From raw land to final inspection. We bring technical precision, local zoning expertise, and over a decade of luxury experience to your new build.
Many builders can make a home look beautiful on day one. At JM Ungaro Company, we build homes designed to perform for decades.
As a company with deep roots in luxury remodeling and structural restoration, we have seen exactly how South Jersey homes age. We know where they fail, how coastal winds affect framing, and how local soil conditions impact foundations. We bring this “forensic” understanding to every new custom home we build.
Whether you are building a modern farmhouse in Egg Harbor Township, a coastal retreat in Longport, or a forever home in Linwood, we manage the entire lifecycle of construction with a focus on structural integrity and transparent communication.
We don’t believe in guesswork. Our process is designed to navigate the specific building codes of Atlantic County efficiently. While building a custom home is complex, it shouldn’t be confusing. We have refined our workflow into four distinct phases to ensure your project stays on schedule, on budget, and up to code.
The "Protection" Phase. Before we look at floor plans, we look at the land. This phase is about protecting your investment and ensuring your vision aligns with local reality.
Site Evaluation: We walk your lot in Egg Harbor Township or the Shore area to assess topography, clearing needs, and soil conditions.
Zoning Analysis: We review local setbacks, impervious coverage limits, and height restrictions (crucial for coastal towns) to determine exactly what can be built.
Budget Alignment: We have an honest conversation about your "Wish List" versus your "Budget." We provide a preliminary estimate based on current material costs so you aren't designing a home you can’t afford to build.
The "Paperwork" Phase. Once the scope is defined, we move into the technical preparation. We handle the bureaucratic heavy lifting so you don't have to.
Architectural Collaboration: Whether you bring your own plans or work with our partners, we review every blueprint for structural logic and cost-efficiency.
Permit Procurement: We prepare and submit all necessary applications to the EHT or local building department. We know the inspectors and the requirements, which minimizes rejection delays.
Material Selection: While permits are processing, we guide you through selecting windows, siding, and key materials. Ordering these early protects your timeline from supply chain delays.
The "Builder First" Phase. This is where the physical transformation happens. As hands-on builders, this is where we ensure the structural integrity of your home.
The "Dry-In": We install the roof, windows, and exterior sheathing. Once the house is weather-tight, we begin work inside.
Mechanical Rough-Ins: Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC lines are run through the open walls.
Client Walk-Through: Before we close the walls with insulation and drywall, we walk you through the framed home. This is your chance to verify outlet locations and visualize the flow of the rooms.
The "Precision" Phase. We turn a construction site into a home. Our team shifts focus from heavy structural work to fine detail.
Insulation & Drywall: We seal the home for energy efficiency and hang the drywall, shaping the final rooms.
Trim & Millwork: We install doors, baseboards, crown molding, and custom cabinetry. This is where the quality of craftsmanship truly shows.
Final Systems Check: We test every faucet, light switch, and HVAC unit to ensure systems are operating perfectly.
The Final Walk-Through: We tour the finished home with you, explaining how every system works and ensuring every detail meets your standards before handing over the keys.
Construction in South Jersey is not “one size fits all.” A home in the woods of Farmington requires a completely different technical approach than a home on the bay in Somers Point.
Building in Egg Harbor Township (EHT), Linwood, and Northfield often means dealing with wooded lots, clay-heavy soil, and specific township zoning buffers.
Land Development: We handle the heavy lifting of lot clearing, stump removal, and grading to ensure proper water runoff away from your foundation.
Utilities: Whether you are connecting to city water in Linwood or require a septic design in a rural section of EHT, we manage the utility infrastructure to ensure seamless function.
Impervious Coverage: EHT has strict rules on how much of your lot can be covered. We help you design a home that maximizes your square footage without triggering zoning variances.
For our clients in Margate, Longport, and Somers Point, and other areas the enemy is the elements.
FEMA Compliance: We are experts in flood-zone construction, ensuring your finished floor elevation meets all FEMA requirements to keep your insurance premiums manageable.
Corrosion Resistance: Standard nails and hardware rust in months near the ocean. We utilize stainless steel fasteners and impact-rated windows designed to withstand hurricane-force winds.
If your considering a home build in Egg Harbor Township, we invite you to view our in-progress home build in Harbor Acres online, or even better an in-person site visit to see our quality first hand!
When considering a custom home build, your idea means everything to us. We would ask that you reach out to us to discuss your vision, from their we can begin designing and eventually drafting an estimate to build your brand new home!
You are hiring JM Ungaro, and you get Justin Ungaro. Unlike large production builders where you are handed off to a junior superintendent, Justin is personally involved in site supervision. Our crew is a tight-knit team of master tradesmen who have worked together for years, not a random assortment of day laborers. We respect your property, keep a clean job site, and strictly prohibit smoking and loud music.
When working with JM Ungaro Company, we understand the stress that permits might bring, which is why we handle and walk you through everything from start to finish!
If you are considering a custom home build, you will require architectural plans however our team will put you in touch with our in-house architect.
We believe in a “No Surprises” policy. Most budget overruns in this industry happen because the builder gave a low-ball allowance for finishes just to win the job. We don’t do that. We provide realistic allowances for kitchens, flooring, and lighting based on your taste level before we sign the contract. If you choose to upgrade materials during the build, we provide a clear Change Order cost for approval before the work is done. You will never receive a surprise bill at the end of the project.
In the current South Jersey market, custom home construction typically falls between $300 and $450+ per square foot. However, that is just a baseline. A 3,000 sq. ft. home could cost $900,000 or $1.5 million depending entirely on three specific factors.
The Complexity of your home A simple colonial box with a standard roofline is the most cost-effective to build. Once you add cathedral ceilings (like our Harbor Acres project), complex roof angles, or a sprawling first-floor footprint (which requires a larger foundation), the cost per square foot increases.
How Does Your Lot Look? This is where budgets often break if you aren’t careful.
Land Prep: Does your lot in Farmington need extensive tree clearing and stump removal?
Utilities: Are we connecting to city sewer in Linwood, or do we need to design and install a raised septic system like we did with our Harbor Acres project?
Fill Dirt: Does the lot grade need to be raised to meet township water runoff codes?
We assess these costs during our initial Site Feasibility Study so they don’t surprise you later.
How Luxury Are The Finishes? The difference between “Builder Grade” finishes (standard vinyl siding, asphalt shingles, stock cabinetry) and “Luxury Custom” (Hardie board siding, metal roofing accents, custom millwork, quartz countertops) can swing the budget by 30% or more.
We don’t give you a “low-ball” estimate just to get you to sign a contract. We build a comprehensive budget that includes realistic allowances for the finishes you actually want, not the cheapest options available.
When working with JM Ungaro Company, we understand the stress that permits might bring, which is why we handle and walk you through everything from start to finish!
Yes! Please contact us before you sign the papers. One of the most heartbreaking conversations we have is with clients who bought a “bargain” lot in Egg Harbor Township only to find out it requires $50,000 in fill dirt, has wetlands buffer issues, or lacks access to public utilities.
We strongly encourage you to bring us into the process during your land search. We can walk the potential property with you to identify “hidden” site development costs that real estate listings often fail to mention. This simple step can save you tens of thousands of dollars and months of zoning headaches.
You are protected by New Jersey’s strict 10-Year Home Warranty Program. We stand behind our craftsmanship. Every new custom home we build in NJ comes with a comprehensive warranty package as required by state law:
Year 1: Coverage against defects in workmanship and materials (doors, trim, cabinets, paint).
Year 2: Coverage for mechanical systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) and the building envelope.
Year 10: Coverage against major structural defects (foundation, load-bearing framing).
Beyond the paperwork, we are a local business. We live in this community. If an issue arises after you move in, you can call us directly. We don’t vanish once the final check clears.
At JM Ungaro Company, we believe that “quality” shouldn’t depend on square footage. Whether we are constructing a sprawling estate in Harbor Acres or an efficient, single-story home in Linwood, our standard remains the same. We bring the same structural precision, high-end materials, and transparent communication to every single job site. Our clients aren’t just customers; they are our neighbors, and our reviews reflect the respect we bring to their investments
Justin and his guys were professional and accommodating. Great communication and great customer service. Quality of the work was excellent and I really don’t think I could have matched the price for the work they put in. I’ll be using them in the future and would gladly recommend them for any type of renovation project.
Justin and his guys were professional and accommodating. Great communication and great customer service. Quality of the work was excellent and I really don’t think I could have matched the price for the work they put in. I’ll be using them in the future and would gladly recommend them for any one looking to build a new home !
We hired JM Ungaro Company for our full home renovation, and we couldn't be happier with the results. Justin and his team were a pleasure to work with throughout the entire experience, from design and planning to the completion of the work. We always felt that our project was a priority for them, and they did a great job of communicating their ongoing progress to us. Their attention to detail is so impressive, and they always had a solution to any unexpected issues we encountered. We are so glad we decided to trust JM Ungaro Company for the complete, custom overhaul of our home, and we truly cannot recommend them highly enough!
Building a custom home is a complex journey, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. From the initial design phase to the final structural inspection, we guide you through every decision with clarity and care. Whether you know Justin from his years of luxury work with Jayhawk Construction or are partnering with us for the first time, you can expect the same uncompromising integrity and precision. Let’s build a home that stands the test of time.
