Blackburn Builders brings passion, precision, and the personal touch to every home
Blackburn Builders was established in 2019 by Josh Blackburn and Tiffany Blackburn, owners, and builder and designer respectively. “The first home we built was our own home,” Josh begins, “and we fell in love with the process. It was always something that I was interested in from a very early age. I took a class in high school where we built a home over the course of two years, from the foundations up, so I had that experience in my back pocket. The crash of 2008 occurred around the time I graduated, so that was a really bad time to try and get into building homes.
“As luck would have it, an alternative opportunity arose to become a lineman for a power company, and that really appealed to me. It fit with the active lifestyle I enjoyed, so I went down that path and worked there for about nine years.
“When we built our home, though, something shifted for me. I realized, you know what, this is what I’ve always wanted to do; this is what I want to pursue. So, we took a chance and started building our first spec home, right in the middle of Covid, of all times. We rode that wave, learned a ton of lessons, and honestly, it was a great time to start a business if you wanted to learn things the hard way.
“Since then, we’ve been building mostly semi-custom homes, with a few full customs here and there. We started in 2019, and we’re growing into more fully custom projects over time. I’ve really thrown myself into it. I joined the board of directors for the Home Builders Association of Northwest Indiana a couple of years ago, and now I’m the Vice President.
“I’m also passionate about the Parade of Homes, which I chair. My goal has been to make it exciting again; to get people looking forward to it each year. We used to have just one in the fall, but I pushed to add a spring event too, and now we have two parades across Lake and Porter Counties. We’ve been planning our first single-site parade since 2019 for fall 2026, which I’m really excited about,” he enthuses.
From concept to reality
“Right now, we’ve got a few homes in production in St. John, including our last lot in one of our main developments, and we just finished building the St. John Community Center, which is our first commercial project. It was a different experience, but a rewarding one, and potentially, I can see us doing more commercial work further down the road.”
Just as the couple saw their dream home become reality, the goal is to do the same for their clients. Josh and Tiffany believe a home is more than just a place; it’s where life unfolds. That’s why they are dedicated to crafting homes that combine functionality, style, and innovation.
“What I love most is taking an idea from concept to reality,” Josh shares, “thinking through the designs, making careful selections, and then seeing it all come to life. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch people respond so positively to something we’ve poured our heart and soul into. Even though we’re still the new kids on the block, people notice the difference in our work. When someone can recognize a Blackburn home without seeing our name, that’s the highest compliment. I also love the planning, leadership, and learning that come with running jobs efficiently. It’s challenging, but I genuinely enjoy it.”
As a builder, Josh has a personalized, hands-on approach to each project he manages, providing expert guidance to help clients make informed decisions. He understands that every client has different needs and preferences, which is why he takes the time to listen and collaborate closely throughout the entire building process. Likewise, as a designer, Tiffany has developed her skills in architecture and interior design for many years, and her abilities are evident in every Blackburn Builders home.
Honest communications
Honest communicationsThe Blackburn home building process starts with a conversation to explore the client’s vision. From there, Josh and Tiffany dive deeper in an in-person meeting, reviewing house plans, design preferences, and next steps. Once the design agreement is signed, the home starts to take shape with plan selections, finishes, and budgeting. Construction typically takes six to ten months, with regular updates, on-site walkthroughs, and close collaboration to ensure everything is on track. Once complete, the couple guide clients through the final walkthrough and closing and provide ongoing support through the homeowner portal and ten-year warranty.
“What really sets us apart is honesty,” Josh elaborates. “I’m upfront with clients; I don’t sugarcoat things or just tell people what they want to hear, which unfortunately isn’t always common in this industry. We keep an open, direct line of communication: when clients call, they speak with me or my wife, not a project manager. Being such a small team allows us to work closely with every client, guiding them through selections and the design process to make sure the home truly meets their needs and vision. We focus on planning everything up front so there aren’t surprising costs at the end of the build. That said, we understand that changes naturally happen; we’ve experienced it ourselves when building our own home. We work with clients through that process, helping them navigate decisions, manage budgets, and turn their ideas into reality, all while keeping the experience as smooth and stress-free as possible.”
Looking to the future, Josh shares what’s to come for Blackburn Builders. “Right now, our focus is on completing and selling the homes we have in inventory. Looking ahead, next year could be a big year for us. We’re starting to work with an investor, which may allow us to double our production. We’re excited because it could open the door to building more high-end custom homes, while staying open to whatever opportunities come our way.
“Looking further ahead, I’d love to get more into custom builds, but if that market isn’t right for us locally, I’m also interested in exploring multifamily projects like townhomes, duplexes, or small apartments. When I started, my vision was a mix of commercial, semi-custom, and custom homes. I’m focused on what’s possible now, but over the next ten years, I hope to expand into more custom and potentially production-level projects as opportunities arise,” he concludes.