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Homes For Sale In Arlington, VA
Arlington, VA, is the closest you’ll get to living in D.C. without crossing the Potomac. The lifestyle, job opportunities, and school systems in Arlington are all equal to those you’ll find in the nation’s capital, and in many cases, they’re better. By almost any metric, the quality of life of people who own homes in Arlington, VA are among the highest in the country, and the steady yearly influx of newcomers is a testament to its attractiveness. Whether you’re looking for a condo, a townhome, or a detached home for sale in Virginia real estate, you’ll find that living in Arlington is as good as it gets.
More About Arlington VA
Think of Arlington as the last stop in Virginia before heading into D.C. Technically a county, though always referred to as a city, Arlington is a small, dense corner in the northern part of Virginia. With a population the size of Richmond, 236,000, Arlington is an even mix of dense urban zones and spread-out suburbs. You can get the best of both worlds here, with a variety of Arlington homes for sale and a plethora of different neighborhoods to choose from. This flexible real estate market is a result of and a reflection of the diverse makeup of Arlington’s inhabitants.
Arlington homes is a pilgrimage site for young professionals. Recent college graduates flock to Arlington in droves to fill positions in the private and public sectors. By and large, they rent apartments and townhomes in skyscrapers that sprout up here and there in little urban groves throughout the area. In addition to these young workers, you’ll find older inhabitants living in the more mature, grown-up suburbs that take up most of the land in Arlington. Homes for sale in Arlington VA are especially popular for families and retirees because they offer easy access to parks, schools, and high-quality city amenities.
We’ll get right down to it: Arlington is a fancy place. The grocery stores here are among the top-tier found in the country. The restaurants are fantastic, the shopping options are endless, the schools offer some of the best education you’ll find in North America, and homes for sale in Arlington is within a 20-minute journey to the heart of United States politics.
Everything about homes for sale in Arlington, VA reflects its status. People generally don’t leave home unless they’re wearing their Sunday best all seven days of the week. The city is very clean, and most of the great skyscrapers follow modern styles of architecture. The transient just-graduated young people add flavor to the downtown nightlife and give the city a feeling of endless forward momentum.
All of this is counterbalanced by the quiet stability of the outer suburb, a stability that is reflected in the real estate market. Ultimately, Arlington is a self-aware city that brings out the finer things in all its residents and is a perfect jumping-off point for people trying to start their careers. Homes in Arlington are also a perfect place for retirement for those who’ve seen their careers all the way through.
Arlington VA Real Estate Market
The market in Arlington is substantially different from what you’ll see in the rest of the country. About half of the homes for sale in Arlington are only one bedroom, and renting is a major player in the property sphere. This amounts to the owned market being significantly smaller than what many might expect in a city this size. This market distinguishes itself even further from comparable cities by being among the highest valued in the country.
Arlington, VA homes for sale average in the $600,000 range; that’s including condos, townhomes, etc. Detached homes for sale in Arlington usually list for a minimum of $1,100,000 and extend towards $2,000,000. In many cases, detached homes and condos for sale in Arlington list within the same price range, something almost never seen in other cities. Just as many people in Arlington want to live in condos as they do in detached homes. Young professionals move to the city and want to stay close to the action, nightlife, and amenities, and only in rare cases can you find detached homes in Arlington within a ten-minute walk to the city center. In their case, then, condos are the way to go.
Market Trends in Arlington, VA
Looking nationwide at housing markets in most major cities, you’ll notice home values have been trending up at a tremendous rate for the last five years, in many cases fluctuating wildly during 2020 and 2021. Homeowners saw this appreciation trend as a boon, and rightly so, and homebuyers feared being priced out of the market.
House values did fluctuate dramatically over 2020-2021, even dipping in value. They seem to be leveling out now and returning to pre-Covid trends. Those pre-covid trends are unique in that they don’t indicate an astounding rate of appreciation that you see in cities like Reno, NV, or Durham, NC. Detached homes for sale in Arlington, VA, appreciate at around 22% every five years, while condos appreciate at around 5% over the same period. This is unusual, as, in many cities, we’ve seen condos appreciating at rates similar to detached homes.
Even more unique, the Arlington real estate market is not nearly as competitive as one might think for a city so close to the capitol. The monthly housing inventory is only at around 1.9 months of supply, which on paper would make Arlington a seller’s market. But the facts on the ground don’t reflect the supply crunch, for Arlington houses for sale sit on the market for 40 days before they’re bought.
In Arlington, we see stable, long-term appreciation rates for detached homes, a predictable, even static market for condos, and less-than-fiery competition for houses. Rental properties may attract far more people to Arlington than owned properties, which explains the lack of competition for detached homes, townhomes, and even condos. This is a good thing. Arlington, VA homes for sale fill a refreshing niche in American real estate, offering first-time homebuyers and long-time homeowners plenty of time to find the house they want and plenty of time to sit on that house and let it build value slowly and steadily as the years go by.
Distance to Other Major Cities
- 51 miles to Baltimore, MD
- 107 miles to Richmond, VA
- 120 miles to Harrisburg, PA
- 144 miles to Philadelphia, PA
- 193 miles to Norfolk, VA
Neighborhoods In Arlington VA
Ballston
Ballston is perhaps the neighborhood best suited for anyone wanting to live close to downtown Arlington without moving into a condo. Ballston is composed mainly of row houses for sale and is great if you ever need to make a quick trip into the city center.
Douglas Park
Douglas Park is the opposite of Ballston. This neighborhood is low-key and old-school, with smaller, mid-century-style homes and large yards. A river runs through the neighborhood’s center, and this, along with the peaceful, quiet nature of the community, makes Douglas Park homes a favorite spot for anyone looking for a calming place to live.
Ashton Heights
Ashton Heights is located just to the south of Arlington’s downtown. Unlike Ballston, Ashton Heights is very much your traditional American suburb. The area has had plenty of time to grow and mature and is now heavily treed, providing plenty of shade during the hot, humid summers.
Bluemont
Bluemont homes for sale is located west of Arlington’s downtown and offers a mix of suburb and development along its central strip. Wilson Boulevard runs through the heart of Bluemont and provides plenty of amenities along its course. But don’t be put off by a major road running by your front door, for the area along Wilson Blvd is still mostly residential. Big lawns. Larger older homes. Even the main strip is low-key
Bellevue Forest
Bellevue Forest is a special neighborhood in Arlington. Found way up in the northern part of the county, Bellevue is a large, picturesque neighborhood with lots of hills and trees flanking the streets, ensuring plenty of privacy for the residents of the large, luxury homes that give this neighborhood much of its character. Bellevue Forest is located right alongside the Potomac River as an added bonus!
Schools In Arlington VA
We’re excited to talk about the schools in Arlington for one simple reason; they’re among the best in Virginia. Arlington Public Schools is usually ranked among the top ten school districts in the state, right alongside its Northern Virginia neighbors. The school system in Arlington is great; the county invests in its schools. Arlington spends nearly half of its local revenue on its school system before even factoring in state funds. Any area that invests that much money into education is bound to see an incalculable return on investment based on the quality of education that its young children receive. Here’s a quick look at the top schools in Arlington, VA.
- Washington-Liberty High School
- Yorktown High School
- Williamsburg Middle School
- Arlington Traditional (magnet school)
- Glebe Elementary School
Things To Do In Arlington VA
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Hang out with friends at Bronson Bierhall
Located in downtown Arlington, Bronson Bierhall is a fantastic place to meet up with friends after work. Modeled as a traditional German pub, you’ll find great beers on draft and plenty of seating available on the nostalgia-inducing picnic tables. They have big screens that always broadcast football, basketball, and baseball games throughout the year. -
Shop at Ballston Quarter
Ballston Quarter is the heart of downtown Arlington. The restaurants here are top-notch and feature plenty of open seating. The mall has tons of shops to peruse and even a movie theater. You’ll soon find that Ballston Quarter will be a regular destination anytime you want to get into the city. -
Check out Gravelly Point Park
At first glance, this park doesn’t look like much, just a soccer field and the blue waters of the Potomac. Stick around for a few minutes, and suddenly you’ll notice a 747 come roaring off the runway at nearby Ronald Reagan Airport. Gravelly Point is right next to the airport and is a prime location for planespotting. -
Eat at Mario’s Pizza House
This a great little local spot to come to for great quality pizza and (arguably) better ice cream. It’s just on the road, and it’s a no-nonsense stop for all things pizza. Grab a slice and sit down under the awnings of the picnic tables, and when you’re done go next door and get some ice cream from Mario’s Pizza House. -
Skate at the Medstar Capitals Iceplex
This is the ice rink where the Washington Capitals practice. You can skate here too! Register on their website and take advantage of the opportunity to skate around on ice frozen eight stories high. -
Visit the Bon Air Park Rose Garden.
Head west out of downtown Arlington to enjoy one of the prettiest parks in the area. They have over 120 types of roses to admire, and you’ll want to come by every few weeks throughout the growing season to take in the beauty as the roses develop. -
Check out the Observation deck at CEB tower.
Take to the skies and look out over the nation’s capitol from a vantage point 400 feet above the streets of Arlington. You can see everything from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial and more! This place will give you an appreciation of just how close Arlington is to D.C. -
Visit Arlington National Cemetery
We won’t lie, this is a very sobering sight to see, but well worth it. Drive over to the cemetery and head on foot into the hills. Visit the graves of the Kennedy’s, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and let your personal experience guide your reflection. -
Eat at Bob and Edith’s
Bob and Edith’s is a great little breakfast joint beloved by Arlington residents that know about it. There are three different locations, and all serve great food. The charm of the place is its retro feel and the fact that it's been around since 1969. -
Check out the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse
Located in Westmont, this old 1930’s movie theater is a prime spot for film junkies and casual fans alike. Watch great movies all year long while being served cocktails and beer. Besides movies, the drafthouse also hosts world-class comedians frequently, and you won’t want to miss them!
Economy In Arlington VA
The Arlington housing market is a heavy hitter when it comes to the economy. The city is dominated by both the private and public sectors, with the government employing over a quarter of the workforce. Giants of business like Deloitte, Capital One, and Accenture all keep major offices in Arlington. During the Great Recession, Arlington saw its unemployment level peak at about 4.6%, about half of the national average. In short, the economic character of Arlington is robust, and among the most attractive of any city on the east coast. One thing to keep in mind about Arlington is that it is primarily a commuter city. Most people commute to D.C. or out to cities in Fairfax county for work.
Transportation In Arlington VA
As we just mentioned, most Arlington residents commute to work. Arlington has developed a flexible transit system that is easy to use and efficient to accommodate this need for daily travel. There are several metro stops throughout the city that are all connected to D.C.’s larger metro system. In addition to the metro, Arlington has regular bus services and even city scooters that you can use to get around when you’re too tired to walk. Two major roads run through Arlington: I-66 and I-495. I-66 is a spur route leading west through the rest of Nova (Northern Virginia), and I-495 is D.C.’s belt road. Ronald Reagan National Airport is good for domestic flights and Dulles International Airport for traveling out of the country.