Growing up in Southern Utah, Zachary Foster was surrounded by home builders, four generations on both sides of his family, to be exact. With a father who worked as a general contractor and a mother in real estate, he gained a unique perspective of the construction industry throughout his youth. As a teenager, he felt as though his strengths were in problem solving and in building relationships with people. Zachary also gained a core understanding of how homes are built, and how they’re experienced by the people who live in them.
Nowadays, it seems as though an unintended consequence of our information age is that fewer people follow in the footsteps of the previous generation. Apprenticeship professions, where the techniques of experienced experts would be shared, is becoming more rare. A basic knowledge to get licensed in a professional field can be gained through watching a few hours of online videos. Not as many of our current professionals are being schooled directly in hands-on craftsmanship and business from experienced mentors.
For Zachary Foster of Desert Haus, the opposite is true. Building homes is his passion and profession and his expertise is uniquely generational. “I have a strong desire to be the best at what I do…I won’t stop until each one of my projects, and my company, reflects that,” says Zachary. He continues, “there is a fine line to walk when considering taking on work…and not over committing myself to where I cannot perform at my best.”
In 2017, he officially stepped into the field as a carpenter. His experience in carpentry became the foundation for everything that followed. Learning trades from the ground up also gave him a deep respect for craftsmanship and a clear understanding of what it actually takes to construct a building that can stand the test of time. Two years later, Zachary was doing project management, overseeing both speculative and fully custom homes throughout Washington County. Each phase of that journey reinforced a belief that continues to guide his work today: "Quality should never be sacrificed for volume."
That belief ultimately led to the creation of his own company, Desert Haus Construction.
Desert Haus is built around three defining elements: People, Product, and Process.
People come first. Building a home requires continuous coordination between clients, designers, architects, and tradesmen—each playing a critical role. Zachary also places a strong emphasis on relationships and collaboration. The best results come from teams who communicate well and stay aligned throughout the process. Exceeding client expectations is a top priority.
His beautiful dwellings are a direct reflection of those standards. Inspired by the meaning behind the word “Haus”—a structure built with intention and precision—every home is approached with a focus on durability, craftsmanship, and long-term performance.
And finally, the process. From early planning to final completion, every step is designed to be clear, organized, and intentional. The goal is not just to build a home, but to create an experience where clients feel confident, informed, and supported along every step of the build.
For Zachary, success isn’t measured by how many homes are built each year. Success for him is measured by how well each one is built—and how the client felt throughout the journey. "I do intend to knock the ball out of the park on every project I take on." - Zachary Foster
Zachary loves hanging out with his younger brother who is special needs and is an absolute angel. The very little time Zachary isn't working, he also enjoys spending time at the gym, playing pickleball and playing golf. "I also love to cook. I’d say I have a passion for living a healthy lifestyle - exercise and healthy food," he shares.