John Kraemer & Sons
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John Kraemer & Sons is a family-owned luxury custom home builder, renovator, and condo and penthouse finisher started in 1978 by Gary Kraemer and his father John, now run by the second and third generations from offices in Edina and Wayzata. It works across the Twin Cities and Lake Minnetonka plus the Brainerd Lakes, Stillwater, and northern Wisconsin, and is licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Florida. As the firm puts it, in 47 years it has never gone out of business, reorganized, changed names, or changed owners.
Housing First Minnesota has named it Builder of the Year five times — 1999, 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2023 — with runner-up finishes in 1997 and 2008, named Gary Kraemer Housing Industry Leader of the Year in 2021, and recognized the firm for philanthropic contribution in 2025. Its remodels have taken three ROMA awards and twelve NARI CotY awards between 2016 and 2022, including national Best of Show for a historic renovation in 2016 and for a residential interior in 2018. John Kraemer currently serves as the association's Builder Vice President.
Regional recognition runs alongside: Best in Show at the 2022 Midwest Home & Design Awards, a top 2026 Midwest Design Award for its ELEVEN penthouse, Best Builder in Edina Magazine for fourteen consecutive years, Best Remodeler and Best Custom Home Builder from Lake Minnetonka Magazine, and 21 Best of Houzz awards since 2012. Current work includes Deer Hill Preserve in Medina, ELEVEN in Minneapolis, Garrison Landing in Wayzata, and renovations at Bearpath in Eden Prairie.
Specialties & Price Range
Price tier: Ultra-luxury
Service Areas
Awards & Recognition
- Builder of the Year (five-time) Housing First Minnesota · 2023
- Builder of the Year — 1999, 2009, 2013, 2017, 2023 (five times), plus runner-up in 1997 and 2008 Housing First Minnesota · 2023
- Excellence in Philanthropic Contribution Housing First Minnesota · 2025
- Housing Industry Leader of the Year (Gary Kraemer) Housing First Minnesota · 2021
- ROMA Awards — Best Kitchen over $115K and Best Lower Level over $125K (2019), Best Secondary Structure (2021) Housing First Minnesota Remodelers Council · 2021
- CotY — 12 awards 2016–2022 including National Best of Show, Historic Renovation (2016), National Best in Show, Residential Interior (2018), and Region 3 Entire House over $1M (2022) NARI · 2022
- Top award, Apartment/Loft/Condo (ELEVEN Penthouse) Midwest Design Awards · 2026
- Best in Show (Wayzata Bay Coastal) Midwest Home & Design Awards · 2022
- Best Custom Home Builder (2025, 2026); Best Builder 14 consecutive years, 2012–2025 Edina Magazine · 2026
- Best Remodeler (2024) and Best Custom Home Builder (2025) Lake Minnetonka Magazine · 2025
- Best of Minnesota: Readers Choice Minnesota Monthly · 2023
- Best of Houzz — 21 Design and Service awards, 2012–2024 Houzz · 2024
- Parade of Homes participant Housing First Minnesota · 2019, 2021, 2023
- John Kraemer currently serves as Builder Vice President Housing First Minnesota
- Member; CotY winner at Minnesota chapter, Region 3 North Central, and national levels between 2016 and 2022 NARI
License & Verification
John Kraemer & Sons holds Minnesota residential building contractor license BC001408 (active), verified against the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry public license lookup (last checked 2026-07-05). Always confirm current status directly with MN DLI before contracting.
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