New houses, historic renovations, and full rebuilds from the Victorian core to the harbor, run by the owners of Seaboard Builders.
Cape May is where the Garden State Parkway runs out at Exit 0, a city of about 2,800 year-round residents and one of the largest collections of Victorian homes in the country. Seaboard Builders works as custom home builders in Cape May for owners who want to build new, rework a historic house without losing its character, or replace one that is past saving. Todd and Karen come from South Jersey and run every project themselves.
Building here is not like building on the barrier islands up the coast. The porches, the gingerbread trim, and the streets around the Washington Street Mall set a standard every project is measured against. Our New Jersey project gallery shows the level of finish we bring to it.
Many owners first look for custom home builders near me while staying in town for a weekend. We meet you at the property and keep you updated after you head home.
In Cape May the street has a say in what you build. We think that makes for better houses.
Todd and Karen, Seaboard Builders
History, the harbor, and open-ocean weather all shape the work. This is how we approach each one.
Inside the historic district, exterior changes go through the city's preservation review. Rooflines, windows, porches, and trim all count. Custom home builders in Cape May have to plan the design around that review rather than react to it, and we do.
The inside can change completely. Our whole-house renovation work brings kitchens, baths, and mechanical systems up to date behind a facade that still looks like 1890.
Where a new house makes sense, the best ones borrow from their neighbors: deep porches, steep roofs, real trim. The result can still have open plans, big kitchens, and modern glass facing the water.
We design these with your architect under the same process as our custom home construction in New Jersey. Custom built homes in Cape May should look like they have always been there.
Out by Schellenger's Landing, the city faces one of the busiest fishing ports on the East Coast. Harbor-side lots bring bulkheads, docks, and flood elevations into the plan, plus a view of boats coming and going all day.
Waterfront building is half of what we do: Seaboard is based in Tequesta, Florida, and our Florida custom home work around Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens follows the same standard.
Cape May takes weather from the ocean and the Delaware Bay at once. Roof attachment, window ratings, and flashing details matter more here than almost anywhere in New Jersey, and older homes often need that work done when the walls are open.
Bathrooms in these houses usually need the most help, and our bathroom remodeling for shore homes fits modern showers and tile into old floor plans.
Cape May stays busy far longer than the rest of the shore, with fall weekends and the holiday season drawing crowds of their own. Our schedule reflects that.
Demolition and foundation work start once the fall visitors thin out.
Framing, roofing, and windows go in while the streets are still quiet.
Millwork, tile, and trim move indoors, where the work of a high-end remodel happens out of sight.
Punch list, landscaping, and a final walkthrough with you.
Cape May owners compare plenty of luxury home builders. People who choose us as custom home builders in Cape May usually say it came down to the owners being on the job.
Decades of South Jersey building experience, and the owners stay with your project from the first meeting to the keys.
We keep our list short, so every luxury home we build at the shore gets proper attention.
We are a licensed builder working in New Jersey and Florida, which gives us the storm and salt-air experience luxury custom home builders need at the water's edge.
Cape May sits south of the canal with its smaller neighbors close around it. Browse all of our New Jersey services for the rest of the shore.
The historic district, Beach Avenue, and the harbor side.
A quieter borough next door with larger yards and older homes.
Small lots near the lighthouse and the bay beaches.
North Cape May and the bayside neighborhoods above the canal.
A short drive up Ocean Drive, with beach blocks and bay lots.
Further north on Seven Mile Island, where we also work as Stone Harbor home builders.
What owners want to know before building or renovating in a historic shore town.
Yes. Exterior changes in the historic district go through the city’s historic preservation review, so we plan the design and paperwork around that from the start, while the interior can be fully modernized.
We do, on lots where new construction makes sense. Each one is fully custom and designed to sit comfortably beside its neighbors.
The FEMA zone on your survey and New Jersey’s freeboard requirement set the first floor height. That decides stairs, parking, and the look of the house from the street, so we settle it before design.
Late fall through early spring. Cape May stays busy well past Labor Day, so we plan heavy work for the quietest months and move inside before the crowds return.
Never. Every home is fully custom, built around your lifestyle, your lot, and your architectural vision.
It keeps the owners hands-on, keeps quality high, and keeps communication clear for every client.
Of course. We regularly work alongside client-selected architects, interior designers, and landscape professionals, and we can suggest trusted partners if you need them.
Set the level of involvement that suits you. You get scheduled updates and direct access to Todd and Karen, and we try to return every call within 24 hours.
We begin at the house, with the survey, the flood zone, and any historic district questions on the table, and tell you honestly what is possible.
Monday to Friday 7:00 to 5:00, Saturday 9:00 to 5:00, Sunday 9:00 to 2:00.
Whether a friend passed along our name or you found us searching custom home builders near me, call the owners or send a few details about the property and your timing. As custom home builders in Cape May, we answer personally.
