With resale inventory continuing to be historically low, it’s a great time to consider new construction. Fortunately, there are still some builders in Loudoun County with large build-outs of planned communities in progress. This is significant, because there is currently only land for 2,200 single family new builds east of Route 15 in Loudoun County with the current zoning limits.

One veteran area builder of planned communities is Toll Brothers, and they are seven years into developing the beautiful Lenah Mill community of single family homes. Located right off Route 50, west of the Stone Ridge community, you’ll find four different collections of homes. They range from the Parker Collection starting in the mid-$600s with about 2,500 square feet of living space to the Estates starting at $900,000 and delivering up to 8,000 square feet of living space and up to 4 garage spaces. Construction is expected for at least another two years.

Lenah Mill offers floor plans for today’s lifestyles.

Toll Brothers has done a fantastic job of preserving what has made them “America’s Luxury Home Builder,” while offering updated floor plans and finishes for today’s lifestyles. Each Collection consists of four floor plans, also with a choice of 4 different exteriors like Farmhouse, Traditional, or Craftsman, to name a few. With options to further tailor each floor plan for your lifestyle, you can really make these homes your own, complete with luxury finishes that are often included in the base price. You should see some of the luxurious master bath suites with double showers and soaking tubs! Toll Brothers has many buyers re-locating from other Toll Brothers communities in Northern Virginia, in order to enjoy these fresh new floor plans in such a beautiful pastoral setting. (And, in fact, they offer a financial incentive for buyers moving from other Toll Brothers communities. Contact us for more information on that.)

The three largest collections have 10′ ceilings on the main floor and 9′ upstairs. This makes such a difference visually and contributes to a feeling of openness and space. Some interesting things Toll Brothers has done with these floor plans is to get rid of centrally located staircases, moving them to the side for a more open floor plan. In addition, they’ve steered away from two-story family rooms to reduce noise and echoing upstairs. This also allows for a major increase in square footage upstairs so that family room “lofts” are now the focal point of the upstairs, with the bedrooms fanning out from that central space (see the cozy spot below). Another increasingly popular feature — a main level Master Bedroom Suite — is available in each collection. This is perfect for all sorts of scenarios, including multi-generational living.

Other unique features that today’s sophisticated buyers request…

Some floor plans even offer two kitchens…the main open kitchen as well as a smaller kitchen behind closed doors (sometimes known as a “spice kitchen”) for prepping. Toll Brothers has taken feedback from their buyers seriously. Nice touches including large windows with fewer panes and extra recessed lighting as standard make you feel like you’re getting a high quality home without being nickled and dimed.

Choices in the Design Center for flooring, cabinetry, and lighting are constantly changing to reflect current tastes. Areas off the garage on the main level can be tailored for a “drop zone” with simple cabinetry or even built out into a full “mud room.” There’s also an option to add a doggie shower to this space, as shown below! Laundry facilities are located upstairs.

I was floored by the gorgeous outdoor living spaces that are options on these homes. Spaces that transition from indoors to the outdoors include rooms with fireplaces, pocket doors that disappear, outdoor drywall, and integrated space heaters in the ceiling…making these spaces usable on all but the coldest days of the year (see below). Because Toll Brothers owns a landscaping company, landscaping packages can be built into the mortgage, cutting down on big financial outlays once you move in.

Something I love that I haven’t seen from other builders is how Toll Brothers’ uses low-VOC paints, woodwork, and carpet in their homes at Lenah Mill. That’s important to me, as it reduces the “outgassing” of chemicals that you often have in new homes. There are a lot of useful high-tech features as well, including keyless Baldwin door locks, and Wi-Fi controls for the thermostat and garage door.

The community of Lenah Mill is as spectacular as its homes.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention what really makes this community spectacular, and that’s the open spaces and smart planning that Toll incorporated into this large Loudoun County parcel. You’ll find a clubhouse that’s already being renovated to reflect a light, updated color palette; an outdoor amphitheater; a dog park; multiple sports fields and courts; a health and fitness studio;  a competition pool and family pool; playgrounds; a lake and boathouse; fishing ponds; a community garden; and miles of scenic trails for walking, running, and biking.  Events for both families and adults fill the annual calendar, giving you plenty to do right in your community. And you get all this for HOA fees of only $141/month.

Beyond the community, you have vineyards, shopping, historic sites, and vibrant towns like Leesburg, Middleburg, Reston, Tysons, and Washington DC all nearby.

Lenah Mill has a total of 886 homesites, with about three-quarters already sold. If you’re in a hurry for a home, you’ll be thrilled to know there are always quick delivery homes available — giving you the convenient timeline of a resale but the luxury of having everything new!

Please contact us at 15 West for a tour of the models and so we can help walk you through the options. Right now, there are buyer incentives up to $45,000 available, depending on the floor plan you’re interested in. In some cases, that’s like getting one of their spectacular “outdoor living” areas for free.