baltimore Business Journal.
10) Finecraft Contractors
104 Summit Hall Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Founded by George Papaheraklis in 1985, this custom home builder in Maryland works throughout the region, including in greater Washington DC and Northern Virginia. The home building and remodeling contractor has won many awards for its work, including a 2017 Silver Award from the MBIA. The company has also won several Contractor of the Year Awards from NARI, including for Residential Addition Over $500k and Entire House Remodel Over $1M. The home builder’s work has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, Home and Design Magazine, Bethesda Magazine, and the Washington Post.
Papaheraklis started the company just a few years after graduating from the University of Maryland College Park with a bachelor’s degree in architecture. He decided early on that he wanted to build rather than just design homes, and he still focuses personally on each project. Employees have said that Papaheraklis “lives and breathes” each new build or home remodeling job. Satisfied clients of the custom home contractor have praised the company’s professionalism, attention to detail, and craftsmanship.
9) R&R Custom Homes
4905 Del Ray Avenue, Suite 502, Bethesda, MD 20814
Longtime Maryland custom home builders Richard A. Sullivan Jr. and Ray Sobrino teamed up to form this award-winning construction firm. The company offers a full range of site selection, design, and construction services throughout Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. R&R Custom Homes has won numerous awards from the MBIA, including a Silver Award for Best Transitional Custom Home, a Gold Award for Best Custom Home 5,000 to 7,500 square feet, and a Gold Award for Best Partial House Renovation.
The residential contractor offers many green-building and sustainable options, including foam insulation, geothermal heating and cooling, passive and active solar, and recycled materials. Sullivan is a fourth-generation real estate professional with more than 25 years in the building and development industries. A graduate of the University of Maryland, he has served as president of MBIA. Sobrino, a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), is a registered architect with more than 25 years of experience in the construction industry. He graduated from The Catholic University of America and is a former vice president and partner at Porten Homes.
8) Laurence Cafritz Builders
7520 Hampden Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814
Laurence Cafritz has been building custom homes in Maryland and greater Washington, DC since 1991. He is a third-generation Washingtonian, raised in Bethesda, MA, and is the president and owner of Laurence Cafritz Builders. Cafritz graduated from Lafayette College with a degree in civil engineering. The home builder also takes on remodeling projects throughout the region and is a NARI Certified Remodeler. He has served as president of the Custom Builders Council of the MBIA, and also on the group’s board of directors.
Cafritz has won numerous awards from the MBIA and NARI, including the the 2017 MBIA Custom Builder Award of Excellence Gold Award for Best Speculative Transitional Home, the 2016 Silver Award for Best Speculative Transitional Home, and the 2015 Gold Award for Best Transitional Custom Home over 5,000 square feet. The home remodeling and building firm also won a NARI Contractor of the Year Award of Merit for Best Custom Home Over $1M, the MNCBIA Custom Builder Awards of Excellence for Best Transitional, Custom, and Luxury Homes, and the NVBIA Finest for Family Living Award of Merit for Best Custom Home Over $1M.
7) Menditch Homes
11203 Potomac Crest Drive, Potomac, MD 20854
Howard and Bruce Menditch started Menditch Homes after working in the heating and air-conditioning industry for many years. The Maryland custom home builders construct high-end luxury homes throughout the region, including in Bethesda and Montgomery counties. Active members of the Montgomery County Building Industry Association (MCBIA), the company has won many awards for its home and remodel projects. These include the MCBIA Award of Excellence for Best New home Over $1.3M, the Award of Excellence for Best New Home Over $1.6M, and the Award of Excellence for Best New Home Over $5M.
Howard Menditch is a graduate of American University with degrees in business, real estate, and urban development. He worked for 30 years in heating and air conditioning and energy design and taught at Montgomery College. He has served as the president of the MCBIA. Bruce Menditch has an engineering degree from Arizona State University and has more than 30 years of experience in residential construction and heating and air conditioning.
6) J Paul Builders
1 Reserve Circle, Suite 100, Baltimore, MD 21208
A well-known custom home builder in Maryland, J Paul Builders has served the greater Baltimore area for more than 25 years. The company builds all over the Baltimore metropolitan area, including throughout Baltimore County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, and Baltimore City. Owner Paul Lichter founded the company in 1991 after working for Toll Brothers and other homebuilders. Project Manager Steven Lichter has a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Maryland College Park.
The construction company has received numerous Awards of Excellence from HBAM for its luxury and environmentally friendly custom homes. J Paul Builders’ work has been featured in Dwell, Architectural Digest, Luxe, Home & Design, and Baltimore Style. The company also takes on luxury remodel projects, including kitchen and bathroom renovations and whole-home remodels. A committed green builder, J Paul Builders offers many eco-friendly options, as well as smart-home and energy-efficient features. The builder works with some of the top architects in the Baltimore area, including Ratcliff Architects and Levin|Brown & Associates.
5) Sandy Spring Builders
4705 W. Virginia Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814
Maryland custom home builders of high-end sustainable and green properties, Sandy Spring Builders has decades of experience in the construction industry. The company has worked with the area’s top architects and has won dozens of awards for its work. The company’s CEO is Phil Leibovitz. He has more than 30 years in residential construction industry and has worked on more than 1,000 homes. COO Mimi Kress, a partner in the firm since 1998, formerly worked for Kenwood Builders and Springbrook Builders. Kress has worked on more than 500 homes in Maryland and Virginia.
The firm’s awards including a national “Best in American Living Award,” sponsored by the NAHB and Professional Builder magazine. They won multiple honors at the 2017 MBIA Custom Builder Awards for the Montgomery County Chapter, including Gold Awards for Custom Traditional Home and Custom Transitional Home, and a Gold Award for Renovation over 2,000 square feet. The firm also earned a Pacesetter Award for Design from Custom Home Magazine and has been voted “Best Builder” by Bethesda Magazine multiple times.
4) Peterson + Collins
2332 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009
Peterson + Collins are high-end residential contractors working throughout the DC metro area, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. The custom home builder in Maryland was founded in 1977 by partners George Collins and Ted Peterson, both graduates of Bucknell University, the firm has been in business for over 40 years. The contractor’s work has been featured in many magazines and books. These include Southern Accents Magazine, Washingtonian Magazine, Custom Home Magazine, Home & Design Magazine, and Metropolitan Home Magazine. The firm’s book appearances include Contemporary Architecture in Washington, DC, Modern Homes: Houses By Robert Gurney, and The New American Home.
Also a remodeling firm, Peterson + Collins specializes in, among other things, handcrafted mill work, including cabinetry, doors, windows, and architectural elements. The company’s in-house custom woodworkers have more than 75 years of combined experience.
Among many honors, the home builder has received an AIA Northern Virginia Award of Excellence and Merit Award, an AIA Maryland Design Award and Honor Award, an AIA Washington DC Merit Award, a Builder’s Choice Magazine Merit Award, and a Custom Home Magazine Merit Award. The company has also been counted among the Qualified Remodeler Magazine Top 500 remodelers in the nation.
3) Commonwealth Building and Design
Great Falls, VA 22066
Commonwealth Building and Design founder Steve T. McCaughan started in the residential construction industry as a carpenter. He founded his company in 1997, and over the last 20 years he has built amazing modern and contemporary homes throughout greater Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. The custom home builder has worked with some the area’s top designers, including AIA fellow and award-winning architect Robert F. Gurney.
With Gurney, the company built a gorgeous sleek and modern home called “Mohican Hill House” in Glen Echo, MD. The home won a 2016 International Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum International Museum of Architecture and Design. The company also won a 2016 Honor Award and Excellence in Design Award from AIA Maryland, and two Washingtonian Residential Design Awards.
In previous years, the residential contractor has won awards from Custom Home Magazine and AIA Northern Virginia, and won the Fairfax County Exceptional Design Award. The company’s homes typically start at over $1M. Commonwealth also takes on luxury home and remodel projects, including kitchen and bathroom renovations, new home additions, and green-building jobs.
2) Delbert Adams Construction Group
6305 Falls Road, Baltimore Maryland 21209
Delbert Adams Construction Group has been building homes in Maryland since 1997. The firm specializes in sustainable, high-end residential and commercial projects, and it works on both new builds and remodeling projects. Managing Member Delbert Adams has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Babson College. The company won the prestigious 2017 President’s Award for Excellence in Construction from the Baltimore chapter of the AIA.
Among many other awards for their work, the custom home builder won Baltimore Magazine’s Best of Baltimore Award and was listed among Remodeling Magazine’s Top 550 construction companies in the nation. The Baltimore metro area builder has also won numerous HBA Maryland Remodeler’s Awards of Excellence, including for Kitchen and Outdoor Living Space. In 2017, the company won three awards from the Remodelers Council of the MBIA, including for kitchen remodel over $200k and master bath remodel over $75,000. Committed to green and sustainable building, the company offers its clients numerous eco-friendly building options.
1) Niroo
9300 River Road, Potomac, MD 20854
Niroo is an ultra high-end design and build company that constructs huge and complex mega-mansions throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC. Owned by husband-and-wife building team David and Haleh Niroo, the company started more than 20 years ago. They work with a top-notch team of architects, engineers, carpenters, and designers to build some of the largest and most expensive homes in the region. A recently finished Potomac-area mansion is typical of their work. The 33,000-square-foot home has 10 bedrooms, twelve-and-a-half baths, 20-foot ceilings, and cost about $18M.
Niroo has an in-house staff of experienced master carpenters, painters, and other construction experts, including LEED Certified professionals. David Niroo has appeared on CNBC to discuss the national luxury housing market and on the Travel Channel’s Great Taste series. The firm’s work has been featured in Washington Life Magazine, Home & Design Magazine, and many other publications. Haleh Niroo, a world-renowned interior designer, works on the company’s projects through the partner company Haleh Designs. Her work has been featured in Luxury Home Quarterly, Bethesda Magazine, DC Magazine, Luxe, Home & Design, Washington Life, Veranda, Traditional Home, and Architectural Digest.
How can I find a home builder near me?
Read our latest articles on the best custom home builders across Maryland. 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 Baltimore
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.
