About us

With over 1,300 custom homes built and a legacy of excellence, OTBX Custom Builders stands at the forefront of coastal home construction in North Carolina. Our founder, Danny Spell, brings decades of expertise to every project, ensuring each home is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and design. Our commitment to quality has earned us back-to-back Home Builders Association Presidential Awards for our innovative sound-side and oceanfront homes. These award-winning creations caught the eye of Coastal Living magazine, showcasing our work to a national audience and cementing our reputation as the go-to custom home builder on the North Carolina coast. At OTBX, we don't just build houses – we create award-winning homes that turn your coastal dreams into reality.

Our Qualifications: Licensed for Unlimited Potential At OTBX Custom Builders, we’re proud to bring you the assurance and expertise of an Unlimited Licensed General Contractor in North Carolina. Our founder, Danny Spell, holds the Unlimited License in North Carolina, which grants us the highest level of authority to handle projects of any size or value—without restriction. Here’s what that means for you:

Understanding Contractor License Levels in North Carolina
In North Carolina, contractor licenses are tiered to ensure builders can undertake projects that align with their financial resources and professional expertise. Here are the three primary license levels:

Limited License – Qualifies builders for projects up to $750,000.

Intermediate License – Covers projects up to $1,500,000.

Unlimited License – No cap on project value, allowing full flexibility to manage the largest, most complex builds.

The Advantage of an Unlimited License
With Danny Spell’s Unlimited License, OTBX Custom Builders is uniquely positioned to take on custom projects of any scale, from luxury estates to complex, high-value coastal properties in North Carolina. This license reflects our financial capacity, industry knowledge, and commitment to quality—allowing us to exceed expectations on every project.

Our Dedicated Team is Focused on Your Vision At OTBX Custom Builders, we're not just a team - we're more like a family that knows how to get things done right. Our carefully selected subcontractors are integral to our success, forming an extension of our core team. We've cultivated long-standing relationships with our subcontractors and vendors, ensuring consistency and reliability throughout the building process. From the initial foundation pour to the final nail, we maintain the same trusted professionals on each project, guaranteeing a level of quality and continuity that sets OTBX apart in custom coastal home construction.

Our services are available throughout coastal North Carolina, including Sneads Ferry, Topsail Island, Surf City, Holly Ridge, Hampstead, Jacksonville, Swansboro, Emerald Isle, and Wilmington. Our extensive experience in these areas ensures that we understand the unique challenges and opportunities that coastal construction presents, giving us an edge in building your dream home.

All of Our Custom Homes are Personalized We believe in keeping things personal. That's why we make it a point to maintain a direct, one-on-one connection with each of our clients throughout the building process. Even though we've assembled the best team in the business, our owner makes it a priority to personally visit every single home, every single day. This hands-on approach allows us to scrutinize all the fine details, ensuring we're meeting and exceeding our customers' expectations. We put ourselves in your shoes, examining each aspect of your custom coastal home as if it were our own. This level of personal attention and care is what sets OTBX apart in creating truly unique, high-quality homes along the North Carolina coast.

We specialize in building luxury custom homes on sound-side and oceanfront properties, tailored to the unique needs of families looking for high-quality craftsmanship in coastal North Carolina. Whether you're looking to build in Topsail Island, Surf City, or any other beautiful coastal location, OTBX Custom Builders is here to make your vision a reality.

Decisions are Made with You in Mind Our reputation is built on one simple principle: it's all about you, the customer. We've earned our stellar reputation by always putting your needs first. When making decisions about your custom coastal home, we don't focus on dollar figures. Instead, we ask ourselves: "What's the right choice to make this home the absolute best it can be for this family?" By consistently choosing what's best for you and your loved ones, rather than what's most profitable for us, we ensure that every decision we make is the right one. This unwavering commitment to your satisfaction is what makes OTBX the trusted choice for custom home building along the North Carolina coast.

The quality of a home reflects the expertise of those who create it. That's why we've carefully assembled a team of the finest professionals in coastal North Carolina. These skilled partners are essential in bringing your dream home to life:
Meet Our Trusted Partners Our experienced subcontractors, vendors, and craftsmen are key to the success of each project we undertake. By partnering with only the best professionals in the industry, we ensure that your coastal home meets the highest standards of quality and excellence.

This collaborative network allows us to offer a comprehensive and seamless building experience. Each partner shares our commitment to quality, attention to detail, and customer satisfaction.

Our long-standing relationships with these professionals ensure consistency and reliability throughout your project. This translates to smoother timelines, more accurate cost estimates, and, most importantly, a home built to the highest standards.

When you choose us, you're not just getting a builder – you're gaining access to an entire team of seasoned experts dedicated to creating your ideal coastal home. Let's work together to turn your vision into reality.