Neighborhood Spotlight: Hayfield Farm — History shapes the neighborhood

Neighborhood Spotlight is a recurring column covering both the City of Alexandria and Alexandria in Fairfax County. This monthly column is sponsored and written by the Seward Group of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty.

The Hayfield Farm neighborhood site dates back to 1761 when George Washington purchased the land to increase the holdings of his Mount Vernon Estate and to grow hay for his livestock — hence the name hay field.

The land was passed down to Washington’s relatives and then to many landholders until the property was purchased by Wills and Van Metre in 1963. Wills and Van Metre developed the subdivision as it is today. The first home was sold in 1965, and the project was completed in 1972. The original split-level home was sold for $25,950! As the housing development continued, Hayfield was still considered to be “in the middle of nowhere.” When Hayfield Secondary School opened in 1969, there was still a working farm next door and much of the area was rural.

Today, there are over 2,000 residents of Hayfield Farm and the 690 homes in the community include a mix of colonial-style homes, ramblers, and split-levels. Students can walk to all 12 years of public school — a rare luxury for northern Virginians. Hayfield Elementary School is in the neighborhood, and Hayfield Secondary School is across the street.

There are so many shopping, dining, and recreational opportunities close to the neighborhood, it is impossible to name them all. The Hayfield Shopping Center is within walking distance, Manchester Lakes Shopping Center with the new Amazon Fresh is a little over a mile away, and Kingstowne is only 2 miles away.

Hayfield has been a sought-after neighborhood for decades. One of the attractions is that the neighborhood is surrounded by government land, so it isn’t threatened by development. On the north is the Coast Guard Station, on the south is Fort Belvoir, and to the east is the Huntley Meadows floodplains. Hayfield is a quiet, tight knit community that has remained a well-known and well-loved area since the first houses were built.

Location is also key to the popularity of Hayfield Farm. Just off Telegraph Road and minutes to Route 1, Interstates 95, 395, and 495, the neighborhood is an easy commute to D.C. Near the Fairfax County Parkway, Ft. Belvoir, Franconia-Springfield Metro Station and the Van Dorn Street Metro make it a commuter’s dream.

The Hayfield Citizens Association plays an active role in the community, offering events, a Facebook neighbors page, and a listserv. The Hayfield Farm Swim Club is an amenity for all to enjoy.

Historically, Hayfield Farm is competitive in the real estate market. However, during this time of year, the housing market slows and as of this writing, there are no homes currently for sale in Hayfield Farm. The chart below shows some market data for the last two months of 2022.

If you, a family member, or friend are thinking about buying or selling in Hayfield Farm or any neighborhood in the DMV in 2023, we would be honored to help. Email us at [email protected], call/text 703-298-0562, or visit The Seward Group website to set up an appointment with us. We would be happy to review the current real estate market in your neighborhood and discuss how we can help you navigate your next move with ease.

All of us in The Seward Group wish you and your family a happy and healthy new year!

About Seward Group: We are award-winning real estate agents with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. Lyssa Seward, Melody Abella, Anita Edwards, Laura Catron, Gina Wimpey and Elaine McCall make up our team. We offer our clients Full-Spectrum Concierge Real Estate Service at all price points, assisting with every step of the process from beginning to end. We are licensed in Virginia, D.C. and Maryland with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. Seward Group’s main office is in Old Town Alexandria.