Building on 25 years of success, Buffum Homes invests in people, innovation, and West Michigan communities
Looking back over the past year, I would say we have spent just as much time building a better company as we have building homes,” Josh Buffum, Vice President of Buffum Homes, reflects.
It’s been just over 12 months since Modern Home Builders last sat down with Josh and Buffum Homes – and it’s clear that the business has only continued to evolve and flourish since. Established in 2001 by company President, Norm Buffum (Josh’s father), Buffum Homes has grown to be synonymous with award-winning designs, exceptional craftsmanship, and outstanding value. Combining decades of experience with a thoughtful, personalized approach to homebuilding, the company has helped West Michigan families bring their dream homes to life for 25 years and has no intention of slowing down.
When we last spoke with Josh, we took a deep dive into Buffum Homes’ backstory, as well as its operational approach and ongoing projects – two of which were proudly showcased in Michigan’s Parade of Homes 2025. This year, we’re keen to catch up with Josh to find out how the company has progressed since we last spoke.
“This has been one of the most meaningful shifts for us,” he affirms. “We have expanded our team, welcomed our first Operations Manager, invested in new tools and technology, sharpened how responsibilities are divided, and strengthened the way our employees work together and support homeowners. Much of that work happens behind the scenes, but our clients feel the result through greater clarity, consistency, and attention throughout their build. We have also continued investing in the future. We have secured land for new communities and a future headquarters, expanded our presence across West Michigan, and expanded our digital presence so more West Michigan families can discover Buffum Homes and better understand what makes our company different.
“What excites me most is that the company has grown without losing its identity. We are serving more families and pursuing larger opportunities, but the fundamentals remain the same: building exceptional homes, treating people well, standing behind our work, and continually finding ways to improve.”
Pace of expansion
Over the past year, Buffum Homes has continued to experience strong, steady growth. For Josh, however, the company’s reputation is far more valuable than any financial measure and he believes that growth is simply the result of consistently doing the right things over time.
“We have never viewed growth as the goal. We view it as the result of doing the right things consistently over a long period of time,” Josh elaborates. “As a company becomes larger, maintaining quality and personal attention becomes more difficult. That has been a major area of investment for us. We have clarified roles, strengthened accountability, improved training, and built a leadership team that understands both the standard of home we expect and the level of care our clients deserve.
“We are also deliberate about the pace of expansion,” he adds. “There may be opportunities to grow faster, but not every opportunity is worth pursuing. We have spent 25 years building our name, and no short-term increase in volume would justify weakening the quality, service, or relationships behind it. Our goal is not to become the biggest homebuilder in Michigan. We want our homeowners to know they’ll receive the same commitment to quality, communication, and service that has always defined our company. If the company becomes larger while the experience becomes better, then we are growing the right way.”
As a part of these investments, Buffum Homes has recently hired its first Operations Manager, Ryan – whose expertise will strengthen the company’s team and help uphold the exceptional quality standards for which it is known.
“Hiring Ryan was an important step for Buffum Homes. As the company expanded, we recognized the need for someone whose daily focus was not simply building more homes, but improving how we build them,” Josh says.
Ryan summarizes his role well: “My role is about creating consistency and removing obstacles so our team can do their best work. That means keeping everyone proactive, accountable, and connected so we consistently deliver the quality and service our customers expect.”
When we last spoke with Josh, he shared insight into one of Buffum Homes’ ongoing developments – Planter’s Ridge. Spotlighted in the Parade of Homes last year, this development has continued to blossom, and Josh is keen to share updates on the project’s progression.
“We recently completed Phase 5, which added 31 new homesites, and we are now preparing for the sixth and final phase,” he details. “By the time the community is finished, Buffum Homes will have built more than 160 homes there. That is a significant accomplishment for our team and something we are genuinely proud of. The project has required years of planning, investment, coordination, and strong relationships with homeowners, local officials, trade partners, and the surrounding community. That success reflects the efforts of far more people than Buffum Homes alone.”
With the completion of Planter’s Ridge on the near horizon, Josh looks forward to the company’s upcoming endeavors. “We currently own an 80-acre property in Caledonia that we envision becoming a future residential neighborhood,” he shares. “We’ve also acquired a 50-acre parcel in Byron Center, along with about 15 acres in the Forest Hills School District. Each property is at a different point in planning, but together they represent a meaningful investment in the future of Buffum Homes.”
The right legacy
With 2026 marking the 25th anniversary of Buffum Homes, it’s clear that this point in its history is more than just a celebration, but symbolic of decades of passion, hard work, and continued innovation. While much has changed over the years, the company’s commitment to building homes with integrity and putting people first has remained constant. Reflecting on the company’s 25-year journey, Josh reveals that Buffum Homes’ success comes down to the relationships, values, and faith that have guided it every step of the way.
“Reaching 25 years is something we do not take for granted,” he affirms. “Above all else, we are grateful for the Lord’s faithfulness and guidance through every season of this journey. Looking back, His hand has been evident through the opportunities, the challenges, and the relationships that shaped Buffum Homes. We have also been blessed with dedicated employees, talented trade partners, loyal customers, and communities that welcomed our work. No business reaches a quarter century through the efforts of one person or one family. Buffum Homes exists today because many people invested their time, skill, confidence, and loyalty in it. More than anything, reaching 25 years is a reminder that a lasting reputation is built one home and one relationship at a time. We are proud of what the first 25 years represent, but we see them as a foundation rather than a finish line. We believe our best work is still ahead of us.
“As Buffum Homes has grown, we’ve worked hard to make sure individual homes never become numbers on a schedule. It’s healthy to think about the future, improve the company, and pursue new opportunities, but if we ever become so focused on the next project that we lose sight of the family waiting for the current one, then we have lost our way,” Josh says, concluding our conversation. “Years from now, homeowners will not remember every meeting or construction milestone. They will remember whether we were honest with them, whether we respected their investment, and whether the home lived up to what we promised. That is the legacy we care about. Not simply how many homes Buffum Homes built, but how faithfully we served the people who trusted us to build them.”
