Homebuyer FAQs

We do not require appointments when you visit our communities, but we do encourage them so our sales team provides you with the time and attention you deserve.  To schedule your private appointment,  Click here to contact the Sales Manager at the Community you are interested in.

Our Sales Managers will work with you to determine the best home plan for your lifestyle; tour available homes and home sites; discuss home features and assist you with a purchase and sale agreement when you select your home. Cornerstone Homes is a broker-friendly builder. While a real estate agent is not required, if you are working with an agent bring them with you on your first visit to the community.

All Cornerstone Homes communities are open daily except for the following company holidays: Good Friday, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Community hours are Monday through Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 1 – 5. Search for a new home and select a community to view and find the community address and directions.

The length of the construction period varies depending on the type of your new home and the community. The average construction time is 120 – 150 days. Click here to learn about Our Process and Path to Ownership.

All Cornerstone Homes offer a wide variety of included features. Most notably, all communities offer Timely and Lasting Features. These features are important for the 55+ buyer as they allow you to age in place gracefully. From wider doorways to natural and included lighting, these features will serve you now and in the future. These features include: single level living, wider doorways & hallways, zero thresholds, lever door handles, raised height toilets, comfort height bathroom vanities, blocking for grab bars in all bathrooms. For a complete listing of home features in a particular community please contact the sales manager on site.

YES! When you buy a new home you will meet with your Sales Manager in the Design Center to personalize your new home. We offer some of the latest trends in home design with a wide variety of options to suit your personal style. Stop in for a Wine & Design to preview our offerings.

An earnest money/builder deposit of $4,000 is at the time of contract. A personal or certified check is preferred. This deposit will be credited from your final purchase price at the time of closing.

After making your earnest money deposit, you will be required to pay 50% of any optional selections. This payment is made via check or certified check upon signing your selections addendum and will be credited from your final purchase price at closing.

At Cornerstone Homes, the safety of our customers and our team is critical. If you want to see a home that is under construction, including your own home, we require that you set an appointment with one of our Sales Managers, so we can accompany you while viewing homes. You will be required to wear a hard hat and close-toed shoes. For your safety, it is important that you never enter a home under construction unaccompanied.

To protect the integrity of the neighborhood and the value of your new home, our communities have Home Owners Associations (or Condo Association) that require monthly dues. Dues vary by community. Some included amenities covered by the dues may include: a pool, clubhouse, community gardens, walking paths and other common elements. Other household maintenance items included: exterior home maintenance, lawn mowing, leaf removal, gutter cleaning, snow removal, hedge trimming and mulching. 

For a complete listing by community, see the sales manager or visit the community web page.  

Every community is set up for long-term success both fiscally and operationally.   Inflationary increases in fees may occur naturally over time.  Each HOA/COA has a resident elected board and various committees to monitor adn ensure each community is maintained successfully.  

There are Covenants and Restrictions specific to each neighborhood. This information may be obtained from the on-site sales manager.

Some specific questions we receive are: 

1) Can I plant my own flowers in my flower beds? This depends on the type of community you live in. Typically, in a condo association, you are not able to plant flowers in your beds as these areas are owned and maintained by the community in common.  You are able to plant inside your enclosed patio spaces.  In a "fee simple" community, you do own the land your home is built on and are able to plant and revise your exterior spaces as allowed by the architectural review board.

2) What type of insurance do I need if I live in a Condo Association?  Insurance questions area best kept to experts in this field but, generally, when you live in a condo association, you own from the paint in on your home.  All other parts of your home are insured and maintained by the condo association.

Yes! You will receive 6 months of free HOA dues! See your sales manager for details some exclusions do apply.

An age restricted community, also commonly referred to as an age-qualified community, is one that requires a majority (typically 80%) of the residents to be of a certain age.  Most of our communities are 55+.  This means that one person in 80% of the households in the community must meet the age requirement.  This information is managed by the management company in confidentiality and reported as required by the local ordinance.

The average cost of upgrades varies depending on the community and style of home.  Cornerstone Homes includes many features in their home construction but there are of course upgrades that are available.    Information regarding average upgrades may be obtained from your community manager.  

At Cornerstone Homes we recognize a majority of our buyers have existing homes to sell in order to move into one of our communities.  We have partnered with local real estate agents to offer you concierge real estate services.  Using one of our preferred realtors provides you with peace of mind as our agents are familiar with our process and the timeline needed for new home construction.  Additionally, using our preferred agents can save you money on the resale of your existing home.  Learn more about our concierge service or talk with your sales manager for more details. 

Our communities are designed and planned with county approvals for common areas and amenities.  Typically, all of the amenities are designed when the community is approved.  For some communities that are larger, we phase in future sections.  With this phasing, we always assess common element needs and adjust and plan for them.  

We are always looking for new opportunities to build beautiful active adult communities in Virginia.  To stay up to date with our latest offerings, it is best to sign up for our VIP list and remain in communication with us through our website and emails. 

As developers and builders of award winning communities, we are always looking for new projects.  Do you have land to sell that might be a great location for an active adult community?  Please contact our development team.  We would love to learn more about your land offering.