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The front door question
“From the moment we arrived on the untouched ridge top, the first question Jeff asked was, ‘Where do you imagine your front door?’ That level of thoughtfulness and vision truly defines what it means to build custom.”
Custom homes · East Tennessee & Southwest Virginia(423) 579-5806
East Tennessee & Southwest Virginia
Your forever home,built like it.
Jeff Howell builds custom residences across the Tri-Cities — lakefront on Boone and South Holston, ridge tops, and the fairways of The Virginian — with engineering discipline, transparent budgets, and a team that answers the phone.
- 1. Inspiration
- 2. Design
- 3. Creation
- 4. Legacy
TN + VA
building on both sides of the line
10
named estates in the gallery
Team of 5
led by Jeff & Bekah Howell
4 steps
inspiration, design, creation, legacy
The estates
Every estate here has a name
Every residence is designed around its land and its family — lakefront, ridge top and fairway. All real J.S. Howell builds.
The journey
From inspiration to legacy
The same four movements, whether the land is a fairway, a ridge or a shoreline.
1
Inspiration
We begin by uncovering your vision, lifestyle and aspirations — the foundation of a truly bespoke home.
2
Design
Close collaboration with architects and designers refines every detail to reflect elegance and individuality.
3
Creation
Meticulous craftsmanship and uncompromising standards bring your home to life with precision and care.
4
Legacy
The journey concludes with the handoff of a timeless residence, crafted to be cherished for generations.
In progress
The parts you'll never see get the same standard
Jeff came to building from science and engineering — a microbiology degree and a career at Eastman Chemical before the first house. It shows in the way a Howell home goes together: the cabinetry, the framing and the systems are specified and checked like the finish work, because in twenty years the finish work is not what holds a home together.
Clients who built with us from five hundred miles away describe daily calls and never being in the dark. That is the build standard: transparent budgets, constant communication, and the same answer whether you ask the office or the job site.
In their words
What owners say when the keys are theirs
From the testimonials our clients wrote themselves.
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Built from 500 miles away
“We relocated from Ohio. We were away the first five months and that wasn't a problem for Jeff. He communicated with us constantly. We could not be happier.”
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Tyler Duncan
“Communication throughout the entire process was excellent. What really sets him apart is his continued support, even after the build was complete. We would highly recommend him to anyone looking to build a home.”
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The South Holston retreat
“J.S. Howell Custom Homes built our house on the South Holston River. Their craftsmanship, attention to detail and quality of work was exceptional — a special fishing retreat we enjoy every day.”
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The dream lake home
“I don't think our house was an easy build. Despite many obstacles, he was able to make our dream lake home come true, maximizing what we cared about most while not breaking our budget.”
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Kelly V
“We cannot express how very happy we are with our dream home. We absolutely love it, we don't want to leave! I hope you will give Jeff Howell a chance to build your custom home.”
Quoted from jshowellcustomhomes.com/testimonials — real clients, their words.
The team
Five people, one standard
Jeff Howell — Owner / President
Founder and builder. ETSU microbiology, Eastman Chemical, then a first home that sold before it was finished. Engineering discipline, inspired construction.
Bekah Howell — Vice President
Client partner from concept through early development. Emory & Henry graduate, ETSU master's, top 10% of cadets at U.S. Army Officer School. Your first call, and your steadiest one.
Bob Edwards — Cost Strategy Director
Mechanical engineer, 31 years at Eastman managing multimillion-dollar capital projects, retired Colonel and Desert Storm veteran. Watches every dollar like it's his own.
Jacob Redman — Site Operations Director
Boones Creek born and raised, Tennessee Tech. Runs the sites with deep local roots and a refined, professional approach.
Derick Miller — Operations Manager
Structural design and truss-system background, hardscape craftsman, project manager. Ground-up understanding of how homes actually go together.
Ready to discuss your forever home?
Every legacy starts with a conversation.
Prefer the phone? Bekah Howell · (423) 579-5806
Where we build
The Tri-Cities and the water around them
Blountville-based, building across East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia — Boone Lake, South Holston, the ridge tops and The Virginian.
BlountvilleJohnson CityKingsportBristol TN & VABoone LakeSouth Holston LakeElizabethtonAbingdon VAThe Virginian