The New England city of Boston is home to many prestigious universities, hospitals, and research institutions. As a result, the city has a strong job market that attracts many professionals and students to the area, driving up the housing demand. The city is also relatively small, which further reinforces the shortage in available housing. Despite these issues, many still consider moving to this vibrant and thriving city due to its renowned museums, diverse culinary scene, and historical attractions. 

If you are currently living in Boston or hoping to relocate here, we have created a list of some of the best custom home builders in the city. These firms have helped develop some of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods, and homeowners often turn to them for their diverse residential construction needs. Each of these firms was selected for this list based on its portfolio, expertise, distinctions, and client feedback.

Howell Custom Building Group

Address
370 Merrimack St. Suite 405, Lawrence, MA 01843

Lawrence-based residential construction firm Howell Custom Building Group specializes in high-end custom homes, renovations, and additions. It was founded in 1997 by Steve and Susan Howell to provide residents north of Boston with an excellent home construction and remodeling experience. The couple offers their extensive background in professional engineering, project management, residential construction, and marketing, all of which have helped the firm complete over 800 projects, some of which have won prestigious distinctions. The team’s exceptional planning skills and building expertise have been highlighted by various media, including New England Home, Northshore Home, and The Boston Globe.

Working with TMS architects, Howell Custom Building Group constructed this breathtaking Adirondack-style family retreat. The home’s interior has an open first-floor plan encompassing an expansive kitchen, dining, and living area featuring paneled wainscoting, millwork, and coffered ceilings of stained quarter-sawn white oak (a nod to early 1900s design). Dark-polished white oak floors, New England fieldstone, and six fireplaces (four of them wood-burning) give the large home a cozy feel. Spaces abound to sit and relax, including a three-season room with removable walls and phantom screens that disappear to connect indoors to outdoors. A pergola with a built-in grill connects the main house to a cottage-style poolhouse. Within the pool house is a three-story climbing wall. The home’s exterior features red cedar shingles, copper work, and local fieldstone.

C.H. Newton Builders, Inc.

549 West Falmouth Hwy. West Falmouth, MA 02574

C.H. Newton Builders, Inc. was founded by C.H. Newton to produce high-quality custom homes in eastern Massachusetts. In the 65 years since its inception, it has been passed down through four generations, while maintaining adherence to all of its founding principles. One of these principles is the belief that “a house is more than a home—it’s an heirloom,” which is evident in its outstanding portfolio. The family-owned firm employs over 40 full-time industry experts, who it regards as Newton’s extended family. These experts are highly respected professionals adept in fine homebuilding, historical restoration, architectural millwork, estate care, and special project construction.

Among the firm’s award-winning builds is this contemporary home named Home of the Year Gold at the 2014 PRISM Awards and featured in Architectural Digest. It is roughly 8,100 square feet and was designed to blend in seamlessly with its surrounding environment. The home also enjoys unobstructed views of a magnificent landscape, as the property looks out over one of Cape Cod’s most famous harbors. The main house is made up of two different structures that are joined by an underground tube called the “library hall,” which was created to look like a ship’s cabin. The C.H. Newton Builders’ team used durable materials like concrete and Chinese granite throughout the home’s inside and outside spaces to highlight its robust structural design.

Payne/Bouchier

173 Norfolk Ave. Boston, MA 02119

Payne/Bouchier has over 42 years of experience in the home building industry and primarily serves the New England region. It specializes in custom homes, historic renovations, and coastal properties. The firm respects the area’s long history and strives to preserve it, while also offering unmatched service and exceptional craftsmanship that leave all clients’ expectations surpassed. It has also partnered with leading designers and architects and has created lasting relationships with them. These connections further help the firm in delivering clients high-quality and long-lasting homes that reflect their unique needs and lifestyle.

This house created by Payne/Bouchier is the first Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified Home in the South End. For this project, the homeowners put a high priority on eco-friendly construction and conscious design, which Payne/Bouchier dutifully fulfilled in collaboration with Amory Architects. The procedure involved recycling waste, using ecologically friendly building practices, and installing green features. These green features included low-E glazing at all windows, high-efficiency HVAC and plumbing systems, solar panels, and a green roof. Payne/Bouchier made sure to significantly upgrade the property while also retaining its historic character.

AD Construction LLC

1750 Washington St. Suite B1, Boston, MA 02118

Established in 1988, AD Construction LLC specializes in new home construction, kitchen and bathroom renovation, additions, conversions, home improvements, and green building. The firm is family-owned and primarily serves the Boston Metro Area’s residential and commercial sectors. It is renowned for effectively building complex projects and fulfilling each client’s desires, as well as fostering strong communication with clients in order to reduce their confusion and stress throughout the construction process. The talented team also aims to make each project as enjoyable as possible and minimize costly misunderstandings.

AD Construction LLC was founded by Alex Tsalagas, an award-winning industry veteran and member of the International Pioneers Association. He is one of the leading builders in the area, recognized for his outstanding ideas and projects. Aside from managing the firm, Tsalagas also leads the AD team, ensuring that his employees only use responsible business practices. He also encourages the team to give back to the community whenever possible, as the community is the reason behind the firm’s success.

Connaughton Construction

681 Main St. Ste. 2-14, Waltham, MA 02451

Connaughton Construction has been building and preserving homes in the Greater Boston Area since 1980. Aside from the residential sector, it also offers services to the commercial market and to private institutions. Regardless of its client, the firm aims to provide superior construction capabilities and exceptional client service. Its team carefully assesses each process step to ensure quality and accuracy. The firm also collaborates only with experienced and qualified subcontractors and uses only high-quality supplies, which help boost the firm’s reputation for consistently meeting client needs.

John Connaughton serves as the firm’s president and manages all of its daily operations. He graduated with a degree in business management from Northeastern University and an associate’s degree in building construction technology from Wentworth Institute of Technology. Before leading the firm, he was an estimator and a project manager at Thomas Mullane & Sons, as well as a former lead carpenter at McCaffrey Construction. This diverse array of experience makes Connaughton adept in all aspects of the building process, allowing him to apply the skills and knowledge he acquired in previous jobs to every initiative that Connaughton Construction undertakes.