The tower at Reagan National Airport on a sunny day (staff photo)
An air traffic controller at Reagan National Airport has pleaded guilty to assaulting a co-worker in the airport’s control tower earlier this year.
Damon Marsalis Gaines admitted guilt yesterday (Wednesday) to one count of assault and battery — a misdemeanor — in Arlington County General District Court, according to online court records.
Water Park visitors sit outside for an event (courtesy of Water Park)
An annual celebration of local wines and beers is returning to Crystal City for its second year next month.
The Virginia Beer and Wine Festival is coming to Water Park from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, September 27. The event will feature live music, lawn games and refreshments from several Virginia-based vendors.
This regularly scheduled column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. If you would like to work with Eli and his team in Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. Metro area, you can reach him directly at[email protected].
Question: How has the local real estate market performed so far this year?
Northern VA, Arlington, and Washington DC Absorption Trends (demand)
Northern VA, Arlington, and Washington DC Inventory Trends (supply)
Washington DC List Price Trends (market values)
Northern VA & Arlington Inventory is Being Absorbed Faster
After four straight quarters of double-digit decreases in year-over-year absorption, the Northern VA and Arlington markets saw a ~8% increase in absorption rate.
What this means: Demand increased in Q1
Northern VA & Arlington New Listing Volume is Declining
After a promising trend of six straight quarters of year-over-year increases in the number of homes listed for sale in Northern VA, new listing activity fell by ~1% each of the previous two quarters.
What this means: Sellers have less competition, buyers have fewer choices
Washington DC Condo Absorption is Plummeting
The absorption rate for DC condos has declined year-over-year for 16 quarters straight and 23 out of the past 26 quarters.
What this means: It is difficult to find buyers for DC condos
Washington DC Condo Inventory Declined Slightly
Total inventory declined by 3.4% year-over-year, the first quarterly drop since Q4 2023. Still, there were great than 2x more condos for sale in DC in Q1 2026 than Q1 2020
What this means: Motivated sellers must compete aggressively with each other for buyers
Washington DC Condos Keep Getting Cheaper
The average price of a DC condo listed for sale is 9.4% less than it was in Q1 2025 and ~9% less than it was ten years ago.
What this means: Even lowering the price won’t guarantee a buyer
If you’d like to discuss buying, selling, investing, or renting, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].
We have access to the most pre and off-market listings across the DMV of any brokerage and are happy to share what’s available with anybody who asks.
Below are some of our team’s pre/off-market listings, details and additional listings available by request:
Westover – 4BR/2BA/2,000sqft – Detached Single Family (2000) – 23rd St N Arlington VA 22205
Green Valley – 5BR/4.5BA/3,000sqft – Detached Single Family (2020) – 24th St S Arlington VA 22206
Ballston – 4BR/3.5BA/2,400sqft – Townhouse (2008) – N George Mason Dr Arlington VA 22203
Ballston – 4BR/3.5BA+office/4,000 sqft – Four Townhouses (2026/2027) – 11th St N Arlington VA 22201
Rosslyn – 2BR/2BA/1,800sqft – Condo (2021) – 1781 N Pierce St Arlington VA 22209
Williamsburg – 6BR/5.5BA/5,500 sqft – Detached Single Family (2026) – 27th St N Arlington VA 22207
Yorktown – 6BR/6.5BA/6,000+ sqft – Detached Single Family (2026) – N Greencastle St Arlington VA 22207
Eli and his team believe that your real estate needs should be managed by advisors, not salespeople. Their mission is to guide, educate, and advocate for their clients through real advice, hands-on support, and personalized service.
Bus that serves Arlington's STAR program (via Arlington County)
Members of an advisory panel are suggesting that the County Board might need to intervene in issues with a transportation program for residents with disabilities.
The Beer Garden at a previous year's Falls Church Festival (courtesy City of Falls Church)
The annual Falls Church Festival is approaching, bringing back a day of live music, activities and tastings from local restaurants.
Over 90 vendors and civic organizations will join the fun as the festival returns for its 49th year from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13. The event outside City Hall at 300 Park Avenue is rain or shine.
The morning will begin with a panel discussion featuring professionals working directly with survivors, legal experts engaged in shaping policy, trauma-informed psychologists, and pastoral care specialists. Together, they will help us consider how to respond faithfully and responsibly to the realities of sexual exploitation.
Following the panel, we will offer breakout sessions that allow participants to engage more deeply with these topics. We will conclude with a closing prayer liturgy centered on a call to action.
A D.C. woman has been arrested and charged with a trio of thefts from Arlington stores.
The thefts date back to October 2024. Police did not identify the businesses involved but they occurred on two blocks, in Pentagon City and Rosslyn, that correspond with the location of Target stores.
Mason Square on the GMU Virginia Square campus (courtesy George Brazier)
Flyover Later Today — From AlertDC: “The Naval Air Force Atlantic will control a flyover in the National Capital Region at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at approximately 1:05PM.”
Recycling Event Next Month — “A family favorite returns for the sixth year as the Solid Waste Bureau opens its doors at the Trades Center in Shirlington. Explore the world of recycling, trash-to-energy and other key environmental services. See the big work machines (The Rock Crusher! The Tub Grinder!) up close, sit in the driver’s seat and meet the experts who keep Arlington clean and sustainable.” [Arlington County]
GOP Poll Gains — “Virginia Republicans are growing cautiously optimistic about Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears’s (R) chances in November’s gubernatorial race after polling showed the Republican nominee closing the gap.” [The Hill]
Viral Sign Plays Role? — “With one tone deaf sign, Arlington leftists completely changed the tone and tenor of this campaign… the last week has been a game changer in the race for governor in Virginia.” [Arlington GOP/X]
FCPS Tightening School Board Security — “Starting this school year, Fairfax County Public Schools announced that it will expand its growing weapons screening program to school board meetings, requiring attendees to pass through OpenGate detectors before gaining entry.” [FFXnow]
It’s Thursday — Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures reaching up to 81°F and a calm wind transitioning to a southwest breeze of 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. For Thursday night, anticipate partly cloudy skies, lows around 61°F, and a gentle south wind at 3 to 5 mph. [NWS]
Expect a mostly sunny day with temperatures reaching up to 81°F and a calm wind transitioning to a southwest breeze of 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. As for Thursday night, anticipate partly cloudy skies, lows around 61°F, and a gentle south wind at 3 to 5 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
💡 Quote of the Day
“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs
Police officer monitoring activity at the Pentagon City mall (courtesy ACPD)
The Arlington County Police Department has been expanding recruitment efforts with new digital advertising and outreach, although departures from the force continue to hinder staffing.
Earlier this year, ACPD launched a new recruitment website and dedicated recruitment social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram, department spokesperson Ashley Savage told ARLnow.
Unveiling of Boulevard Manor stumbling stones (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)
New “stumbling stones” are honoring the lives of two individuals enslaved in present-day Boulevard Manor in the 18th century.
The brass markers in the sidewalk at 516 N. Livingston Street honor the lives of Con and Killemacse, who in the mid-1700s were enslaved on farmland that now forms the Boulevard Manor neighborhood.