How Much House Will $500,000 Buy in Northern Virginia?

Real Estate and Homes for Sale in Northern Virginia

Northern Virginia is next door to our nation's capital, yet it has a character of it's own. With a geography that ranges from world-class technology centers to historic cities and towns—urban corridors to rural countryside—Northern Virginia offers unparalleled options for jobs, education, recreation and culture. Therefore, it is a great place to live!

So, what kind of home will $500,000 buy in Northern Virginia and what are the features? For comparison, I chose five towns and randomly picked five nice single-family, detached homes from each town in this price range that are currently on the market (as of 9/10/2013).

You will see there are many similarities in these homes, however if you are searching in this region, you will find that the differences appear in square footage, acreage and distance to Washington, DC, so it all depends on what your priorities are. All of these cities and towns boast great school systems, amenities and have seen positive trends in the real estate market.

1. Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria, Virginia is an independent city located along the Potomac River, six miles south of downtown Washington, DC. The historic center of Alexandria, known as Old Town, is the third oldest historic district in the United States. Old Town is known for it's pubs and restaurants, shopping, art scene and waterfront harbor.


8624 Curtis Avenue, Alexandria, VA - $500,000
5 Beds | 3 Full, 1 Half Baths | 2,870 sq ft | .38 acres
Courtesy of Weichert, REALTORS
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See all Homes for Sale in Alexandria, Virginia

2. Fairfax, Virginia

Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the Fairfax County, Virginia. The city is politically independent of the surrounding county and once served as the county seat when the city held town status. Fairfax forms part of the Washington Metropolitan Area as a suburban community with an urban vibe and is home to George Mason University.

9424 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA - $499,900
5 Beds | 3 Full Baths | 1,278 sq ft | .24 acres
Courtesy of Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
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See all Homes for Sale in Fairfax, VA

3. Ashburn, Virginia

Ashburn is 30 miles west of Washington, DC in Loudoun County, Virginia. The County is part of Virginia's Hunt Country and has a number of horse farms. Loudoun's population is the fastest growing of all counties in the United States, and Ashburn itself has over 50,000 citizens. Ashburn is a suburban community with many subdivisions and amenities and is close proximity to both city life and rural countryside.


20941 Hollyberry Court, Ashburn, VA - $499,900
4 Beds | 3 Full, 1 Half Baths  | 2,635 sq ft | .21 acres
Courtesy of Keller Williams Realty
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See all Homes for Sale in Ashburn, VA

4. Haymarket, Virginia

Haymarket is about 35 miles west of Washington, DC located in Prince William County, Virginia. Haymarket is a mixed community of small town business life, medical parks and the new Prince William Hospital. It is home to four golf courses, outdoor recreation, farms and country roads set amid the gorgeous landscape of the rolling hills of Virginia's hunt country and Bull Run Mountain.

16504 Judy Terrace, Haymarket, VA - $499,900
4 Beds | 4 Full, 1 Half Baths | 4,580 sq ft | .66 acres

Courtesy of Weichert, REALTORS
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See all Homes for Sale in Haymarket, VA

See Homes for Sale in Haymarket's Beautiful Golf Course Communities

5. Warrenton, Virginia

Conveniently located only 35 minutes from Dulles International Airport and within an hour's drive from Washington, D.C. and its suburbs, the Town of Warrenton offers a quality of life of unsurpassed beauty and opportunity in the heart of Virginia's famed horse country. Warrenton is in Fauquier County, Virginia.

8298 Lock Lane, Warrenton, VA - $499,900
5 Beds | 3 Full, 1 Half Baths | 3,800 sq ft | 10.6 acres

Courtesy of Keller Williams Realty/Lee Beaver & Assoc.
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See all Homes for Sale in Warrenton, VA

This chart illustrates the differences, feel free to share it on Pinterest.

Bryan Garcia specializes in helping folks buy and sell real estate in Northern Virginia. His area of expertise is Prince William County — Haymarket, Gainesville, Bristow, Manassas, Warrenton and surrounding communities.

Call Bryan today (703) 753-9100, ext. 103 or email BryanGarcia@exitheritage.com anytime.