This week’s Q&A column is written by David Howell, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of McEnearney Associates Realtors®, the leading real estate firm in Alexandria. To learn more about this article and relevant market news, contact David at 703-738-9513 or email [email protected]. You may also submit your questions to McEnearney Associates via email for response in future columns.
Question: How did the Alexandria city real estate market finish in 2020?
Answer: Each quarter we take an in-depth look at contract activity in the City of Alexandria compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Not surprisingly, the impact of COVID-19 in the spring months resulted in a decrease in contract activity compared to 2019. The first half of the year saw overall contracts decrease 7.4%, but the third and fourth quarters tell a completely different story, and the year ended with an overall increase of 12.2%!
The charts below break down fourth quarter contract activity for 2019 and 2020 by price and by property type. Alexandria has seen increases across all categories, including the condo market, which has not been as strong in some other metro areas compared to townhomes and detached homes.
- Overall contract activity in the City of Alexandria increased 40.9% in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the fourth quarter of 2019.
- Contract activity in the condo market increased 43.0% and attached homes activity increased 44.1%.
- The number of detached homes, the smallest part of the Alexandria City market, going under contract in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased 28.4% compared to 2019.


For more analysis of the real estate market throughout our area, please visit McEnearney.com/market-in-a-minute.
If you would like a question answered in our weekly column or to set up an appointment with one of our Associates, please email [email protected] or call 703-549-9292.
McEnearney Associates Realtors®, 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. www.McEnearney.com Equal Housing Opportunity. #WeAreAlexandria
Recent Stories

If you had a chance to enhance a child’s future with a time commitment of less than 2 hours a week, how would you respond? You have that opportunity right now to join over 200 Alexandrians as a reading tutor volunteer with the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC).
ATC tutors work with one child in kindergarten, first, or second grade in Alexandria public schools who need extra help with reading. Tutors meet with their Book Buddy 1-2 times each week for 30 minutes October-May at school, during school hours. Many struggling readers only receive one-on-one instruction through this program, and it makes all the difference. Last year, ATC served 195 children, of whom 82% ended the year reading on grade level and 96% made substantial reading gains. But the need is great, and we are still seeing learning lags from the pandemic.
This year, ATC plans to significantly increase the size of the program to reach over 250 students and to serve every elementary school in Alexandria. This is very exciting news, but we will only succeed if we can recruit more tutors. ATC trains you, matches you with a child, and provides ongoing lesson materials and support.

If you have been thinking about buying your first home or haven’t owned one in the last three years, THIS IS FOR YOU!
In the DMV area, it can be difficult to save the downpayment necessary for you to get into your own home. We have a solution. The Funder’s Summit!
We have assembled a summit with different municipalities to tell you how to access their funds for your home purchase.
2023 Alexandria Fall Festival
Food trucks, bounce houses, pony rides, magic shows and more at the 2023 Alexandria Fall Festival, an Alexandria Living event presented by The Patterson Group. Join us at River Farm on Sunday, Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.