The short version: Abbey Brook is a new-construction community east of downtown Athens where Smith Douglas and D.R. Horton are still building. Over the last 12 months its new homes sold for about the same price per square foot as near-new resales in the East Limestone school zone. So the choice comes down to the incentives, the monthly costs and the specific house, not the sticker price.
Where it is and what's being built
Abbey Brook is in ZIP 35613 in Limestone County, with an Athens mailing address. By map coordinates on its listings, it sits about 6 miles east of the courthouse square in Athens and about 11 miles from downtown Madison, as the crow flies. Drive your own route to work at rush hour before you commit.
Two builders list homes here. Over the last three years, Smith Douglas (listed by Sdh Alabama LLC) closed 83 homes here and D.R. Horton (Dhi Realty) closed 50. In the last 12 months most closings were Smith Douglas. Lots in the last 12 months of sales were almost all 0.19 to 0.22 acre. All but one of the 135 sales in the last three years were marked "Public Sewer" in the MLS. Ask the builder which utility serves the lot and what the HOA dues are and cover, because we couldn't confirm either.
The pace has been steady: 20 closings in 2024, 63 in 2025 and 52 so far in 2026. You can follow the active listings on our Abbey Brook new homes page and recent sales on the Abbey Brook neighborhood page.
What homes sold for
There were 65 closings from Nov. 6, 2025 through Nov. 5, 2026. Here they are by who listed them.
| Listed by | Sales | Median price | Price range | Median sq ft | Median $/sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith Douglas (Sdh Alabama) | 52 | $261,568 | $234,995 - $335,655 | 1,535 | $166 |
| D.R. Horton (Dhi Realty) | 11 | $290,900 | $270,900 - $325,900 | 2,092 | $140 |
| Resale | 2 | $264,000 | $243,000 - $285,000 | 1,697 | $162 |
The D.R. Horton homes sold bigger, which is a big part of why they show a lower price per square foot. Bigger homes usually sell for less per square foot. Two resales is too few to say much on its own, so we looked wider.
New here vs. a near-new resale nearby
Across the East Limestone High zone, 600 homes, townhomes and condos closed in the same 12 months. Builders' own offices listed 207 of them, about 35 percent. To compare like with like, we pulled resales from 1,400 to 2,600 sq ft built in 2015 or later:
| Group, 12 months | Sales | Median price | Median sq ft | Median $/sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey Brook, all sales | 65 | $268,195 | 1,679 | $163 |
| East Limestone zone resales, 1,400-2,600 sq ft, built 2015+ | 72 | $289,900 | 1,792 | $162 |
That's close to a tie per square foot. (Another 112 resales in the zone had no year built in the MLS, so they're left out.) A newer resale often comes with blinds, a fence, landscaping and a settled yard. A new home comes with a builder warranty, your choice of finishes on some plans and, often, incentives that don't show up in the sale price. Our new vs. resale page runs this comparison for other areas.
What's for sale now
As of this morning, 18 homes are listed in Abbey Brook. All are builder listings:
- Smith Douglas move-in ready or under construction: seven homes from $249,995 to $289,995, 1,535 to 2,372 sq ft. On Oct. 29 six of them were cut by $2,000 to $6,000. They've been listed 58 to 147 days.
- Smith Douglas plans to build: eight plan listings (not specific lots) from $242,990 to $284,990, 1,202 to 2,565 sq ft. The lot you pick can add to these base prices.
- D.R. Horton: three homes from $289,900 to $319,900, 1,537 to 2,336 sq ft. Two are under construction.
One D.R. Horton listing's remarks advertise a 2/1 rate buydown on government-backed loans and up to $30,000 in "flex cash" through the builder's preferred lender for a November closing. Offers like this change often and usually depend on using that lender. Get the terms in writing, ask how long the lower rate lasts, and price the same loan with an outside lender. Our builder incentives page tracks what builders are offering across the area.
Schools
Of the 135 Abbey Brook sales in the last three years, 125 listings showed Johnson Elementary and East Limestone for middle and high school. Ten showed Creekside Elementary. The east side of Limestone County has been growing fast: WAFF reported in 2023 that the district was adding a wing at Johnson Elementary because east-side elementary schools were over capacity, and in July 2026 that an expansion of East Limestone High had started. Zones can shift as schools are added, so confirm the zone by address with Limestone County Schools before you buy.
Questions to ask the builder
- Is this price for a specific lot, or a base plan price before lot and options?
- What are the HOA dues, what do they cover, and can I see the covenants?
- Which utility provides sewer and water, and what are the tap or connection fees, if any?
- What does the warranty cover, for how long, and how are claims handled? Get it in writing.
- Which incentives require the preferred lender or title company, and what is the deadline?
- Can my own inspector come at pre-drywall and before closing? We recommend hiring a licensed home inspector for both, even on a brand-new home.
For the contract itself, a real estate attorney can review the builder's purchase agreement before you sign.
The bottom line
Abbey Brook offers new homes at prices close to near-new resales nearby, mostly on lots around a fifth of an acre. The best deal will depend on this month's incentives and the monthly costs, so compare a specific new home with a specific resale, line by line. For the bigger picture, see our Athens market report.
In Alabama you can tour homes, including builder models, without signing a buyer agreement. You'll need one before you make an offer. If you want an agent on your side at a builder's office, ask the builder about its agent policy before your first visit.
Questions about Abbey Brook or building new in Athens? Call or text George at (256) 808-6861, or send us a message.
Sources: Valley MLS sales and active listings of homes, townhomes and condos in Abbey Brook and the East Limestone High zone, pulled Nov. 6, 2026; builder shown by listing office; WAFF, Aug. 4, 2023; WAFF, July 28, 2026. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.