Should You List High in Alexandria—or Price for the First Weekend?

Should You List High in Alexandria—or Price for the First Weekend?

By Chris Colgan

If you are selling in Alexandria City, I would not use the city’s 9.1% rise in median sold price as permission to pick an aggressive list price. In August 2026, active listings reached 390 compared with 318 a year earlier, new pendings fell 22.4%, the average sold listing took 26 days, and closed sellers received 97.9% of original list price on average. Those are citywide, all-property-type signals—not a value estimate for your home.

The stronger pricing question is narrower: What are buyers choosing instead of your property, and what do the closest recent closed sales support? I would price from those answers, then agree in advance on what the first seven days of…

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How Much Money Do You Need to Buy a House in Northern Virginia?

How Much Cash Do You Really Need to Buy a Home in Northern Virginia?

By Chris Colgan | Chris Colgan Team | Real Broker, LLC

You do not necessarily need a 20% down payment to buy a home in Northern Virginia. Some eligible buyers can use conventional financing with 3% d

Could a seller credit help your purchase?

Talk with Chris before you write an offer. We can review the home, competing offers and your lender’s credit limits to decide whether asking for closing-cost help fits the deal.

When VA and USDA financing may help

Eligible VA buyers may be able to purchase without a down payment, subject to entitlement, lender requirements and the appraised value. Closing expenses can still apply, and a funding fee may apply unless the buyer is…

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10 Things You Need to Know Before Moving to Leesburg, Virginia

Leesburg, Virginia Relocation Guidee

10 Things You Need to Know Before Moving to Leesburg, Virginia

Leesburg has a historic downtown, highly regarded schools, wineries, newer communities, and some of the most beautiful countryside in Northern Virginia.

But it does not have its own Metro station. Homes inside the town carry both county and town real estate taxes. And if you commute to Washington, DC, every day, traffic can completely change how you feel about living here.

I’m not saying that to scare you away. Leesburg is one of my favorite places in Northern Virginia, and it can be an incredible place to live. But it isn’t right for everybody.

I’m Chris Colgan. I was born and raised in Northern Virginia, and after more than 20 years in…

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NOVA Buyers Pulled Back in August—But Home Prices Still Haven’t Crashed The Northern Virginia housing market

Northern Virginia Market Update

Northern Virginia Buyers Pulled Back in August—But Home Prices Still Haven’t Crashed

The Northern Virginia housing market slowed down significantly in August 2026.

Buyers scheduled fewer showings. Fewer homes went under contract. More listings remained available. In parts of Virginia, inventory increased by more than 20% compared with last year.

But here is where the market gets confusing:

Home prices still have not crashed.

The median sales price increased across the overall Washington, D.C. metro area and North Central Virginia, even as buyer activity declined.

After more than 20 years of selling real estate in Northern Virginia, my honest assessment is that we are moving into a market where buyers…

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Do You Have to Use the Builder’s Lender? What Northern Virginia New Construction Buyers Should Know

Do You Have to Use the Builder’s Lender? What Northern Virginia New Construction Buyers Should Know

By The Chris Colgan Team | Real Broker, LLC

Research checked Sep 7, 2026

No—you generally do not have to use the builder’s preferred lender. But in my experience helping Northern Virginia buyers, you often want to consider it seriously: I have seen outside lenders beat the interest rate, but I have not personally seen one beat the builder’s complete incentive package.

That is my experience, not a guarantee about your loan. Your decision should account for the incentives you actually qualify for, the loan’s cost over time, and whether the financing fits your situation.

The practical distinction is this: you can…

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Should You Buy a Home in Northern Virginia Now—or Wait for Prices and Rates to Drop?

Should You Buy a Home in Northern Virginia Now—or Wait for Prices and Rates to Drop?

By Chris Colgan | Chris Colgan Team

Research checked: Sep 7, 2026

If you can comfortably afford the home at today’s rate, have stable income, and expect to stay for at least five years, buying now can make sense. If you may move in two or three years, your job is uncertain, or the payment only works if you refinance, I would lean toward renting or waiting.

You do not need to predict the bottom of the market to make a sensible purchase. You do need a plan that works if prices stall and rates stay elevated.

Planning a move to Northern Virginia?

If you’re still deciding where to live, my free Northern Virginia Relocation Guide can help you…

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Best Neighborhoods in Northern Virginia: I Ranked 5 Popular NoVA Areas for 2026

Northern Virginia Neighborhood Guide

Best Neighborhoods in Northern Virginia: I Ranked 5 Popular NoVA Areas for 2026

If you're trying to figure out the best neighborhoods in Northern Virginia, here's the problem with most lists you'll find online:

They tell you everything is great.

Arlington is great.

Loudoun County is great.

Fairfax County is great.

Prince William County is great.

That doesn't really help you decide where you should actually live.

I've lived in Northern Virginia my entire life and have spent more than two decades selling homes throughout the area. I've watched communities change, highways expand, Metro stations open, builders move farther west, and entire neighborhoods become dramatically more expensive.

…

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How to Tell If a Northern Virginia Home Is Overpriced

How to Tell If a Northern Virginia Home Is Overpriced

Some homes for sale in Northern Virginia are priced $50,000, $70,000, or even $100,000 above what the recent sales support. The problem is that an overpriced house can still look incredible. Buyers walk in, fall for the renovated kitchen, decide the monthly payment works, and forget to ask the question that matters most: Is this home actually worth the asking price?

The good news is that you can identify many pricing problems before you ever step through the front door. This five-minute check uses the same basic signals I review for clients across Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford, Fauquier, and the rest of Northern Virginia.

I’m Chris Colgan. I was born and raised in Northern…

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Is Late September the Best Time to Buy a Home in the DMV? New Data Says Washington, D.C. Buyers Could Have an Advantage

DMV Homebuyer Strategy

Is Late September the Best Time to Buy a Home in the DMV? New Data Says Washington, D.C. Buyers Could Have an Advantage

If you’ve been waiting for a better opportunity to buy a home in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., or the broader DMV, the next several weeks could be worth watching closely.

A new analysis from Redfin and Home Economics found that late September is historically the “sweet spot” for homebuyers looking to score a deal in the Washington, D.C. metro area. The research found that discounts from original asking prices tend to increase in late summer and early fall as sellers who listed earlier in the year become more willing to reduce prices or negotiate.

And based on what we are already seeing across…

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Living in Lenah Mill, Aldie VA: The Ultimate Neighborhood Guide

Loudoun County Neighborhood Guide

Living in Lenah Mill, Aldie VA: The Ultimate Neighborhood Guide

If you're thinking about moving to Lenah Mill in Aldie, Virginia, this guide will give you a much better idea of what the neighborhood is actually like — not just what you see in a home listing.

Lenah Mill is a master-planned luxury single-family-home community in Aldie, Virginia 20105, in Loudoun County. The community has access from both Route 50 and Braddock Road and is known for newer detached homes, Toll Brothers construction, extensive amenities, ponds, trails, a clubhouse, pool and recreation areas.

According to the Lenah Mill Community Association, the neighborhood is planned for approximately 900 luxury homes.

I've spent more than…

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