Living inside the Beltway has always been an attractive choice for anyone looking to buy a home in Northern Virginia. In addition to the increasing property value, the proximity of useful resources and top institutes makes the area great for investment properties. Are you thinking of buying a home? Alexandria and Old Town Alexandria could be wonderful places to look; let’s find out why!
1. An Attractive Job Market
Traveling from Alexandria to other metropolitan cities in Washington DC is relatively easier. This is why the area has seen massive growth in its economy. Over the past years, we’ve seen several big-name companies and tech corporations opening their offices in Northern Virginia.
These companies often hire employees from within the cities in Virginia, including Alexandria, Old Town Alexandria, Mount Vernon, Annandale, and Arlington. Did you know Amazon built its headquarters in Virginia at the end of 2018?
In addition to job opportunities, living inside the Beltway also means access to better schools, sports facilities, and other extracurricular activities.
2. Culturally Diverse Neighborhoods
Places like Old Town Alexandria are famous for their rich heritage background. The culturally diverse neighborhoods are actually quite famous as local attractions. Who says you need to travel long distances to view ancient architecture, historic buildings and enjoy an old-school pub?
3. Traveling has Never been Easier
Over time, traveling in Northern Virginia has become especially easier, both within and outside the city. Don’t like walking around town? Not a problem! Several metro stations make traveling inside Virginia a lot easier.
In addition, three specific Metro stops have made traveling to other cities in DC extremely easy. The three stops are located at:
- Eisenhower Avenue
- King Street
- Braddock Road
4. Real Estate is on the Rise
If you’re thinking about buying a home, Alexandria is a great place to look. The value of real estate in the area has been rising, and it’s estimated to go higher over the next few years. If you want a generous return on investment on your property in the future and want to move to a more upscale home, investing in real estate in Alexandria is one of the best options.
If you’re looking for a real estate agent to buy a home in Northern Virginia in your budget, contact Michael Gailliot Homes now!
5. It is Amazon’s New Headquarters
As mentioned above, Amazon opened its new headquarters in Alexandria in November of 2018. This is their second headquarters. While the company has already hired over 3000 workers for its new facility, it plans to hire many more. In fact, it plans to hire a total of 25,000 workers for the multibillion-dollar HQ2 headquarters.
The headquarters is being built at National Landing. This is composed of partial territory in Arlington, and partial territory in Alexandria. This means that if you reside in Alexandria, VA, then you have lots of opportunities to work with Amazon.
This means more economic development for Alexandria as a whole as well as bustling employment in the city. This means that for those thinking of getting hired by Amazon and thinking of buying a home, Alexandria is perfect.
You will not only be able to gain employment in one of the biggest companies in the world if you move here. You will also be able to gain sure employment since they need thousands of workers there.
6. You Have Easy Access to the Rest of the DMV
When you step into Alexandria, you may find that it’s an independent city. However, it’s linked to both Arlington and DC effortlessly. In that way, it’s unique since it never seems like anything from the neighboring areas spills over, yet the connection is never lost.
The city is connected to DC by the Metrorail, and there are 3 stops along the way. You can gain access to Old Town as well as Braddock Road, which is near the chic Del Rey neighborhood.
The three stations allow you to make the trip around town and back without breaking a sweat. Due to the public transportation available, you can also walk without the need for a car to many different areas. You can even head to the District to enjoy the free federal museums if you feel like you’re in a touristy mood.
You can also visit Arlington for the bustling nightlife if you want. If you’re buying a home, Alexandria may be the best choice since it offers so much. It’s its own independent city-state of sorts, with connections to the outside world.
7. It’s a Hub of Local Art
Alexandria is a city of many different offerings, including history and art. In fact, Alexandria may be described as a city for artists and art lovers. A unique aspect of the city is the Torpedo Factory Art Center. It’s an old munitions factory that manufactured weapons during the first two World Wars. However, it was later converted into an art center by the Art League of Alexandria.
After that acquisition, the center quickly turned into a hub for artists to create what they wanted. This didn’t just include painters, but also graphic designers, sculptors, and the like. Today, the Art Center is one of the premier landmarks of the entire city.
It is a hub for art exhibitions as well as a studio space for artists to experiment. IN fact, it is the largest collection of working artist studios in the entire country. There are more than 165 artist studios on the campus, which is 3 stories high. You can even purchase directly from the artists if you’d like.
8. You Can Take in the Beauty of Nature Here
If you’re health-conscious, outdoorsy, or just a plain health nut, you’ll love Alexandria, VA. It’s got some of the healthiest communities in the entire country. There are tons of green spaces here, and they including biking trails and parks. So, if you want to take in the greenery or turn up the heat for your exercise routine, you can do both.
The best part is that Alexandria is a great link to other green spaces. You can explore the beautiful Huntley Meadows, which is located near Fairfax County. It is a wildlife preserve which is a historically significant tract of land. It’s also got wetlands that are home to Virginia’s beautiful and elusive wildlife.
Visitors can tour these places for the natural beauty of the plants and animals. Bird watchers can delight in the collection of beautiful local fowl in their natural habitat. The system is protected by the National Parks system, so you can relax knowing that the parks are here to stay.
9. It’s Brimming with History
Of course, we would be amiss if we didn’t talk about the history of Alexandria. If you’re buying a home, Alexandria may be the most historically significant town on your list. It’s got everything from the George Washington Masonic National Memorial to the Stabler Leadbeater Apothecary Museum. You also have access to Gadsby’s Tavern, which offers a peek into the Revolutionary Era inn style building.
These landmarks aren’t just here for show. You can actually experience what it was like to live in these times. Historical homes like the Carlyle House or the Spite House can give you real perspective. They’re some of the narrowest historic homes in history.
10. You’ll be Spoiled for Choice When Dining Out
One thing that Alexandria is perhaps more famous for than even its history is its food. If you’re a foodie or love to try new things, then you’ll love living in Alexandria, VA. It’s a haven as well as a heaven for foodies. It’s filled with favorites like Magnolia’s on King as well as authentic local chains, which are to die for.
The city is a hub of local food artists who love to experiment and serve up delicious options for every palette. The local recommendations that you must try include Lena’s Woodfired Pizza. If you’ve never had brick oven pizza in your life, then you should start with this one. If you’ve had oven-baked pizza before, then you’ll want to widen your palette with Lena’s servings.
If you’re more of a nightlife person, then you’ll love the breweries and nightclubs here. The Port City Brewing Company, the oldest package craft brewery in the DC area, is a double helping of taste and history. It serves as a great intro for the uninitiated to the world of craft beer.
You can also check out Captain Gregory’s if you’re feeling a little peckish. It’s a cocktail bar with delicious, sugary drinks. However, make sure that you book a spot online. You won’t want to miss out if there are no reservations available.
If you’re into the traditional Italian tastes of old, then you can visit Mia’s Italian Kitchen. It’s a beautiful restaurant as well as an adventure for your taste buds.
Buying a Home; Alexandria
Michael Gailliot Homes is a real estate business with experts always ready to help you. Whether you’re looking for an income property, investment property, or a forever home, we can help you!
