We are a boutique design-build firm led by husband and wife team Eric and Charity Stockland. We specialize in large-scale, full-custom homes that are as thoughtfully designed as they are well-built.

In 2009 we founded Charter Bay with a shared belief that the process of building a home should feel personal, not transactional. Our philosophy of taking on fewer clients means more hands-on-involvement with each project and a personalized experience bigger builders simply can’t offer.

With over 25 years of experience in homebuilding, Eric is the driving force behind every project. From helping you design the perfect floor plan to overseeing every detail on site, he’ll be your personal guide throughout the entire process. Clients often tell us how much they appreciate his blunt honesty, humor and the level of care he brings to every part of the process. He’s equal parts perfectionist and problem-solver and will be your steady point of contact from start to finish. No revolving cast of characters. No wondering who’s in charge. Just a steady presence who’s fully invested in your project start to finish.

While Eric is the face of the company, Charity is the glue behind the scenes and co-architect of the values that guide the way we service our clients.

She manages the administrative side, from permitting, research and logistics, to purchasing and accounting. With a degree in Fine Art and a deep love of art and architecture, she brings a thoughtful perspective and a second set of eyes to the work we do. She works quietly behind the scenes, but her fingerprint is on every home we build.

Prior to launching Charter Bay in 2009, Eric had a front-row seat to the inner workings of both high-volume production builders and large semi-custom firms, and oversaw the construction of hundreds of homes across Tampa Bay. He held a variety of positions in these firms, from Construction Superintendent to Sales Manager to Chief Operating Officer.

What he saw was a system that too often left clients feeling left in the dark and lost in the shuffle. In larger firms, a typical client starts with the sales team. Once the papers are signed, clients are passed to the drafting department, who then hands them off to the design center. Once construction starts, a construction superintendent takes over for the actual build. If there are any issues after closing, the client is redirected yet again to the warranty department.

Over the years, it became clear to Eric that the larger the company, the more disjointed the process for the homeowner. Endless Hand-offs. Broken Communication. Zero Ownership. The process left clients feeling frustrated and confused.

When the Great Recession of 2008 crashed the housing market, many home builders went out of business, including the one Eric worked for. Faced with an uncertain future, we made a bold decision and decided to head to Europe for 6 months. We spent our time reflecting on what the next chapter of our lives should look like. We studied art and architecture, and explored small towns and villages throughout Germany, France and England. We were struck by the number of homes that had been standing for generations, many of which were still lived in by the same families who built them. These homes weren’t just well-built structures. They were family legacies.

That trip changed everything.

When we returned home, Eric knew he no longer wanted to build high-volume production houses. He wanted to build homes that mattered, homes that would outlive him and had the same enduring quality that inspired us abroad. In addition, he wanted to create a more personalized building process that reflected the same level of care and intention as the home itself.

And that’s how Charter Bay was born – with the belief that both the journey and the destination should be exceptional.