Concept
A clear, build-ready plan you can take anywhere.
$1,350/ design
- Site analysis
- 2D site plan
- Concept moodboard
- 1 revision round
Service
Custom Home Construction
Homes built around how you live.
What's included
Every project, every time.
- ✓
Site & Foundation
Grading, excavation, foundation engineering, concrete work, and waterproofing for a solid structural base. - ✓
Framing & Structure
Wood or steel framing, roof trusses, sheathing, and structural components built to California seismic standards. - ✓
Mechanical Systems
Complete plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and insulation installed by licensed subcontractors to code requirements. - ✓
Interior Finishes
Drywall, flooring, cabinetry, countertops, tile, painting, and fixtures selected to match your design vision. - ✓
Exterior & Roofing
Stucco, siding, stone veneer, roofing, windows, doors, and exterior trim for a complete weather-tight envelope. - ✓
Permits & Inspections
Full permit management, HOA submissions, Title 24 compliance, and coordination of all city inspections through final. - ✓
Site Logistics & Safety
Daily cleanup, site security, neighbor notifications, dust/debris control, and OSHA-compliant work practices. - ✓
1-Year Builder Warranty
Documented post-occupancy warranty covering workmanship and core systems, with a single point of contact for any callbacks.
Deliverables
What you actually receive.
Three ways to start
Pick the package that fits your scope.
Fixed-fee design tiers. Build cost is separate (typical range $40K–$250K+).
Signature
The package most clients pick when they intend to build.
$2,800/ design
- All Concept deliverables
- 3D rendering (1 angle)
- Planting plan
- Lighting plan
- 2 revision rounds
Estate
Full architectural integration with HOA-ready package.
$5,200+/ design
- All Signature deliverables
- 3D rendering (2 angles)
- Full material specifications
- HOA submittal package
- Construction-ready docs
- Unlimited revisions
Design fees only. Permits, HOA filing fees, materials, and construction quoted separately.
2026 pricing
How much does it cost to build a custom home in Orange County?
Custom home construction in Orange County runs $300 to $700+ per square foot. A 3,000 sq ft home lands at $900,000 to $2,100,000+ for construction alone, excluding land.
That range is wide because a custom home is priced by specification, not by square foot. Two identical footprints can differ by a factor of two once window packages, millwork and mechanical systems are chosen.
| Level | Cost / sq ft | 3,000 sq ft home | Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Builder-grade custom | $300 – $400 | $900,000 – $1,200,000 | Production-grade windows and millwork, standard mechanical, stock cabinetry upgraded |
| Mid-tier custom | $400 – $550 | $1,200,000 – $1,650,000 | Custom cabinetry, upgraded glazing, engineered flooring, zoned HVAC |
| High-end custom | $550 – $700 | $1,650,000 – $2,100,000 | Steel or large-format glazing, full millwork package, smart systems, designer finishes |
| Estate | $700+ | $2,100,000+ | Imported materials, structural glass, wine and spa programs, full landscape integration |
Excludes land, soft costs and site work. Hillside and coastal-zone lots add foundation and permitting cost that flat inland lots do not carry.
Schedule
How long does building a custom home take?
From first drawing to move-in is 18 to 30 months for a typical Orange County custom home. Roughly a third of that is design and entitlement before any ground is broken.
| Phase | Duration | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Schematic design and design development | 3 – 5 months | Programming, site study, floor plans, elevations, material direction |
| Construction documents and engineering | 3 – 4 months | Stamped structural, Title 24 energy compliance, MEP coordination |
| Permit and plan check | 4 – 8 months | City review, corrections, coastal or hillside review where applicable |
| Site work and foundation | 2 – 3 months | Grading, utilities, footings, slab or stem wall |
| Framing, dry-in and rough systems | 4 – 6 months | Framing, roof, windows, plumbing, electrical, HVAC rough-in |
| Finishes and closeout | 5 – 7 months | Drywall, millwork, cabinetry, flooring, fixtures, final inspection |
| Total | 18 – 30 months | — |
We can build from your architect’s drawings or design in-house through our design-build process, where the design package starts at $1,350 and the construction quote follows plan approval.
FAQ
What people ask about custom construction.
How much does a custom home cost?
Custom home construction in Orange County typically ranges from $300 to $700+ per square foot. A 3,000 sq ft home may cost $900K-$2.1M+ for construction alone, excluding land. The final price depends on design complexity, material selections, site conditions, and finish level. We provide detailed, itemized estimates after an initial consultation.
How long does construction take?
A typical custom home build takes 12-18 months from breaking ground to move-in. The full timeline including design, engineering, permitting, and construction can be 18-24 months. Home size, complexity, weather, and permit processing times all affect the schedule. We provide detailed timelines and weekly progress updates throughout.
Do you handle permits?
Yes, NHG HOME manages the entire permitting process. This includes architectural plans, structural engineering, Title 24 energy compliance, city plan check, building permits, HOA architectural review submissions, and coordination of all required inspections from foundation through final occupancy.
What is included in the build?
Our custom builds include site prep, foundation, framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, insulation, drywall, flooring, cabinetry, countertops, painting, fixtures, and final landscaping coordination. We deliver a turnkey home ready for move-in, with all permits closed and inspections passed.
Do I have to bring my own architect, or do you design in-house?
Both work. We can take your existing architectural set and price the build, or we can design the home in-house through our design-build process. The design package starts at $1,350 (design fees only) and the construction quote follows once plans are approved.
What's the difference between a custom home and a major renovation?
A custom home is ground-up: new foundation, new framing, new everything. A major renovation keeps the existing structure and reworks parts of it (kitchen, bath, additions). We do both — and the right call usually comes down to cost-per-square-foot vs. how much of the existing home you actually want to keep.
Why is custom construction priced above a full gut renovation?
Because it carries everything a gut renovation carries plus the site work a standing house already has: grading, foundation, utility service, framing and roof. A full gut in Orange County runs $300 to $600+ per square foot; new custom construction starts at that upper band and climbs with specification.
What is not included in the per-square-foot number?
Land, soft costs (design, engineering, permit fees), and site work beyond the building pad. On hillside lots in Laguna Beach or Newport Coast, grading and caissons alone can add six figures before the first stud goes up — which is why we price site work as its own line rather than burying it in a blended rate.
Can you build from my architect's plans?
Yes. We price and build from outside drawings regularly. We run a constructability and cost review first and flag detailing that will price badly or fail plan check, which is a far cheaper conversation before contract than during framing.
Your home should fit how you actually live.
Three minutes of questions. We come back with a recommended path (design-build or build-only), a per-square-foot range, and a date to walk the site.