True Cost of Four Seasons at Kent Island — New Construction Math

K. Hovnanian shows you the base price. This page shows you the purchase-day total, the 10-year fixed cost structure, and the design center decisions that can add $50,000–$150,000 before you close.

Before the Closing: The Real Purchase Price

New construction at Four Seasons at Kent Island starts with a base price — but the median buyer closes significantly above that number. K. Hovnanian's design center upgrades, structural options, and lot premiums are the mechanism. Here's a realistic picture of how buyers arrive at their final purchase price:

Cost ComponentRangeNotes
Base home price (35' River Series)$702K–$890KPublished starting price
Lot premium$0–$80K+Corner lots, end-of-street, water-view positions
Structural options$15K–$60KSunrooms, extended garages, finished basements, morning rooms
Design center upgrades$30K–$120KCabinetry, flooring, countertops, appliances, electrical
Closing costs$15K–$25K2–3% of final price; may be partially covered by incentive
Realistic all-in purchase cost$750K–$1.1M+Most buyers land $800K–$950K on River Series

The Design Center Trap

Builder design centers are optimized to extract upgrade spending at the moment buyers are most emotionally invested in their home. K. Hovnanian offers four interior "Looks" (Elements, Loft, Farmhouse, Classic) — but each Look is the base; the upgrades within each Look add cost. Buyers who go through a design center appointment without a predetermined budget consistently spend more than they intended. Establish a maximum upgrade budget before the appointment, not during it. Every $10,000 spent at the design center adds roughly $65/month to a 30-year mortgage at 7% — run those numbers first.

10-Year Annual Ownership Cost

Assumptions: $750,000 all-in base (modest upgrades), Queen Anne's County 0.86% effective tax rate, HOA estimated $400/month escalating 3%/year, 4% annual appreciation (new construction premium in appreciating market).

YearHome ValueAnnual Tax (0.86%)HOA (Annual)Total Annual FixedCumulative
Year 1$728,000$6,261$4,800$11,061$11,061
Year 2$757,120$6,511$4,944$11,455$22,516
Year 3$787,405$6,772$5,092$11,864$34,380
Year 4$818,901$7,043$5,245$12,288$46,668
Year 5$851,657$7,324$5,402$12,726$59,394
Year 6$885,723$7,617$5,565$13,182$72,576
Year 7$921,152$7,922$5,731$13,653$86,229
Year 8$957,998$8,239$5,903$14,142$100,371
Year 9$996,318$8,568$6,080$14,648$115,019
Year 10$1,036,171$8,911$6,263$15,174$130,193

The Queen Anne's Tax Advantage vs. Comparable Markets

A $750,000 Four Seasons at Kent Island home in Queen Anne's County (~0.86%) carries an estimated Year 1 tax of $6,450. The equivalent home in a Virginia 55+ community at typical Northern Virginia rates (~1.0–1.1%) would run $7,500–$8,250. Maryland buyers moving from NoVA often discover Queen Anne's County is tax-friendlier than where they came from — an underappreciated selling point for the Eastern Shore.

Build-Out Period Risk

Four Seasons at Kent Island is an active build-out of 1,079 homes. During the construction period — which will span multiple years — the HOA is typically under "declarant control," meaning the builder controls the HOA board and sets fee structures. Once a threshold of homes is sold (typically 75–90%), control transfers to homeowners. The transition period can bring HOA fee resets as homeowners inherit the true cost of amenity maintenance without builder subsidy. Ask the sales team: what is the current HOA fee, is it builder-subsidized, and what is the expected fee post-declarant-control transition?

10-Year Comparison vs. Heritage Harbour SFH

MetricFour Seasons KI ($750K)Heritage Harbour SFH ($550K)
Year 1 property tax~$6,450~$5,995
Year 1 HOA~$4,800/yr$2,112/yr
Year 1 total fixed~$11,250~$8,107
10-yr cumulative fixed~$138,000~$105,000
New construction warrantyYes (builder)No (resale)
Appreciation potential (10-yr)Higher (new, growing market)Moderate (established)

Related Pages

Four Seasons at Kent Island: Full Profile
What Nobody Tells You: Four Seasons Kent Island
Four Seasons KI vs. Symphony Village
All 10 Communities: 10-Year Cost Table

Going Through the Design Center?

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