Brush Arbor Homes builds luxury homes that have a positive impact on communities in need
Established in 2006, Brush Arbor Homes is a high-end custom homebuilder in the Virginia and Washington DC area. Priding itself on the concept that every home has a unique story, the business works closely with customers to create one-of-a-kind homes tailored to their lifestyle and preferences.
As one of the most reputable homebuilders in the regions in which it operates, Brush Arbor strives to simplify the design and build process for clients. With the design and construction teams both in-house, collaboration runs through the heart of the process, enabling clients to effectively communicate their needs or desired features. 
To learn more about Brush Arbor’s evolution, we’re joined by Owner, Jonathan Smith, who is keen to tell us about the homebuilding process and how the business uses a portion of its profits to help those in need.
“After several years working for a national homebuilder, as well as building homes in developing countries across the globe, I decided to start my own company in 2006,” he begins. “We started in the old-fashioned way, by knocking on doors, calling contacts, and saying lots of prayers as we began to complete smaller projects.
“Today, our custom homes tend to cost in the range of $1.5 million-to-$7 million, while our move-in ready spec homes tend to land in the range of $3.5 million-to-$10 million. Our purpose is to be creative and responsive to both market trends and our clients’ desires. We have expertise in a wide range of styles from modern to traditional and everywhere in between, although the market is currently favoring transitional timeless builds.”
Exceeding expectations
Although Brush Arbor’s design style varies, one thing is certain – each home will be truly unique. From hand-crafted floors and eye-catching handrails to progressive features and light-filled rooms, every home is designed to be timeless so that it evolves alongside its inhabitants. Brush Arbor was also the first company to build a modern farmhouse in Arlington, Virginia, combining rustic features like shiplap and painted brick with modern touches like metal and glass to create an inspiring, trendsetting home.
Speaking about Arlington’s first modern farmhouse, Jonathan says: “I was raised on a farm and in fact, Brush Arbor is the name of the farm I grew up on in Western Loudoun County. In the 2010s, many homes were craftsman style, and I recognized that people were growing weary of that style but didn’t want to jump too much ‘outside the box’.
“I started seeing modern farmhouses spring up, and instantly loved the style. We then started designing the first one in 2014 and it was a huge hit with the locals when it came on the market. We used a combination of materials, including reclaimed lumber and timeless features, to ensure the home retains its natural beauty for generations to come.”
Turning to the real estate market, Jonathan suggests: “Our market is one of the best in the country. Although this is good for demand, there are always fresh players in the market, so we must stand out. Most small companies grow to a size where they must decide how to position themselves in the market. They can either stay small enough to do a top-quality job for a small number of clients, streamline the product so it is less customized, or hire the staff to grow the business and service a higher-end clientele.
“I decided that Brush Arbor would do the latter, serving high end clients with the best possible custom homes. We therefore hired the appropriate staff to do a good job, as things can often get missed or follow-up service drops when the owner of the company is trying to wear too many hats. I experienced this dilemma, but we quickly realized that the more eyes on a project, the happier the customer is. I feel extremely proud and grateful to now have a happy and loyal team that is unified in our goal of excellent service.”
Philanthropic projects
Jonathan’s passion for teamwork and collaboration extends to Brush Arbor’s supply network too. “We treat our subcontractors and suppliers as part of our team, working together to achieve mutual success,” he states. “We treat everyone with care and respect, and we strive to make the subcontractors’ on-site jobs more efficient. While mistakes are inevitable, it’s important that we work together to collectively recognize them, take responsibility, and learn from them to better serve our customers.”
To build a legacy and give back to communities in need, Brush Arbor operates its own non-profit organization, Buy One Build One. For each completed custom home, a share of the profits is used to fund the scheme, which builds another home, community center, or clinic in some of the world’s poorest regions. Previous projects include home renovation and new construction for families torn apart by conflict or natural disasters, providing safety and community for families in need.
“Buy One Build One is our purpose; it connects everything we do with everything we believe about our ability – and responsibility – to care for those in need,” Jonathan reflects. “Life is short, and the life of a company is also short in the grand scheme of things. While Brush Arbor remains strong, I know that if it all ended tomorrow, I am most fulfilled by the houses and care centers we have built around the world.”
As our conversation ends, Jonathan shares his vision for the future. “We’re currently seeing clients in the upper price bracket that don’t have the time or bandwidth to search for lots,” he says. “For this reason, I think we will increasingly attract customers who want us to find the lot on their behalf, then design and build their home to fit both their lot and their budget.
“I don’t have specific growth goals in terms of size or turnover,” Jonathan concludes. “I operate with the approach of taking things one day at a time with current projects. We will, of course, pivot to new market trends as they emerge and will continue to act with integrity and excellence to deliver clients’ dream homes.”