Balancing tradition and innovation, 3rd Street Custom Homes is shaping the future of custom building
With quality as its top priority, 3rd Street Custom Homes (3rd Street) has grown from humble beginnings to delivering truly custom homes that exceed client expectations. Originally established by Jeff Stegich, who first began his career in real estate and started building homes around 2006, Jeff is now joined by his son, Ethan Stegich, who serves as President.
“I never intended to end up in real estate and I was supposed to go off to college to do something different to my father, but on the other hand, he didn’t expect the business to grow to where it is today,” Ethan opens. “I grew up around this business and I learned everything I know today from my father, from using certain tools or equipment to managing subcontractors and client relationships. At 3rd Street, I started off on the real estate side, helping buyers and sellers to find properties, before transitioning over to the building side of the business.
“Growing up in the construction world means I have a solid understanding of the methods, processes, and equipment required to build a home, and I can ensure our high standards are upheld on job sites. On the flip side, my real estate experience means I can effectively communicate with clients throughout the process, so I’m grateful to have an insight into both sides of the business.”
As 3rd Street has grown, Jeff and Ethan’s roles have adjusted over time. “My dad has always been the founder and the owner, but I’ve taken on new roles and responsibilities over the last few years,” Ethan shares. “While I’m still a real estate broker, I now dedicate around 90 percent of my daily tasks to our building operations. Our roles haven’t necessarily changed dramatically, but we’ve shifted our perspective to running 3rd Street together rather than one or the other. We’ve grown together and this change is testament to the fact that the company is safe in either one of our hands, but for the foreseeable future, we plan to run the business together. My dad and I collaborate on a daily basis, and we’re very much aligned in our goals to continue building houses that withstand the test of time.”
Turning to the company’s recent projects, Ethan continues: “We’ve completed two spec homes this year, which is more than usual but due to the successful sale of our first spec home relatively quickly, we were able to complete another home. We love working on spec homes together, and it’s a great way for us to test ideas and monitor trends in the market, as well as ensuring our homes remain relevant. While we’ve completed several custom homes too, spec homes allow me and my father to test our own ideas and designs rather than focusing on client preferences. In fact, we build and design spec homes as though we are moving into them, which ensures we deliver a product we’re extremely proud of.
“We’ve recently completed a fantastic home on Mohawk Trail, and me and my dad had the opportunity to do plenty of work ourselves as the home included lots of special or intricate details,” he adds. “We’re also working on what I think could be my favorite project in recent years; it’s a traditional home with a full stone exterior and impressive details like arched doorways, wood accents, and extensive tile work and detailing.”
It’s clear that 3rd Street has built a strong reputation for the quality and longstanding performance of its homes. “We’re passionate about quality, and we’re not willing to sacrifice it for the sake of extra dollars, even despite price increases and materials shortages,” Ethan explains. “While profit is inevitably key to creating a sustainable business, we care more about staying true to our core values and building a legacy than making as much money as possible. Over the years, we’ve learned that prioritizing quality builds our reputation in the market and ultimately earns us more money in the long-term. I used to think success revolved around money and as I’ve got older, I’ve realized that money is a nice byproduct from building excellent homes and creating a legacy in the market.”
On the topic of creating a legacy, we ask Ethan about his plans for the company’s future. “We’ve planned our schedule up to mid-2026 and we’re currently working on plans for some very exciting new projects,” he shares. “I’m also excited to start my own personal project next year, as I’ve surprisingly never built a home for myself.
“In terms of growth, we don’t want to grow for the sake of it, but our approach is that every home we build should be better than the last one,” Ethan concludes. “Along with client demands and emerging trends, this ethos pushes us to continuously improve our product. Further afield, I’d like the 3rd Street name to be synonymous with quality and excellence, and I’m passionate about driving forward the legacy my father has built over the last 25 years.”