Learn more about multigenerational living through Foksha Homes’ innovative approach
Father and son, Igor and Oleg Foksha, originally established Foksha Homes in 1998. Standing as one of Oregon’s leading homebuilding companies, it specializes in new construction, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), whole home renovations, remodels, additions, condominiums, and land development. Over the course of its existence, Foksha Homes has grown exponentially and gained significant expertise, enabling it to provide unparalleled product quality and customer service. With projects completed all over Willamette Valley, along the coast, the Cascades, and Portland Metro Area, the company is now looking to build more homes beyond these areas, with the help of its valued employees, subcontractors, lenders, and various other specialists. When we last featured Foksha Homes in Modern Home Builders over a year ago, Oleg, who serves as President of the company, told us about his father’s imminent retirement. Since then, the date of his departure has been set.
Bespoke projects
“My dad, who has been my business partner for 15 years of my life, is getting ready to retire in the middle of 2025, after our next show home in July,” reveals Oleg. “Ahead of this date, we are preparing for a transition, not only of the company but also of our family itself, as Foksha Homes is a family-run business. Even my mother, who is also one of the owners of the company, is stepping away. Their departure leaves my wife and me in full charge of the management of Foksha Homes, making it a kind of bittersweet time for us. We are happy about my parents finally being able to retire and enjoy their lives traveling across the country in their RV, but we’re grateful to be able to call upon them for support where needed. As we enter this new era in our lives, we strive to continue to provide an excellent service to all our customers,” he adds.
“Every project we undertake is a one-off custom home geared around our clients’ needs. Recently, we have built a contemporary modern home that we are very proud of,” he begins. “Alongside this specific project, we have completed several other custom homes around the Willamette Valley area ranging from $1 million to $4 million. Each of these projects is unique for different reasons, with some made for clients seeking to downsize from their large 7000-to-8000 square foot residences to smaller homes, while still retaining the same level of luxury and features. Meanwhile, other customers moved into higher-end houses from smaller 2400-to-2500 square foot homes as they need more capacity for their family’s evolving needs. For instance, their kids are getting older and have more toys they need space for. Although our clients are upgrading in terms of house size, they are not constraining their budgets, as they still prioritize their lifestyle needs and wants. Interestingly, we have been building homes for multi-generational households, where the parents anticipate they will need help with their mobility within the next few years,” he enlightens.
“Likewise, there have been children in their late 50s who wanted ADUs to accommodate their parents. Our work with ADUs includes adding a second master suite
or dedicating a 1000-1500-square-foot section of the client’s house to their older relatives, as a place to stay while they are being cared for. In other words, there is a shift in the mindset of our average clients, who are now choosing to retire with their family over going into retirement facilities. It has been exciting to explore this market, which presents its own challenges in terms of providing enough square footage to accommodate the younger generation and the ageing family members, both from a financial and practical standpoint. However, we strive to navigate these fine lines to make sure everyone involved is happy with the custom home we have built for them,” he goes on.
Sustainable solutions
Delving into the unavoidable topic of sustainability in homebuilding, Oleg sheds light on the ways Foksha Homes reduces its impact on the environment. “Oregon is one of the leading states in the US in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability standards,” he explains. The company is committed to exceeding those standards in every aspect of its building process. “We work with our heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors to ensure that our furnace systems, including air returns, are highly energy-efficient. Depending on what a specific project entails, we can sometimes use renewable items or recycled materials in our flooring, for example. Additionally, insulation and heating are key areas of focus, as they can significantly impact energy efficiency and comfort in the homes we build. Thus, we tend to go above and beyond to make sure they are as efficient as possible. Lastly, to minimize our use of natural resources, we prioritize using sustainable, man-made materials in our building process. As a result, we limit our use of cedar wood and other natural resources that cannot be replaced,” he ends.
As Igor looks forward to retiring after over 25 years of molding Foksha Homes, Oleg is prepared to lead the next chapter, upholding his father’s legacy of customized craftsmanship and sustainable designs for families in Oregon. We look forward to catching up with the business again in the future, to hear more about its evolution under the watchful eye of the next generation of the Foksha family.