About Merlin Custom Home Builders

Merlin has over 30 years of experience building Custom Homes in Las Vegas. We have been honored to design, build, and remodel over 350 spectacular homes and estates ranging from $1 Million to $25 Million.

Our Clients’ appreciation for the craftsmanship, creativity, and commitment we lavish on their homes is evident in the referrals given to family, friends, and business associates. The majority of new clients come to us via referrals from existing clients, and from our architects, designers, engineers, and real estate professionals. We have worked with some of the finest families in the Valley. It’s the strong relationships we form early in a project that help forge long-term success for everyone.

With Merlin, there is no limit on your dreams! We hold an Unlimited, Full-B Category General Contractor’s license that includes high-rise buildings. This license grants us the State’s approval to build permitted homes without limits to size, height, or cost.

Our Firm has been featured and acknowledged in over 70 magazines and 300 newspaper articles including Architectural Digest, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Chicago Sun Times, Builder Magazine and Luxury Las Vegas.

Merlin Custom Home Builders holds an Unlimited, Full-B category General Contractor’s license. The Nevada State Contractor’s Board is Nevada’s building contractors licensing and regulatory agency. Their qualifications for a Full-B Unlimited License are so high and strict that Merlin Custom Home Builders holds one of only three Full-B and Unlimited Licensed in Southern Nevada. This license grants Merlin Custom Home Builders the State’s approval to build permitted homes without limits to size, height or cost.

We’re also humbled by the press coverage received throughout the years. Merlin Custom Home Builders has been featured and acknowledged in 70 magazines and 300 newspaper articles, including Architectural Digest, Builder Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Chicago Sun Times, The Orange County Register, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Luxury Las Vegas.

Merlin History

Bringing Dreams to Life since 1989

Merlin Custom Home Builders was founded in 1989. Company Founder, Steve Jones, had decided to build his own custom home and turned to a friend in the construction business. To learn about the process, Steve worked with his friend building custom homes for local clients. When that friend retired, Steve went into business for himself, starting Merlin Contracting and Developing, and developed a reputation in Southern Nevada for doing business on a handshake.

In 1994, Steve’s brother Bart joined the business, making Merlin a family-run company. Bart’s experience running a successful macadamia nut business came in handy in running Merlin’s office and allowed Steve to focus on business in the field. The brothers worked together to grow the company—now known as Merlin Custom Home Builders— and their reputation for excellence. After Bart’s retirement in 2021, Eric Morrison took on an ownership role with Steve and serves as the company’s Chief Operating Officer. 

Merlin Custom Home Builders caters to high-end, sophisticated customers who know and demand quality—and that’s exactly what they get from Merlin. Relying on the old-school values and ethics that helped build the firm’s reputation and a commitment to unmatched quality, we are known as the premiere custom home builder in Las Vegas. We specialize in bringing challenging visions and designs to life and pride ourselves on our expertise, attention to detail, and level of service we provide to our clients.

1930
1930’s
1930’s

The Jones Family settled in Las Vegas and has been building in Nevada for close to 100 years. Steve’s Uncle Cliff, his adopted Uncle Carl, and his Father, Herb helped build the Boulder (Hoover) Dam. Herb, who lied about his age, was still in his teens the first couple of years he worked on the Dam. The age requirement was 21 because of the danger involved. Uncle Cliff was a crane operator. Herb and adopted Uncle Carl were part of a concrete crew that pressure washed all the concrete forms as they were pulled off the newly poured concrete. They worked with no safety equipment. In addition to the men, Steve’s Aunt Flo, a reporter for the Las Vegas Review Journal, was one of only a handful of women allowed on the site.

1980
1980’s
1980’s

Steve started his career by building houses with his friend, journeyman builder, and mentor, Audie Coker.

1989
1989
Wizard logo - first Merlin logo - Hammered copper gift from a German Copper Smith

Steve secured his General Contractor License and established Merlin Custom Home Builders. His two sons came up with the idea to name it Merlin—like the wizard. Steve thought it was a great idea!

1994
1994
1994

Bart Jones, a Las Vegas native and brother to Steve Jones, joined Merlin Custom Home Builders doing field supervision.

1998
1998
1998

Merlin’s growth required Bart to move from field supervision to Chief Financial Officer.

2004
2004
2004

Merlin was featured in Architectural Digest.

2004
2004

Merlin built the official show home for the National Association of Home Builders®’ (NAHB) 2004 International Builders’ Show.

2004
2004

Merlin was featured in the Wall Street Journal.

2007
2007
2007

Merlin was again featured in Architectural Digest.

2008
2008
2008

The Great Recession (2007-2009) changed Merlin’s business philosophy. During the recession, Merlin was fortunate to have two clients/homeowners that were financially secure enough to finish their homes despite the recession. Those two projects, along with Steve, Bart and the entire staff reducing their income/salaries kept Merlin alive. Throughout the recession, Merlin was able to retain all but one employee while most of the other Las Vegas housing contractors had to let go of the majority of their teams. This gave us a great advantage when the market returned. We were fully staffed, yet lean and better business professionals.

2015
2015
2015

Merlin was featured in the Wall Street Journal.

2017
2017
2017

Merlin received the National Custom Home Builder of the Year from the NAHB.

2019
2019
2019

Merline received the Silver Nugget Award for Design and Architecture.

2020
2020
Gold Nugget Award - Merlin Custom Home Builders Las Vegas web

Merlin received the Gold Nugget Award of Merit for Best Custom Home over 8,000 sq. ft.

2021
2021
2021

Bart retired. He and his wife, Cory, moved to California.

2021
2021

Merlin was featured in Interiors Magazine.

2021
Merlin wins Silver Nugget 2021

Merlin received Silver Nugget Awards for Best Kitchen and Best Primary Bath.

2022
2022
2022

Erica Morrison was named partner and COO of Merlin.

2022
2022

Sara Eisert was named CFO of Merlin.

2023
2023
John Necs - Merlin Custom Home Builders

John Necs Joins Merlin As Director Of Field Operations