Ryan Homes and Stanley Martin are the two biggest builders in Richmond, both headquartered in Reston, and both selling to the same first-time and first-move-up buyer. In 2025 Ryan closed 961 homes here at an average of about $421,000; Stanley Martin closed 383 at an average of $416,426. Same price, very different product. Ryan sells single-family and condos across 13 communities. Stanley Martin sells condos and townhomes across six, with one single-family community left. If you are deciding between them, the question is mostly “do I want a yard,” and after that it is contract terms.
This comparison covers where each builds, what you get at the included tier, warranty, the lender tie, contract terms, and what buyers report. It links to the full profiles of Ryan Homes in Richmond and Stanley Martin in Richmond for community-level detail. Daniel Yoon is a Certified New Home Co-Broker (NHCB) and has represented buyers with both.
Side by side
| Ryan Homes | Stanley Martin | |
|---|---|---|
| Parent | NVR, Inc. (NYSE: NVR), public | Daiwa House Group (Japan), private |
| 2025 Richmond closings | 961, $405 million | 383, $159 million |
| Average 2025 price | About $421,000 | $416,426 |
| Active Richmond communities | 13 (Chesterfield, Henrico, Richmond City, outer counties) | 6 (Henrico, Chesterfield) |
| Product mix | Condos, townhomes, single-family, 55+ ranch | Two-over-two condos, three-story townhomes, one single-family community |
| Entry price | $234,990 (Walmsley Ridge condo) | $319,090 (Virginia Center condo) |
| Top price | Low $700s (Sadler Crest) | About $411,495 (Retreat at One) |
| Included finish tier | Granite or quartz, LVP main level, stainless appliances; most else optional | Quartz, tile primary bath, LED recessed lighting, designer-coordinated package |
| Design flexibility | Fixed structural options, no wall moves | Fixed structural options, no wall moves |
| Warranty | 1-2-10 (marketed); binding arbitration | 1-2-10 reported; not published on builder site |
| Lender tie | NVR Mortgage and NVR Settlement Services required for credit | Stanley Martin Mortgage / affiliated lender required for credit |
| Independent review snapshot | BBB Richmond 1.17/5 (102); ConsumerAffairs 1.8/5 (~600) | Avid 4.4/5 (11,177 surveys); BBB corporate 1.46/5 (35) |
Sources: HBAR rankings via Richmond BizSense, builder websites, and the review pages linked in each profile.
Where they overlap, and where they do not
The two builders rarely sit in the same neighborhood in Richmond. The closest thing to a head-to-head is Glen Allen, where Ryan’s Sadler Crest (single-family, low $700s) and Stanley Martin’s Village at Virginia Center and Retreat at One (condos and townhomes, $319,090 to $411,495) are a few miles apart and pull from the same Henrico buyer pool. The other is the Hull Street corridor in Chesterfield, where Stanley Martin’s Rockwood Square (322 homes) and NVR’s proposed Suncrest (950 homes) will face each other across the road once Suncrest is approved.
Everywhere else the choice is made by geography. Want a single-family home under $500,000 in Chesterfield? That is Ryan (Fairways, Cloverleigh). Want a new condo in the West End? That is Stanley Martin (Gayton Village). Want Hanover? Neither, as of August 2026; Ryan sold out of Giles in 2023 and closed out Honey Meadows, and Stanley Martin has never built there. Want Richmond City? Ryan’s Walmsley Ridge condos; Stanley Martin’s city projects (Carver Square, Rocketts Landing) have sold out.
Both builders’ inventory, with every other builder’s, is on our new home search at showingnew.com/dyoonnewhomes.
Finish level: Stanley Martin reads a step up
Walk a Ryan model and a Stanley Martin model on the same day and the difference is obvious. Stanley Martin’s included package is chosen by an in-house designer as a set, so cabinets, counters, hardware, and lighting match without the buyer doing anything. Ryan’s included package is a base, and the model home you tour is typically showing $40,000 to $80,000 of design-center options. Ask the Ryan sales rep for the “as-included” sheet and mentally strip the model back to it.
That difference is priced in. At the same square footage, a Stanley Martin townhome usually lists $15,000 to $30,000 above a Ryan townhome. A Ryan buyer who adds quartz, tile, and recessed lighting closes the gap. A Ryan buyer who keeps the base finish ends up with a cheaper house and a plainer one. Our guide to which upgrades are worth paying for in Richmond helps you decide which buyer you are.
Contract terms: read both, they differ
This is the part of the comparison nobody else writes about. Ryan’s purchase agreement includes a binding arbitration clause, restrictions on third-party inspections during construction (inspectors are allowed but scheduling rules apply), material substitution rights, and a deposit structure where earnest money becomes non-refundable once selections are locked. Stanley Martin’s contract carries similar substitution and deposit language; the independent contract analysts at Fine Print Homes flag preferred-lender steering and warranty waivers in both. Neither contract is unusual for a national builder. Both should be read by you, and ideally by someone who has read fifty of them, before you sign.
The lender tie is structurally the same at both: the closing-cost credit disappears if you use an outside lender. Our incentives guide shows how to compare the net cost. The article on what to know before signing a builder contract covers the clauses in detail.
Warranty: Ryan publishes, Stanley Martin does not
Ryan’s warranty booklet is available on request and describes one year workmanship, two years systems, and a marketed ten-year structural. Stanley Martin’s website does not publish terms; third parties report the same 1-2-10 structure. Neither publishes whether the structural coverage is insured by a third party, which HHHunt, Eagle, and Eastwood do. Practically, both builders’ warranty experience depends on documentation: written requests through the portal, photos, and a firm 11-month walk. Full 17-builder table in our Richmond builder warranty comparison.
What buyers report
Ryan’s independent scores are low everywhere (1.17 on the Richmond BBB across 102 reviews), but Ryan also closes five times as many homes as anyone except Stanley Martin, so it collects more complaints in absolute terms. Stanley Martin has the widest gap between its survey score (4.4 on Avid across 11,177) and its complaint-site score (1.46 on the BBB across 35). The pattern at both is the same: the sales and build process is rated well, the warranty year is where buyers get frustrated. Neither has a Richmond-specific complaint profile that differs from its national one.
Which one, for which buyer
- First-time buyer who wants a yard under $500,000: Ryan.
- First-time buyer who wants a designed-looking attached home in Henrico between $320,000 and $400,000: Stanley Martin.
- Buyer who wants the lowest possible entry price for new construction: Ryan (Walmsley Ridge, $234,990).
- Buyer in the outer counties (King William, Caroline, Amelia, Petersburg): Ryan, because Stanley Martin is not there. Neither is active in Hanover.
- Buyer who wants a walkable redevelopment site (Virginia Center Commons, Rockwood Square): Stanley Martin.
- Buyer who wants a faster close on an inventory home: either, but Stanley Martin’s August 2026 price cuts at Virginia Center make it the one with more room right now.
- Buyer who wants plan changes: neither. Look at Main Street Homes or Eagle Construction.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stanley Martin better than Ryan Homes? Stanley Martin’s included finish level is a step above Ryan’s at a similar price, and its survey ratings are higher. Ryan offers single-family homes, lower entry prices, and far more locations. In Richmond, Stanley Martin is almost entirely condos and townhomes, so the choice usually comes down to whether you want a yard.
Which is cheaper, Ryan or Stanley Martin? Ryan’s entry price is lower ($234,990 versus $319,090). At the same square footage, a Ryan townhome typically lists $15,000 to $30,000 below a comparable Stanley Martin townhome before design-center options.
Do Ryan and Stanley Martin build in the same Richmond neighborhoods? Rarely. The closest overlap is Glen Allen (Ryan’s Sadler Crest versus Stanley Martin’s Virginia Center and Retreat at One) and the Hull Street corridor, where Stanley Martin’s Rockwood Square and NVR’s proposed Suncrest face each other.
Do both require their own mortgage company? No, but both condition their closing-cost credit on using the affiliated lender. You can use any lender and forgo the credit.
Which has the better warranty? Both describe a 1-2-10 structure. Ryan’s booklet includes binding arbitration. Stanley Martin does not publish its terms online. Neither advertises third-party insured structural coverage.
Deciding between the two?
A 30-minute conversation comparing two specific communities usually settles it. Daniel Yoon is a Certified New Home Co-Broker, ABR, and SRS with eXp Realty; both builders pay the buyer’s agent. Call or text 804.896.2694, or browse every new home in the region at showingnew.com/dyoonnewhomes. For all four big builders at once, read our Richmond builders comparison.