Camden vs. Hickory: What $100,000 Buys in Madison, AL New Construction

 

 

What's the difference between the Camden and Hickory floor plans at Greenbrier Preserve in Madison, AL?

The Hickory costs about $100,000 more than the Camden despite being 150 square feet smaller, with a brick exterior, a standard gas fireplace, a larger lot, and a second-story bonus room included.

If you're shopping new construction in Madison, Alabama, you've probably run into this exact situation: two floor plans in the same neighborhood, similar square footage, and a price gap that doesn't quite make sense on paper.

That's what I found at Greenbrier Preserve, a new-construction neighborhood off Swancott Road just south of Highway 565 in Madison -- close to the Target Distribution Center, Polaris, and the new Eli Lilly campus, with about a 15 to 20 minute drive into Huntsville. I toured two model homes back to back: the Camden and the Hickory. The Camden runs 2,980 square feet and is priced at $510,000. The Hickory is actually 150 square feet smaller at 2,830 square feet, but it's priced at $610,000 -- about $100,000 more for less space.

So where does that extra $100,000 go? I walked both homes room by room to find out, and the answer isn't just one thing -- it's a stack of smaller differences that add up.

Camden vs. Hickory: The Basics

• Camden: 2,980 sq ft, $510,000 (about $171 per square foot), 80-foot lot, front-entry 3-car garage
• Hickory: 2,830 sq ft, $610,000 (about $216 per square foot), 100-foot lot, side-entry 3-car garage with a longer driveway

Inside the Camden: What $510,000 Gets You

The Camden is a 5-bedroom, 3.5-bath layout with LVP flooring through the main living areas and a front entry that walks straight into two of the five bedrooms, connected by a Jack-and-Jill bathroom. Crown molding shows up in the main living area but not in the bedrooms, and the living room has a tray ceiling and quartz countertops. The kitchen island seats about three at the bar, and appliances are Frigidaire. Two things worth knowing: the fireplace and the gas stove are both add-ons here, not standard, and the cabinets are soft-close but the drawers are not. The primary suite has carpet rather than LVP, a walk-in tile shower plus a standard tub, a double vanity, a private water closet, and a solid but not oversized walk-in closet. The laundry room has wire shelving and no sink, and the home includes a tankless water heater.

Inside the Hickory: What the Extra $100,000 Buys

The Hickory is 150 square feet smaller than the Camden, but the upgrades show up almost everywhere you look. The front porch is bigger, and there's an entire second-story bonus room the Camden doesn't have at all. The LVP flooring is a higher grade and actually extends into the primary bedroom, where the Camden switches to carpet. Crown molding is a bigger profile throughout. The fireplace is a complete brick fireplace with gas standard -- not an add-on -- and the kitchen has a gas cooktop instead of the gas range and stove combination in the Camden. Cabinets and drawers are both soft-close here, versus cabinets only in the Camden. The primary bathroom is noticeably larger and more spa-like, with a deeper tub, a bigger walk-in tile shower, a separate water closet, and a large walk-in closet with wood shelving instead of wire. The laundry room has a sink -- the Camden's does not -- and sits close to the primary suite. There's also a large walk-in pantry with wood shelving and an epoxy-coated garage floor.

Exterior and Lot Differences

The Camden sits on an 80-foot lot with a front-entry garage and is finished mostly in Hardy board and wood. The Hickory sits on a 100-foot lot with a side-entry garage and a longer, deeper driveway, and it's about three-quarters brick -- the sides and back are brick, with Hardy board and a quarter-brick accent on the front. The Hickory's porch also has a vinyl ceiling and eaves, which hold up better in North Alabama humidity, plus wood shutters out front.

A Zoning Detail Worth Knowing Before You Buy Here

Here's something that's easy to miss: a Madison mailing address at Greenbrier Preserve does not automatically mean Madison City Schools. This section of the neighborhood is zoned for Huntsville City Schools, and there's no elementary school immediately close by, though one is reportedly planned in the area within the next couple of years. If school zoning matters to your decision, verify it directly with the school system for the specific address you're considering -- don't assume based on the city name on the mailing address.

Neighborhood Amenities at Greenbrier Preserve

Greenbrier Preserve backs up its price point with real amenities: tennis courts, pickleball courts, cornhole, a zero-entry pool, and a grilling and gathering area.

So Is the Extra $100,000 Worth It?

It depends on what you're optimizing for. If land, a brick exterior, a second-story flex space, and higher-grade finishes throughout matter to you, the Hickory's upgrades are real -- they're not just a bigger price tag for the same house. If you'd rather maximize square footage per dollar and are fine finishing out a fireplace or upgrading a stove later, the Camden gets you more room for less money in the same neighborhood.

If you're weighing new construction options in Madison or anywhere in North Alabama and want a second set of eyes on a floor plan before you sign anything, call or text me at 256.476.4201 or schedule a free 15-minute consultation: https://calendly.com/cpeters-real/15-min-real-estate-consult.

FAQ

Is Greenbrier Preserve in Madison, Alabama zoned for Madison City Schools?

No. This section of Greenbrier Preserve carries a Madison mailing address but is zoned for Huntsville City Schools. There's no elementary school immediately nearby, though one is reportedly planned in the neighborhood within the next couple of years.

What's the price difference between the Camden and Hickory floor plans at Greenbrier Preserve?

The Camden is priced at $510,000 for 2,980 square feet, and the Hickory is priced at $610,000 for 2,830 square feet -- roughly $100,000 more for 150 fewer square feet, driven mainly by exterior materials, lot size, and interior finish upgrades.

What amenities does Greenbrier Preserve offer?

The neighborhood includes tennis courts, pickleball courts, cornhole, a zero-entry pool, and a grilling and gathering area.

For general new-construction buyer resources, see the National Association of Home Builders (nahb.org), and for current Madison, AL market data, see Redfin's Madison housing market page (redfin.com).

 

Sincerely,

Clint Peters

REALTOR(R) | Real Broker

256.476.4201