Housing | ALXnow

Alexandria wins Bloomberg Philanthropies grant to fight housing shortage

Published October 15, 2026 at 2:45PM

As seen at the 204-unit affordable housing apartment complex Samuel Madden Homes, Nov. 12, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria is one of 15 cities across the country chosen to receive between $450,000 and $750,000 each in grant funding to increase its housing stock.

Today (Oct. 15), Bloomberg Philanthropies announced that Alexandria is among the first 15 cities to get the grant funding, and that 30 nationwide will be chosen to combat a national shortage of homes. Alexandria was awarded the funds, along with Albuquerque, N.M., Charleston, S.C., Chattanooga, Tenn., Cleveland, Columbia, S.C., Durham, N.C., Louisville, Ky., Miami, Nashville, Tenn., Omaha, Neb., Pittsburgh, Portland, Maine, Providence, R.I. and San Jose, Calif.

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Elevated interest rates are putting a chill in Alexandria’s real estate market

By Scott McCaffrey

Published October 15, 2026 at 11:45AM

Home living room and dining room (via Francesca Tosolini/Unsplash)

Affordability issues and higher interest rates led to a rough month in real estate across Alexandria in September.

Sales for the month totaled 143, down from 167 a year before and below the five-year average of 150 for the month, according to data reported Oct. 12 by MarketStats by ShowingTime.

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Goodwin Living breaks ground on new 257-unit senior housing development in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman

Published October 9, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated October 14, 2026 at 10:40AM

Rendering of Goodwin House Seminary Road (courtesy of Goodwin Living)

Additional senior living units from a locally-based operator are coming to Alexandria’s West End.

Goodwin Living broke ground Wednesday (Oct. 7) on the $360 million Goodwin House Seminary Road at N. Beauregard Street and Seminary Road. Mayor Alyia Gaskins and City Council Members Sandy Marks and Abdel Elnoubi joined Goodwin Living and Clark Construction leaders for the groundbreaking.

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Aspasia Xypolia appointed as permanent Alexandria Office of Housing director

By Emily Leayman

Published September 10, 2026 at 2:15PM

Aspasia Xypolia has been appointed as the permanent director of the Alexandria Office of Housing (via City of Alexandria)

The acting director of Alexandria’s Office of Housing has been chosen to fill the permanent role.

City Manager Jim Parajon appointed Aspasia Xypolia as director of the Office of Housing, the city announced today (Sept. 10). The city had conducted a national search to fill the role after former director Helen McIlvaine announced her retirement at the end of April.

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Alexandria rents drop 2.8% from last year but remain well above pre-pandemic levels

By Scott McCaffrey

Published September 2, 2026 at 11:45AM

Apartment living room (photo via Quillia/Unsplash)

Despite a year-over-year decline, median Alexandria apartment costs remain 15% above pre-pandemic rates and 26% higher than the mid-Covid low, according to new data.

August’s median city rental rates were $2,019 for one-bedroom units, $2,481 for two bedrooms and $2,205 overall, according to figures reported Aug. 26 by Apartment List.

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

By Scott McCaffrey

Published August 13, 2026 at 2:45PM

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

By Scott McCaffrey

Published August 12, 2026 at 2:45PM

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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State-backed solar installation program sees participation trickle up in Alexandria

By Emily Leayman

Published August 6, 2026 at 3:45PM | Updated August 10, 2026 at 3:02PM

Solar panel installation (via Bill Mead/Unsplash)

A solar panel installation program championed by Virginia’s governor is gaining traction in Alexandria and other areas of the state as homeowners look for ways to address rising electricity costs.

Switch Together, a bulk purchasing initiative to connect residents to solar installers, was recently expanded from Northern Virginia to other parts of the state. It was previously only open in Fairfax and Arlington counties, with Alexandria joining the roster last summer.

News

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

By Scott McCaffrey

Published August 6, 2026 at 1:45PM

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.

News

ARHA appoints former longtime CEO as interim amid national search

By James Cullum

Published July 17, 2026 at 1:45PM

ARHA properties in Old Town (staff photo by James Cullum)

Roy Priest, the former longtime CEO of the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, has been named the interim CEO until a permanent successor is chosen, the organization announced this week.

Priest was CEO of Alexandria’s public housing authority from 2006 to 2017, and his temporary reinstatement follows last month’s resignation of interim CEO Rickie Maddox. Priest started work on July 7 and will act as interim CEO for five or six months until the ARHA Board fills the permanent CEO position, ARHA Board Chair Mark Jinks told ALXnow in an email.

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

By Scott McCaffrey

Published July 13, 2026 at 9:15AM

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.