Alexandria, Virginia Housing Market

What stands out in Alexandria?

• Population is down 3.3% over five years: among the steepest population decline of 765 tracked cities. A shrinking population thins demand over time.
• Listings spend a median 38 days on the market: among the shortest times on market of 765 tracked cities. Few listings sit for long. Have financing ready before you look.

What does a shrinking population mean for Alexandria landlords?

The population in Alexandria's ZIP codes fell 3.3% over five years. 5.4% of homes are vacant, lower than most tracked cities. Households still grew 4.7% while the housing stock grew 3.8%. Fewer people living in more households means rental demand has held up better than the population suggests. Check vacancy by ZIP before you buy.

Who will rent from you in Alexandria?

In Alexandria, 46 out of every 100 households rent. That is nearly half. That share has held steady for five years. Alexandria added about 3,900 renter households in five years. Renter households average 2.2 people. Two and three bedrooms fit the typical renter.

The median Alexandria household earns $127,773 a year. Incomes here have grown 3.7% a year since 2019. Incomes and home prices are rising in step. A typical home costs 4.8 times the median income. That is the national middle. Neither cash flow nor appreciation is free here. At 30% of income, a tenant on the median income can pay about $3,194 a month.

To see what one Alexandria address would rent for and cash flow, run it through the app.

What is the fair market rent in Alexandria?

HUD sets one fair market rent for Alexandria city. For fiscal year 2026:

• 1 bedroom: $2,015 a month. Down 2% on last year, up 44% since FY2016.
• 2 bedrooms: $2,246 a month. Down 3% on last year, up 38% since FY2016.
• 3 bedrooms: $2,835 a month. Down 2% on last year, up 32% since FY2016.
• 4 bedrooms: $3,332 a month. Down 2% on last year, up 22% since FY2016.

The figures include tenant-paid utilities and apply to all of Alexandria city, so one home's rent can sit well above or below them. See fair market rent by city.

How does Alexandria compare with other Virginia markets?

Ranked among the 18 Virginia markets we track:

• Asking price: 2nd priciest of 18. Alexandria is at $611,315. Closest: Manassas and Leesburg.
• Buyer competition: 2nd least competitive of 8. Alexandria is at 0.36 buyers per home. Closest: Leesburg and Abingdon.
• Time on market: 5th shortest time on market of 18. Alexandria is at a median of 38 days on market. Closest: Richmond and Virginia Beach.
• Price cuts: 9th fewest price cuts of 18. Alexandria is at 21% of sellers cutting. Closest: Virginia Beach and Portsmouth.

How much can you negotiate in Alexandria?

For every 100 homes still for sale, 36 are under contract. In 2017–2019 at this time of year it was 32. The rest are still waiting for a buyer. About 1 in 5 sellers has already dropped their price. Each one has learned their first price was too high. Start your offer below their new price.

Alexandria listings spend a median 38 days on the market. That is 26% longer than a year ago. There are 844 homes for sale in Alexandria. That is 4.7 times the tightest month on record, but below the peak of 1,114. Supply is growing against last year.

What to do about it

• Start in 22312, 22304, and 22306, where sellers are weakest: in 22312, 29% of sellers have cut and listings spend a median 49 days on the market.
• Look for listings older than 60 days with a price cut.

What numbers should you underwrite an Alexandria deal with?

• Price growth to assume — +2.8%/yr. Alexandria has grown about 2.8% a year for five years and for ten. That pace held before and after the 2020–2021 boom, so it is a fair long-run input. Prices fell 1.0% over the last year. Use it for timing. The five-year rate is the better guide.
• Competition when you exit — +24%. Homes for sale in Alexandria are up 24% on last year, so your resale faces more competition than today's comps did.

Read how population change affects rentals and how we read these numbers, then run the numbers on a deal.

What is the median home price in Alexandria?

The median asking price in Alexandria is about $611,000 as of Sep 2026, down 3.7% from a year ago. This is the asking price on homes listed for sale. Sites that report sold prices or estimated home values will show a different number. Our Alexandria figures cover the 19 ZIP codes with an Alexandria mailing address, which can reach past city limits.

Is Alexandria a buyer's or seller's market in 2026?

Neither side has the upper hand in Alexandria right now. We compare Alexandria with 2017–2019 at this time of year: there are 36 pending sales per 100 listings, against 32 then; listings spend 9% more days on the market; 21% of sellers have cut their price, against 20% then.

Are Alexandria home prices going up or down?

The median asking price is 17.5% below its Jun 2023 peak. Per square foot the gap is smaller: 9.6% below the Feb 2024 high. Part of the drop is smaller homes coming to market. Prices stopped falling about a year ago. They are flat now. Waiting will not get you a cheaper house. It might still get you a more motivated seller.

Which Alexandria ZIP code has the most negotiating room?

22312. Only 33 homes under contract for every 100 still for sale. 29% of sellers there have cut their price, and listings there spend a median 49 days on the market.

What is the best month to buy a house in Alexandria?

Across 9 full years, Alexandria asking prices ran lowest in January, about 4.9% below the year's average. They peaked in June. The most homes for sale show up in October, about 28% above the yearly average.

What is the fair market rent in Alexandria?

HUD's fiscal year 2026 fair market rent for Alexandria city is $2,246 a month for 2 bedrooms and $2,835 for 3 bedrooms. The figures include tenant-paid utilities and cover the whole county.