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By Noah Nelson
What if choosing a custom home builder wasn’t just about the hammers and nails–but also about the journey of collaboration to create something truly unique for you? About finding a team that listens closely, values your ideas, and works with you to bring your vision to life. Imagine a builder who sees you not just as a client, but also as a partner with a dream and a story worth building around.
BUCKINGHAM RESOURCES
Founded in 1990 in Bend, Oregon, Buckingham Resources was built from Tom Buckingham’s creative spirit and unconventional path into home building. With a background as a regional general manager for a national telecommunications company—and having twice been a custom home client for his own family—Tom had a rare and valuable perspective. Guided by his passion for both art and management, he set out to build a company focused on more than just construction.
When you choose to build a custom home with Buckingham Resources, it’s not just a structure, it’s a home. At their core, they are home builders, not general contractors. Nothing about them is “general.” Early in his career, Tom learned a valuable lesson from a now-retired builder who was long regarded as one of the region’s top high-end custom home experts. This builder said, “When building a custom home, we’re building a prototype. It’s never been built before, it will never be built again, and we strive to build it as perfectly as possible on the very first try.”
“This is why we enjoy custom home building, versus spec home building for amazing clients,” says Tom. “The unique designs, complex builds… It all allows us to do what we do best.”
“When building a custom home, we’re building a prototype. It’s never been built before, it will never be built again, and we strive to build it as perfectly as possible on the very first try.”
–Tom Buckingham, Founder Buckingham Resources
In only their third year of business, Buckingham Resources was honored to be selected among many applicants as one of seven original “Featured Builders” in the community of Broken Top. Over the years, Tom would go on to lead Buckingham Resources to become a highly sought-after building firm whose custom homes continue to define the quality and beauty throughout Oregon and SW Washington. Their diverse portfolio is unparalled—traditional to modern–-second homes in Central Oregon, 360-degree panoramic-view penthouses in Portland, estates in SW Washington, nationally recognized 17-building equestrian estates, and ultra-modern homes on the Oregon Coast.
Buckingham Resources homes have also earned recognition globally. Most recently, one of their most complex builds was selected as a 2024 finalist for Archello.com’s House of the Year–Large Rural category. This international nomination honors design excellence and construction mastery and was one of only five homes recognized worldwide in its category.
The Archello nominated home belongs to a longtime client of Buckingham Resources, who has partnered with them on seven projects over the past eight years—a testament to the trust and collaboration at the heart of their work.
“You built exactly the home I wanted, not the home you thought I wanted.”
–T. Rosenbarger, Client & Homeowner
“Tom is an amazing builder and a very nice person,” says the client. “Thanks to him, we now live in the most beautiful house on the Oregon Coast, perfectly situated on a lot that most thought was unbuildable. And he completed this challenging project in the midst of a pandemic!”
This project is an example of how every home they build is truly unique for their clients. Tom has always had a deep appreciation for art and in recognizing art where others might not–the barista’s design on your latte or the patterns that are carefully mowed into a major league ball park’s grass. It is this ability to recognize art in all forms that provides the foundation for the detailed craftsmanship woven into the fabric of every Buckingham Resources build.
From homeowners to the tradespeople on site, Buckingham Resources has built a reputation grounded in trust and mutual respect.
On Tom’s first project, to gain real-world experience, he began by hiring himself, for free, to work for the framer on his own project. He spent the entire first week carrying lumber and sweeping the construction site before he was even allowed to pick up a hammer. Valuing humility, as the founder of the company he attributes this experience as central to the philosophy at Buckingham Resources: that every person on their projects plays an equally important role. Treating the extended team as such has translated into unparalleled quality and a steady flow of extremely talented craftsmen seeking them out to work on their projects.
“Every role is essential to our process,” says Tom, “from the most skilled craftsman to the entry-level worker, everyone is contributing to something special. We are all helping to create a home that will influence how a family lives their lives for years to come. We are really building experiences and memories.”
The journey to building a dream home often starts with a simple question: “Whom should I trust to build it?” That’s exactly what a current client asked their longtime interior designer—someone they had partnered with on many successful investment properties. Her answer? “Tom Buckingham.” When they pressed for another builder to evaluate, the designer repeated without hesitation: “Tom Buckingham.” Humbled by the trust placed in them, the Buckingham Resources team is now working with the client to bring their vision to life: an expansive 11,000-square-foot stunning waterfront mountain modern home.
In a similar story, an architect whom Buckingham Resources had not yet worked with was interviewing builders for his 9,000-square-foot custom home. The architect said he asked subcontractors from his previous projects for builder recommendations. Buckingham Resources was the first name mentioned, and kept coming up again and again.
“You built exactly the home I wanted, not the home you thought I wanted.”
–T. Rosenbarger, Client & Homeowner
Trust is not easily built, but the Buckingham Resources track record shows us how it’s done. Their level of care for their clients and their projects can be seen in their lasting relationships. Tom says, “We have many past clients who, years later, call us again for their next project.” Nearly all of their work comes from referrals, and clients repeatedly come back for their new projects.
“We like to bring new clients to previous homes we’ve built, and/or introduce them to our former clients,” says Tom. “Our work and our clients speak for themselves; and they’ve kept us very busy over the years.” This level of trust from industry professionals and clients alike is emblematic of how Buckingham Resources approaches their work. From the very beginning, the focus is on the client. They provide comprehensive weekly reports for their clients on all their new custom home projects. Detailed information such as the subcontractors on-site each day, project team meeting notes, material deliveries, construction submittals, progress photos, inspection results, and even the daily weather! This has proven especially beneficial to their out-of-town clients.
“We work in close collaboration with the inner circle team–architect/home designer, interior designer, landscape architect, and so on–to foresee potential issues early and provide solutions. That way, our clients get to focus on the fun part: seeing their new home come to life,” says Kirk Hamilton, builder and project manager at Buckingham Resources, currently managing a large custom home build.
Buckingham Resources loves working with clients who are active and engaged with the process. They invite their clients to come out to the job site as often as they prefer, and to never stay quiet with any question or concern. They foster a culture of communication and respect on the job site, for clients and workers, getting everyone excited and involved in the process of building an artfully crafted home.
“Buckingham Resources built two custom homes for us, and we asked Tom on several occasions to fly down to consult on our home project in Nicaragua. We love all of them. He is extremely talented and very creative when it comes to home building. He keeps the client’s lifestyle and pocketbook in mind during each project. We liked the fact that he only builds a few projects at a time, so he can really focus on your home. We cannot say enough about this builder!” share clients Pam and David Snodgrass, owners of Dennis7Dees, one of the Northwest’s largest and most reputable landscape firms.
Recently, due to the growing demand for renovations in Central Oregon, Buckingham Resources expanded its offerings with the launch of Refresh by B|R, a remodeling division led by Britt Porter, Tom’s daughter. Britt has an extensive background in high-scale project management and shares her father’s client-first philosophy. Raised around construction, she has vivid memories of being on job sites with her dad. Like the company’s custom home projects, every remodel is a true client partnership—whether updating a primary residence, a second home, or enhancing an investment property.
“We want clients to feel heard and know we’ve truly understood their unique goals,” says Britt. “Our promise is to deliver results that provide meaningful value to them.”
It’s safe to say, Buckingham Resources is not your average, or “general,” contractor. They have earned the reputation as a premier choice in Central Oregon for custom home building and renovation work. Their experience and professional portfolio are unmatched, as is their
standing in the community with clients. After more than 35 years of building, their level of client-satisfaction seems impossible, but once you step into one of their homes and talk to one of their clients, it’ll all make sense.
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