Author: Scott McCaffrey

A Northern Virginia native, Scott McCaffrey has four decades of reporting, editing and newsroom experience in the local area plus Florida, South Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He spent 26 years as editor of the Sun Gazette newspaper chain. For Local News Now, he covers government and civic issues in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.

News

Alexandria’s home sales, prices hold steady in July, but slower days may be ahead

By Scott McCaffrey
Hand holding a keyring with several house keys and a small house-shaped tag in a residential hallway with a stairwell in the background
Keys to a home (via Jakub Żerdzicki/Unsplash)

Home sales and average sales prices across Alexandria showed year-over-year stability in July, according to new data, but the figures point to potential softening.

A total of 170 properties went to closing last month, down slightly from 174 in July 2025. That’s according to figures reported Aug. 11 by the region’s multiple-listing service Bright MLS, based on figures from MarketStats by ShowingTime.

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Bennett-Parker reflects on the transition from House of Delegates to Va. Senate

By Scott McCaffrey
Woman with glasses sits at a table with papers, speaking, with an open HP laptop beside her.
Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, D-39, speaks to senior Democrats (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Few state legislators saw a more interesting General Assembly session than Alexandria’s state Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-39).

Bennett-Parker, whose Senate district includes all of Alexandria and portions of Arlington and Fairfax counties, started the 2026 session as a member of the House of Delegates.

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Alexandria rent prices may be rising, but new city apartments aren’t getting bigger

By Scott McCaffrey
Open-concept living and dining area with hardwood floors, large windows, and a seating nook by the window.
Apartment interior (via Francesca Tosolini/Unsplash)

Average Alexandria apartment sizes are holding steady while newly built rental units nationally are gaining in size, according to new data.

The typical unit in a multifamily apartment building citywide constructed between 2016 and 2025 totaled 856 square feet, essentially unchanged from the 859 square feet for units built between 2006 and 2015.

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Alexandria apartment rents up from start of year but down from summer 2025

By Scott McCaffrey
Elbert Avenue Apartments (via Google Maps)

Alexandria apartment rents have increased since the start of the year but remain below the market’s mid-2025 peak costs, according to a new analysis.

The median citywide apartment rent of $2,230 in July — $2,042 for one-bedroom units and $2,508 for two bedrooms — was down 2.7% from a year before, according to data released July 29 by Apartment List.

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West End townhouse project lauded as a regional model for affordable housing

By Scott McCaffrey
Row of newly built townhouses with blue-gray and light gray siding, white trim, and black-framed windows under construction.447
Exterior of Cardinal Path townhouses under construction (courtesy of Housing Alexandria)

A new Alexandria townhouse development was saluted July 29 for its creative development plan and focus on providing affordable homeownership opportunities.

Housing Alexandria’s Cardinal Path project at 4575 Seminary Road fills a key gap in the local housing market, making it a role model, according to the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance.

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Alexandria, regional unemployment totals still well above Biden-era figures

By Scott McCaffrey
Job interview (via Tim Gouw/Unsplash)

The number of Alexandria residents counted as unemployed in June was at the highest level since March and stood 36% higher than at the start of the second Trump administration, according to new state data.

A total of 95,925 city residents were employed in the civilian workforce, with 3,120 looking for work, resulting in a jobless rate of 3.1% in June.

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Alexandria average home price tops $850K as sales rise during 2026’s first half

By Scott McCaffrey
Real estate home interior (via Kenny Eliason/Unsplash)

Despite a relatively weak June report, Alexandria saw a 6.2% year-over-year increase in home sales during the first six months of the year.

A total of 1,063 residential properties changed hands from January to June, up from 1,001 in 2025, according to figures reported July 10 by MarketStats by ShowingTime.

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Seifeldein spars with Beyer at candidate forum as congressional primary approaches

By Scott McCaffrey
Candidate Mo Seifeldein, with Rep. Don Beyer in background (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

A former Alexandria City Council member used a candidate forum to rip into Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th) as the Democratic congressional primary draws closer and heats up.

At the Arlington County Democratic Committee’s candidate forum on July 1, Mo Seifeldein went after Beyer on campaign finances and banking reform. Seifeldein also said the incumbent “hasn’t pushed back” on the Trump administration or Republicans in Congress.

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Alexandria’s jobless count falls below 3,000 for first time since mid-2025

By Scott McCaffrey
Job interview (via Mina Rad/Unsplash)

As the number of Alexandria residents counted as unemployed dropped below 3,000 for the first time in more than a year, the city’s jobless rate reached its lowest level since April 2025, according to new state data.

A total of 96,006 Alexandria residents were counted in the civilian workforce for the month, with 2,888 seeking jobs, according to figures reported July 1 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.

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Alexandria apartment rents dip but remain well above pre-Covid levels

By Scott McCaffrey
Apartment living (via Brian Zajac/Unsplash)

While down year over year, Alexandria’s median apartment rental rate is still more than 16% above the onset of the pandemic and 28% more than during the worst of Covid-19.

The city’s median rent of $2,234 — $2,046 for one-bedroom units, $2,513 for two bedrooms — was down 3.1% in June from a year before, according to figures released June 30 by Apartment List.

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Alexandria hospital’s replacement on track for opening in late 2028, Inova CEO says

By Scott McCaffrey
Inova Alexandria Hospital at Landmark, April 13, 2026 (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Inova Alexandria Hospital replacement and a new hospital to the south in Fairfax County remain on schedule for opening in late 2028 — potentially on the same day.

Meeting the timetable will be good news for the region’s economy, Inova Health System CEO Dr. J. Stephen Jones said at a June 16 roundtable of Fairfax County’s Council for Economic Opportunity, a group of government and business leaders looking at high-level economic, development and technology trends. Jones called health care “the job engine and in many ways economic engine” of Northern Virginia.

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