Living in Northern Virginia offers so many benefits, from good jobs to excellent schools to a plentiful selection of homes. Whether you want to live a few metro stops away from D.C. or in a more distant suburb, you’re sure to find a NoVA home that meets all of your requirements. Are you considering buying a house soon? These variables can affect the price.

Neighborhood

You’ll pay more for the convenience of living in NoVA. In fact, a 2019 Kiplinger article ranked Arlington the 15^th most expensive city in the U.S. Local home prices in the area vary depending on proximity to the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. Zillow lists these median listing prices for homes currently for sale in our area:

Alexandria:         $569,450

Arlington:            $725,000

Annandale:        $575,000

Burke:                  $507,000

Fairfax:                $579,400

Falls Church:       $614,950

Great Falls:          $1,399,900

Herndon:             $551,340

McLean:              $1,495,000

Oakton:               $824,500

Reston:                $478,450

Sterling:               $438,900

Vienna:               $930,000

Condition

The condition of your house can increase or decrease the price of a home by thousands of dollars. If you like the neighborhood, the commute and the lot, buying a home that needs a little work can make sense. Expanding and modernizing the kitchen or master bedroom suite, or turning an unused corner of basement into the ultimate entertainment area gives you the space you need and increases the value of your home.

Floor Plan

Homes that offer large rooms and well-designed floor plans are usually a little more expensive than those that feature a warren of tiny rooms or a complicated path from the front door to the kitchen.

Fortunately, an inconvenient floor plan doesn’t have to stop you from buying a house that has potential.

Opening up your floor plan (or adding walls if you don’t like open floor plans) can completely transform a house that’s perfect except for a few layout issues. Remodeling doesn’t have to alter the character of your home. Your remodeler can offer creative suggestions that will help your home retain its charm, yet offer the convenience and features you want.  

School District

The school district is a key driver in home costs. You’ll pay more for a home in a prime district, but you’ll benefit from the increased home value and higher resale value when you buy in a desirable school district.

In general, NoVa schools are highly rated and score well in various school district quality ratings. Arlington, Falls Church, Loudoun and Fairfax public schools are among the 10 best in the state, according to Niche.com’s 2020 Best Schools ranking. Eight of the 10 high schools included in U.S. News & World Report’s listing of the state’s best public high schools are in Northern Virginia. The higher the district’s store, the more you’ll pay for your home.

Don’t let a few imperfections keep you from buying a home. We can help you remodel an outdated kitchen, add a game room to your basement, modernize your bathrooms or even build a master bedroom suite addition. Contact us and let us know how we can help you improve your new home.