Your One Guide to Easily Investing in Northern Virginia

Interested in investing in Northern Virginia?

As the United States capital, Washington, DC offers plenty of job opportunities and things to do. However, it’s nothing short of expensive. Plus, the political backdrop creates a competitive and fast-paced feel.

Many who don’t want the big city lifestyle or cost of living opt for various Northern Virginia cities and towns. This creates ample opportunity in urban, suburban, and rural markets for real estate investors across this area of the state.

If you’re looking at investing in Northern Virginia, here are some things you should know:

Population

According to the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, Northern Virginia has over 2.5 million residents. It spans counties such as:

• Arlington
• Fairfax
• Loudoun
• Prince William

Some of its most populous cities are DC suburbs, such as Alexandria. Other notable Northern Virginia cities include Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Winchester.

Job Market

Northern Virginia is close to DC, so many of the area’s residents may commute to DC for work. As many know, the largest economic sector is government, and the federal government is one of the most significant employers.

Education, healthcare, and professional services are big in DC as well. There are many high-end government employees, lobbyists, and consultants in the area. This is partially why some of its counties, like Loudoun and Fairfax, have some of the highest median household incomes out of all large US counties.

Northern VA’s economy leans blue-collar. According to the Bureau of Labor Stats, trade, transportation, and utilities are some of the largest sectors in the area. However, the area has plenty of white-collar employees.

Major employers in Northern Virginia and Washington, DC include:

• Amazon (co-HQ in Arlington)
• Amtrak (Washington, DC)
• Booz Allen Hamilton (Northern Virginia)
• Danaher (Washington, DC)
• Fannie Mae (Washington, DC)
• Freddie Mac (Northern Virginia)
• General Dynamics (Northern Virginia)
• Hilton Worldwide (Northern Virginia)
• Inova Health Systems (Northern Virginia)
• Navy Federal Credit Union (Northern Virginia)
• Northrop Grumman (Northern Virginia)

Cities

Northern Virginia stretches from the urban areas near Washington, DC, to smaller towns like Fredericksburg and rural regions near Shenandoah National Park.

This creates diverse sets of amenities and living experiences for Northern Virginia residents. That also means various real estate investment opportunities.

Here are some Northern VA cities to consider:

• Alexandria: Alexandria, George Washington’s hometown, is just south across the Potomac from DC. This draws many federal civil service workers. This city is home to the historic Gadsby tavern, where US Founding Father’s dined. It’s also known for its Old Town, with brick sidewalks, historic buildings, and plenty of restaurants and shopping. The city is fairly walkable.
• Arlington: Just northwest of Alexandria is Arlington. It’s not technically or legally a city, but it’d be Virginia’s third-most populous if it were. Arlington contains national landmarks and important locations like Arlington National Cemetery, the Pentagon, and Reagan National Airport. Arlington is the fifth highest-income county in the US, alongside other Northern Virginia counties.
• Fredericksburg: Fredericksburg is known as America’s Most Historic City, thanks to its rich US history and landmarks. This smaller Northern Virginia city is about 55 miles south of DC. Despite its size, it offers a lot to see and do — from historical locations to outdoor activities. Incomes are lower than in Alexandria and Arlington, but so is the cost of living. Home values in this area have risen steadily for a decade, too. Fredericksburg may be an old city, but its residents are young, at a median age of just 30.7 years old.
• Winchester: An hour and a half west of DC sits Winchester, located in the Shenandoah Valley. Winchester has a similar population size to Fredericksburg. Similarly, it offers a lot of history to check out. At the center of town is Old Town Winchester, offering dining and shopping.

Home Values

Northern Virginia has some of the higher median home values in the state and the nation, thanks to affluent areas like Alexandria and Arlington. For example, RedFin found Alexandria’s median sale price to be $617,450, and that’s down from last year.

Still, Alexandria’s housing market scored a 77/100 on RedFins’ Compete Score, making it Very Competitive. Homes spent a median of 18 days on the market.

Nearby Fairfax County has an even hotter market. The median sale price is $675,000, and homes only spend a median of 11 days on the market.

Cities like Fredericksburg offer lower home values, but they’re still fairly high. The typical Fredericksburg home is worth just over $417,600, according to Zillow. Fredericksburg homes appear to be appreciating faster than more urban cities.

Naturally, home values decrease as you move out into the rural areas. However, this makes them more affordable for investors.

Quality of Life

US history surrounds Northern Virginia residents. They can drive up to DC to see the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and much more. The Smithsonian Museum network offers fascinating displays, from air and space to natural history and more.

Virginia’s also steeped in history because it’s one of the original 13 colonies and the 10th official US state.

Tenants can drive down to Virginia’s capital, Richmond, for plenty of Revolutionary and Civil War museums and sights. More historical landmarks dot the Northern Virginia landscape in cities like Alexandria and Fredericksburg.

Nature lovers will enjoy parks like Great Falls National Park, the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and Meadowlark Botanical Garden. Virginia Beach is only a few hours away — perfect for a weekend trip.

Northern Virginia has all four seasons in terms of climate. Summers are muggy, and winters are cold. However, the weather is more bearable than states further north and south.

Crime and Safety

Crime rates are essential when investing in Northern Virginia real estate. Properties in safer areas may draw wealthier residents but cost more. On the other hand, areas with higher crime rates will feature cheaper properties, but rents will also be lower.

Per Neighborhood Scout, the more urban areas in Northern Virginia generally see higher crime rates. The city centers in Arlington, Alexandria, Fredericksburg, and Winchester have some of the highest. Smaller towns like Sperryville and Chester Gap have low crime rates.

Still, investors shouldn’t rule out big cities solely based on crime rates. Some areas within big cities may be safer than others. Besides, security measures like cameras and call boxes can increase resident peace of mind and help investors boost their returns.

Top Schools

According to WalletHub’s in-depth analysis, Virginia has the fourth best public schools in the nation. It falls behind just a few New England states — New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Plus, Virginia was the sixth most educated state in the nation as of 2021.

Many of Virginia’s best schools are in Northern Virginia, per US News rankings. These include:

• Thomas Jefferson High School For Science and Technology (Alexandria)
• Langley High School (McLean)
• McLean High School (McLean)
• Marshall High School (Falls Church)
• Oakton High School (Vienna)
• W.T. Woodson High School (Fairfax)

Strong public schools in these Northern Virginia communities can draw in plenty of families who want a good education for their children.

College students may also be a good rental market for Northern Virginia real estate investors. The region is home to numerous institutions of higher education, such as:

• George Mason University (Fairfax)
• James Madison University (Harrisonburg)
• Marymount University (Arlington)
• Shenandoah University (Winchester)
• University of Mary Washington (Fredericksburg)
• University of Northern Virginia (Annandale)
• University of Virginia (Satellite campus in Arlington)
• Virginia Tech (Satellite campus in Arlington)

Numerous other colleges and universities in Virginia and from other states have satellite campuses in Northern Virginia as well.

Investing in Northern Virginia: Final Thoughts

Northern Virginia offers residents an excellent way of life. It’s close to Washington DC jobs and attractions, but not far from the beach and the outdoors.

As a result, the area is home to affluent residents and several major employers. The historical charm and strong schools only strengthen the area’s attractiveness for families and young professionals alike.

So, if you’re looking to start or build your real estate portfolio, do yourself a favor and don’t skip over Northern Virginia.

Get Started Buying Homes With Evernest

Whether you’re purchasing one Northern Virginia home or one hundred, you don’t have to go it alone.

If you’re ready to buy your first (or next) investment property, here are 3 steps to get started today:

• Subscribe to our podcast: The Evernest Real Estate Investor Podcast—for all things real estate investing, being a landlord, growing your portfolio, and more.
• Find a property: Make sure you sign up for our Pocket Listings to get notified of all the deals that come across our desk daily.
• Get an investor-friendly agent: We can help with that—we would love to help you buy your next rental property investment.