Different strokes for different folks! Everyone has their own particular tastes when it comes to housing styles. Some like the airy and open eclectic Contemporary homes. Others prefer the cute and charming Cape Cod or Bungalow. Still other home buyers prefer the practical Split Level or Split Foyer, while others may detest them.
One thing is true in the Northern Virginia housing market:
The Colonial is King!
COLONIALS
According to Wikipedia, "the American colonial style drew its influence from the Georgian architecture of Great Britain, with indirect sources in Italian Renaissance style of the sixteenth century."
A Colonial-style house usually has a formally-defined living room, dining room, and sometimes a family room. Typically, bedrooms are on the second floor and the front door is in the center of the home.
With over 2,250 Colonial single family homes on the market as of May 15th, this style is undoubtedly the most popular of all in Northern Virginia (Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Falls Church). They range in price from slightly under $200,000 to the high end of $15,000,000, and everywhere in between.
There are old historic Colonials and brand new construction in this style. The average age of all Colonials currently on the market is about 25 years.
While the average listing price for all the Colonials currently on the market is approximately $1,027,000, this number needs to be taken with a grain of salt. The higher end Colonials pump up this average price. Even though there are 161 Colonials on the market for over $2 million, fully half of the available Colonials in Northern Virginia are priced below $750,000. 70% of Colonials are priced below $1 million.
Fairfax County has over 2000 Colonial style homes currently available. 155 are on the market in Arlington, 59 in Alexandria and a smattering in Fairfax City and Falls Church.
Here's some samples of Northern Virginia Colonial style homes that are available for purchase now on the MLS from different brokers in the area. (Click each link to view further details about the home):
UNDER $500,000
SPRINGFIELD 3 BEDROOM 3.5 BATHROOM COLONIAL
BURKE CENTRE 4 BEDROOM COLONIAL ON A CUL-DE-SAC
$500,000 TO $1 MILLION
ARLINGTON 5 BEDROOM 4 BATHROOM COLONIAL NEAR CLARENDON METRO
ARLINGTON 3 BEDROOM COLONIAL WITH VIEWS OF D.C.
ALEXANDRIA 4 BEDROOM 4.5 BATH COLONIAL IN ROSEMONT NEIGHBORHOOD
$1 MILLION TO $1.5 MILLION
VIENNA 4 BEDROOM 3.5 BATHROOM COLONIAL
GREAT FALLS 4 BEDROOM COLONIAL ON ALMOST AN ACRE
MCLEAN 5 BEDROOM 4.5 BATHROOM COLONIAL
$1.5 MILLION TO $2 MILLION
GREAT FALLS 5 BEDROOM 4 BATHROOM COLONIAL ON OVER 2 ACRES
ALEXANDRIA 5 BEDROOM 4 BATHROOM COLONIAL IN BELLE HAVEN
FAIRFAX 5 BEDROOM COLONIAL BUILT IN 2005
$2 MILLION PLUS
MCLEAN 6 BEDROOM COLONIAL ON OVER 1.5 ACRES - JUST BUILT
MCLEAN BRAND NEW CUSTOM BUILT COLONIAL ON 1/2 ACRE
GREAT FALLS 6 BEDROOM COLONIAL ON 5 ACRES
CLICK HERE TO SEARCH FOR NORTHERN VIRGINIA COLONIALS OR ANY STYLE HOME
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What a wonderful helpful post for relocating folk. I hear from out of state folks "we want a 3/2". My first thought is "3/2 what?". No, I don't say it.
The basement matter is the biggest difference with folks from the south and west. And then the inevitable square feet request, arrggghhh!
Hi Brian;
I think the colonial is king. Great prices ....good luck!!!!
Beautiful area...beautiful homes.
Way to use arthictecture as a jumping point about relocation, buying, selling, etc.
I don't always like colonial, but if that big grey house (looks like stone walls) with red door and shutters is a colonial, then sign me up. Very nice.
Colonials in our area are very popular also but pricesa are about half of your area. Thanks for the info.
Brian, Great to meet you last evening at Patricia Kennedy's AR gathering.
LENN: Thanks for your comment. A 3/2 -- that can mean so many different things. Any style. Number of rooms is just a small part of the homebuying decision.
ANTHONY: Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
SALLY: Thanks. I agree.
JOEY: Thanks for your comments. Colonials certainly are popular, but many of the other styles are appealing as well. Stay tuned for more in this series.
TERRY: Thanks for your comment.
ERIC: It was a pleasure. Thanks for stopping by to comment.
Brian, Good examples of various houses in those Virginia areas.
PAT: Thanks for your comment.