Noteworthy: Energy-efficient stainless steel appliances, 9 ft ceilings
Don’t miss this gorgeous 1BR/1BA condo! Del Ray Place is a modern, boutique-style condominium designed for community, style, and convenience Unit is bright and airy with an open layout and 9-foot ceilings. Move-in ready and impeccably maintained with a history of only one owner! The kitchen is equipped with energy-efficient stainless steel appliances, gas cooking, sleek quartz countertops, custom cabinetry, and pantry. The living and dining area leads to a patio perfect for sipping morning coffee or evening unwinding. Full-size in unit washer and dryer. Del Ray Place offers a tastefully decorated boardroom with wet bar perfect for remote work or meetings, as well as multiple rooftop terraces to take in the views of Del Ray and a ground-level well-maintained green space to relax or BBQ with friends and neighbors. 1 assigned underground parking space included and plenty of sheltered bicycle racks. Del Ray is one of Alexandria’s most sought-after neighborhoods, known for its locally owned restaurants and cafés, specialty shops, parks, local events, and Del Ray Farmers’ Market. Within minutes to all of these and more!
This week’s Q&A column is sponsored and written by Hope Peele of The Peele Group and Corcoran McEnearney, the leading real estate firm in Alexandria. To learn more about this article and relevant Alexandria market news, contact The Peele Group at 703.244.6115 or email [email protected]. You may also submit your questions to Corcoran McEnearney via email for response in future columns.
Question: What’s the Best Strategy for Pricing Your Home?
Answer:
When it comes to selling your home, one of the most important factors will be choosing the right price. If you price it too high, buyers will head towards better value homes, and maybe not even visit your home. If you price it too low, you may be leaving money on the table. The goal is to get buyers to flock to the home and want to buy it. It’s a beautiful thing when there are multiple offers and buyers bid up! So what is the best strategy for pricing your home?
Start with a CMA. The first step in price is to consult the experts. Your realtor will do a Comparative Market Analysis, a CMA. This data will show you what homes are on the market currently, what homes are Under Contract, Expired and Sold. It’s very important to focus mainly on the sold properties, as they are the true indicator of the market. While the prices of homes currently on the market are good to note, they have not sold, so they do not reflect what a buyer will pay. It’s also important to note that homes that are under contract have not sold yet, so we do not know if they got their list price or not. The CMA will take into account the square footage, the lot size, how many days the homes were on market and other factors. With some additional analysis, the CMA should let you know the condition and upgrades of the homes sold. This gives you a clear picture of what buyers are paying for, not what sellers are asking for.
Keep Emotions of Pricing. It’s very important to use the data from the CMA and price your home accordingly. This can be difficult for some sellers, as you have built memories in the home. Buyers look at your home with fresh eyes, and consider the data very closely to determine whether this home fits in their budget and aligns with other sales prices, so don’t let your emotions guide the price.
Use Strategic Price Points. When buyers are searching for homes, they typically search in specific price brackets. For instance, they may search for homes from $750,000-$800,000, even if they are willing to pay a little more for a home they love. So if the data is telling you that your home should be priced at or near $790,000, and you decide to price at $810,000, those buyers will never see the home. Just because you have an amazing yard or you just spent a lot of money fixing things or you think your home is the best in the neighborhood, buyers will not be swayed by those “feelings”. If you price it right, there is a stronger likelihood of getting lots of buyers looking, possibly multiple offers and maybe even that high price you are dreaming of.
Look at the Competition. Your home will be compared to everything currently on the market, as well as those that have recently sold, so you should actively keep an eye on the current market. Ask your realtor to set up a report for you, so you see the other homes that are competition for your home. Put on your buying hat, and look at the photos and the prices and how it compares to your home. It’s important to know what’s out there, because buyers will just move on if they do not think your home is worth the price. Work with your Realtor to make sure that your home stands out.
Never Overprice. Especially in this market, over pricing is never a good strategy. Some sellers want to over-price to leave room for negotiation.This often backfires, as overpriced homes tend to sit on the market longer and this makes buyers wonder if something’s wrong with the home. The longer your home sits on the market, the more likely it is that you will have to lower your price and oftentimes more than once. Data shows that homes that were initially overpriced tend to sell for lower than they would have if priced appropriately in the first place.
Create Urgency with the Right Price. The goal in pricing your home is to create a sense of urgency. Going slightly lower than what the market dictates is in your best interest. Homes that are seen as a great value get lots of showings immediately, as buyers don’t want to miss the opportunity. Typically, aggressively priced homes have multiple offers and sell for higher, and sometimes MUCH higher than the list price.
Adjust Quickly if Needed. The DC Metro area still has a strong, vibrant real estate market. If your home is not consistently getting showings and does not get any offers within the first few weeks, this is an indication that you have overpriced the home. It is very important that you adjust quickly rather than become a stale listing that sits on the market. The longer a listing sits, the more likely that buyers will think something is wrong with the home, and they will lose interest. If a buyer does come along, they are most likely going to insist on a much lower price, since the listing has been sitting for a long time. It’s important to keep the listing fresh and desirable, so listen to the market and adjust the price accordingly.
The Bottom Line! The best strategy for pricing your home is to work with a Realtor who knows your market inside and out, and to trust the data. A well-priced home doesn’t just sell faster, it sells for more money. When you align with the market instead of second guessing it, you put yourself in the best position for getting the most money for your home.
Hope Peele is a licensed real estate agent with Corcoran McEnearney in Alexandria, Virginia. She grew up in Old Town and currently lives in Del Ray. As a partner with The Peele Group, Hope is dedicated to guiding her clients successfully through the many-faceted process of buying or selling a home. Contact Hope at 703.244.6115.
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.
Corcoran McEnearney, 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, corcoranmce.com. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
This recurring Most and Least Expensive Home feature is sponsored by Adrianna Vallario of Compass. Based in Alexandria, VA, Adrianna is more than just a Real Estate Agent – she is a trusted advisor, relocation expert, and community advocate.
Remodeling is just part of what MOSS does. Supporting the people they serve is the rest.
From community cleanup events to local school partnerships, MOSS Building & Design stays active in Alexandria neighborhoods—not just with construction, but with heart.
Here’s how MOSS homeowners are part of something bigger:
♻️ Hosting Dumpster Day clean-up events in local neighborhoods
💚 Partnering with Alexandria nonprofits and schools
🛠️ Supporting community raffles with “Handyman for a Day” donations
🏠 Advocating for inclusive housing design
With every project, MOSS clients are part of building stronger, more connected communities.
Just Listed highlights Alexandria properties that came on the market within the past week. This feature is sponsored by Corcoran McEnearney, the leader in Alexandria real estate since 1984.
For some, it’s the last week of summer freedom before the start of the school year, and the number of new listings this week seems to reflect that vacation state of mind. According to BrightMLS, our regional multiple listing system, 81 homes have been listed for sale from August 8-13 in the City of Alexandria and the Alexandria area of Fairfax County. (We pulled data a day early this week.)
Prices range from $175,000 for a one-bedroom condo near Huntington Metro to $2,450,000 for a 5-bedroom home in Del Ray that is Coming Soon. The breakdown by property type is: 43 condos, 21 townhomes, and 17 detached homes. 4 of the listings already have ratified contracts, and 27 are in Coming Soon status.
516 Gibbon Street
516 Gibbon Street
516 Gibbon Street
516 Gibbon Street
Let’s take a look at this just-listed property open this weekend:
For more information, reach out to your favorite local Realtor. Happy House Hunting!
Note: Open house information may change. Please click on the website link to verify.
Corcoran McEnearney, 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, corcoranmce.com. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
MOSS Building & Design isn’t just about construction—it’s about connection.
By working alongside homeowners in Alexandria, MOSS creates beautiful, functional spaces that reflect how families live and grow. From multigenerational needs to aging-in-place updates, every project is shaped by the people it’s meant to serve.
✅ Trusted by Alexandria homeowners for over 20 years
✅ Tools like MOSS Online give clients real-time insight
✅ Projects designed with daily life and future flexibility in mind
✅ Rooted in a customer-first approach
If you’re remodeling in Alexandria, you deserve a partner who builds with purpose—and with you at the center.
Ready to explore what’s possible in your own home? Learn more or schedule a discovery call
Just Listed highlights Alexandria properties that came on the market within the past week. This feature is sponsored by Corcoran McEnearney, the leader in Alexandria real estate since 1984.
According to BrightMLS, our regional multiple listing system, 116 homes have been listed for sale from August 1-7 in the City of Alexandria and the Alexandria area of Fairfax County.
Prices range from $169,000 for a studio condo at Park Place that is Coming Soon to $2,280,000 for a 4-bedroom townhome in Old Town. The breakdown by property type is: 45 condos, 39 townhomes, and 32 detached homes. 9 of the listings already have ratified contracts and 30 are in Coming Soon status.
416 S Royal Street
15 W Masonic View Avenue
6321 Barrister Place
110 Cameron Street #CS101
Let’s take a look at some of our just-listed properties from the past week:
For more information, reach out to your favorite local Realtor. Happy House Hunting!
Note: Open house information may change. Please click on the website link to verify.
Corcoran McEnearney, 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, corcoranmce.com. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
In historic and close-knit neighborhoods like Del Ray, Rosemont, and Old Town, expanding your home—without leaving the community you love—can be a game-changer.
MOSS Building & Design partners with Alexandria families to create thoughtful additions and renovations that honor a home’s character while enhancing how it’s used every day. Whether it’s a new family room, a better kitchen layout, or a finished basement retreat, the MOSS team helps bring your vision to life.
✅ Full in-house team for streamlined project support
✅ Design that complements Alexandria’s historic charm
✅ Clear communication every step of the way
✅ Local expertise with city permitting and zoning
Families lead the way—MOSS is here to support the transformation.
Just Listed highlights Alexandria properties that came on the market within the past week. This feature is sponsored by Corcoran McEnearney, the leader in Alexandria real estate since 1984.
According to BrightMLS, our regional multiple listing system, 125 homes have been listed for sale from July 25-31 in the City of Alexandria and the Alexandria area of Fairfax County.
Prices range from $179,900 for a 1-bedroom condo at Mount Vernon Lakes that is Coming Soon to $3,400,000 for a 4-bedroom townhome in Fords Landing. The breakdown by property type is: 51 condos, 41 townhomes, and 33 detached homes. 13 of the listings already have ratified contracts and 27 are in Coming Soon status.
210 Gibbon Street
405 E Howell Avenue
6055 N Morgan Street
8132 Keeler Street
6919 Victoria Drive D
803 N Howard Street 333
Let’s take a look at some of our just-listed properties from the past week:
For more information, reach out to your favorite local Realtor. Happy House Hunting!
Note: Open house information may change. Please click on the website link to verify.
Corcoran McEnearney, 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, corcoranmce.com. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
This week’s Q&A column is sponsored and written by Brian Bonnet, Senior Loan Officer (NMLS ID# 224811) of Atlantic Coast Mortgage, LLC (NMLS ID# 643114). To learn more about current mortgage rates and the home loan process, contact Brian at 703-766-6702 or email [email protected]. You may also submit your questions to Corcoran McEnearney via email for response in future columns.
Question: Are there recent changes to mortgage rules?
Answer: Two major changes to know about – one restricting access for some foreign buyers, and the other aiming to protect all consumers from unwanted lender solicitations.
There are times when the residential mortgage industry is relatively free of program and policy change. This has been the case for the past couple of years as rates have remained stubbornly high with fewer underwriting guideline changes and new loan programs.
But there are two recent industry developments to be aware of: one of which will have a negative impact on some consumers, and the other, which should prove beneficial to all consumers.
In May of this year, FHA and USDA announced that their mortgage loan programs would no longer be available to individuals who are neither US citizens nor permanent resident aliens. Prior to the change, both programs were often utilized to provide mortgage financing to non-citizens and non-permanent resident aliens who otherwise had social security numbers and could document their right to work in the United States.
For instance, an H1B Visa holder who had obtained a social security number and had built a two-year credit history was eligible for both FHA and USDA financing. That is no longer the case. According to FHA, there were 603,040 FHA purchase loans in 2024, and approximately 2.8% of those (roughly 16,885 loans) were made to foreign nationals. Going forward, it will be more difficult for foreign nationals to obtain mortgage financing.
On the flip side, the current Congress is poised to pass legislation to ban what the mortgage industry calls trigger leads, which have been a significant annoyance for consumers. For several years, the three major credit bureaus have sold data when a mortgage lender obtains a consumer credit report – including consumers’ names and contact information – which some lenders across the country then used to make cold calls and send texts and emails offering their services.
When a consumer makes an application with a mortgage lender and the lender pulls a credit report, the credit reporting agencies transfer the consumer’s contact information almost immediately to other lenders who have paid for that information. The process is automatic and results in consumers receiving multiple calls, texts, and or emails almost immediately after the consumer’s chosen lender receives the credit report. Consumers are usually confused and annoyed as to why they are receiving the communications and have reported that the onslaught of outreach can be overwhelming.
The mortgage industry has lobbied Congress to ban the credit bureaus from the practice of automatically selling consumer contact information, and both the House and Senate recently passed similar stand-alone bills to do just that. The legislation will go through a reconciliation process and likely be sent to the President for signature, hopefully bringing relief to pestered consumers in the next few months.
No matter what changes occur in residential lending, our Atlantic Coast Mortgage team is knowledgeable, professional, and happy to assist you with the programs to achieve your ownership goals.
Brian Bonnet, Senior Loan Officer (NMLS ID# 224811)
If you would like more information about financing a mortgage in today’s market, please contact Brian Bonnet at [email protected] or call 703-766-6702.
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.
Corcoran McEnearney, 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, corcoranmce.com. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Just Listed highlights Alexandria properties that came on the market within the past week. This feature is sponsored by Corcoran McEnearney, the leader in Alexandria real estate since 1984.
It may be the dog days of summer, but there are still cool listings coming on the market. According to BrightMLS, our regional multiple listing system, 144 homes have been listed for sale from July 18-24 in the City of Alexandria and the Alexandria area of Fairfax County.
Prices range from $175,000 for a 1-bedroom condo at Canterbury Square to $2,195,000 for a 5-bedroom home in Beverley Hills. The breakdown by property type is: 60 condos, 33 townhomes, and 51 detached homes. 15 of the listings already have ratified contracts, and 42 are in Coming Soon status.
601 Wilkes Street 401
8618 Gateshead Road
1250 S Washington Street 820
6503 Carriage Drive
3908 Elmwood Drive
Let’s take a look at some of our just-listed properties from the past week:
For more information, reach out to your favorite local Realtor. Happy House Hunting!
Note: Open house information may change. Please click on the website link to verify.
Corcoran McEnearney, 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, corcoranmce.com. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
