Fairfax is the heart of Northern Virginia. From top schools to George Mason to some of the strongest neighborhoods in the area, I’ll show you why families and investors keep moving here.

The start of 2026 has brought interesting shifts across Northern Virginia's real estate landscape. As your trusted local expert with over $1 billion in sales experience, I'm breaking down exactly what happened in January across our region's key markets—and what it means for you.

The Big Picture: What's Happening in Northern Virginia Real Estate

January 2026 delivered a mixed bag of results across Northern Virginia's six core counties. While some markets showed surprising strength heading into the new year, others continued adjusting to current economic realities. Let me walk you through what the numbers actually mean for buyers and sellers right now.

The standout performer? Prince William County, which posted a 17.8% increase in closed sales…

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If you're moving to Northern Virginia and schools are your top priority, this comprehensive guide could save you from making a costly mistake. Here's the truth most people don't realize: you can buy an expensive house in Northern Virginia and still end up with average schools. As a lifelong Northern Virginia resident and the best realtor in Northern Virginia with over $1 billion in sales, I know these neighborhoods, school systems, and boundaries inside and out. Today, I'm breaking down exactly where to live if you want top-rated schools, what you'll actually pay to live there, and the uncomfortable truth about school boundaries that can change overnight.

Why Northern Virginia Schools Are Considered Elite

Northern Virginia public schools…

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A New Kind of Urban Living Room

Imagine stepping out of your front door and into a scene that feels less like suburban Virginia and more like a sun-drenched afternoon on Italy's Amalfi Coast. That's the vision behind The Piazza at Tysons—a revolutionary mixed-use development that's redefining what it means to live, work, and connect in one of Northern Virginia's most dynamic neighborhoods.

This isn't just another high-rise complex with retail on the ground floor. The Piazza at Tysons is designed around a radical idea: that the heart of any great community isn't a building—it's the space between the buildings. Here, that space is a nearly two-acre open-air piazza that serves as the neighborhood's living room, where neighbors become friends and…

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By Chris Colgan The Colgan Team | eXp Realty

Is Northern Virginia becoming too expensive, or is the lifestyle worth the price tag?

If you are thinking about moving to Northern Virginia or just watching the market, you know things move fast here. We have massive developments changing the landscape from Manassas to Rosslyn, and the cost of living in 2026 is a hot topic for every buyer.

In this market update, we are breaking down the biggest news in the region: a game-changing hotel in Manassas, the future of Rosslyn's skyline, and the hard numbers on what it actually costs to live here right now.

Manassas Real Estate Update: Tempo by Hilton & Nova Live

If you live near Prince William County, you know that Nova Live (formerly Farm Brew…

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Cemeteries aren’t just a mournful— or spooky— place. They can be architecturally stunning, historically valuable, and just a peaceful place to go on a stroll. Though most people wouldn’t fancy themselves visitors to such places, in NOVA it’s a must. Here we have some immensely important cemeteries— and they happen to be beautiful too. ​

Arlington National Cemetery

"Arlington National Cemetery Graves (Burial Criteria)" by Tony Fischer Photography is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Walking around Arlington National Cemetery will bring feelings of profound somberness. At certain vantage points, all the eye can see is grave upon grave. It’s a 639 acre cemetery, so it’s vast and closer to the center, it feels all encompassing. And sometimes, it’s…

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If you live in Northern Virginia, you know the drill. Friday rolls around, you've got the whole weekend ahead of you, and you're scrolling through the same restaurant options wondering what actually sounds good. Let me save you some time.

This weekend – January 30th through February 1st – we've got four events happening in our area that perfectly capture what makes living here so damn great. From ghost tours to family theater, historic exhibits to brewery nights, there's something for everyone.

Here's what you need to know.

Ghost Tours in Old Town Fairfax – Friday Night at 7:00 PM

Let's start with something most people drive right past without realizing it exists.

Old Town Fairfax has ghost tours. And before you write this off as some…

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If you're moving to Northern Virginia and schools are your top priority, this guide could save you from making a $1.2 million mistake.

Here's the thing most people don't realize: you can drop seven figures on a house and still end up in average schools. I've lived in NoVa my whole life, sold over $1 billion in real estate, and helped hundreds of families navigate this exact decision. Today, I'm breaking down exactly where to live for the best schools, what you'll actually pay, and the truth about school boundaries that can flip overnight.

Why Northern Virginia Schools Are Actually Elite (And What to Look For)

Everyone knows Northern Virginia has great schools. But what makes them elite? And more importantly, what should you actually be looking at…

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If you are thinking about moving to Northern Virginia, you’ve probably spent hours scrolling through Zillow looking at amazing houses. But here is the problem: if you don’t understand the lifestyle trade-offs behind those photos, you could end up in the wrong neighborhood, miserable, and looking to move again within a year.

As a lifelong resident, I’ve seen it happen too many times. So today, I’m breaking down five popular Northern Virginia areas that might not be right for you—and explaining exactly who they are perfect for.

1. Arlington: The "Car-Free" Capital

Don’t move here if: You love driving everywhere and rely on your car daily. Arlington has intentionally designed the county to make cars less necessary, which can be a nightmare…

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Every time the housing market slows down—even for a moment—the internet jumps to extremes. You’ve seen the headlines: either the market is about to crash, or it’s about to explode again.

Neither of these is happening right now.

Instead of relying on clickbait, I want to do what more people should be doing: walk through exactly what is happening nationally, and then break down the numbers here in Northern Virginia county by county so you can make a rational decision.

Let’s get into the numbers.

 

Watch the Full Market Breakdown:

Prefer to see the charts and graphs for yourself? In this video, I walk through the specific data points for Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and more, so you can see exactly where the market is trending.

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If you have been searching for Fairfax homes for sale or checking Fairfax open houses this weekend, you’ve likely noticed a change in the air. As we move into 2026, the local market is shifting from the frantic "boom" of 2025 into what we are calling the "Year of Balance".

For those moving to Fairfax VA from DC, this transition offers a unique window of opportunity. While Fairfax was booming in value in 2025, the current Fairfax VA real estate market forecast 2026 points toward more sustainable growth and a welcome increase in inventory for buyers.

The December 2025 Market Snapshot

To understand where we are going, we have to look at the ground-level data from the latest BrightMLS report:

  • Median Sold Price: Finished December at $737,050,…

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