Virginia Real Estate News

The Best News and Information on Northern Virginia and Washington DC Real Estate

Welcome to Virginia Real Estate News!  You've found a great blog -- in fact this blog is the best place on the Internet to find news and information on the Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. real estate markets.  I'm Brian Block, an experienced Realtor with RE/MAX Allegiance in Alexandria, Virginia.  We'll cover local Virginia and D.C. area  information, housing news, homes for sale, homebuying and homeselling tips, relocation information, and everything you need to know about buying & selling Virginia and D.C. real estate. Be sure to catch our monthly audio Podcast on interesting real estate topics.


May 15, 2008

Northern Virginia Housing Styles -- Colonials

Different strokes for different folks!  Everyone has their own particular tastes when it comes to housing styles.  Some like the airy and open eclectic Contemporary homes.  Others prefer the cute and charming Cape Cod or Bungalow.  Still other home buyers prefer the practical Split Level or Split Foyer, while others may detest them.

One thing is true in the Northern Virginia housing market:

The Colonial is King!

Northern Virginia Colonial Style Home  Northern Virginia Colonial Style Home

COLONIALS

According to Wikipedia, "the American colonial style drew its influence from the Georgian architecture of Great Britain, with indirect sources in Italian Renaissance style of the sixteenth century." 

A Colonial-style house usually has a formally-defined living room, dining room, and sometimes a family room.  Typically, bedrooms are on the second floor and the front door is in the center of the home.

Northern Virginia Colonial Style Home  Northern Virginia Colonial Style Home

With over 2,250 Colonial single family homes on the market as of May 15th, this style is undoubtedly the most popular of all in Northern Virginia (Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Falls Church).  They range in price from slightly under $200,000 to the high end of $15,000,000, and everywhere in between. 

Northern Virginia Colonial Style Home  Northern Virginia Colonial Style Home

There are old historic Colonials and brand new construction in this style.  The average age of all Colonials currently on the market is about 25 years.

While the average listing price for all the Colonials currently on the market is approximately $1,027,000, this number needs to be taken with a grain of salt.  The higher end Colonials pump up this average price.  Even though there are 161 Colonials on the market for over $2 million, fully half of the available Colonials in Northern Virginia are priced below $750,000.  70% of Colonials are priced below $1 million.

Northern Virginia Colonial Style Home  Northern Virginia Colonial Style Home

Fairfax County has over 2000 Colonial style homes currently available.  155 are on the market in Arlington, 59 in Alexandria and a smattering in Fairfax City and Falls Church.

Northern Virginia Colonial Style Home

 

Here's some samples of Northern Virginia Colonial style homes that are available for purchase now on the MLS from different brokers in the area. (Click each link to view further details about the home):

UNDER $500,000

SPRINGFIELD 3 BEDROOM 3.5 BATHROOM COLONIAL

BURKE CENTRE 4 BEDROOM COLONIAL ON A CUL-DE-SAC

HERNDON 4 BEDROOM COLONIAL

 

$500,000 TO $1 MILLION

ARLINGTON 5 BEDROOM 4 BATHROOM COLONIAL NEAR CLARENDON METRO

ARLINGTON 3 BEDROOM COLONIAL WITH VIEWS OF D.C.

ALEXANDRIA 4 BEDROOM 4.5 BATH COLONIAL IN ROSEMONT NEIGHBORHOOD

 

$1 MILLION TO $1.5 MILLION

VIENNA 4 BEDROOM 3.5 BATHROOM COLONIAL

GREAT FALLS 4 BEDROOM COLONIAL ON ALMOST AN ACRE

MCLEAN 5 BEDROOM 4.5 BATHROOM COLONIAL

 

$1.5 MILLION TO $2 MILLION

GREAT FALLS 5 BEDROOM 4 BATHROOM COLONIAL ON OVER 2 ACRES

ALEXANDRIA 5 BEDROOM 4 BATHROOM COLONIAL IN BELLE HAVEN

FAIRFAX 5 BEDROOM COLONIAL BUILT IN 2005


$2 MILLION PLUS

MCLEAN 6 BEDROOM COLONIAL ON OVER 1.5 ACRES - JUST BUILT

MCLEAN BRAND NEW CUSTOM BUILT COLONIAL ON 1/2 ACRE

GREAT FALLS 6 BEDROOM COLONIAL ON 5 ACRES

 

CLICK HERE TO SEARCH FOR NORTHERN VIRGINIA COLONIALS OR ANY STYLE HOME

by Brian Block
Send e-Mail Email Me | Send e-Mail Email to a Friend | Search for Homes | 703.626.0715


May 15, 2008

Northern Virginia Housing Styles -- Cape Cods

When searching for a home in Northern Virginia, there are many considerations.  Most important among these are typically Location (it's a tried and true real estate truism -- say it three times), Price, and Condition. 

What else matters?  Size.  Oh yes, size does matter!  Size of the house.  Size of the yard.  Size of the rooms.

Some people looking for homes have a specific style of home in mind.  Contemporary, Colonial, Cape Cod, Split Level, Split Foyer, etc.

CAPE CODS

According to Wikipedia (and general knowledge), "a Cape Cod is a style of house originating in New England in the 17th century. It is traditionally characterized by a low, broad frame building, generally a story and a half high, with a steep, perfectly pitched roof with end gables and a large chimney."

 

Arlington VA Cape CodArlington VA Cape Cod

 

As of May 8th, there are currently 231 Cape Cod style homes on the market in Northern Virginia (Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Falls Church).  They range in price from $250,000 up to over $1.8 million (believe it or not!)  The Cape Cods are typically older than the average home on the market, with the average Cape Cod being built in 1950.

 

Falls Church VA Cape CodAlexandria VA Expanded Cape Cod

 

The average listing price for all the Cape Cods currently on the market is approximately $530,000.

The highest concentration of Cape Cod style homes are in some of the more well-established communities in Arlington and Falls Church, including Addison Heights, Barcroft, Bel Air, City Park Homes, Greenway Downs, and West Lawn. 

 

Falls Church VA Cape Cod

 

Here's some samples of Northern Virginia Cape Cod style homes that are available for purchase now on the MLS (Click each link to view further details about the home)

 

ADDISON HEIGHTS (ARLINGTON) 2 BEDROOM 2 BATH CAPE COD NEAR THE METRO

BARCROFT (ARLINGTON) 5 BEDROOM 2.5 BATH CAPE COD BUILT IN 1953 -- SINGLE OWNER!

BEL AIR (FALLS CHURCH) 3 BEDROOM 1 BATH CAPE COD

BUCKNELL MANOR (ALEXANDRIA) 5 BEDROOM 3 BATH EXPANDED AND RENOVATED CAPE COD

GREENWAY DOWNS (FALLS CHURCH) 3 BEDROOM 2 BATH CAPE COD

KINGS PARK (SPRINGFIELD) 4 BEDROOM 2 BATH CAPE COD ON ALMOST 1/3 ACRE

 

CLICK HERE TO SEARCH FOR NORTHERN VIRGINIA CAPE CODS OR ANY STYLE HOME 

by Brian Block
Send e-Mail Email Me | Send e-Mail Email to a Friend | Search for Homes | 703.626.0715


May 07, 2008

Alexandria Virginia April 2008 Home Sale Hot Spots

Homes are Selling in Alexandria, VA!

HOT SPOTS IN A COOLER MARKET

ALEXANDRIA HOME SALES
APRIL 2008
 
In April 2008, there were 150 home sales in the City of Alexandria.   This was a precipitous drop from the 204 sales made during the same month of 2007.  Sales prices ranged from $131,500 up to $1,650,000.  The good news for Alexandria home sellers is that homes are selling relatively quickly, averaging just 60 days on the market!  Additionally, while buyers are negotiating lower prices from the original asking price, the average net sales price of $474,678 for the month of April 2008 equates to Alexandria sellers getting 93.9% of their original listing price.
 
As is the case in any market, there are hot spots, hotter spots, and some cool ones.  Here's a graph showing the neighborhoods and condo communities with the most sales activity for the month of April.
 
April 2008 Alexandria Neighborhood Sales
 
Cameron Station led the pack with 15 sales in April 2008.  Never been to Cameron Station?  Click here and come along on a brief Video Driving Tour of Cameron Station in Alexandria Virginia.  Read and learn more about Cameron Station: Northern Virginia Neighborhoods: An Introduction to Cameron Station, Alexandria.
 
Watergate at Landmark, a large condo complex on the West End of Alexandria chalked up 9 sales.  There's always plenty of condo inventory at Watergate at Landmark.  Learn more:  All Inclusive Lifestyle at Watergate at Landmark in Alexandria.
 
Currently there are 822 available homes on the market in Alexandria, representing about a 5.5 month inventory supply based on the April sales rate.  That's a pretty balanced market between buyers and sellers.  A 6 month inventory is considered an even market.  Over 6 months is a buyer's market and under 6 months is a sellers market.  There are an additional 291 homes in Alexandria currently under contract pending sale.
 
The bottom line:  Homes in Alexandria are selling!
 
Encouraged?  Thinking about selling your Alexandria home?  Make sure to read Blog Articles for Sellers.  Then contact me at 703-626-0715 or e-mail me at brian@brianblock.com
 
Ready to get started with buying a home in Alexandria?  Please read Blog Articles for BuyersThen click below to get started with the best online home search tool available.
 
Home Buyer Scouting Report
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