McLean VA Real Estate: Brutal Truths About America’s Most Expensive Zip Code (2026)

By Melissa | DC Real Estate Mama | 25 Years Selling DMV Real Estate

I’ve been selling real estate in the DC area for 25 years. McLean VA real estate breaks every rule I know. Starter homes over a million dollars that get torn down immediately. $30 million estates selling for all cash on a random Tuesday. If you’re thinking about living in McLean VA — or just trying to understand why this zip code costs what it does — keep reading, because I’m going to tell you what nobody else will.

What Makes McLean VA Real Estate Unlike Anywhere Else

Everyone assumes McLean VA homes are expensive because of the mansions. That’s not quite right. The real formula behind McLean’s price tag is something that can’t be replicated: Langley-area schools that have been elite for 40+ years, Fairfax County’s exceptional infrastructure, the CIA creating permanent demand right next door, and irreplaceable land just 8 miles from the White House. The house is almost secondary. When a $1 million ranch gets bulldozed, buyers aren’t paying for the house — they’re paying for the land underneath it.

That’s the secret of McLean Virginia real estate that nobody tells you. You’re not buying a home. You’re securing a position.

Who Is Buying McLean VA Real Estate Right Now?

The typical buyer in the McLean VA real estate market is a high-income professional — government officials, corporate executives, diplomats, and senior government contractors. With CIA Headquarters (known as the Langley campus) right here in McLean, and easy access to both downtown DC and the Tysons business corridor, McLean attracts people operating at the highest levels of government and private industry.

Families chasing top-rated schools are another dominant force. If you are weighing McLean VA schools against private school tuition elsewhere in the DMV, the public school option here often wins on merit alone. And affluent retirees are choosing McLean for the safety, the golf courses, the country clubs, and the unmatched access to luxury shopping — especially Tysons Corner Center, the DC area’s largest shopping destination.

McLean VA Real Estate Market: The Numbers (2025–2026)

Let’s talk data, because the numbers here tell a story. In the last six months, 177 single-family homes sold in McLean Virginia. Here’s how prices break down:

Price range (single-family homes): $1M on the low end to $27M at the high end
Average sale price: $3.1M
What $1M gets you: Typically a 1,500 sq ft ranch — that most buyers will tear down
Homes priced $5M+: 18 sold; 15 of those were all-cash purchases
$5M+ homes typically feature: An acre or more of land and six or more bedrooms

Townhomes in the McLean VA real estate market range from $900,000 to $2.1M, with an average price of $1.3M. Condos — many in high-rise buildings with full-service amenities — come with condo fees in the thousands per month. Think New York City pricing for New York City-level amenities.

The market moves fast. Homes in McLean are going under contract in roughly 23 days on average, and competitive properties often see multiple offers. If you’re searching homes for sale in McLean VA, being pre-approved and ready to move is essential.

What Kind of Homes Are in McLean Virginia?

There is tremendous variety in McLean VA homes. Many of the older colonial-style homes from the 1950s through 1980s have already been torn down and replaced with new construction — McLean has been ground zero for teardowns in the DC Metro Area. Some of the new builds are stunning. Some are… not. This is exactly why having an experienced buyer’s agent who knows the difference between quality construction and a spec-built flip matters enormously.

You’ll also find established luxury estates on large lots, beautifully updated mid-century colonials that have been preserved, high-rise condominiums with 24/7 concierge service, and now — exciting new options coming in 2026.

New Developments Coming to McLean VA in 2026

The McLean VA real estate landscape is actively evolving with two major announcements worth knowing about:

Ritz-Carlton Branded Residences — McLean Tysons

The Ritz-Carlton is building its first-ever branded residences in Virginia. McLean Tysons was announced in October 2025, with construction beginning in 2026 and completion targeted for late 2028. The standalone 102-unit building will include over 15,000 square feet of luxury amenities, with homes starting around $1 million. This is a genuinely rare opportunity — Ritz-Carlton branded residences carry that hospitality-level service and brand cachet that typically justifies long-term appreciation. This will be a landmark addition to McLean Virginia real estate.

Knolewood — The Last New Subdivision in McLean

Knolewood is a new 24-lot subdivision being built on the last remaining undeveloped land in McLean. Custom-built homes will sit on lots ranging from 0.82 to 1.2 acres, with wide tree-lined streets and sidewalks. This development is wrapping up in early 2026. If you want new construction on a real lot in McLean — this is it. There will not be another opportunity like this.

McLean VA Schools: A Major Draw for Families

About 40% of households in McLean have children under 18, and McLean VA schools are one of the top reasons families choose this community. All McLean schools are part of Fairfax County Public Schools — consistently ranked among the best school systems in the country — and feed into one of two high schools: McLean or Langley.

McLean High School

McLean High School offers Honors, AP, and Dual Enrollment courses where students can earn college credit. Language offerings include Spanish, French, Chinese, Latin, and German. McLean High is walkable to downtown McLean, giving it a small-town feel that’s rare for a school of this caliber. GreatSchools ratings are strong across the board — 8s, 9s, and 10s.

Langley High School

Langley High School offers an extensive AP program and an impressive language lineup: Spanish, French, Latin, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese. Langley was recently renovated and sits on Georgetown Pike in a quiet residential setting. The Langley name carries significant weight — both in college admissions circles and in DC’s professional networks.

If McLean VA schools are a primary factor in your home search — which they should be — I can walk you through which elementary feeder patterns align with which neighborhoods. Reach out to me directly for a personalized breakdown.

Why McLean VA Is Great for Families Beyond the Schools

Living in McLean VA means access to an exceptional family lifestyle that goes well beyond academics. Here’s a quick tour of what’s here:

Parks & Nature

One of the most underrated aspects of McLean VA real estate is what’s outside your front door. Great Falls Park has a McLean mailing address and is just a few miles north. Hike the Potomac River trails, take in the overlooks, and watch the falls — it’s one of the most spectacular natural features in the entire DC area. Scott’s Run Nature Preserve also offers great hiking. McLean Central Park and Meadow Lane Park both have playgrounds, and neighborhood parks are plentiful throughout McLean.

Recreation & Community

The McLean Community Center is the hub of community life here, offering classes, camps, live music, and events. The on-site Alden Theatre (nearly 400 seats) hosts musical acts, comedy, and youth programs including improv. McLean Project for the Arts runs camps for kids age 3 through teenagers. The McLean Community Center also runs a popular summer concert series.

For teens, the Old Firehouse is a dedicated recreation space. Clemyjontri Park is one of my personal top-5 must-visit parks in the entire DC region — it has a carousel and multiple play areas designed for different ages and abilities.

Shopping & Food

Another perk of McLean VA real estate that buyers don’t always factor in — the access to shopping and dining is genuinely world-class. Tysons Corner is the DC area’s largest shopping destination — if you can’t find it there, it probably doesn’t exist. For dining, most of what you need clusters along Old Dominion just south of Route 123, Dolley Madison Boulevard, and Chain Bridge Road. J. Gilbert’s is a perennially packed steak and seafood restaurant. The food options span Mexican, Afghan, Italian, Iranian, American, and more. Grocery options include Lidl, Giant, Balducci’s, and a Safeway at Chesterbrook Shopping Center — which recently added the ever-popular Call Your Mother deli.

Private Clubs

McLean has several membership-based private clubs — another lifestyle feature that separates McLean VA real estate from comparable suburban markets: Tuckahoe Recreation Club (open year-round), and summer clubs including Highland Swim & Tennis, Hamlet Swim & Tennis, Chesterbrook Swim & Tennis, Kent Gardens Recreation Club, and McLean Swim & Tennis.

Fun Facts About McLean Virginia

Here’s something most people researching McLean VA real estate don’t know: Mars, Inc. — yes, the candy company behind M&Ms, Snickers, and Milky Way — is headquartered right here in McLean. Unlike Coca-Cola in Atlanta, you won’t see Mars branding everywhere. They’re a privately held family company that keeps an intentionally low profile. Very McLean of them.

McLean also sits 6–8 miles from the White House, with fast access to DC via the George Washington Parkway and Route 495. The Silver Line Metro provides additional connectivity to Tysons and beyond.

Is McLean VA Real Estate Right for You?

Getting into a home in McLean is costly — there’s no sugarcoating that. The McLean VA real estate market is competitive. Homes sell fast. Multiple offers happen regularly. And at the luxury tier, all-cash buyers are your competition.

But for families and professionals who can make it work, McLean delivers something genuinely rare: top-tier public schools, extraordinary natural access, a safe and established suburb, and land values that hold because the underlying demand drivers — the CIA, DC proximity, Fairfax County excellence — aren’t going anywhere.

If you’re thinking about buying a home in McLean Virginia, or if you’re a current homeowner wondering what your McLean VA real estate is worth in today’s market, let’s talk. I’ve been serving the DC, Maryland, and Virginia markets since 2001 and I know this area better than just about anyone.

👉 Contact me here or call/text me directly. I do these market breakdowns every week — subscribe to my YouTube channel for video versions covering neighborhoods across the entire DMV.

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