Forty Under 40: Koby Bowen

Homebuilding is a legacy passed to Koby Bowen by her father, who began building homes in 1995 and later launched Homes of Distinction.

Bowen now runs the business, which has built more than 300 high-end custom homes in the region. She is unintimidated in the male-dominated profession and has doubled the company’s size while garnering multiple awards in the $1 million-plus category in the Northwest Arkansas Home Builder’s Parade of Homes.

As a girl, Bowen watched her dad build a custom home for their family, and she rode with him to job sites as he expanded.

After earning a bachelor’s degree, she obtained her Realtor’s license. She believes this, along with her eye for interior design, makes Homes of Distinction unique.

“I can see the full vision,” Bowen said. “What the client’s thinking, and from both the building and real estate perspectives.”

The company benefits from her strengths in scheduling, organization and problem-solving.

Bowen’s father stepped back from his role three years ago to work for her, and he retired this year. Her husband also joined the company.

Her dad remains interested, checking in weekly. Most of their subcontractors have remained the same, which she said “makes it a little easier. When someone new shows up, sometimes there’s a moment of asserting, yes, it’s me,” she said of being a woman.

The custom home industry remains steady despite the heated real estate market of late, Bowen said. “You can only do as much as you can. Our availability isn’t much different.”

Bowen’s favorite aspect of her job is the delight of pursuing projects from a vision to full completion.

“It’s truly exciting to see it come together when you started from nothing,” she said.