7 Northern Virginia Areas To Buy In

The 7 Northern Virginia Areas I’d Buy In Before Everyone Else Figures It Out

Stop chasing the exact same overcrowded zip codes. Join Chris Colgan as he breaks down seven high-opportunity Northern Virginia markets, including Herndon, Haymarket, Gainesville, & more. 

Top 7 NoVA Markets: Key Takeaways

• Herndon (Silver Line Value): Direct Silver Line Metro access and proximity to major Dulles tech employers without paying Reston's $1M+ price tag.
• Haymarket & Gainesville (Big Land Signals): Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have invested nearly $1B in land acquisitions, paving the way for long-term infrastructure and…

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Pros and Cons of Living in Reston, VA

Brutally Honest Pros and Cons of Living in Reston, VA

Thinking of moving to Reston? Chris Colgan covers hidden Reston Association fees, the walkable Reston Town Center, and more in his brutally honest breakdown of what you can expect when living in this popular Northern Virginia community.

Reston Pros & Cons: Key Takeaways

• The Planned Promise: Reston was designed in the 1960s to blend nature and housing seamlessly, offering a trail network of over 55 miles.
• Double HOA Fees: Many buyers are surprised to find out they must pay a Reston Association fee (around $890/year) on top of their local neighborhood…

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A $10M Condo Just Reset the Market in Reston, VA

Northern Virginia just crossed a major milestone — and it didn’t happen in Arlington or Tysons.

It happened in Reston.

According to the Washington Business Journal, a penthouse at the JW Marriott Residences Reston just sold for $10.25 million, setting a new all-time record for a condo in Virginia.

Read the full story here: https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2026/04/28/reston-jw-marriott-condo-sale-record.html

The Details That Stand Out

This wasn’t just any unit.

• More than 5,700 square feet of interior living space

• Over 2,000 square feet of outdoor balcony space

• 360-degree panoramic views of Reston, Tysons, and the Appalachian foothills

• A final price that nearly doubles the previous Virginia…

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Ranking Every Top Place to Live in Northern Virginia: A Full Team Driving Tour with Chris Colgan

Speakers: Chris Colgan, Peter, Vince, Mal • Date: December 22, 2025

Overview

I grabbed three agents from my team and we drove from the far western suburbs all the way to Old Town Alexandria, ranking every major area in Northern Virginia along the way. We've got Peter, who grew up in Haymarket and now lives in Falls Church. Vince, who grew up in the area and just moved to Strasburg. And Mal, who's newer to NoVA and brings an outsider's perspective. We hit Gainesville, Haymarket, Loudoun County, Leesburg, Ashburn, One Loudoun, Reston, Falls Church, Alexandria, and Arlington, giving honest grades and calling out what nobody else will tell you about each area. (0:00)

Key Takeaways

• Gainesville: B to C+ range. Great variety and…

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Northern Virginia’s Best Urban Legends

I’m sure you’re wondering what makes an urban legend good. Well, it’s definitely not historical accuracy or true fact. What makes the greatest urban legends is the amount of extremity. Northern Virginia’s local myths are terrific because they’re out-there; they’re hilariously inventive and so obviously wrong. But, at the end of the day, these folklore tidbits really show just how creative (and sometimes dark) Northern Virginians can be. All in all, folklore like this is a testament to how much us silly humans want to resolve any local unknowns.  

Bunny Man Bridge 

"Bunny Man Hatchet" photo provided by KeeferC under Creative Commons Attribution-Share alike 4.0 international license

The legend of Bunny Man Bridge is the most famous of…

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Reston Crossing Revived: New Developer Proposes 3.1 Million Square Feet of Mixed-Use at Reston Town Center Metro

The parcel of land flanking the Reston Town Center Metro station's kiss-and-ride lot has been stuck in a bureaucratic holding pattern since 2019. Fairfax County approved a redevelopment plan. The developer changed. The market shifted. Nothing ever got built. That changes now — at least on paper, and with considerably more ambition than before.

Bethesda-based Bernstein Management Corporation has submitted a rezoning application proposing to transform the Reston Crossing office campus into a mixed-use neighborhood totaling more than 3.1 million square feet of development. The filing, submitted March 5, 2025, covers approximately 23.8 acres along Edmund Halley Drive and envisions seven development blocks combining Class A office space, nearly 1,500…

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Best Neighborhoods in Northern Virginia for Tech Workers (2026 Relocation Guide)

I've helped hundreds of tech professionals relocate to Northern Virginia, and I'll tell you the same thing I tell every single one of them: this region is not one big suburb. It's five completely different real estate markets with five completely different commute realities — and picking the wrong one could cost you 10 hours a week in traffic and thousands of dollars a year in unnecessary rent.

If you're moving here for Amazon HQ2, Booz Allen Hamilton, a federal contractor role, or one of the thousands of tech companies in Fairfax County, this guide is for you. I'm breaking down the best neighborhoods in Northern Virginia for tech workers in 2025 — what you'll pay, what the commute looks like, and who each area is actually the right fit for.

I'm…

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Best Schools in Northern Virginia: Where to Live for Top-Rated Education (2026 Guide)

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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5 New NoVA Restaurants, Bars & Hidden Gems Opening in 2026 You Need to Try

Northern Virginia is leveling up again. As a local real estate expert, I see firsthand how new dining and retail spots drive neighborhood value and change the vibe of our communities. We are moving way past cookie-cutter chains and seeing incredible, high-concept experiences open right in our backyards.

From a hidden 1920s speakeasy in Manassas to a major retail comeback in Alexandria, here is your insider scoop on the five most exciting openings you need to check out in NoVA right now—and where you can live nearby.

1. Repeal Speakeasy – Manassas

Neighborhood: NOVA Live / Tempo by Hilton Address: 9849 Discovery Blvd, Manassas, VA

Manassas nightlife just got a major upgrade. Hidden inside the new Tempo by Hilton on the NOVA Live campus,…

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Relocating to Northern Virginia for Tech or AI? Live Here — Not There

Relocating to Northern Virginia for Tech or AI? Live Here — Not There

You could live walking distance from Amazon HQ2 for less than what people are paying in Clarendon.

Or you could quietly waste $30,000 a year by choosing the wrong ZIP code.

Every week, I help tech professionals relocate to Northern Virginia — software engineers, AI researchers, cybersecurity specialists, defense contractors, and senior managers. And there's a clear pattern I see over and over again:

People don't regret their apartment. They regret their location.

Northern Virginia is one of the most powerful tech regions in the country, but it's also one of the easiest places to misread. This guide breaks down why NoVA is exploding for tech and AI, how the geography…

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