By Chris Colgan | Real Nova Network

According to the Washington Business Journal, Manassas-based startup Electra.aero has unveiled two futuristic commercial airliner concepts developed for NASA as part of a national effort to reimagine passenger aviation by 2050.

And while the aircraft themselves may still be years away, the economic impact for Prince William County could begin much sooner.

Most people think of Northern Virginia as the home of government contractors, data centers, and defense companies.

But one company in Manassas is quietly trying to change the future of commercial aviation.

Electra, headquartered at the Washington Manassas Regional Airport, introduced two airliner concepts through NASA’s Advanced Aircraft Concepts for…

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Most people agree that Manassas is a great place to live. More space for the money than the closer-in Northern Virginia suburbs. Historic character. Good access to jobs across the region. And a lot more variety than people expect when they first start looking out here.



 But here's the problem nobody talks about: picking the wrong neighborhood in Manassas can cost you $200,000 and a miserable commute.

Two families can move to Manassas with the exact same $700,000 budget. One ends up in an HOA-heavy, car-dependent subdivision with a daily grind on I-66. The other ends up in a walkable downtown neighborhood two blocks from a VRE commuter train into Washington, D.C. Same budget. Completely different life.

I've been selling homes in Manassas…

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By Chris Colgan · Real Nova Network
Source: According to reporting by Stephen Lotz for the Washington Business Journal

One of Washington, D.C.’s most iconic museums is entering a new era.

According to the Washington Business Journal, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is set to open five brand-new galleries on July 1 as part of its massive $1 billion renovation, a project that began in 2018 and has transformed nearly every corner of the museum.

For anyone who grew up visiting the Air and Space Museum, taking kids there on a weekend, or bringing out-of-town family to the National Mall, this is a big deal. The museum is not just getting a fresh coat of paint. It is being rebuilt for a new generation.

The timing is also fitting. The Air…

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Most people agree Manassas is a great place to live. It has more space for the money than a lot of closer-in DC suburbs, that historic character, great access to Northern Virginia jobs, and more variety than people realize. But here's the problem: picking the wrong neighborhood can cost you $200,000 or a brutal commute. Two families can move here on the exact same budget, one ends up in an HOA-heavy, car-dependent subdivision, the other gets a walkable downtown with a VRE train into DC. Let me walk you through the neighborhoods that actually fit different lifestyles. (0:00)

Don't Just Shop by the House

This is the whole point: a $700,000 budget can mean wildly different things depending on where you buy. Most people choose based on the…

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The homes that wreck your resale in Northern Virginia aren't just the ugly ones. Some perfectly nice-looking houses have problems hiding behind a shiny listing photo. After 22 years in this business, I'm breaking down 10 features that shrink your future buyer pool and cost you tens of thousands of dollars when you go to sell. (0:00)

Why This Hits Different in 2026

Think back to the frenzy years. Buyers would tour a house with three obvious problems and still write an offer that night. Those buyers don't really exist anymore. Northern Virginia has shifted from a seller frenzy where anything sold to a balanced market where buyers can afford to be picky again, and I'm seeing it all across the DMV. When buyers have options, anything with a…

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The most dangerous thing in Northern Virginia real estate right now isn't the market, it's the silence. There are five things your agent will probably never tell sellers, and five more buyers don't hear until it's too late, and almost every one of them is designed to protect a commission, not your equity. Northern Virginia is still a great market, but it is not a forgiving one anymore. Here are the ten truths that can save you thousands. (0:00)

The Quick Version

Northern Virginia is still strong, but it has split in half. Well-priced, move-in-ready homes in good school districts are still selling fast, sometimes with multiple offers. Overpriced or poorly positioned homes are sitting and getting beat up on price. For sellers, the danger is…

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While much of Northern Virginia’s waterfront real estate has quietly pushed beyond the reach of many buyers, there’s still one community in Prince William County where you can buy brand-new construction, walk to the train, and live by the water without spending $800,000 or more.

It’s called Belmont Bay.

Here’s the honest breakdown.

 

The short version

  • What it is: Belmont Bay is a master-planned waterfront community in Woodbridge, Virginia. Miller & Smith’s new Marbella townhomes at Beacon Park offer four finished levels, rooftop terraces, and pricing starting around the upper $500s.

    Why it matters: Waterfront living, marina access, train access, and new construction rarely come together at this price point anywhere in Northern…

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By Chris Colgan
Real Nova Network

For more than a decade, one of the most valuable pieces of waterfront land in Northern Virginia has been sitting behind fences.

Not abandoned in the middle of nowhere.

Not tucked away where nobody sees it.

Right there in Alexandria.

The old Potomac River Generating Station in Old Town North has been one of those sites almost everyone around Alexandria knows, even if they do not know the official name. A massive former coal-fired power plant. Industrial. Closed off. Sitting on the Potomac River, just north of Old Town, in a city where waterfront land is some of the most important land there is.

And now, after years of planning, debate, city review, and public meetings, Alexandria…

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By Chris Colgan · Real Nova Network

 

The 77th Prince William County Fair runs nine days this summer — Friday, July 31 through Saturday, August 8 — on the same 49 acres off Dumfries Road that have hosted it since Harry Truman was president.

 

It remains the largest county fair in the Commonwealth, and one of the last large pieces of open, community-run ground left on a corridor the rest of Northern Virginia is busy rezoning.

The nightly lineup


Photo Credits: https://www.princewilliamcountyfairgrounds.com/


Each evening at the grandstand carries its own headliner. This year's slate:

 

  • Fri, July 31 — Demo Derby, 7 PM

  • Sat, Aug. 1 — Fireworks Show, 9 PM

  • Sun, Aug. 2 — Rodeo, 7 PM

  • Mon, Aug. 3 —…

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Woodbridge just landed a major new attraction, and I think it's going to be a huge win for the community.

According to People.com, Slick City Action Park has officially opened its newest location at Potomac Mills, and it's not just another entertainment venue. This location is now the largest indoor slide park in the United States.

The new facility spans more than 70,000 square feet and features 16 unique slides, indoor go-karts, mini golf, sports courts, and a dedicated area designed specifically for younger children.

As someone who has lived and worked in Northern Virginia for decades, I think this is exactly the type of investment that helps elevate Woodbridge's reputation as a destination rather than just a place people drive through on…

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