LIVING IN EMBREY MILL
2026 Mid-Year Edition  •  Stafford, Virginia

The insider's guide to Embrey Mill: prices, rents, fees, and what's coming next.

This year, Embrey Mill's median sale price rose 2.9% while the rest of zip 22554 slipped 2.6%. Homes are selling 10 days faster than last spring. Here's the full picture, for the people who live here and the people who want to.

Data: Bright MLS, Jan–May 2026  •  Updated June 2026
$720,000
Median Sale Price
$3,150
Median Monthly Rent
33
Days on Market
1,800+
Homes
831
Acres
15+
Parks & Trails

Embrey Mill is an 831-acre master-planned community in North Stafford, Virginia, one mile from I-95 and minutes from Quantico, with more than 1,800 homes built since 2014. In the first five months of 2026, the median home sold for $720,000, up 2.9% from last year, while homes leased at a median of $3,150 per month. Owners pay an HOA fee of roughly $140 per month plus a CDA assessment, and the entire community is zoned for Colonial Forge High School.

This guide exists to put the numbers, the fees, and the news in one place, written for current residents, future ones, and anyone deciding between the two.

The Sales Market

How much do homes in Embrey Mill sell for?

Every sale in the community, January through May 2026, against the same stretch of 2025.

$720,000
Median Sold Price
▲ 2.9% vs 2025
40
Homes Sold
45 this time last year
33
Avg Days on Market
▼ Down from 43 days
98.5%
Sale to List Ratio
Pricing power holding
$766,813
Avg Detached Sale  •  27 sold
▲ 2.6% vs 2025
$506,199
Avg Townhome Sale  •  13 sold
▲ 5.0% vs 2025

Nearly half of this year's Embrey Mill sales were VA financed. 17 of 40 closings used VA loans and 2 more were loan assumptions. If you bought here with a VA loan at a 2–4% rate, that mortgage may quietly be one of the most valuable features of your home. Listings in the community are marketing assumable rates as low as 2.25% right now.

Context Matters

Is Embrey Mill outperforming the Stafford market?

This year, yes. The zip code had a busier spring. Embrey Mill had a stronger one.

Embrey MillZip 22554 Overall
MEDIAN SOLD PRICE$720,000 ▲ 2.9%$560,000 ▼ 2.6%
AVG DAYS ON MARKET33 ▼ from 4332 ▲ from 25
SALE TO LIST RATIO98.5%99.0%
HOMES SOLD (JAN–MAY)40353
VA-FINANCED SHARE42.5%38.8%

Read it this way: zip-wide, more homes sold but prices softened and marketing time stretched. Inside Embrey Mill, prices climbed and homes moved faster, a $160,000 median premium over the surrounding zip that widened this year. Community-level data tells a different story than the headlines.

Inside The Numbers

What every 2026 listing tells us.

We went past the averages and read all 116 of this year's listings: sold, pending, active, and the ones that never sold. Four patterns stand out.

99.8% vs 97.1%

The first two weeks decide the price

Homes that went under contract within 10 days captured 99.8% of their original asking price. Homes that lingered past a month averaged 97.1%, a gap worth roughly $19,000 on the community's median sale. The price a home launches at matters more than the price anyone hopes for later.

1 in 3

A third of listings never sold

Of this year's resolved listings, 34% expired, were withdrawn, or were canceled without a sale. Demand here is real, 19 homes are under contract right now, but it is not automatic. Preparation, presentation, and launch pricing are separating the homes that sell from the ones that quietly come off the market.

2.25%

Assumable rates are on the market today

Nine 2026 listings actively marketed an assumable loan, with advertised rates of 2.25%, 2.3%, and 2.75%. Against today's rates, a buyer assuming a low-rate loan on a typical Embrey Mill home could save well over $1,500 a month, which is exactly why these listings draw crowds. If you hold a low-rate VA loan, it is a marketable asset.

16 + 7

Solar and EV homes are a real segment

Sixteen of this year's listings featured solar panels and seven advertised EV charging. Listings are careful to note when solar is owned outright versus financed, and for good reason: paid-off panels add value cleanly, while leased or financed systems add a step to the sale.

The Rental Market

What does it cost to rent in Embrey Mill?

Forty-five Embrey Mill homes hit the rental market this year. Here's how that side of the community performed, January through May 2026.

$3,150
Median Lease (All Homes)
Range: $2,800 to $4,250
$3,750
Median 4-Bedroom Lease
5BR homes reached $3,925+
14
Median Days to Lease
Half leased within 2 weeks
99.3%
Of Asking Rent Achieved
Landlords aren't discounting

For owners weighing a move: if you locked in a 2–4% mortgage rate, your monthly carrying cost may sit well below what your home rents for today. That gap is why a growing number of Embrey Mill owners, especially military families facing PCS orders, are choosing to keep the home, lease it, and let the asset keep working. A low-rate loan gives you two strong exits: market it as assumable to a buyer, or hold it as a rental that pays for itself.

For future residents: renting here is a real path in. Roughly a third of this year's rental listings mention Quantico or military relocation, and well-kept homes lease fast. If you want to try the community before buying in it, you won't be the first.

Living Here

What is it like to live in Embrey Mill?

An 831-acre planned community in North Stafford with 285 acres kept as green space, parks, and trails, and more than 1,800 homes built between 2014 and today.

The Embrey House community clubhouse and Grounds Bistro in Embrey Mill, Stafford VA Outdoor kitchen and patio at the Embrey House clubhouse in Embrey Mill Embrey Mill Park athletic fields in Stafford County, Virginia

The Amenities

Life centers on the Embrey House: a stone clubhouse with a fitness center and the Grounds Bistro & Café, open to the public and busy most mornings.

Two resort-style pools with lap lanes and splash zones, 15+ parks and playgrounds (including Racetrack Park, a kid-sized bike track), about 10 miles of trails, two dog parks, a community garden, plus bocce and pickleball courts.

The HOA keeps a full event calendar: movies in the park, 5Ks, seasonal festivals, food trucks, and more.

The Location

One mile to I-95 with commuter lots nearby, the Brooke VRE station a short drive away, and Quantico minutes up the road, which is why so much of this market runs on military timelines.

The new Embrey Mill Town Center sits at the community's edge: a Publix-anchored center with restaurants, plazas, and play areas, completed in late 2025.

Embrey Mill Park, Stafford County's premier sports complex, borders the community with lighted turf fields for soccer, football, and lacrosse.

The Homes

Townhomes and condos generally start in the low $400s; single-family homes run mostly from the low $600s to the low $900s, with the community's median sale at $720,000 this year.

Homes were built from 2014 onward across three phases by a roster of regional and national builders, plus Cascades, a 55+ section of main-level living villas.

Budget for the HOA (roughly $140/month) plus the CDA assessment covered below. Both fund the amenities that hold values here.

Community Intel

Three things that quietly move prices here.

Embrey Mill townhomes and community pool from above, Stafford VA

What is the CDA bond, and what does it mean at resale?

Every home here carries a Community Development Authority assessment on top of HOA dues, roughly $1,500 to $1,700 a year for single-family homes and roughly $960 for townhomes, collected by Stafford County in two installments. How much of the bond has been paid down varies by home, and buyers have started comparing balances between listings. Knowing where yours stands is worth real money at sale time.

Racetrack Park playground in Embrey Mill, Stafford VA

Why do VA loans matter so much here?

With Quantico minutes away, VA financing drives more of Embrey Mill's market than almost anywhere in the region: 42.5% of this year's sales. A qualified buyer can assume an existing low-rate VA loan, and listings advertising assumable 2–4% rates have been drawing outsized attention. Many owners holding one have no idea what it's worth.

Embrey Mill homes and streetscape, Stafford VA

Do solar panels help or complicate a sale?

Solar is common in Embrey Mill's newer homes, 16 of this year's listings featured panels, and the detail that matters at sale time is ownership. Panels owned outright add value cleanly and transfer with the home. Leased or financed systems add a step, because the buyer has to qualify to assume the agreement or the balance has to be paid off at closing. If you have solar, or are buying a home that does, knowing which situation applies protects the deal.

Stafford Watch

What's being built around Embrey Mill?

County-scale changes that reach into the community, and why each one matters.

May 2026

Buc-ee's approved across from Embrey Mill Town Center

Stafford supervisors approved the 74,000 sq ft travel center on Austin Ridge Drive, directly across from the Town Center. Supporters point to roughly $2 million a year in tax revenue; the county's traffic analysis projects about 21,000 daily vehicle trips. Concessions for neighbors include evergreen screening, a shorter 45-foot sign, and dark-sky canopy lighting.

Why it matters: Convenience and commerce nearby, but watch the Courthouse Road corridor traffic conversation.
Dec 2025

Embrey Mill Town Center opens its doors

The Publix-anchored center is complete: nine retail buildings totaling more than 73,000 sq ft, with restaurants, landscaped plazas, turf play areas, and an outdoor fireplace, all a short walk or drive from the community.

Why it matters: Walkable retail is a durable value driver. Homes near amenity centers historically hold premiums.
Aug 2026

Three new Stafford schools open this fall

Hartwood High School, the county's sixth, opens in August with capacity for 2,150 students, alongside two new elementary schools. The school board is also pursuing up to $183.75 million in construction bonds to keep pace with enrollment growth.

Why it matters: New capacity can shift elementary and middle boundaries over time, though Embrey Mill's high school zoning for Colonial Forge is well established.
2026–2027

Data centers reshape the county tax base

Vantage Data Centers is investing $2 billion in a three-building Stafford campus, the first building targeted for late 2027. County forecasts presented in April project net revenue gains reaching tens of millions annually by the mid-2030s across five approved campuses.

Why it matters: A growing commercial tax base can ease pressure on residential rates long term.
Meet Your Neighbors

Local experts who know Embrey Mill firsthand.

Questions about a specific home, your CDA balance, what your house would sell or rent for? These are the people to ask. Reach any of them directly.

Anne Marley Green, REALTOR and Embrey Mill resident, CENTURY 21 New Millennium
Lives in Embrey Mill

Anne Marley Green

REALTOR® • CENTURY 21 New Millennium

Anne isn't just an agent who sells in Embrey Mill, she lives here. A proud military spouse, DIY enthusiast, and full-time REALTOR® serving the Stafford and Fredericksburg area, she knows this community the way only a neighbor can: the streets, the schools, the builders, and what actually matters when you're buying or selling here.

Each month she publishes an Embrey Mill market update on video, breaking down what's happening with prices, inventory, and the local market in plain terms. Watch the latest below.

Anne Green's latest Embrey Mill market update
Anne's latest Embrey Mill market update • new video every month on @WritetheGreens
JH

Jennifer Hernandez

REALTOR® • CENTURY 21 New Millennium
Contact & Listings
LM

Luis Monroy

REALTOR® • CENTURY 21 New Millennium
Contact & Listings
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Questions about your own home, renting it out, your CDA bond balance, or your VA loan? Reply to any email from the guide and a real person answers.
Quick Answers

Embrey Mill, frequently asked.

How much do homes cost in Embrey Mill?
As of mid-2026, the median sold price in Embrey Mill is $720,000, up 2.9% from the same period in 2025. The community is tiered by home type: townhomes and condos generally start in the low $400,000s, while detached single-family homes sell mostly between the low $600,000s and the low $900,000s, with a handful above $1 million. This year, detached homes averaged $766,813 across 27 sales and attached homes averaged $506,199 across 13 sales. Pricing has held firm, homes sold at an average of 98.5% of list, and well-priced homes moved quickly, with a median of 33 days on market. Source: Bright MLS, January–May 2026.
What is the Embrey Mill CDA fee, and how does it affect resale?
Embrey Mill is served by a Community Development Authority, a financing mechanism that funded major public improvements in the community such as roads and infrastructure. Homeowners repay it through an annual special assessment that is separate from and in addition to HOA dues, collected by Stafford County in two installments per year. As of 2026 it runs roughly $1,500 to $1,700 per year for single-family homes and roughly $960 for townhomes, though the exact figure varies by property. The detail most owners miss: the bond has a fixed payoff term, and some sellers have prepaid years of it, which several listings now advertise as a selling point. Because a buyer is effectively taking on the remaining balance, how much of your bond is paid down can influence both your home's appeal and its price at resale. For questions on a specific assessment, Stafford County and the CDA administrator can confirm the current balance.
How much is the HOA, and what does it cover?
HOA dues in Embrey Mill run roughly $140 to $145 per month as of 2026. For that, residents get one of the deepest amenity packages in Stafford County: two resort-style pools with lap lanes and splash zones, the Embrey House clubhouse with a fitness center and the Grounds Bistro & Café, more than 15 parks and playgrounds, about 10 miles of walking and biking trails, two dog parks, a community garden, bocce and pickleball courts, and a full calendar of HOA-run events from movies in the park to 5Ks and seasonal festivals. The CDA assessment described above is billed separately by the county, so when budgeting for a home here, plan for both the monthly HOA dues and the annual CDA assessment.
What does it cost to rent in Embrey Mill, and is it a strong rental market?
The median lease in Embrey Mill is $3,150 per month in 2026, with rents ranging from about $2,800 to $4,250 depending on size and finishes. Three-bedroom homes lease around a $3,025 median, four-bedrooms around $3,750, and five-bedroom homes have reached $3,925 and up. The market moves fast: half of this year's rentals leased within two weeks, and landlords achieved an average of 99.3% of their asking rent, meaning very little discounting. Demand is driven heavily by proximity to Quantico, and roughly a third of rental listings reference military or relocation tenants. For owners who bought with a low interest rate, the gap between a low monthly mortgage payment and these rents is why many are choosing to lease their home rather than sell when they relocate.
What schools serve Embrey Mill, and which high school will my home feed?
Embrey Mill is part of Stafford County Public Schools. The wrinkle unique to this community is that the entire subdivision is zoned for Colonial Forge High School, so every home feeds the same well-regarded high school, a consistency many buyers appreciate. Stafford is also in a period of rapid school growth: Hartwood High School, the county's sixth, opens in August 2026 with capacity for about 2,150 students, alongside two new elementary schools, and the school division is pursuing significant construction bonds to keep pace with enrollment. Because boundaries can shift as new schools open, always verify the current attendance zone with Stafford County Public Schools for the exact address you're considering.
Are there assumable VA loans in Embrey Mill, and what are they worth?
Yes, and they are a defining feature of this market. With Marine Corps Base Quantico minutes away, VA financing drives an unusually large share of Embrey Mill activity: about 42% of this year's sales were VA loans, with additional sales closing as loan assumptions. Nine 2026 listings actively marketed an assumable loan, advertising rates as low as 2.25%, 2.3%, and 2.75%. When a buyer assumes a seller's existing VA loan, they take over that below-market interest rate instead of borrowing at today's higher rates, which on a typical Embrey Mill home can translate to well over $1,500 in monthly savings. For sellers who bought between roughly 2019 and 2022 at a low rate, an assumable loan is a genuine marketable asset, but it has to be identified and marketed correctly to capture that value. VA loan assumptions involve lender approval and specific eligibility steps, so it's worth understanding the process early.
Is the Buc-ee's really coming to Embrey Mill?
Yes. In May 2026, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors approved a roughly 74,000 square foot Buc-ee's travel center on Austin Ridge Drive, directly across from the Embrey Mill Town Center. The project was debated: supporters pointed to nearly $2 million in projected annual tax revenue and new jobs, while neighbors raised concerns about traffic, with the county's analysis projecting around 21,000 daily vehicle trips, plus lighting and signage. In response, the approved plan includes two rows of evergreen screening toward the neighborhood, a reduced 45-foot sign instead of the originally proposed 60 feet, and dark-sky compliant canopy lighting. Before construction begins, the project still requires an operational and safety analysis. For residents, it means added convenience and tax revenue, with the Courthouse Road and Austin Ridge corridor traffic the main thing to watch.
Is Embrey Mill a good place to live?
Embrey Mill is consistently one of the most sought-after communities in Stafford County, and the appeal comes down to three things. First, amenities: 831 acres with 285 acres preserved as green space, two pools, 15+ parks, 10 miles of trails, a clubhouse cafe, and a Publix-anchored town center built right at its edge in 2025. Second, location: one mile from I-95, near the Brooke VRE commuter rail station, and minutes from Quantico, with commuter access to Fredericksburg and the greater D.C. area. Third, the homes themselves are newer, built from 2014 onward in a range of styles, including the 55+ Cascades section for active adults. Things to weigh: lot sizes are intentionally compact to encourage use of the shared amenities, and you'll budget for both HOA dues and the CDA assessment. For families, confirming current elementary and middle zoning is worth doing before you buy, though the whole community feeds Colonial Forge High School.
Is Embrey Mill a good investment?
The 2026 data is favorable on several fronts. The community's median sale price rose 2.9% even as the surrounding 22554 zip code softened 2.6%, widening Embrey Mill's premium over the broader area to roughly $160,000 at the median. On the rental side, homes leased at a median of $3,150 within a median of 14 days, with landlords capturing 99.3% of asking rent, signs of a tight, healthy rental market. The drivers behind these numbers, proximity to Quantico, strong amenities, newer housing stock, and the new town center, are structural rather than temporary. No one can promise future performance, and any purchase should account for the HOA and CDA carrying costs, but the fundamentals that have supported both values and rents here remain in place heading into the back half of 2026.
Kyle Crawford, REALTOR, CENTURY 21 New Millennium

About This Guide

Living in Embrey Mill is researched and written by Kyle Crawford, a Stafford-area REALTOR® with CENTURY 21 New Millennium. Kyle works with Embrey Mill area owners on sales, leasing, and property management, and built this guide because community-level data rarely reaches the people it affects most: the residents. If you have a question about anything covered here, or about your own home, you're welcome to reach out directly.

Kyle Crawford  |  CENTURY 21 New Millennium  |  (703) 732-9007  |  [email protected]