Special feature: Loudoun County serves diverse market

Loudoun County, one of the fastest-growing and wealthiest counties in the nation for the past decade, has somewhat of a “split personality.” Known both as a center for technology research and high-tech careers, the area is equally renowned as the heart of Virginia’s horse country.

New home development in Loudoun County has followed this same split. There are plenty of planned communities, designed to appeal to young families with recreational facilities, town centers and new schools. Other communities offer an upscale lifestyle focused on golf and equestrian activities.

Much of the development in Loudoun County initially stretched westward along Route 7 toward Leesburg. In recent years, the development has extended along Route 50 and south of Route 7 in the areas near Dulles, Ashburn, Aldie, Chantilly and Middleburg.

Edgemoore Homes is building single-family homes, villas and town homes at Avonlea, a planned community with a stone water wall at the entrance, a village center with a clock tower and piazza, walking paths, small parks, a putting green and a lake with an island that can be reached by a stone bridge. The development also has a community center with a swimming pool and tennis courts.

The homes at Avonlea include two collections of town homes, priced from the low to upper $400,000s. Each 34-foot-wide villa also includes a two-car garage and is priced from the mid-$500,000s. A new section of single-family homes has recently begun sales, with prices from the $700,000s. Call 703/327-2999 or visit www.edgemoorehomes.com.

At Braddock Corner, Winchester Homes Inc. is building 100 town homes and 69 single-family homes in a development with 17 acres of open space, tot lots, picnic areas and walking trails. The single-family homes have sold out, and just two (end unit) town homes are available. The town homes, priced from the $350,000s, include a two-car garage, a gas fireplace, oak stairs and hardwood floors in the foyer and kitchen. Call 703/957-4882 or visit www.winchesterhomes.com.

At Brambleton in Ashburn, residents can enjoy a town center with restaurants and shops, parks, clubs, a sport and health club, tennis courts, ball fields, swimming pools and a variety of clubs and activities. Under development by Soave Enterprises LLC, Brambleton has single-family homes and town homes available now from Winchester Homes Inc., Van Metre Homes, Stanley Martin Homebuilding LLC, Miller and Smith LLC, Gulick Group Inc., Centex Homes and Beazer Homes Corp. The single-family homes are priced from the low $400,000s to the mid-$700,000s, and the town homes are priced from the upper $200,000s to the mid-$400,000s. Call 703/542-2921 or visit www.brambleton.com.

Van Metre Homes is developing the planned community of Broadlands in Ashburn, where woodlands, wetlands and a nature center set the tone for an environmentally friendly community. Residents can enjoy nature trails and walking paths, along with recreational amenities such as swimming pools, community centers and parks.

Two village centers are open with shops and restaurants. The development includes town homes, apartments and single-family homes. Currently, single-family homes are available in two collections from Van Metre, priced from the mid-$500,000s to the mid-$700,000s. Call 703/554-6949 or visit www.broadlands.org.

Southworth Development LLC and Nicklaus Design are developing Creighton Farms, a gated golf course community on 900 acres in Aldie, which has 2- to 6-acre homesites for custom homes. The homesites (without the home) are currently on the market from the $400,000s to $1,200,000. The custom homes will have woodland, meadow, mountain or golf course views. The focal point for the community is the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, which has now opened. The development will include a club, community activities and concierge services for residents. The estate builders for the custom homes include Apex Custom Homes, Creighton Enterprises Inc., Galileo Group, Watermark Development Group Inc. and Visnic Custom Homebuilders. Call 703/957-4800 or visit www.creightonfarms.com.

Mitchell & Best Homebuilders LLC is building single-family homes on 3-acre (and larger) homesites at Fox Knoll of Middleburg. Buyers may combine lots if they need more space, but most sites have room for outbuildings to accommodate horses. The homes have four or five bedrooms, three or four full baths and one or two half baths, with a three-car garage, oak stairs, hardwood and ceramic tile floors, and high ceilings. The homes are priced from the $600,000s. Call 703/669-9825 or visit www.mitchellbesthomes.com.

Stanley Martin is building town homes and single-family homes at Greene Mill Preserve close to Brambleton Town Center, a village green-style community of 224 homes set inside a 340-acre nature conservancy area. A small number of town homes is available, priced from the upper $300,000s, along with single-family homes priced from the mid-$400,000s to the upper $500,000s. Call 703/542-8844 or visit www.stanleymartin.com.

Pulte Homes Inc. is building 350 single-family homes at the Hamlets at Red Cedar in Leesburg, set on a 1,300-acre site with rolling hills, tree conservancy areas and parks. The homes, which are built on half-acre homesites, are priced from the low $500,000s to the low $700,000s. Call 703/327-2340 or visit www.pulte.com.

At Loudoun Valley near the town of Dulles, Toll Bros. Inc. is building carriage homes and single-family homes in a variety of collections. The carriage homes are priced from the mid-$500,000s, while the single-family homes range in price from the mid-$600,000s to the mid-$700,000s. Call 703/723-4811 or visit www.tollbrothers.com.

Toll is developing the planned community of South Riding off Route 50, which includes a semi-private golf course. South Riding’s many amenities include clubs, community swimming pools, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, soccer and baseball fields, a community center and miles of walking trails.

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