Blog
Practical advice on buying, selling, renting and investing in Northern Virginia, plus the money side of real estate. Search by topic, see what readers find most useful, or start with the latest.
Daniel ParkNo. 65
Your commute shapes your daily life more than almost any home feature. Here’s how each option works in Northern Virginia and how to test it before you buy.
Keep reading: The Northern Virginia Commute Guide: Metro, VRE, Express Lanes and SluggingDaniel ParkNo. 64
Owned, financed, leased or PPA: how solar panels affect a Northern Virginia home sale, from appraisal and title to HOA rules, tax credits and negotiation.
Keep reading: Buying or Selling a Home With Solar Panels: Owned vs. LeasedDaniel ParkNo. 63
A comparative market analysis turns recent sales into a realistic price range. Here’s how it works, how it differs from online estimates and how to read one.
Keep reading: What Is a CMA? How Agents Estimate What a Home Will Sell ForDaniel ParkNo. 62
Gainesville and Haymarket offer newer homes, HOA communities and room to spread out at the western edge of Prince William County. Here is what buyers should know.
Keep reading: Living in Gainesville and Haymarket, VA: New Communities at the Edge of the RegionDaniel ParkNo. 61
PMI lets you buy with less than 20% down. Here’s what it costs, how it differs from FHA mortgage insurance and the fastest ways to remove it.
Keep reading: PMI Explained: What It Costs and How to Get Rid of ItDaniel ParkNo. 60
Halfway through 2025, Northern Virginia has more homes for sale, more closed sales and prices that have stopped climbing. Here is what the June data shows for Arlington, Fairfax and the region.
Keep reading: Northern Virginia Housing Market: Mid-Year 2025 ReviewDaniel ParkNo. 59
Most remodels don’t return every dollar at resale. Here’s how to choose projects that buyers pay for, avoid over-improving and plan by your timeline.
Keep reading: Renovations That Add Value (and the Ones That Usually Don’t)Daniel ParkNo. 58
If you’re buying in an HOA or condo in Virginia, the resale certificate is the most important stack of paper you’ll get. Here’s what’s in it, how long you have, and what to read first.
Keep reading: The Virginia Resale Certificate: Reading the HOA and Condo Disclosure PacketDaniel ParkNo. 57
A basement apartment or backyard cottage can house family or earn rent. Here’s how ADUs work in Northern Virginia, what they cost and the rules to check first.
Keep reading: Accessory Dwelling Units in Northern Virginia: What Owners Should KnowDaniel ParkNo. 56
The City of Fairfax is its own independent city surrounded by Fairfax County. Here's what owners should know about Old Town, transit, housing, taxes and the city's school arrangement.
Keep reading: Living in the City of Fairfax: Old Town, George Mason and Its Own School Arrangement