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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. 127
VA loans offer no down payment, no monthly mortgage insurance and no loan limit for most veterans. Here’s how they work in Northern Virginia’s market.
Keep reading: The VA Loan Guide for Northern Virginia BuyersDaniel ParkNo. 126
Inventory is up, rates just dipped below 6%, and prices are roughly flat. Here’s what NVAR’s January data says about Northern Virginia’s spring 2026 market.
Keep reading: Spring 2026 Housing Market Preview for Northern VirginiaDaniel ParkNo. 125
Your earnest money deposit shows the seller you’re serious. Here’s how much to offer, who holds it and how contingencies protect it.
Keep reading: Earnest Money in Virginia: How Much, Who Holds It and When You Get It BackDaniel ParkNo. 124
Fairfax County's 2026 residential assessments rose 3.99% on average. Here's how to check your notice, whether to appeal, and the deadlines that matter.
Keep reading: Fairfax County’s 2026 Assessments: What Owners Should Check Before the Appeal DeadlineDaniel ParkNo. 123
Divorce is hard enough without a messy home sale. Here are the options for the house, how the money usually works and how to keep the sale on track.
Keep reading: Selling a Home During Divorce: A Calm, Step-by-Step GuideDaniel ParkNo. 122
Arlington's 2026 residential assessments rose 3.2% and the average home hit $882,900. Here's how close they are to market value and how to check yours.
Keep reading: Arlington’s 2026 Property Assessments: Are They Close to Market Value?Daniel ParkNo. 121
Tax assessments look official, so it’s tempting to use them as a price guide. Here’s why they often miss the mark, and what to use instead when you make an offer.
Keep reading: Should You Offer the Tax-Assessed Value for a Northern Virginia Home?Daniel ParkNo. 120
Alexandria home prices kept rising in 2025 while rents cooled. Here is what the data published so far shows, what changed for owners, and what buyers and sellers should expect in 2026.
Keep reading: Alexandria Housing Market 2025 ReviewDaniel ParkNo. 119
Prince William County had a quieter 2025: fewer sales, many more listings and asking prices that ended the year about where they started. Here is the data and what I expect it to mean this spring.
Keep reading: Prince William County Housing Market 2025 ReviewDaniel ParkNo. 118
Three ways to tap your home’s equity, three very different costs. Here’s how to choose, especially if you have a low first mortgage rate.
Keep reading: HELOC vs. Home Equity Loan vs. Cash-Out Refinance: Which Is Best?