Living in Alexandria, Virginia - Real Estate Tour with Chris Colgan

By Chris Colgan, The Colgan Team at Real Broker | Updated April 2026

Overview

If you're thinking about buying a home or moving to Alexandria, Virginia, this is the full breakdown. After 22 years selling Northern Virginia real estate, I'll walk you through the pros, the cons, and what's actually happening in this market right now. (0:00)

Key Takeaways

• Location is Alexandria's biggest pro: minutes to D.C., the Pentagon, Reagan National, and Amazon HQ2 in adjacent Arlington. The location alone justifies a lot of the premium.
• Median home price hit $695,000 in February 2026, with homes selling at 98.4% of list price in 30 days. Inventory has loosened slightly but the market is still tight on well-priced properties.
• …

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Northern Virginia's Huge New Development: Potomac Shores

By Chris Colgan, The Colgan Team at Real Broker | Updated April 2026

Overview

Right next to Woodbridge, there's a 2,000-acre community sitting on the Potomac River. Most people driving down Route 1 have no idea it even exists, but it has already sold over 2,500 homes, and values are going up. (0:00) Stanley Martin reached out to us to come out here and show two brand new sections they're building right now. Two different price points, two different ownership structures. After 22 years of selling Northern Virginia real estate, I'll tell you straight: I haven't seen an opportunity like this in a long time. (0:34)

Key Takeaways

• Nearly 2,000 acres on the Potomac River, about 30 miles from Washington D.C. The full master plan…

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I've Lived in Northern Virginia My Whole Life: My Honest Thoughts

By Chris Colgan, The Colgan Team at Real Broker | Published April 2026

Overview

I was born and raised in Northern Virginia. My grandfather was a state senator here for 40 years. My family has been doing business in Prince William County for three generations. After 22 years selling real estate in this market, I've watched every cycle this region can throw at you, including the 2008 collapse, the post-COVID surge, and the federal workforce shake-up of 2025. This is my honest breakdown of living in Northern Virginia: what makes it special, what's broken, and what you actually need to know before you move here.

Key Takeaways

• Northern Virginia drives a huge portion of the state's economy, with Loudoun County ranking as the…

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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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Baby Elephant Debuts at National Zoo: What to Know Before You Go

The Smithsonian National Zoo just unveiled its newest star — Linh Mai, a baby elephant born February 2. Her public debut on April 22 (Earth Day) is already drawing major crowds and giving locals a fresh reason to head into D.C. this spring.

The big picture

• Linh Mai spent her first weeks off-exhibit bonding with her herd and caretakers.
• The Elephant Community Center remained closed during that time.
• As of April 22, the full exhibit is open again — and she’s now viewable alongside six other elephants.

What’s happening: This is her first time being publicly visible, making it a high-demand attraction immediately out of the gate.

What you’ll see

• The zoo’s Elephant Trails…

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Virginia’s Largest Indoor Waterpark Is Opening November 13 — Here’s What You Need to Know

Northern Virginia is about to get something it’s never had before.

A true, year-round, indoor waterpark resort on a massive scale.

The highly anticipated Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Spotsylvania is officially set to open November 13, 2026 — and it’s going to completely change how families in the DMV think about weekend trips, staycations, and even conferences.

This isn’t just a waterpark.
This is a $900 million mega-resort designed to rival destinations you’d normally have to fly to.

If you’ve never heard of Kalahari, think of it as a hybrid between a luxury resort, indoor theme park, and convention destination.

The Spotsylvania location will be one of the largest indoor waterparks in the entire United States.

Here’s what’s coming:

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7 Things You Need to Know About the Northern Virginia Housing Market Right Now

Spring 2026 is not a simple market. It's not the frenzy of 2021, it's not the slowdown some people predicted, and it's definitely not the same story in every county. After 22 years working real estate across Northern Virginia — from Haymarket to Fredericksburg, Marshall to Arlington — I've learned to read past the regional headlines and look at what's actually happening on the ground.

Here's what the March 2026 Bright MLS data is telling me, and what it means for you.

1. Buyers Came Back in March — But Rates Are Fighting Back

The activity numbers for March were genuinely encouraging. New pending sales across the Washington D.C. metro hit 5,213 — up 5.3% from a year ago and a 43.9% jump from February. Right here in the North Central Virginia…

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A $350 Million Sports Complex Wants to Compete With Buc-ee's for a Prime Stafford County Site

A Stafford County entrepreneur has unveiled plans for a massive sports and entertainment destination — but the land he wants is already spoken for, at least on paper.

Farshid Hakimya, a Stafford resident and president and CEO of The Colosseum Sports Resort, is pushing to build a state-of-the-art sports complex on the same site where Stafford County's planning commission voted on March 25 to advance a new Buc-ee's travel center. The county's Board of Supervisors subsequently rezoned the land and approved a conditional-use permit for Buc-ee's — but Hakimya isn't backing down yet.

This is a story worth watching closely if you care about what Northern Virginia's exurban corridor looks like five years from now.

What they're proposing:

The…

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A Sphere Is Coming to the DMV — And 2027 Could Change Everything

Three months ago, this idea didn’t exist.

Now, one of the most ambitious entertainment projects in the region is being fast-tracked with a clear target: break ground in 2027.

According to the Washington Business Journal, Prince George’s County is pushing forward plans for a 6,000-seat immersive Sphere venue just north of MGM National Harbor—and they’re moving unusually fast to make it happen.

This isn’t just another development.
This is the kind of project that reshapes a region.

What’s Actually Being Built

If you’ve seen the original Sphere in Las Vegas, you already understand the vision.

Massive curved LED walls.
Fully immersive audio.
A venue designed not just for concerts—but for experiences.

The DMV version would be smaller—but…

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Northern Virginia’s Best Spots To See Spring Changes

As the season changes in Northern Virginia, native plants come into bloom, and animals return from their winter hiatus. Witnessing this change, and feeling awe at Mother Nature in turn, is a one-of-a-kind human experience. If you’re the kind of local who enjoys seeing the spring flower, as it’s called, Northern Virginia has a plethora of places to do just that.

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Riverbend Park

Jez Timms/Unsplash

Riverbend Park is an iconic location for spring bluebells. The bluebells come in April and stick around until spring comes to an end. They pop along the river’s edges and carpet the park’s floor in a lovely blue hue. It’s a peaceful experience, wandering down Potomac Heritage Trail, smelling the sweet perfume of these little cool colored flowers.

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