Custom home builder in Portland, OR, and the metro suburbs
J Roderick Young Custom Homes is an owner-led custom home builder for Portland, OR and the suburbs around it. We build on lots you own or are about to buy, from infill lots inside the city to land in Gresham, Beaverton and the east-county towns. You deal with the builder himself, Jeremy Young, not a sales office.
Public permit records list our new homes in Gresham (2023, 2024) and Beaverton (2014).
Our work around Portland
Most of our homes are on the east and south side of the metro area, close to our Happy Valley base. Public permit records also list J Roderick Young Custom Homes on a new home of about 4,200 square feet in Gresham in 2024, on further Gresham applications in 2023, and on a new home on a partitioned lot in Beaverton in 2014.
Partitioned and infill lots are a big part of building in and around Portland: a larger property split into two or three lots, or an older house replaced with a new one. Those lots are tighter, with neighbors close by, and the site plan matters even more.
What building inside Portland involves
Portland Permitting & Development
Since July 1, 2024, Portland's building permits run through Portland Permitting & Development, which brought the old Bureau of Development Services and other bureaus' permit teams together.
Trees on the lot
Portland's tree code, Title 11, applies to trees on development sites. Big trees can shape where the house sits and what it costs, so we look at them on the first site walk.
Infill and partition lots
Narrower lots, neighbors close by and tighter setbacks call for careful placement and a well-run, tidy site.
Suburban cities
Gresham, Beaverton and the other metro cities each run their own permit desks and fee schedules. We plan the budget around the one your lot is in.
Why Portland clients pick an owner-led builder
You talk to the builder
Hands-on customer service: you always work directly with the builder, from the estimate to the final walk-through.
No-obligation consultation
We walk the lot and talk through the house before you spend anything.
Upfront, detailed estimates
Option pricing shows each choice's cost, so you can hold your budget.
Help with permits
We prepare and steer the permit process with whichever city your lot is in.
No shortcuts
Diligent planning and long-standing subcontractors keep the schedule moving without cutting corners.
One-year warranty
A written one-year warranty with a walk-through inspection after a full year in the home.
Homes from our projects
From a client
Posted on Google in October 2022.
“Jeremy Young is the most hard working custom home builder that you can find. His professionalism reflects in his attention to detail in all facets of the custom home he builds. My wife and I knew that we knew the moment we first met Jeremy that his honesty and integrity was evident. He is so positive and easy to work with that it made building our beautiful home a pleasurable experience, Jeremy is now our builder and friend for life. Thank you Jeremy for our beautiful home! Bill & Cathy King”
Questions people ask before they call
Do you build inside Portland city limits?
Yes. We build across the Portland metro area, and inside the city permits go through Portland Permitting & Development. Most of our recent homes are on the east and south side of the metro, near our Happy Valley base.
Will trees on my Portland lot affect the build?
They can. Portland's tree code, Title 11, applies to trees on development sites, and large trees can limit where the house goes or add cost. We look at them on the first site walk, before design.
Can you build on a partitioned or infill lot?
Yes. Public records show a new home we built on a partitioned lot in Beaverton in 2014. Infill lots need careful placement and a tidy site because neighbors are close.
Is a builder in Happy Valley too far for a Portland project?
No. Happy Valley is part of the Portland metro area, and we've built in Gresham and Beaverton. Jeremy is still on site every day.
Where to go next
- Custom homes on your land
How we build on a lot you own.
- Happy Valley
Our home base, on the metro's southeast side.
- Vancouver, WA
Across the river in Clark County.
Ready to talk about your house?
Bring your lot, your plans or just an idea. Jeremy Young meets you, walks the land and prices the house in detail, with option pricing. The consultation costs nothing.