Northern Virginia Is the Most Competitive Housing Market

In anticipation of the coming Amazon headquarters, Alexandria and Arlington, Va., have become the nation’s two most competitive housing markets, National Mortgage News reports.

It's hardest for buyers to win a home in Alexandria and Arlington, cities near Washington's Reagan National Airport and close to where Amazon is building its East Coast headquarters, according to a study by Redfin Corp. The brokerage's analysis factored in bidding wars, waived contingencies, above-list-price offers and how fast properties went under contract.

Homes that sold last month were on the market for a median 11 days in Arlington and 14 days in Alexandria, about a week less than in the previous July for both locations. That compares with 27 days in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and 38 days nationally. About 57% of homes near Amazon's Northern Virginia site were snapped up by buyers in two weeks or less.

"The Amazon HQ2 effect has become a permanent factor in the Arlington and Alexandria housing markets," local Redfin listing agent Marcia Burgos-Stone said in the report. "Some sellers are still opting to hold on to their homes and wait until it becomes a more concrete reality in the hopes that they'll get more money. This has led to a shortage of homes for sale, which puts pressure on buyers who are concerned that they'll be left behind if they can’t find a home before things get too heated up."

Read more