Richmond’s new-construction market runs through a dozen or so master-planned communities, and choosing among them is usually a bigger decision than choosing a builder, because the community sets the schools, the fees, the commute, and who you can build with. This page puts the major ones side by side: who builds where, what entry costs, what the fees look like, and which trade each community is really offering. Every community links to its full guide where we have one.
Daniel Yoon is a Certified New Home Co-Broker (NHCB) representing buyers on new construction across the Richmond metro.
The comparison table
| Community | County | Builders (Aug 2026) | New-home entry | Fees, as published | The trade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnolia Green | Chesterfield (Moseley) | HHHunt, Ryan, Mungo, Schell, CraftMaster | Townhomes low $300s; SF $400s+ | HOA by section; golf separate | Resort amenities and Cosby schools for a longer commute |
| Harpers Mill | Chesterfield | Lennar, D.R. Horton, Main Street, CraftMaster; Schell coming | From high $300s | HOA by section | Widest builder choice in one place |
| Watermark | Chesterfield | Eastwood, Lennar, D.R. Horton | Townhomes low $300s; SF from $359,490 | Confirm HOA and any assessment district | Lower entry and central commutes over the Cosby pipeline |
| FoxCreek | Chesterfield (Moseley) | Lennar (final new); deep resale | New from the $400s while it lasts | HOA with amenity package | Established amenities, thinning new inventory |
| RounTrey | Chesterfield (Midlothian) | Schell, LifeStyle, Boone, Homesmith | Mostly $600s to $1M+ | $1,200 per year (2026) | Semi-custom tier on the Swift Creek Reservoir |
| Westerleigh | Chesterfield | Main Street (final 27 lots) | From $550,950 | $115 per month | Quiet single-builder finish at a low fee |
| Hallsley | Chesterfield | Eagle, Boone, Bel Arbor, Homesmith, custom | $700s to $1M+ | Roughly $700 to $950 per year | Award-winning streetscape, custom-tier prices |
| Chickahominy Falls | Hanover | Cornerstone, StyleCraft, Boone | 55+ from the $400s | $193 to $354 per month by section | Agrihood living for age-qualified buyers |
| Giles | Hanover | HHHunt (final); Ryan sold out 2023 | Final inventory plus resale | HOA modest | Atlee schools; new supply nearly done |
| Viniterra | New Kent | RCI, custom; LifeStyle and Mungo final homes | Villas from $649,900 | $194 per month (RCI sections); golf separate | Acreage and golf for a 35-plus-minute commute |
| Village at Virginia Center | Henrico | Stanley Martin | Condos from $319,090 | Condo and HOA fees by product | Lowest Henrico entry, years of build-out ahead |
| Bacova area | Henrico (Short Pump) | None active; 74-condo phase approved; Avenlea coming | Nearby new from $639,990 | Varies | Short Pump address; pipeline, not inventory |
Fee figures are as published in current listings and community documents and vary by section and product; confirm your specific lot’s dues and any assessment district in writing. Every listing in every community above is on our new home search at showingnew.com/dyoonnewhomes.
How to actually choose
Start with the constraint you cannot change: commute. The Moseley cluster (Magnolia Green, FoxCreek, Westerleigh, Harpers Mill’s western edge) prices its amenities partly in drive time, 35 to 45 minutes to downtown at rush hour. Watermark and the Village at Virginia Center sell the reverse. Second, decide whether you are a production buyer or a semi-custom buyer, because that sorts the communities immediately: RounTrey and Hallsley on one side, most of the rest on the other, with Harpers Mill unusually straddling both. Third, read fees as a package: a $115 monthly fee at Westerleigh and a $300-plus fee at an amenity-rich 55+ community are both fair prices for different products. The mistake is paying resort fees for amenities you will not use, or discovering an assessment district on your first tax bill.
Schools, the shortcut version
The Cosby High pipeline drives more community decisions in Chesterfield than any amenity: Magnolia Green, FoxCreek, and Westerleigh all feed it per current assignments. Watermark zones to L.C. Bird, Giles to Atlee in Hanover, and the Henrico communities to their respective West End and central Henrico pipelines. Every one of these assignments has changed at least once during the growth years, several communities show conflicting assignments across listing sites right now, and county school-board maps are the only source that counts. Verify before contract, in writing, for your specific lot.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best master-planned communities in Richmond VA? The largest active ones are Magnolia Green, Harpers Mill, Watermark, and FoxCreek in Chesterfield, RounTrey and Hallsley for the semi-custom tier, Chickahominy Falls for 55+, Viniterra in New Kent, and the Village at Virginia Center in Henrico. The best one depends on commute, budget, and whether you want production or semi-custom builders.
Which Richmond community has the most builders to choose from? Harpers Mill, with Lennar, D.R. Horton, Main Street, and CraftMaster active and Schell Brothers coming, followed by Magnolia Green with five builder brands.
What is the cheapest master-planned community for new construction? By entry price, the Village at Virginia Center (condos from $319,090) and the townhome sections at Watermark and Magnolia Green (low $300s) as of August 2026.
Which communities feed Cosby High School? Magnolia Green, FoxCreek, and Westerleigh per current assignments, with parts of the Moseley corridor. Assignments change in growing corridors, so confirm your lot with Chesterfield County Public Schools.
What fees should I expect in a Richmond master-planned community? Anywhere from $115 a month at Westerleigh to $193 to $354 a month at amenity-rich 55+ communities, plus golf memberships where applicable and, in some communities, assessment districts on the tax bill. Get the full fee stack in writing for your specific section.
Narrowing it down?
Tell us your commute anchor and budget and we can usually cut this table to three communities in one conversation. Daniel Yoon is a Certified New Home Co-Broker, ABR, and SRS with eXp Realty; every builder above pays the buyer’s agent. Call or text 804.896.2694, or browse every new home in the region at showingnew.com/dyoonnewhomes. For builders rather than communities, start with our Richmond builders comparison.