Northern Virginia’s Housing Market Is Exploding

Whoa you guys, this housing market is becoming quite a wild ride not only nationwide, but in the metro DC area too. There is a LOT going on. We, of course, have DOGE here and their haphazard layoffs. Then, on a national level, many different online housing portals like Zillow and Redfin are fighting back against brokerages maintaining a private exclusive portfolio of real estate for sale. I mention this because we’ll touch on private exclusive listings in this video and what that means for your Northern Virginia home search. But, I’ll do a deeper dive in a different video into the details and what these changes mean for consumers.

We in the DC metro area still haven’t seen the drastic real estate crash the doomsdayers predicted. In fact, I have not had a dip in the volume of people calling, saying they need to move here. It seems that most people decide quickly on which side of the Potomac River they want to live. While the housing markets in DC and Montgomery County, Maryland are moving slower than in the past, Northern Virginia is saying, “Hold my beer.” Arlington, Alexandria and most of Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun Counties are on fire. As the kids would say, Northern Virginia is “having a moment.” 

Where are People Moving From?

There are New Yorkers trying to escape the rat race but not wanting to leave the city life behind. There are Americans who have been in Europe but are planning a return. There are military families in Alaska, Hawaii and on the west coast being relocated to the area. There are civilians in these areas too – particularly the west coast from Washington State to California who are relocating to the area.

What Kind of Work do They do?

The jobs people are moving here for are in the military, tech sector, banking, law, healthcare and education to name a few of the main industries. When it comes to couples – in most cases one of the parties works exclusively remote. This is allowing them to move without sacrificing one career for the other.

Current DC Area Housing Data Trends

We finally have enough data rolling in to make some assumptions and connect that data to reality. These are the trends we are seeing right now from Jan 1 to April 15 of 2025 – so, essentially the first 2/3 of the “spring market.”

In DC, the median days on market for single family homes and rowhomes – what we call “fee simple ownership” here, was 28 days. In many parts of the country, a home taking 4 weeks to sell isn’t a bad metric. Here though, we have not seen a number that high in decades.

Now, come with me to Northern Virginia – the place where 70% of the world’s internet traffic flows through. Yes, SEVENTY PERCENT. 

In Arlington, the median days on market was 6 days. In Fairfax County Virginia, the median days on market was 5 days. Loudoun County median days on market was 5 days. Prince William County median days on market was 7. 

Areas that weren’t so popular have surged with demand. Woodbridge, Virginia has seen a population growth of 887% from 2018 to 2023. I never thought I would see a day where there were multiple offers on homes in Woodbridge, but here we are. Woodbridge was hardest hit during the housing crisis in 2008. There were Washington Post articles about how entire cul-de-sacs in Woodbridge were abandoned. Since then, Woodbridge has been considered one of the area’s more “affordable” and therefore “less desirable” places to live. Michael and I did several videos on Woodbridge because his business there was on fire. 

How Can You Buy a Home in Northern Virginia?

Sounds very competitive, I bet you’re wondering how you could get a home here. This is the place of multiple offers and extreme escalations. I currently have several buyers under contract in Arlington, Vienna, Fairfax and Alexandria. Here’s how we got their homes. 

Two different clients obtained their homes off-market. I was actively seeking homes in specific areas for these two different clients, and as word got out, the phone lines lit up.  Right now, the off-market / private sale avenue is a very active sector of the local housing market. If you haven’t engaged the services of a well-connected agent who is willing to hustle, you won’t have the entire market of available homes presented to you as options.

One client competed in multiple offers and waived all contingencies. They chose to escalate $70,000 over the list price. They got the house even though they were the 2nd in line. The highest offer escalated over $100,000 but they included a home inspection in their offer. The seller chose my client’s offer even though it netted them $40,000 less. Why? Because they didn’t want to deal with the unknowns of the home inspection.

One client put together a strong offer at list price with an assumable VA Loan. In most cases, people utilize VA loans so they can have a zero downpayment. My clients actually paid the difference in the assumable loan and the list price in cash, which meant they had a 25% down payment. The seller liked their offer because they had “skin in the game” and chose them.

What is the Lure to Northern Virginia?

Schools
Fairfax and Arlington County public schools are top-rated, year after year. If you’re buying your second home and planning to stay in the area for a while, school zoning matters. 

Larger Homes & More Space
In Northern Virginia, you can get a house with a backyard and a walkable neighborhood. Yes, both. It’s not a mythical unicorn—places like Vienna, Falls Church,  Reston and Del Ray deliver exactly that.

Work from Home
If you’re only commuting a few days a week now, suddenly Reston, Burke, and McLean don’t feel like a haul. You get more home, less noise, and you’re still 25 minutes to the Kennedy Center if you play your cards right.

Jobs
I mentioned that bit about 70% of the world’s internet traffic flowing through Northern Virginia, that is no joke. There are dozens of corporate headquarters in Northern Virginia. The tech corridor of Reston to Herndon to Dulles employs tons of people in the tech sector. It’s not all government contractors here either. There are many different industries in the private sector here.

Transportation
I talk often about this but the silver line addition to the metro has been a boon for the local economy. The fact that you can take metro to Dulles or from Ashburn into DC has been a game changer. 

Parks & Recreation
I’m like a broken record on this one but the parks and recreation in Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria – amazing. There are so many offerings, it’s like belonging to a gym for super cheap. The trail access is also really impressive. There are so many hiking and biking options

Seasonal Events & Festivals
There are so many activities to keep yourself and your family busy and entertained. There is an entire region of wineries, skiing within an hour or two, you can go whitewater rafting on the Shenandoah or West Virginia

Top Notch Staycations
Rafting, skiing, camping – the geological landscape of Northern Virginia offers a lot of ways to unwind and spend a weekend of fun or relaxation. 

If you’re thinking about moving and want someone to help you figure out if Northern Virginia makes sense for you—without the fake sales pitch—let’s talk. I’ll tell you the good, the bad, and the overpriced.