March 2026 Housing Update for Northern Virginia and DC

If you live in Annandale or anywhere in Northern Virginia, the March numbers tell a clear story: buyers are active again, prices are inching up, and there still are not enough homes to go around.​​ The details shift as you zoom in from the wider D.C. region to Northern Virginia and then to Fairfax County, but the overall theme is a tight, seller-leaning market.

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Bucket 1: D.C. Metro Snapshot

Across the full Washington D.C. metro, the market woke up in March.​ Closed sales reached 3,818, up 5.2% from March 2025, while the median sold price rose to $635,000, up 1.6% year over year.​ Homes took a median of 11 days to sell, new pending sales rose 5.3%, and showings increased 2.8%, which signals stronger buyer activity heading into spring.​ At the same time, new listings were down 5.9% from last year and months of supply remained low at 2.10.​

The takeaway at the regional level is simple: buyers have come back into the market, but sellers have not returned in the same numbers.​ That is why well-priced homes are still moving quickly across the metro area.​

Bucket 2: Northern Virginia Overall

Northern Virginia is performing a bit stronger than the region as a whole. In March, closed sales in Northern Virginia climbed to 1,336, up 11.2% from a year ago, and total sales volume increased by a little over 10%. The median sold price was about $760,000, up 0.6% year over year, which points to slower and healthier price growth than the sharp gains seen during the pandemic era.

Inventory is still the main story. New listings in Northern Virginia were down by roughly 6.3% from last March, which kept supply tight and competition alive across many price points. This is still a competitive market, but it is more balanced than the frenzy buyers and sellers experienced a few years ago.

How Northern Virginia Compares to D.C.

When you compare Northern Virginia with the broader D.C. market, the difference is not dramatic, but it is meaningful.​​ Across the full D.C. metro, closed sales were up 5.2% year over year and the median sold price increased 1.6% to $635,000.​ In Northern Virginia, sales rose faster at 11.2%, while price growth was more modest at about 0.6%, landing around $760,000.

That tells us Northern Virginia is seeing a stronger rebound in activity, while the broader D.C. market is moving at a steadier pace.​​ The District itself has also been more mixed, with stronger pending sales but softer pricing in some segments and generally longer market times than close-in Virginia suburbs. For homeowners in Annandale and the rest of Fairfax County, that is important context because Northern Virginia continues to look like one of the most resilient parts of the larger metro market.​​

Bucket 3: Fairfax County, Where Annandale Fits

Fairfax County is the most useful bucket for anyone looking in Annandale because this is where the local data becomes more practical.​ In March, Fairfax County recorded 900 closed sales, up 7.7% from March 2025.​ The median sold price was $768,000, up 1.7%, and homes sold in a median of just 6 days.​ New pending sales were up 5.5%, but new listings fell 7.4% and active listings were down 3.0%.​ Months of supply came in at only 1.26, which is a strong seller's market by any standard.​

This is the pressure point that matters for Annandale homeowners. More buyers are writing offers, fewer sellers are listing, and the typical home is going under contract in about a week.

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What This Means for Sellers

If you own a home in Annandale or elsewhere in Northern Virginia, the current market still gives sellers leverage.​​ Inventory is low, demand is steady, and Fairfax County homes are moving quickly.​ That does not mean sellers can overprice and hope for the best. Countywide price growth is only 1.7% year over year, so the homes that do best are the ones that are priced correctly, prepared well, and marketed professionally from day one.​

For sellers, the opportunity is not just about getting a home sold. It is about using today’s low supply and active buyer pool to create stronger terms, faster timelines, and potentially better negotiating power on the next move.​​

What This Means for Buyers

Buyers in Annandale and across Northern Virginia should expect competition, especially for well-located homes that are updated and priced correctly.​​ In Fairfax County, the combination of rising pending sales, falling new listings, and only 1.26 months of supply means the best homes are still attracting fast attention.​ At the same time, price growth is no longer exploding, which means buyers are making decisions in a more stable environment than they were a few years ago.​​

The best buyer strategy in this market is not to rush blindly. It is to be financially ready, clear on priorities, and prepared to move decisively when the right home shows up.​​

Christopher Yurko
Real Estate Advisor, PSA, ABR, SRS
Engel & Volkers DC
2216 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
[email protected] | (703) 945-4291