San Diego is well-known for its striking coastline, diverse population, family-friendly attractions, top-notch school system, safe neighborhoods, and vibrant food scene. Its economy also offers a wide range of opportunities for professionals. Tourism, along with creative industries—such as technology, life sciences, telecommunications, and biotechnology—drive San Diego’s economy. These characteristics make San Diego “America’s Finest City.”

In addition to expansive views of the Pacific Ocean, homes in San Diego, California bask in great weather and natural beauty. If you want to move to the city and own a piece of this paradise, the best custom home builders are here to assist you. These firms specialize in custom home building and other residential construction projects. They have won awards for their impressive portfolio and are known for their exceptional client service. 

Marrokal Design & Remodeling

9474 Kearny Villa Rd. #205, San Diego, CA 92126

Marrokal Design & Remodeling was established in 1981 and has since provided clients with exceptional custom homes and remodeling projects. The firm is an award-winning company known for its two-part custom home-building process. These two components include a site investigation and an in-depth examination of the design that can be accommodated. The Marrokal team will explore every detail of a project, including site and zoning requirements, homeowners association (HOA) regulations, street access, sun orientation, and design aspect. Scrutinizing these details ensures a smooth construction process and a truly customized home for each client. This process has earned Marrokal Design & Remodeling numerous recognitions over the years. These awards include Chrysalis Awards, Contractor of the Year Awards (CotY) from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), and Design Excellence Awards from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID

Marrokal Design & Remodeling’s skills are exemplified by this Spanish-style home. The client had traveled extensively throughout the Mediterranean and wished to bring some of their experiences back. The firm provided them with a home with details usually found in Mediterranean homes. The home features white stucco arches, clay roof tiles, and wood and metal accents. The layout of the project highlights an open floor plan with a variety of seating areas throughout the home. The design caters to the client’s love of hosting parties and entertaining guests. Other features include decorative tiles in the fireplace, kitchen, and great room, as well as column and detailed archways, stained beams, and sliding door systems.

Hill Construction Company

4626 Albuquerque St. 2nd Floor, San Diego, CA 92109

Hill Construction Company is a San Diego-based firm specializing in luxury custom homes and technical construction. The firm understands that a home is not just a structure but a place where clients can find comfort, thrive, and create memories. It uses a project approach that combines experience and creativity to deliver these homes. Its forward-thinking team employs cutting-edge technology and advanced building methods based on research and critical thinking. With these attributes, the firm carries out projects and tailors a methodology ideal for it. All of the firm’s projects exude the craftsmanship of the firm and sophisticated expertise in design and technology. It completed a variety of projects, including historic preservation, and modern and contemporary homes. Its services include everything from pre-design to pre-construction, construction, and post-construction. 

Hill Construction Company was founded in 1975. It is led by Ryan Hill, whose construction experience began at a young age. His experience and leadership lead the firm through constant growth and technical progress. Today, the firm is known for its award-winning projects and services. This home in San Diego’s La Jolla neighborhood is one of its recognized projects. It is the third building in the neighborhood to receive a Platinum certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Hill Construction Company delivered this home with environmentally conscious elements, sustainable design, and economically green spaces to the clients.

Tourmaline Builders, Inc.

400 S Sierra Ave. Ste. 201, Solana Beach, CA 92075

Established in 2011, Tourmaline Builders, Inc. offers clients a boutique service for custom home projects. It has a successful track record of project completions in opulent communities, such as La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Mission Hills, North Park, Solana Beach, and Oceanside. Each of its projects is approached using a straightforward process and a project management platform. A full-service team, along with the firm’s principals, guides clients every step of the way. The team emphasizes communication and collaboration for cost-effective solutions and efficient design that does not compromise quality. Over the years, these practices have maintained long-term relationships with clients and resulted in quality projects. 

Tourmaline Builders, Inc. specializes in custom home construction, accessory dwelling units (ADU), remodels, and renovations. Its expertise in customizing homes to the needs of the client is well known throughout San Diego and North County. This expertise can be applied to a variety of architectural styles. For a decade, the firm has worked on homes in various styles, such as craftsman, farmhouse, Cape Cod, Spanish, mid-century modern, and contemporary. Several of its projects have won awards, which include Spotlight Honors from the San Diego chapter of the Building Industry Association (BIA) and multiple Icon Awards for Best Custom Home in San Diego. 

Steigerwald-Dougherty, Inc.

427 S. Cedros Ave. #202, Solana Beach, CA 92075

Steigerwald-Dougherty, Inc. is a trusted home-building and remodeling firm in operation since 1981. The firm’s mission is to achieve excellence in all aspects of construction. This excellence has resulted in hundreds of satisfied clients and thousands of projects completed in San Diego and surrounding cities. Its portfolio showcases homes in craftsman, contemporary, mid-century, Spanish, Tuscan, and French Normandy styles. The firm’s work has received various awards, such as the San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles Magazine‘s Home of the Year Awards in several categories. Steigerwald-Dougherty, Inc. constructed one of San Diego’s first homes to receive LEED Platinum certification.

Steigerwald-Dougherty’s stellar reputation was established by founders Dave Steigerwald and Pat Dougherty. Both of them have been in the industry for decades and approach projects with integrity, respect, diligence, and excellence. Their expertise spans from custom home construction to restoration, remodeling, and restaurants. With 40 years of experience, Steigerwald-Dougherty, Inc. continues to grow with the help of its experienced team and project completion for old and new clients. 

Armstrong Builders, Inc.

755 Turquoise St. San Diego, CA 92109

Armstrong Builders, Inc. constructs custom homes, single family homes, condominiums, and townhomes. Many of these projects are completed through a design-build approach, satisfying clients in San Diego and surrounding areas. When working on these projects, its team and partners collaborate to develop plans that are appropriate for the site as well as the client’s needs and budget. The Armstrong team assists clients in the multitude of things that goes with construction from finishes, to product selection and installation, and completion. For on-time completion and quality work, the team values creative solutions, clear communication, and thoroughness in daily tasks.

Armstrong Builders, Inc. began operations in 1983, offering traditional bid-build construction services. The firm’s founder, Tom Armstrong, eventually chose the design-build approach after his design experience and creativity outmatched this traditional service. Armstrong is one of the early adopters of design-build in the area. He recognized that this approach results in a creative and straightforward process and premium, cost-effective projects that begin and end with clients. In addition to custom homes, Armstrong Builders, Inc. provides remodeling services, mother-in-law units, and multi-resident construction.

Goral Construction

11260 El Camino Real, Ste. 210, San Diego, CA 92130

Daniel Silberstein, who founded Goral Construction in 2001, is responsible for the firm’s renowned expertise and high-quality projects. Silberstein brings 30 years of industry experience to the firm. His background includes architectural studies, general construction, and project development. Outstanding designs and efficient service are the hallmarks of his background, which continue to permeate through his work in Goral Construction. The firm’s project approach revolves around quality and building relationships with clients. Through this approach, the team can personally understand the client and address their needs, to the tiniest detail, in each custom home. 

Goral Construction specializes in numerous architectural styles, such as contemporary, modern, adobe ranch house, craftsman, Tuscan, and Mediterranean. Some of these homes can be found in San Diego communities, such as Del Mar, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, and Santa Luz. 

McCullough Design Development, Inc.

10531 4S Commons Dr. Ste. #700, San Diego, CA 92127

McCullough Design Development, Inc. (MDD) works to create lasting homes and establish long-term relationships. It achieves these goals by understanding what makes clients and projects unique. Personalized services allow for accurate homes and thorough attention to every aspect of the construction. Its team delivers these services by bringing together design, value engineering, cost estimates, and construction under one roof. Its works exhibit the grace and elegance of classic architecture along with excellence and quality craftsmanship. 

Monty McCullough is the president and lead designer of the firm. He has over 25 years of experience in architecture, design, and construction. His expertise and prowess in design-build services projects come from completing over 300 custom homes in San Diego and the surrounding area. Past clients of MDD commend the firm for its professionalism and strong work ethic. Several of these reviews attest to the personalized service of the firm, including identifying each goal and addressing it.