It’s true that the D.C. region has one of the hottest housing markets in the country. Home prices continue to rise as demand grows. In Northern Virginia, Fairfax County has been the place to settle for decades due to its close proximity to the city. But now, more and more families are looking further out for more space to spread out and to find more breathing room in their budget. And with improving commuter access from these locales to downtown D.C., these communities continue to boom in popularity.

What Home Shoppers Love About Loudoun County

With its county seat in the historic city of Leesburg, Loudoun County once primarily consisted of small farming communities, historic sites and the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Today, the county runs the gamut, where the easternmost locations have transformed into family-friendly suburbs located just 30 miles from Washington, D.C., and western parts of the county consist mostly of farmlands, horse pastures and award-winning wineries.

It’s true that, since 2008, the county has been ranked first in the U.S. in median household income, but that doesn’t mean it’s out of reach for many first-time homebuyers in the area. Certain pockets of the county are home to grand multi-million dollar estates that skews this figure, but there are still plenty of affordable new homes. New home neighborhoods, like Waterford Manor near Leesburg, has become a hotspot for home shoppers looking to spread their roots and raise their families in Northern Virginia.

Ultimately, this location has become such popular place for home shoppers because the county offers such an attractive mix of experiences. The comfort and convenience of the suburbs mix with the natural beauty of the Virginia countryside. For families with children, Loudoun County is also highly desired due to its ranking as the 3rd best school district in the state. And access into the city will only get better when the second phase of the Silver Metro Line is completed — connecting Dulles International Airport in Loudoun County with downtown D.C.

What Home Shoppers Love About Prince William County

Located to the south of Washington, D.C., Prince William County offers many of the same attractive lifestyle considerations as Loudoun County does in the western part of the region. This area has seen incredible growth in the past few decades and now mixes beautiful, open spaces with modern, suburban-friendly development with tons of options for shopping and entertainment.  

Prince William County also offers a variety of commuter options. With the I-95 corridor intersecting the county and the recent opening of I-95 express lanes, you’ll have a straight shot in and out of D.C. But more and more commuters are choosing to forego automobile traffic entirely and board the Virginia Railway Express commuter train that connects with the D.C. Metro.

Arguably, the best example of this attractive lifestyle can be enjoyed at the master-planned community of Potomac Shores. It combines the allure of the county’s beautiful natural spaces with resort-style amenities, retail and entertainment options along the Potomac River. The community will even be opening its own VRE Station in 2020, so residents heading into D.C. will be able to escape the Northern Virginia traffic gridlock entirely.