Emerson is the place and varied are the reasons

There’s the quality of the house, of course, the character of the neighborhood and location. But those are just the beginning.

“My husband and I lived in a 20-year-old house that was starting to look like it needed some renovations,” said Kathy Simpson, who moved into Howard County’s Emerson community about a year ago. “The key for us was we wanted to keep our kids in the same high school. We were able to do that.”

Williamsburg Homes is among the builders at Emerson, a planned community of 1,229 residential lots set on about 667 acres.

Williamsburg offers three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom townhomes beginning in the mid $400,000s. Buyers can choose to add another bedroom and full bathroom.

Two-car garages, brick fronts, nine-foot ceilings, and decks outside are among the standard features in the townhomes.

“There are three levels, all above the ground, so there’s nothing dark or dreary,” said Patti Bartock, sales manager for Williamsburg Homes.

One model features a second-floor library, and available options include upgraded flooring, adding an additional fireplace (one comes standard in the family room), or adding stainless steel appliances to a kitchen that already comes with granite countertops, a cooktop, and a double wall oven.

The square footage of the townhomes ranges between 2,500 and 3,071 square feet.

Emerson is really a community in and of itself. With a clubhouse, tennis courts, volleyball courts, a swimming pool and parks and tot lots, there’s always plenty to do. Homeowners’ fees are 30 cents per $100 of assessment.

“People like Emerson because it’s a planned community — it’s diverse,” Bartock said. “We have multiple builders here, so you don’t just drive down the street and see the same thing. We’re close to both the Washington and Baltimore areas, and we have quite a bit of overflow parking, which people always like.”

Don’t forget those schools, and all the other little things new homebuyers want.

“The interior is spacious and comfortable,” Simpson said of her home. “We’re very fortunate.”

At-A-Glance