What local builders publish
Only 13 of the 43 builders we track post any pricing. Here is everything they publish, as of October 16, 2026:
| Builder | Published pricing |
|---|---|
| Alair Homes Falls Church | Cost-plus, open-book pricing |
| AZA Builders | $275-$350, $375-$500 and $550-$800+ per sq ft (three published tiers) |
| BODE Residential | Has listed spec homes at $2.75M and $3.5M |
| BOWA | Projects from about $200K (as listed on Houzz) |
| Green Building Group | Custom homes from $1M+ |
| Horizon Building | Custom homes about $1.2M-$5M+; whole-home remodels about $400K-$2M |
| JEFFCO Development | Typical job $200K-$10M (as listed on Houzz) |
| Monarch Custom Homes | Elite Collection semi-custom homes from $888,000 |
| Morbill Custom Homes | Typical job $1.6M-$7M (as listed on Houzz) |
| New Urban Homes | From $250-$275 per sq ft, including soft costs, permits and construction |
| Park Bradley Homes | Typical job $1M-$5M (as listed on Houzz) |
| Sekas Homes | Typical job $600K-$2M (as listed on Houzz) |
| WINN Design + Build | Typical job $150K-$5M (as listed on Houzz) |
Two builders publish true per-square-foot rates. New Urban Homes starts at $250-$275 per sq ft including soft costs, permits and construction. AZA Builders publishes three tiers: $275-$350, $375-$500 and $550-$800+ per sq ft. At its middle tier, AZA works a 5,500 sq ft home out to $2.06M-$2.75M.
How that compares nationally
The NAHB’s 2024 survey of builders put the average construction cost of a new home at $428,215, about $162 per sq ft for a 2,647 sq ft house (NAHB, 2024 Cost of Constructing a Home survey (published January 2025)). Northern Virginia custom homes cost well over that because they are larger, built on infill lots that need demolition and engineering, and finished to a higher standard.
What the per-square-foot price usually leaves out
Ask every builder which of these are in the number they quote:
- The land. Nationally, the finished lot is about 13.7% of a new home’s price (NAHB, 2024 Cost of Constructing a Home survey (published January 2025)). In close-in Northern Virginia, the lot or teardown is often the single biggest cost.
- Demolition of an existing house. HomeAdvisor puts the national average at $15,800 for a 2,000 sq ft house, with most jobs between $6,000 and $25,000 (HomeAdvisor, house demolition cost guide (updated June 2026)). See demolition costs.
- Site work and engineering: grading plans, stormwater, utility connections, tree removal, retaining walls.
- Design fees if you use an outside architect.
- Permits and fees. New Urban includes them; others may not.
- Landscaping, driveway, pools and outdoor living.
- Finance costs: interest on a construction loan while you build.
A worked example
A 5,000 sq ft house at $375-$500 per sq ft is $1.875M-$2.5M for the house. Add demolition of an older house ($6,000-$25,000 nationally), site work, and design, and a buyer who already owns the lot should plan for more than the per-square-foot figure alone suggests. Our estimator lets you try your own numbers.
How to get a real number
Per-square-foot figures are for planning. A real price comes after a builder has seen your lot and your plans. Ask three builders who build on your lot for a budget range on the same brief, and compare what each includes line by line.
