The Best Custom Home Builders in New York State

Last updated on August 13th, 2024 at 04:42 pm

Building a custom home in New York is an exciting journey that starts with choosing the right builder. Finding a reputable and skilled custom home builder cannot be overstated. With project costs ranging from $100,000 to $550,000 and potentially reaching up to $800,000, and an average cost per square foot of $60.91, it’s essential to partner with a builder who can deliver on quality, budget, and timeline. Typically, custom home projects in New York take up to 24 months to complete, underscoring the need for a contractor to manage such long-term commitments effectively.

New York has a population of 8.336 million and a median home value of $800,000, offering a unique and diverse real estate market. The city’s architectural landscape is as varied as its residents, making it crucial to work with a builder who understands how to create a home that reflects your style and needs. With 33 relevant custom home builders in the area, finding the right one can ensure that your home meets and exceeds your expectations.

Choosing a custom home builder for your next home construction project offers numerous benefits. These include personalized design, expert craftsmanship, cost and time efficiency, and increased home value. By collaborating with a custom home builder, you can create a home perfectly suited to your lifestyle, preferences, and needs, ensuring that you have the perfect place to call home for years. In this article, we will highlight some of the best custom home builders in New York, known for their expertise, creativity, and dedication to client satisfaction.

Overview: The Best Custom Home Builders in New York State

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

Legacy Construction Northeast, LLC

10 New King St. Suite #208, White Plains, NY 10604

Legacy Construction Northeast is a 14-year-old firm known to produce high-quality work that leads to long-term trust and loyalty and long-lasting relationships with clients and architects. Though it has only existed for 14 years, it carries over 50 years of construction management experience from founders and partners Chris and Tom Yaroscak. 

The firm has gained much recognition thanks to the pair’s experience. Among the top home builders in New York, it was awarded the 2015 Chrysalis Award National Award for Best Residential Exterior over $100,000. It has also been featured in magazines like Luxe, AtHome, Outdoor Home, and Westchester Home. Its homes have also received several HOBI awards from the Home Builders and Remodelers Association (HBRA), the 2014 and 2015 Best Architecture Design Awards, and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) ‘s Design Awards from 2000 to 2014. In 2018, the firm also won the AIA Westchester and Hudson Valley Design Honor for the Treetop Lodge, a home designed by Carol Kurth Architecture. 

Another one of these award-winning homes is the Sterling Residence, which the architecture firm Carol Kurth Architects designed. By interconnecting buildings and vernacular barn forms, the team created a collection of smaller structures that gave the impression of a tiny village. Cedar shakes, copper, vertical barn siding, indigenous stone, and solid walnut were meshed with the stone wall spine bisecting the house. Aside from being an award-winning home, the Sterling Residence has also been featured in many other publications and T.V. production pieces. Along with this project is the Art House, a modern home that won the 2014 AIA Top Design Award.

Rockwell Developers

60 Cutter Mill Rd. Suite #610, Great Neck, NY 11021

A custom home builder featured in Luxury Magazine, Rockwell Developers builds homes 4,000 to 10,000 square feet or more. One great example of these houses is a French Eclectic home with a red brick facade that balances the lightness of its blue Dutch gable roof. 

Projects like these—high quality, within budget, and energy-efficient—are only possible thanks to principal duo Jonathan Bijari and Danny Ostad, previously industry rivals. Bijari worked for a developer, building high-end commercial buildings in Brooklyn, where he learned the basics. He then started building his own homes around Brooklyn and Queens. Ostad, meanwhile, began building homes on Long Island’s North Shore in 2002. The two collaborated to form Rockwell Developers in 2010.   

Alexim Builders

33 Flying Point Rd. Suite #133, Southampton, NY 11968

A firm with over 25 years of experience, Alexim Builders generally creates homes that exhibit traditional, new, or modern styles. One great example of its homes is this contemporary residence in East Hampton. Carrying a light-colored wood facade, this two-story home is a great addition to the forest it’s been fit into. To take advantage of beautiful mornings and twilight views, the builder and architect installed numerous wide windows that allow natural light to flood into the already airy and spacious rooms.

During its years of building, Alexim Builders has provided its clients with high-quality construction that utilizes sustainable green methods whenever possible or when requested. One of the top home builders in New York, the team is led by John Ania, who currently serves as the firm’s president. Aside from swiftly and carefully gaining the requisite permits, Ania is known to create straightforward and easy-to-work-with plans. 

Hobbs, Inc.

450 Lexington Ave., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10017

A firm that doesn’t shy from working with renowned architects, designers, artisans, and suppliers in the industry, Hobbs Inc. is known for making the most beautiful homes in the New York area. In its 65 years of building, Hobbs Inc. has associated itself with industry organizations like the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the Association of General Contractors (AGC), and the Home Builders and Remodelers Association (HBRA) of Fairfield County and Connecticut. Hobbs Inc. has constructed numerous eye-catching projects and has been featured in magazines like Luxe, AtHome, Architectural Digest, Hamptons Cottage and Garden, and Custom Home Magazine. The firm has also been recognized with awards like the Home Builders and Remodelers Association’s 2015, 2017, and 2018 HOBI Awards. 

Another great example of the firm’s ability is the Modern Waterfront in Rye. Designed by David Wallance Architect, it’s a hillside home that overlooks the Long Island Sound. The home takes advantage of its location set before an area where sunrises and sunsets are clear and orients the home’s living and dining rooms towards the garden in a way that makes the house appear flooded by light. The home’s rear facade is framed by windows sized proportionately to the bright, sloping ceiling shading the balconies.

Taconic Builders

39 West 37th St., New York, NY 10018 

A firm that has worked with numerous architects since 1986, Taconic Builders has created homes that were featured in several industry magazines, including House Beautiful, Veranda, Architectural Digest, Luxe, Home and Garden, and The Modern Estate. One of the many homes that recognized the firm is the Westchester Wooded Contemporary House. Designed by architect Carol J W Kurth Architects, this home is a secluded wooden work of art in the middle of a quiet forest. 

Along with this home, the firm has also completed homes that exhibit the mid-century, modern, and farmhouse styles. Another great example of the firm’s work is the Southampton Beach House, designed by Steven Harris Architects. A home that seems to carry a simplistic design at first, this rectangular beach house is made of board-formed concrete that appears to hover above two piers; the first one is faceted and tapered to make as small a footprint as possible, and the second one is large enough to contain and seal the garage. 

Though the home has many amazing designs, its most notable feature is the twin 10-by-24-foot glass windows that drop down into the service space below and expose the living area to the sea breeze. In addition to creating such beautiful homes, Taconic Builders focuses on green initiatives and has a history of responsible recycling and resource management.

Stokkers & Company

70 Main St., Suite #202, Huntington, NY 11743

A builder that collaborates with respected architects from different parts of the nation, Stokkers and Company has built diverse luxury custom homes since company president Dale Stokkers established it. One of the firm’s most notable homes carries a post-modern style. Located in Lloyd Harbor, this 10,000-square-foot waterfront custom home’s most notable feature is its iconic and commanding brick and limestone facade—a dark color scheme that beautifully strikes against its surrounding greenery. Along with architecture firm Mojo Summer and Associates, Stokkers perfectly aligned the house with the property to capture the waterfront in a stunning panorama of Huntington Bay and the Long Island Sound. 

In addition to its association with exceptional architects and industry organizations like the NAHB and LIBI, Stokker is also recognized as the firm that built the first LEED-certified home on Long Island. 

Napoleon Development

345 Hillside Ave. Suite D Williston Park, NY 11596

Napoleon Development has been in operation for more than 20 years. During this time, it has established itself as a firm that builds homes with the exceptional precision that goes along with the team’s standards for creating the perfect home for its client. The firm does not compromise its aesthetic details for any project. Some of these houses even have high-quality materials, including stone imported from Israel, fixtures from Italy, handmade cabinetry, and windows and doors from lumber and cedar company Marvin. 

Aside from building such beautiful homes containing diverse materials from around the globe, Napoleon Development is one of the many firms that dedicates itself to sustainable building. Along with its homes, the firm’s construction methods and materials are known to exceed Energy Star ratings. These sustainable homes may also carry innovative designs like elevators, Smart home automation, and Luton technology that can accommodate any client’s needs. Currently, Ilan Yerushalmi serves as Napoleon Development’s president; the firm has memberships in the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Long Island Builders Institute (LIBI), and the New York State Builders Association (NYSBA). 

Cardel Development, LLC

2411 Main St., Bridgehampton, NY 11932

Pater Cardel has built fine homes for East Long Island for many years. Today,  the firm has built nearly 70 of these beautiful homes. Even during the recession, this 17-year-old firm grew thanks to its connections with high-end architects. With its reputation for building fine custom homes that stem from recognized designers and architects, Cardel Development was featured in Beach Magazine, Resortist, and Luxe, where it was included in the 2016 Gold list. 

One of the distinguishable homes recognized by the firm is this beautiful modern country home in Bridgehampton South, lined with floor-to-ceiling windows that allow in as much light as the home’s surroundings can give. Homes such as this are found mostly south of Highway 27 between Southampton Village and Amagansett and have home values between $4 million and $25 million. Aside from custom homes, Cardel Development also builds speculative homes.

Timberbuilt 

10821 Eagle Dr., North Collins, NY 14111

A firm that combines timeless aesthetics with the industry’s most energy-efficient enclosure system, Timberbuilt has been known for building stunning and eco-friendly timber frame homes since George Klemens founded it. Comfortable and architecturally distinct, Timber Built usually builds homes in the prairie, ranch, and modern styles. One of the renowned home builders in New York State, one of the great examples of the homes it builds, is the Marshall home, which received Timber Home Living’s 2013 and 2015 Reader’s Choice Awards. 

This home has a modest footprint and includes multiple outdoor spaces and a large loft. Two large timber bents sit on posts to help flank the traffic flow moving from the entry to the master suite. Like many other houses built, the firm also installed structural insulated panels (SIP) to air-seal and insulated the home’s walls and roof. Thanks to this insulation system, Timberbuilt homes tend to cut off heat loss by 60% while minimizing utility bills and carbon footprints. 

John Hummel and Associates

20 West 22nd St., Suite #1505, New York, NY 10010

Over John Hummel and Associates’ three decades of experience, it has built homes in the Hamptons, New York City, and Connecticut. Known as one of the home builders in New York, it was featured in a 2019 Residential Design Magazine article. One of its most notable projects, built in a modern shingle style, was given AIA’s 2019 Housing Award. “The Georgica Cove” was designed by architecture firm Bates Masi + Architects and is found in East Hampton, where it sits on a cove overlooking the ocean. The house was built for a couple who were alone for most of their time but still enjoy busy weekends with their children, grandchildren, and friends. 

The house has three areas—the personal, guest, and public areas. All three are arranged around the courtyard to create visual and physical connections between the structures. Cedar shingles were scaled up to the size of boards to cover the roof and sidewalls, while oak floors and millwork carpeted the spaces. A limestone plinth was also filled with sand to elevate the house above the floodplain, creating dry wells to accept stormwater runoff. 

John Hummel and Associates has built many more eye-catching projects, gaining firm features in magazines like Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, Town and Country, Hampton Cottages and Gardens, Bazaar, and Veranda. Company president and founder John Hummel currently handle the firm. After completing a construction management degree in Delhi, Hummel began to dedicate his time to his clients; 30 years later, this dedication has resulted in his reputation as one of the regional leaders in building high-end custom homes.  

Phil Kouffman Builder

33 Cedar Trail, East Hampton, NY 11937

Knowledgeable, responsive, honest, straightforward, and accessible: these qualities are what Phil Kouffman Builder’s track record is most recognized for since its establishment. Among the top home builders in New York, the firm currently builds some of the most exclusive modern and traditional homes in Hampton’s prime locations. One of these beautiful homes is the Southampton Ultra-Modern home in Great Peconic Bay. Designed by Pablo Jendretzki, the 7,000 square foot, two-story home is uniquely positioned so that every room—especially the open concept kitchen and living room looking out at the infinity swimming pool’s deck and lounge—has a view of the waterfront. 

Over half a century, Phil Kouffman Builder’s work has come from referrals, real estate brokers, and architects. Because of all this success, the firm has built relationships with several organizations, individuals, and businesses across the East End. The firm currently has connections with 22 New York architects, one California architect, and another in Brazil. The firm was founded by the late Maurice H. Kouffman, best known for building some of East Hampton’s most historic landmarks like the East Hampton Cinema, East Hampton House, and 66 Newton Lane. Philipp D. Kouffman, the current CEO and president, combines constant client communication and properly handled project management, which has helped the company’s growth in building high-end residential homes. 

Duce Construction Corporation

412 West 127th St., New York, NY 10027

Duce Construction Corporation is a full-service general contractor and construction management firm. The New York Building Managers Association (NYMBA) named it 2016’s Vendor for the year. The firm has also been featured in several publications, including The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, and Classic Home. So far, the firm has built homes in the Tudor, colonial, modern, farmhouse, and prairie styles. Meanwhile, another one of its homes was built in a Dutch Colonial style and was painted with the warmth and brightness of light brown and emerald green colors mirroring the foliage and landscape around the home. 

Duce has created such homes for three decades since company president Rory McCreesh founded the firm. After McCreesh started his career as a carpenter in 1985, he developed strong relationships with several major architectural and design firms in and around New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

Kean Development Company

5 Main St. Suite #3, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724

Kean Development Company has been serving with its wide reach for four decades. It has been recognized as one of the country’s premier luxury design/build firms. Among the commended custom home builders in New York, it was featured in The New York Post. 

One of Kean Development Company’s stunning projects is “Olde Towne” which is minutes away from the ocean and quaint village of Southampton on Long Island’s East End. It has more than 40 acres of mature hedgerow and towering trees that envelope ten remarkable lots with shingle-style country manors. Meanwhile, Tower House, Summer House, and Twin Peaks are wonderful examples of Kean Development Company’s devotion to creating pristine, high-end estates with luxurious amenities. 

Another great example of the firm’s expertise is a shingle-style retreat set on a ridge overlooking one of the most picturesque harbors on Long Island. Though the home was recently built, it was featured in House and boasts a design that evokes the sense of a vintage, late 19th-century manor house. It has a mass of gabled ends and a turret garbed in cedar shakes and anchored with stonework in the Richardson-Romanesque style. Aside from this project, the firm’s ability is highlighted at Olde Towne, where both the Tower and Summer houses are located. The Summer House, in particular, is a picturesque example of a home that can offer relaxation just at the sight of its exterior. In this case, the home’s facade makes the evening much grander as its stained grey facade starts to look like a charming blue at dusk.

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 New York State 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.