(773) 969-9097
Building and renovating Chicago area homes and businesses since 1999
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Custom homes, additions & remodeling across Chicago and the suburbs
Bofran Builders designs and builds luxury custom homes across Chicago and the North Shore — homes shaped around your family, your lot, and your taste, not a floor-plan catalog. Family-owned, licensed and insured, with the owner on every project since 1999.
A production builder hands you a fixed set of plans. We start with a blank page, your lot, and how you actually want to live — then design and build a home that exists nowhere else.
As a licensed Chicago general contractor and design-build home builder, we manage every detail of your custom home under one roof: architecture, engineering, permits, foundation, framing, systems and finishes. From luxury North Shore estates to modern city homes and full teardown-rebuilds, you get one accountable team, direct owner involvement, and a home built to last through Chicago's seasons. Want the numbers first? Try our custom home cost calculator or read the cost to build a house in Chicago guide.
From ground-up luxury estates to modern city homes and teardown-rebuilds, tap through to compare what each path involves, a typical cost per square foot, and the build timeline.
A home designed entirely around your family — your layout, your lot, your finishes. We build one at a time with the owner involved throughout, so every detail is yours, from the floor plan to the trim profile.
High-end, architect-driven estates for Chicago's most desirable addresses — Lake Forest, Winnetka, Kenilworth, Hinsdale. Premium materials, bespoke millwork, wine rooms, home theaters and grounds built to the same exacting standard as the house.
Open floor plans, floor-to-ceiling glass, flat or low-slope rooflines and warm minimalist interiors. Modern homes demand precise framing and detailing — exactly what our in-house crew is built for.
Georgian, Colonial, Tudor, Prairie and transitional homes that fit the character of Chicago's established neighborhoods and North Shore streets — built new, with the craftsmanship and proportions of the originals.
Love the lot, not the house? We handle the entire teardown-rebuild — demolition, land clearing, utilities, permits and a complete new custom home — so you get a brand-new build in an established, high-value neighborhood.
Instead of hiring an architect and a builder separately and hoping they agree, design-build puts both under one roof. You get one accountable team, one budget tracked from day one, and no finger-pointing when decisions need to be made.
Get an instant, Chicago-specific ballpark for what it costs to build. Choose a finish level, set the square footage, and tell us about the site — your estimated construction cost updates in real time.
Estimates are planning ranges for construction only and exclude the cost of the land itself. Actual cost depends on design, finishes, site conditions and the market. Budget separately for permits (about $3,450–$5,000), architecture & engineering (5–15% of construction), and a 5–10% contingency. For a firm number, request a build consultation or read the cost to build a house in Chicago guide.
Custom home construction in the Chicago area generally runs $225 to $700+ per square foot depending on finish level. Here's how it breaks down — and the site and soft costs first-time builders most often overlook.
| Level | Cost / sq ft | 3,000 sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-custom | $225–$325 | $675K–$975K |
| Full custom | $325–$475 | $975K–$1.43M |
| Luxury estate | $450–$700+ | $1.35M–$2.1M+ |
| Size | Typical build |
|---|---|
| 2,500 sq ft | $810K–$1.19M |
| 3,500 sq ft | $1.14M–$1.65M |
| 5,000 sq ft | $1.6M–$2.4M |
| 6,500+ sq ft | $2.1M+ |
| Item | Typical |
|---|---|
| Building permits | $3,450–$5,000 |
| Architecture & engineering | 5–15% |
| Teardown / demolition | $11K–$23K |
| Land clearing & grading | $1,500–$3,000 |
| Water & sewer connections | $10K–$20K |
| Recommended contingency | 5–10% |
Good to know: Chicago permit approval currently averages 77 days (and can run to ~108), and new construction is typically reassessed for property tax at a higher value than the prior structure. We plan for both so neither derails your build. Full breakdown: cost to build a new home in Chicago.
Want a number for your own project? Try our Chicago framing cost calculator — choose your scope and size and it returns a planning range in about thirty seconds.
For families who can afford either, a custom home isn't just a house — it's the exact home you want, in the exact location you want, built new and built right. No compromise on someone else's floor plan, no inheriting someone else's deferred maintenance.
The biggest advantages come from control: the lot and neighborhood, a layout designed around how your family actually lives, and a new, efficient, warrantied home that's ready for the next few decades — not the last few.
Building a custom home is a big undertaking — so we make it clear. Most Chicago custom homes take 10–16 months from design to move-in, and you always know what's happening and what's next.
We start with your vision, lot and budget, then design-build the home — architecture, engineering and a clear, itemized estimate — refining until the plans and the number are right.
We handle Chicago and suburban permits, zoning, survey and engineering, lock in selections and the schedule, and prepare the site — so everything's ready before we break ground.
Foundation, framing by our in-house crew, systems, and finishes — with the owner on site and regular updates so you're never guessing where your home stands.
Final walkthrough, keys, and a 30-day check-in — backed by your written 5-year structural warranty and priority support long after you've moved in.
We're a family-owned builder that's been constructing and renovating in Chicago since 1999. When you build with us, the owner is on your project — not a sales rep who disappears after the contract.
Architecture and construction under one roof and one contract, so budget and schedule stay in your control — no finger-pointing.
The owner is on every home, start to finish. You work with the person accountable for the result, not a rotating cast.
The bones of your home are built by our own framers — straight, solid, and true, the foundation everything else depends on — here is what makes a foundation durable.
We manage every permit, drawing, survey and inspection across Chicago and the suburbs — and start early so the city doesn't stall your build.
Clear, itemized budgets tracked from the first sketch — you see where every dollar goes, with no games and no surprise change orders.
A licensed and insured Chicago general contractor, and every home is backed by a written 5-year structural warranty.
Bofran Builders builds custom homes throughout Chicago and the region's most sought-after suburbs. We know each community's permit process, lot rules and architectural character — from North Shore estates to modern city infill.
Building somewhere else nearby? Get in touch — we likely build there too.
"Our architect recommended Bofran Builders and we couldn't be happier. Frank and his team worked with us throughout building our new home, making excellent suggestions. Built on schedule despite permit obstacles — and more affordable than other contractors. The craftsmanship is phenomenal."
"The deck and staircase construction on a residential building was completed fast, under budget and with high quality. Even the city inspector was impressed with the workmanship."
"They did a great job replacing both support beams on our rooftop pergola — a tricky job with heavy materials in a tight space. I appreciated the attention to detail matching the existing accents and the timeliness to finish."
Most Chicago custom homes run $225 to $700+ per square foot depending on finish. Semi-custom starts around $225–$325/sq ft, full custom $325–$475/sq ft, and luxury estates $450–$700+/sq ft. As a benchmark, a well-appointed 2,500 sq ft custom home in a Chicago suburb typically starts around $875,000, before land. Budget separately for permits ($3,450–$5,000), architecture and engineering (5–15%), and a 5–10% contingency. Try our cost calculator for a number tailored to your build.
A Chicago custom home usually takes 10–16 months from design to move-in, and luxury estates can run longer. Design and engineering take 2–4 months, Chicago permit approval currently averages roughly 77–108 days on its own, and construction typically runs 8–12 months depending on size and complexity. We build the schedule up front so you always know what's next. Worth reading before you start: the challenges of building a new home and how we head them off.
Yes. As a design-build home builder we manage both the design and the construction of your home under one roof, so you have a single accountable team from first sketch to final walkthrough — no finger-pointing between architect and builder, and tighter control of budget and schedule.
Both. We build on lots you already own and handle full teardown-and-rebuild projects on premium lots across Chicago and the North Shore. We manage demolition, land clearing and grading, utility connections, permits and the complete new build. If you're still searching for a lot, we can advise on what makes a site buildable and cost-effective.
We build across Chicago and the affluent north and west suburbs — Lake Forest, Winnetka, Kenilworth, Glenview, Northbrook, Highland Park, Barrington, Hinsdale, Naperville, Oak Park — as well as city neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Bucktown and Wicker Park. We know each community's permit process and architectural character.
A production or spec home is built from a builder's fixed set of floor plans on the builder's timeline. A custom home is designed around you — your lot, your layout, your finishes and your budget — and built one at a time with direct owner involvement. Custom costs more per square foot but gives you a one-of-a-kind home in the exact location you want.
Yes. As a licensed Chicago general contractor we manage all permit applications, drawings, zoning and inspections. Chicago permitting is slow — approval averages 77 days and can run to 108 — so we start the process early and keep it moving so it doesn't delay your build. More on why permits matter.
Call us at (773) 969-9097, fill out our online form, or email bofranbuilders@gmail.com. We start with a consultation to understand your vision, lot and budget, then walk you through design-build, timeline and a clear estimate — no obligation.
Tell us about the home you want to build and we'll reach out within one business day to talk vision, lot, timeline and a clear estimate — from a Chicago builder who's been at it since 1999.
We'll get back to you within one business day.