{"id":13847,"date":"2020-01-28T12:29:09","date_gmt":"2020-01-28T20:29:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=13847"},"modified":"2026-04-06T23:45:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T06:45:52","slug":"buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Buy a House in Alexandria, Virginia \u2014 The Best-Kept Secret in Washington, D.C."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Washington D.C., is one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/guide-to-competing-hot-housing-market\/\">hottest housing markets<\/a> in the U.S., spurred by the construction of Amazon\u2019s second headquarters in nearby Crystal City, Virginia.<\/p>\n<p>What many newcomers don\u2019t realize is that Washington, D.C., extends into Alexandria and portions of Maryland. Both these areas were added to the Washington, D.C., metro area soon after the American Civil War.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll love Alexandria, which boasts great housing options, sits close to the federal district, and boasts convenient <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/public-transportation-property-values\/\">mass transportation options<\/a>. The problem? Available homes are scarce.<\/p>\n<p>The great news is that we spoke to Alexandria real estate experts, scoured all the prime neighborhoods, and did the math to find you the best recommendations for budget and lifestyle.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you want an ultra-modern condominium, historic row house or estate, mid-century starter home, or almost any other housing type available, you\u2019ll have to team up with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-how-to-pick-a-real-estate-agent\/\">great real estate agent<\/a> to get the home you want. The hunt will be worth it, though.<\/p>\n<p>Read on to find out how to get the house you want in the best neighborhood for you.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_13850\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13850\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-1.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"666\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-1-666x381.png\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"Alexandria Virginia, where you can buy a house.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-1-666x381.png 666w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-1-64x37.png 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-1-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-1-192x110.png 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-1-432x247.png 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-1-500x286.png 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-1.png 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-13850\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Kevin Rajaram \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Why Alexandria offers the best of the Washington, D.C., metro area<\/h2>\n<p>This is a great time to live in the Washington, D.C., metro area.<\/p>\n<p>The cultural economy of Washington, D.C., supports $30 billion in annual spending, generates $1.1 billion in tax revenue, and employs 150,000 workers, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dcculturalplan.org\/\">according to a Cultural Plan<\/a> initiated in 2015 and released by the D.C., government. Just a few of the many cultural jewels include the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bestplaces.net\/city\/district_of_columbia\/washington\">Smithsonian museum complex<\/a>, the National Mall, historical icons such as Ford\u2019s Theatre, and an array of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zagat.com\/l\/top-food-in-washington-d.c\">Zagat-rated<\/a> restaurants.<\/p>\n<p>Job opportunities continue to grow as evidenced by the unemployment rate. In Washington, D.C., that rate is 5.3%, down from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/opub\/ted\/2012\/ted_20120206.htm?view_full\">close to 10% in 2012<\/a>. In Alexandria City, the rate is 1.8%, down from 4.2% in 2012. Fairfax County, including part of Alexandria, is 2.0%, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/regions\/mid-atlantic\/news-release\/unemployment_washingtondc.htm\">Bureau of Labor Statistics.<\/a> In 2012, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fairfaxcounty.gov\/budget\/sites\/budget\/files\/assets\/indicators\/2012\/04.pdf\">it hovered near 4.0%<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>As an international destination, the Washington, D.C., metro area offers world-class restaurants, three international airports and convenient mass transportation. There are also <a href=\"https:\/\/washington.org\/dc-information\/washington-dc-facts\">250,000 acres of parkland<\/a> in the Washington, D.C., metro area.<\/p>\n<h2>Alexandria homes for every budget<\/h2>\n<p>The Washington, D.C., metro area ranks as the <a href=\"https:\/\/wtop.com\/business-finance\/2019\/08\/washington-housing-is-expensive-but-not-that-expensive\/\">13th most-expensive housing market<\/a> in the U.S., based on single-family home sales in the second quarter of 2019.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe bull\u2019s-eye is D.C. and then the first ring outside the center is Alexandria,\u201d explains <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/agents\/mary-beth-eisenhard-md-87537\">Mary Beth Eisenhard<\/a>, a top agent in Northern Virginia with 26 years\u2019 experience, ticking off area housing and recreational choices.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019ve got First Night (New Year\u2019s celebration), walking tours in historic Old Town, the waterfront where you can take a boat to The Washington Nationals\u2019 park. You can be in a cute home from the 1930s or a historic row house\u2026 or a new home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Whether you choose a standard wood-constructed home, brick home, or high-rise, you\u2019ll want to be sure you have air conditioning, central if possible. The Washington, D.C., area has a humid, sub-tropical climate with average annual humidity at 64% and summer days topping 100 degrees. Air conditioning is a must.<\/p>\n<p>Many homes have electric heat, though there are some with gas lines. Fireplaces are not unusual in local condos, homes, and townhouses.<\/p>\n<h3><b>Price sensitivities in Alexandria<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>In August 2019, the median home price in the D.C., metro area <a href=\"https:\/\/wtop.com\/business-finance\/2019\/08\/washington-housing-is-expensive-but-not-that-expensive\">was $465,000, up 3%<\/a> from the second quarter of 2018. Compared to the second quarter of 2016, that is an increase of almost $75,000 over three years.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe caveat is that every buyer needs to be price-sensitive first,\u201d says Eisenhard. \u201cYou live in the payment, not in the price. Because I want you as the buyer to be happy with the payment six months from now, six years from now, 10 years from now \u2014 I still want you to love that house, and I don&#8217;t want you to be angry at that payment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When Eisenhard first meets with a buyer, she asks if they\u2019ve <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/home-loans\">spoken to a lender,<\/a> have a price point in mind, and what amenities they want. A yard, a garage, and top-rated schools are among the considerations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBuying a home today is a matter of elimination, not selection,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>In October 2019, the median home price in Alexandria <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nvar.com\/realtors\/news\/market-statistics\/market-statistics-october-20192\">was $602,500, up 11.57%<\/a> from the previous year. That\u2019s almost double the average U.S. home price in 2019, which hovered <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/construction\/nrs\/pdf\/uspricemon.pdf\">around $300,000<\/a>. In Fairfax County, which includes parts of Virginia, the median home price was $535,000, up 12.63% for the same period.<\/p>\n<p>Rental prices are also hefty. In Alexandria, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nvar.com\/docs\/default-source\/quarterly-rental-stats\/nvar-rental-statistics-for-3rd-quarter-2019.pdf?sfvrsn=bcabb90d_2\">they range from just over $1,900 a month for a high-rise apartment to almost $3,300 per month for a detached home<\/a> as of September 2019.<\/p>\n<p>Fairfax County rents range from $1,700 for a garden apartment in a building between one and four floors. Rent for a detached home averages almost $3,300 a month.<\/p>\n<p>The average rent in the U.S. for a one-bedroom apartment was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/apartment-guide-annual-rent-report\/\">$1,140 in 2018<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_13851\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13851\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-2.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"666\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-2-666x381.png\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"Washington D.C., where you can buy a house.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-2-666x381.png 666w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-2-64x37.png 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-2-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-2-192x110.png 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-2-432x247.png 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-2-500x286.png 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-2.png 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-13851\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Jad Limcaco \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><b>Property taxes in Alexandria<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Housing prices are higher in the Washington, D.C., metro area than most other places in the U.S., but property taxes are a bit lower.<\/p>\n<p>The average cost of property taxes in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/money\/2019\/05\/20\/property-taxes-state-which-has-highest-and-lowest\/3697929002\/\">U.S. are 1.2%<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nvar.com\/realtors\/issues\/protect-your-rights\/real-estate-property-tax-rates\">compared to 1.130%<\/a> in the city of Alexandria and 1.150% in Fairfax County, which includes parts of Virginia.<\/p>\n<h2><b>The selection of homes in Alexandria<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>There are an array of housing options in Alexandria \u2014 but that doesn\u2019t mean they are all available at all times.<\/p>\n<p>Housing is in such high demand in Alexandria that it\u2019s not uncommon for sellers to get <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/how-to-handle-a-bidding-war-on-house\/\">multiple bids<\/a> above the asking price within 12 hours of listing, says Eisenhard. Some buyers are so enthusiastic, they want to forego <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-types-of-home-inspections\/\">a home inspection<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Eisenhard is firm that no matter how much you love a home, you shouldn\u2019t skip that inspection.<\/p>\n<p>Home inspector <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yelp.com\/biz\/donofrio-and-associates-ashburn-4\">Lenny Pinnix<\/a>, Donofrio &amp; Associates in Ashburn, Virginia, grew up in the real estate business in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan areas. His mother was an architect, and his dad was involved in renovations with projects ranging from historic homes in Georgia to the Verizon Center in downtown D.C.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI cringe a little bit, to be honest,\u201d said Pinnix when asked about those who skip home inspections. \u201cI have bought houses before, too, and knowing what I do, I can\u2019t imagine why anyone would not have an inspection.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><b>Alexandria-specific inspection musts<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Prospective buyers in Alexandria should ensure that their inspector covers what Pinnix calls \u201cThe Big 5\u201d \u2014 major mechanical systems, the home\u2019s foundation, appliances, the roof, and the structure as a whole.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome of the homes in Alexandria have specific areas that should be checked,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>The foundation, overall structure, and electrical wiring are top concerns in everything from historic to mid-century homes.<\/p>\n<p>The homes in Del Ray are built on clay, so they are more likely to have water damage to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/selling-a-house-with-foundation-issues\/\">foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDue to Virginia\u2019s humid climate, all homes should be checked for water damage,\u201d he notes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHonestly, the best thing you can do is ask questions,\u201d says Pinnix, who urges buyers to walk through the home with the inspector. \u201cAnd remember: we can\u2019t talk about code issues.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For that reason, buyers should talk to their agents about hiring an electrician, plumber, general contractor, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-hire-a-handyman\/\">or other professional<\/a> for specific concerns.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_13854\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13854\" style=\"width: 700px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-4.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"666\" height=\"381\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-4-666x381.png\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"The subway in Alexandria, where you can buy a house near Washington D.C.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-4-666x381.png 666w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-4-64x37.png 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-4-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-4-192x110.png 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-4-432x247.png 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-4-500x286.png 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-4.png 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-13854\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Julian Lozano \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><b>Which Alexandria neighborhoods are right for you?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>There are two parts of Alexandria. One is Alexandria City, which is governed by the city but not affiliated with a county, while the other Alexandria is located in and governed by Fairfax County. Both parts of Alexandria offer ready access to mass transportation, plus shopping and cultural options.<\/p>\n<p>Many families, including military families, choose to live in the Fairfax County part of Alexandria. Fairfax County schools are some of the best in the nation. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/education\/best-high-schools\/virginia\"><i>U.S. News &amp; World Report<\/i><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/education\/best-high-schools\/virginia\">ranked Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Fairfax County, the top high school in the state<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Those without school-age kids or many families choose to settle in a part of Alexandria that has a vibe that matches their own. Alexandria\u2019s housing options range from historic to new builds to mid-century modern structures.<\/p>\n<p>The good news for those in Alexandria is that nature trails, public transportation, shopping, and culture are easily accessible from any point. The downside is that prices trend much higher than the national home price average of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.census.gov\/construction\/nrs\/pdf\/uspricemon.pdf\">about $363,000<\/a> as of September 2019.<\/p>\n<h3><b>5 areas of Alexandria worth exploring\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<h4><b>Old Town<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>There are several reasons median home <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niche.com\/places-to-live\/n\/old-town-alexandria-va\/\">prices in Old Town were $855,335 in late 2019<\/a><b>, <\/b>which is about 87% more expensive than the U.S. average as of September 2019. Cobblestone streets, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/tips-for-selling-a-historical-home\/\">historic townhomes<\/a>, and landmarks such as Gadsby\u2019s Tavern \u2014 where George Washington slept \u2014 are just some of the highlights. Old Town is full of indie boutiques, eateries by the Potomac River, yoga studios, and plenty of walking space.<\/p>\n<h4><b>Potomac Yard<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>Those that want to be closer to the Pentagon, downtown Washington, D.C., and Arlington County, home of the new Amazon headquarters, often choose Potomac Yard. The area has plenty of restaurants and shopping. Unlike Old Town, though, Potomac Yard\u2019s retail is more big-box than boutique. Still, Old Town is an easy drive away. With home prices <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niche.com\/places-to-live\/n\/potomac-yard-potomac-greens-alexandria-va\/\">averaging $596,005<\/a> in late 2019 \u2013 almost $300,000 less than those in Old Town \u2013 it\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n<h4><b>Del Ray<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>If you long for small-town friendliness with intimate boutiques, bicycle cooperatives, outdoor cafes, and exercise studios, Del Ray may be for you. Del Ray, like the other sections of Alexandria, is an easy drive to the Pentagon, downtown D.C., and other suburbs. Median home prices are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niche.com\/places-to-live\/z\/22301\/\">about $746,400<\/a> as of late 2019.<\/p>\n<h4><b>Landmark\/Van Dorn<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>This area is undergoing a renaissance that is bringing indie coffee shops, restaurants, and small boutiques. The area straddles the City of Alexandria and Fairfax County. Townhouses and condos are plentiful, with many of them new builds. One major benefit is that this area is close to two Metro stations. With median <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niche.com\/places-to-live\/n\/landmark-alexandria-va\/\">home prices of $263,162<\/a> in late 2019, this is the place for bargains.<b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<h4><b>Kingstowne<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>This planned community built on South Van Dorn Street and Kingstowne Boulevard is a community with subdivisions that include apartments, condominiums, single-family homes, and townhouses with median <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niche.com\/places-to-live\/kingstowne-fairfax-va\/\">prices of $459,100<\/a> as of late 2019. Many families choose it for the resident-only benefits, including swimming pools, clubhouses, exercise centers, and more. Plus, it\u2019s close to major retailers, medical offices, and commercial space.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_13849\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13849\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va.png\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"775\" height=\"413\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-775x413.png\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"Washington D.C. where you can buy a house.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-775x413.png 775w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-768x410.png 768w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-64x34.png 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-128x68.png 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-192x102.png 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-432x230.png 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-500x267.png 500w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-800x427.png 800w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va-666x355.png 666w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-alexandria-va.png 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 775px) 100vw, 775px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-13849\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source: (Maria Oswalt \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>When to buy a house in Alexandria<\/h2>\n<p>The Washington, D.C., area is very hot and humid in the summer. If you\u2019re looking for a bargain, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/best-time-to-sell-house\/alexandria-va\">consider shopping in August<\/a>. That\u2019s one of the slowest months for real estate sales in the area.<\/p>\n<p>November and January are two other great months to perhaps get a great deal from a motivated seller.<\/p>\n<h3><b><\/b><b>Find a top buyer\u2019s agent in Alexandria, Virginia<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Clearly, homebuyers in Alexandria, Virginia, like all of the Washington, D.C., metro area, have some major choices to make.<\/p>\n<p>Do you want a condo, townhome, or detached home? Are you interested in a new build, mid-century house, historic home, or other era of home?<\/p>\n<p>Do you want to walk to boutiques or do you prefer to have big-box stores nearby?<\/p>\n<p>Are schools important to you?<\/p>\n<p>How long do you want to commute to work? Do you prefer to walk, drive, or use mass transit?<\/p>\n<p>If you don\u2019t have the answers to all of these questions, you\u2019re not alone. It\u2019s easy to become overwhelmed by the array of options available in the Washington, D.C., metro area.<\/p>\n<p>When you\u2019re buying a house, you want to make sure you choose exactly what you want. The booming real estate market in the Washington, D.C., metro area drives some buyers to blunders. The best way to avoid such an expensive mistake is to engage a top agent who knows the Washington, D.C., Metro area.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, a top buyer\u2019s agent in Alexandria can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/alexandria-va\/top-real-estate-agents\">save you an average of $53,926 on a home<\/a> \u2014 that\u2019s a lot of cultural activities you could be enjoying instead of paying extra on your mortgage! Those agents can steer you to the areas and choices that are right for you.<\/p>\n<p><em>Header Image Source: (Andrei Medvedev\/ Shutterstock)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, D.C., metro-area homebuyers find jobs, culture, and diverse neighborhoods when they buy a house in Alexandria, Virginia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":187,"featured_media":13881,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[192,638,641],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-for-buyers","category-house-hunting","category-find-home"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast SEO v27.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Buy a House in Alexandria (The Best-Kept Secret in D.C.)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Washington, D.C., metro-area homebuyers find jobs, culture, and diverse neighborhoods when they buy a house in Alexandria, Virginia.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Buy a House in Alexandria, Virginia \u2014 The Best-Kept Secret in Washington, D.C.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Washington, D.C., metro-area homebuyers find jobs, culture, and diverse neighborhoods when they buy a house in Alexandria, Virginia.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"HomeLight Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gohomelight\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-01-28T20:29:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-07T06:45:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-in-alexandria-va.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"546\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Nancy Dunham\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@gohomelight\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@gohomelight\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Nancy Dunham\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Buy a House in Alexandria (The Best-Kept Secret in D.C.)","description":"Washington, D.C., metro-area homebuyers find jobs, culture, and diverse neighborhoods when they buy a house in Alexandria, Virginia.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Buy a House in Alexandria, Virginia \u2014 The Best-Kept Secret in Washington, D.C.","og_description":"Washington, D.C., metro-area homebuyers find jobs, culture, and diverse neighborhoods when they buy a house in Alexandria, Virginia.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/","og_site_name":"HomeLight Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gohomelight\/","article_published_time":"2020-01-28T20:29:09+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-07T06:45:52+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-in-alexandria-va.png","width":1024,"height":546,"type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Nancy Dunham","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@gohomelight","twitter_site":"@gohomelight","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Nancy Dunham","Est. reading time":"11 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["Article","BlogPosting"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/"},"author":{"name":"Nancy Dunham","@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/125ada929577d2fac0d797b02a06039e"},"headline":"How to Buy a House in Alexandria, Virginia \u2014 The Best-Kept Secret in Washington, D.C.","datePublished":"2020-01-28T20:29:09+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-07T06:45:52+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/"},"wordCount":2083,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-in-alexandria-va.png","articleSection":["Buyers","House Hunting","What's Out There?"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/","url":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/","name":"How to Buy a House in Alexandria (The Best-Kept Secret in D.C.)","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-in-alexandria-va.png","datePublished":"2020-01-28T20:29:09+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-07T06:45:52+00:00","description":"Washington, D.C., metro-area homebuyers find jobs, culture, and diverse neighborhoods when they buy a house in Alexandria, Virginia.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-in-alexandria-va.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/buy-house-in-alexandria-va.png","width":1500,"height":800,"caption":"Source: (Andrei Medvedev\/ Shutterstock)"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-buy-house-alexandria-va\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to Buy a House in Alexandria, Virginia \u2014 The Best-Kept Secret in Washington, D.C."}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/","name":"HomeLight Blog","description":"Real Estate Advice from America&#039;s Top Agents","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"HomeLight","url":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/logo-hr-color.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/logo-hr-color.png","width":1348,"height":262,"caption":"HomeLight"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gohomelight\/","https:\/\/x.com\/gohomelight","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/homelight\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCimugR9XF17-OZ7B9fNnxWw","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/HomeLight"],"description":"Everything you need to know to sell your house faster and for more money. Articles, guides, and advice from top agents all over the U.S.","email":"support@homelight.com","telephone":"(888) 688-0350","legalName":"HomeLight","foundingDate":"2012-01-01","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"201","maxValue":"500"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/125ada929577d2fac0d797b02a06039e","name":"Nancy Dunham","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4596efe74144b4c93599f683588b03382d8652f932f689ac6542fde49c01cab7?s=96&d=blank&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/4596efe74144b4c93599f683588b03382d8652f932f689ac6542fde49c01cab7?s=96&d=blank&r=g","caption":"Nancy Dunham"},"description":"Nancy Dunham is a journalist whose work appears in The New York Times, Washington Post, US News &amp; World Report, and other newspapers, magazines, and news sites. She was a real estate editor at a Baltimore newspaper and her stories on real estate can be found in USA Today, Costco Connections, MoneyTalksNews, MSN, and other publications.","url":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/author\/nancy-dunham\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13847","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/187"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13847"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13847\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}