Last updated on July 8th, 2024 at 04:53 pm
Baltimore is America, and has even earned the nickname, ‘America in Miniature.’ Even many Americans forget that the city once served as the capital of the United States. And it’s a city of American statues and monuments, honoring such diverse American icons as Edgar Allen Poe and Babe Ruth.
Maryland is one of the most affluent states of America, as well as having the highest median household income in the country. Thanks to the bustling population of the state, the economy is growing and business is booming. And much like the cultured, sophisticated residents of Baltimore, you’ll find that the city’s homes are diverse. There are a wide variety of architectural beauties around the city, thanks to its award-winning home builders. These home builders are principled, artistic, and willing to go the extra mile for their clients and to build a home worthy of historic Baltimore.
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. On the other hand, if you want to learn more about the cost of building a custom home in Baltimore, check out our cost guide article.
15) Greenspring Homes
9919 Harford Rd., Parkville, MD 21234
Craig Carlson has worked in the industry since 1980. He learned the tricks of the trade from his father and followed his example of hard work and passion. He’s gained extensive knowledge in the home building business and is keen to share what he knows and understands with his clients.
He puts a priority on both physical craftsmanship and his relationship with his client, and that combination leads to great results. Greenspring Homes has a history of building hundreds of homes around Baltimore, such as this beautiful craftsman home. Today, Craig continues the father-son tradition by working with his son, Brenden, to make dream homes a reality.
14) J Paul Builder
1 Reservoir Cir. Suite #100, Pikesville, MD 21208
Five simple steps build a five star home. With J Paul Builder, a home building doesn’t need to be complicated and messy. The firm knows that all it takes for the best home is a foolproof process that’s as simple as counting to five. First thing’s first: talk with the client. Sound communication produces sound results. The second and third steps: solid design, then a carefully planned budget. Then the most spectacular fourth step, ‘The Big Event” where the client’s dreams are being built from the ground up.
The fifth step is the satisfying conclusion of another project: admiring the results, and moving into your new home. The results of the firm’s process can be seen in the Owings Mills project in Maryland; this traditional home combines impressive size with subtle design quirks.
13) Chesapeake Energy Homes
619 Severn Ave. Suite #203, Annapolis, MD 21403
Chesapeake Energy Homes offers an alternative to traditional home building: modular construction. Because modular homes are built indoors and offsite, your building schedule is no longer at the mercy of the weather. The method also eliminates possible structural damage to the home prior to the project’s completion. Modular homes even allow for more housing style possibilities. To top it all off, modular homes can save a client some money, as the homes are often built more quickly, which keeps labor costs down.
Chesapeake Energy Homes offers energy-efficient custom modular homes, designed to accommodate every client’s needs. Owner Don Althoff makes sure that every client receives the best home possible through his hands-on approach and professionalism.
12) Ashley Custom Homes
1605 Union Ave., Baltimore, MD 21211
Ashley Custom Homes isn’t just about getting the job done. For custom home building, it’s also about giving the clients a memorable experience. Since its inception over 30 years ago, the firm has strived to satisfy its clients, from custom homes to minor renovations. The firm also incorporates green building whenever it’s possible, with products and technology such as solar panels, low-E windows, recycled wood flooring, and geothermal ground loop systems.
An example of the firm’s talents can be seen in this Baltimore custom brick-wall home, which features a vaulted ceiling and a colonial-Georgian architecture style.
11) CGC Builders
11221 Baker Rd., Keymar, MD 21757
CGC Builders is a construction firm that has serviced Baltimore, Washington, and the surrounding suburbs for two decades. The firm finds continuous success in the guidance and intuition of its owner, Stuart Colvin, who has been involved in the completion of over 1,500 homes.
He has also worked on a variety of residential and commercial projects and services, including family homes, historical revitalizations, custom homes, and construction/property consultancy. The firm is an avid green builder and offers to work on home projects using green building products for long-term sustainable living. Testimonials from CGC’s satisfied clients noted the staff’s responsiveness and attentiveness to details.
10) F.C. Batton & Son
14815 Manor Rd., Monkton, MD 21111
As one of Baltimore County’s premier home builders, F.C. Batton & Son has earned the respect of its competitors and built a great reputation in the community. And a century of experience building homes across Maryland speaks for itself. The firm is currently led by Rick Batton, the great-grandson of the man who founded the firm. Like his father and his grandfather, Rick used family-knowledge to bring the family tradition into the twenty-first century. A lot has changed since this firm was founded, but the firm’s quality work and reasonable budgets have remained consistent.
A notable home in the firm’s portfolio is Pine Hill, a custom home project in Northern Baltimore County. This stonewall home features a unique balcony design and beautiful room designs for the arched hallway and fireplaces.
9) Raphael Homes
110 Painters Mill Rd. Suite #205 Owings Mills, MD 21117
During his teenage years, Rick Raphael learned the art of construction from his father, then a partner in one of Howard County’s most successful homebuilding firms. After Rick earned his degree in Architecture, he worked first as a Superintendent at his father’s firm, then as a Project Manager for another construction firm in Texas. He learned the ropes of the industry, and then, in 1995, he returned to Maryland to establish Raphael Homes. The firm rapidly grew, and 24 years later, Raphael Homes has a great reputation.
The results of the firm’s efforts can be seen in the firm’s custom-built French Country home. Examine this project, and you can see how Raphael Homes imposes its signature on its projects. The stonewall home features lavish design features that extend from the entrance all the way to the kitchen and the bathrooms. With a tough, experienced team of passionate craftsmen and subcontractors, no project is too complicated for this company.
8) Baldwin Homes
2410 Evergreen Rd., Suite #104 Gambrills, MD 21054
From the city of Gambrills comes Baldwin Homes, a custom home building company that has serviced Maryland for 20 years. The firm is known for building the Emerson, one of the first homes to receive the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Emerald Certification, alongside four other similar certifications. The home boasts over 69 green features and a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rating of 52.
This proud home builder is as committed to eco-friendly building techniques as it is to its clients. The firm has shown time and again how ingenuity leads to dream homes becoming a reality. Besides home building, the firm involves itself in community events and organizations such as charities and volunteer repair operations.
7) Edgemont Builders
2303 N Charles St. Suite #1, Baltimore, MD 21218
Single-family, multi-family, apartments, and houses: Edgemont Builders has experience with all those and more. Though the Baltimore-based firm has only been around since 2014, it has earned several awards for its works, including Baltimore Heritage awards, a 2017 Maxx award, and a 2017 Home Builder Member of the Year acknowledgment for firm president, Jacob Wittenberg.
Wittenberg has experience in both commercial and residential projects. He is also a certified Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) supervisor, an Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Lead Safe Supervisor, and a LEED Green Associate. And Edgemont is not limited to custom homes, the firm also works on historic preservation projects.
6) Cairn Custom Homes
10548 Gorman Rd., Laurel, MD 20723
Cairn Custom Homes is a Howard County based Custom Home Builder who has won numerous awards, including two Max awards and four Maryland Building Industry Association (MBIA) awards. Clients work directly with principals Steve & Lisa Appler and their highly professional staff from initial meeting through presentation of the completed home, and beyond. Cairn’s nearly one hundred years of cumulative experience provides clients with a wealth of experience – both in architectural and structural integrity and in leading edge current design trends. Whether a client chooses to work with Steve & Lisa to design a home from scratch, or to customize a plan from their portfolio of homes, the Cairn team is committed to guiding them through a highly focused individualized process.
Cairn’s many clients have praised the firm for its homebuilding knowledge and professionalism. And with testimonials indicating that they had a great time working with the principals. Cairn Custom Homes is an excellent example of hands-on leadership from a highly dedicated professional custom homebuilder.
5) Greenbuilders
16626 Cedar Grove Rd., Sparks, MD 21152
Putting a major emphasis on attentive building alongside preserving the environment, Greenbuilders promotes affordable green homes. The firm was founded by Dr. Polly Bart, a Harvard cum laude graduate with a degree in architecture and a Ph.D. in city-planning. An ardent environmentalist, she was one of the four writers who shaped the President’s Urban Policy Report to Congress in 1980. She was also instrumental in the passage of legislation that encourages LEED-certified construction.
She spent 25 years working as an entrepreneur for the construction industry. Under her leadership, Greenbuilders put together amazing projects throughout the state, with a portfolio showing off a wide variety of architectural styles. Her firm’s works have attracted the attention of several publications, including Baltimore Magazine, American Institute of Architects, and the Washington Post.
4) Mueller Homes
7520 Main St., Sykesville, MD 21784
Mueller Homes is an award-winning home builder that has built in several areas across Maryland and Washington, D.C. With nearly 30 years in the industry, the firm has delivered client-pleasing projects with its crew’s high level of expertise. Under the leadership of Paul Mueller, Jr., the quality of the firm’s work has remained consistent, thanks to its staff of dedicated master craftsmen and trustworthy suppliers. This home in St. Michaels shows much of what to expect from Mueller Homes. The house was built with Hardiplank siding and natural thin cut stones to add to the overall design.
Mueller Homes’s work has resulted in multiple awards from MBIA for its excellence in the industry. The firm was also named one of the top 3 custom home builders in the city by Baltimore Architects.
3) Delbert Adams Construction Group
1417 Clarkview Rd., Baltimore, MD 21209
With over five MBIA awards of excellence and the honor of being named one of the best general contractors in Baltimore by Contractors Magazine, Delbert Adams Construction Group has no doubt distinguished itself from the competition as an esteemed Maryland firm. Over a decade since its founding, Delbert Adams has consistently provided high-quality homes thanks to its astute project management and skilled workers. The design-build firm is also a green builder, relying on eco-friendly techniques.
Their project Outdoor Elegance offers a look at the firm’s talents. Living up to its name, this luxurious home has a detailed white exterior that complements its scenic backdrop. Besides construction, the firm has also participated in community charities, including a construction effort for Helping Up Mission (HUM).
2) Owings Brothers
1912 Liberty Rd., Eldersburg, MD 21784
From being taught by their father to working on their 200-year-old family home, the Owings Brothers developed a passion for home-building and renovation early in their lives. These early experiences led to the Owings Brothers company, the Eldersburg-based firm that has serviced areas of Maryland for over 35 years. It’s earned awards of excellence from MBIA and honors for the firm’s remodeling projects. Owings Brothers can hit from both sides of the plate: they can build a home, and they can treat a client professionally. The firm has completed a variety of styles, including transitional mixes and sustainable green homes.
We love this gorgeous custom home on a hill. The home was built with an open floor plan in mind, allowing for large family gatherings, and for the party to flow indoors and out. Details include a fully furnished basement, two garages, and bluestone walls.
1) Pyramid Builders
2 Womack Dr., Annapolis, MD 21401
Much like the majestic wonder that is the pyramid, Bret Anderson aims to build homes with grandeur. And his Pyramid Builders, an award-winning construction firm, has continuously provided excellent homes over the past 3 decades. Bret has been in love with the building since childhood, and he has always been comfortable being different. He started Pyramid Builders with less than a thousand dollars, and that $1k and a lot of hard work built a reputation for integrity and excellence. Anderson believes that for the best results, the client should be treated not as a customer, but as a member of the team. The results of this work ethic are simple: well-designed homes. The Duvall Creek home is a great example of the firm’s talents. This grand, luxurious home shows off a delicate fusion of luxury and simplicity, and its custom crafted details and large open spaces make for an unforgettable first impression.
Publications have acknowledged Pyramid Builders, often granting both awards and publicity. The firm and its projects have been featured in House Beautiful, Annapolis Home, Home & Design and Chesapeake Views.
How can I find a home builder near me?
Read our latest articles on the best custom home builders near Baltimore. 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 Maryland
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.
