Understand the TRUE COST to Build Your Custom Home
Know your all-in cost before designing your dream custom home
Start Your Custom Home Journey With a Realistic Budget
A successful custom home begins with an honest understanding of cost. Long before selecting finishes or sketching floor plans, you need a realistic budget that reflects the true complexity of building in Northern Virginia. With 35 years of integrated design-build experience, we help you establish this clarity from the start. When your budget and your goals are aligned, the entire process—from design decisions to builder conversations—becomes more efficient, more informed, and far more predictable.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Custom Home in Northern Virginia?
Our custom homes start at $450 per square foot, which reflects the baseline cost for a Modern Simplicity Design from our Budget Calculator. This starting point includes everything required to design and build your home:
- Architectural design
- Structural engineering
- Civil engineering
- Permitting
- Full construction of your home
Many of our clients choose homes around 5,000 square feet, typically including:
- 5 bedrooms
- 4.5 bathrooms
- 2-car garage
- Modern, open layouts rooted in our Vacation Style Living® philosophy
At this baseline, you can expect a starting investment of approximately $2.25M for the home itself before land or site-specific requirements.
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What’s Not Included in the Baseline Cost?
The $450/sqft starting point does not include:
Site Costs, which typically add 10–20% depending on:
- Tree Removal
- Dirt Removal/Addition
- Public Utility Disconnect/Reconnect
- Private Utility Disconnect/Reconnect
- Driveway
- Retaining Walls
- Stormwater Management
- Landscaping
- Generator
Lot Costs:
- Cost of the land / lot
- Realtor Fees
- Closing Costs
- Moving Costs
Your lot is the single biggest cost variable. We evaluate these factors early in the design process so your budget remains realistic and predictable.
Why Costs Vary Above the Baseline?
Because your home is 100% custom, the final price is influenced by:
- Architectural complexity
- Level of finishes
- Extensive glazing or specialty materials
- Outdoor living spaces & hardscaping
- Pools & integrated amenities
- Advanced mechanical systems
- Structural enhancements
- Unique lifestyle features
Our design-first methodology ensures you understand every cost driver before we build—no surprises.
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What You Get with AV Architects + Builders
With over 35 years of experience designing and building luxury custom homes, our integrated architecture-plus-construction team gives you:
- One team from concept through construction
- A design aligned with your lifestyle—not just square footage
- Complete transparency on cost, timeline, and scope
- High-performance construction that meets the highest standards
- A streamlined, efficient process
- A partner invested in your long-term happiness
Ready to design a home that elevates the way you live?
Let’s start your Vacation Style Living® journey today.
Frequently asked questions
The baseline includes architectural design, structural and civil engineering, permitting, and full construction of the home. It represents a complete, architect-led design-build scope for the house itself.
No. Lot costs and site costs are separate and vary significantly based on the property. These are important parts of the total investment, but they are not included in the baseline home cost.
Site costs include items such as tree removal, grading, utilities, stormwater management, driveway, retaining walls, landscaping, and generators. These typically add 10–20% to the cost, depending on site conditions.
As an example, a 5,000 sq ft home at the baseline would start around $2.25M for the home itself, before adding lot and site-related costs.
Cost varies based on architectural complexity, finish level, glazing, structural systems, outdoor living features, pools, and mechanical systems. Every home is fully custom, so square footage alone doesn’t tell the full story.
Use it to set a realistic starting framework, then layer in your specific lot and site conditions using the Project Budget Calculator to better understand your overall investment range.