Sales were down overall, but average prices were up in all three market segments, as the Fairfax County real estate market moved through the summer under challenging economic conditions.
A total of 1,144 properties went to closing in July, according to new figures from the Bright MLS multiple-listing service. That’s down 5% from 1,220 transactions in July 2024.
The risk of overflowing wastewater mucking up post office operations in Merrifield should be alleviated sometime this fall.
That’s when the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) anticipates completing a project to upsize the sewer pipes near the Mosaic District.
Va. National Guard to Train With ICE — “The Virginia National Guard says solders will begin training with Immigration and Customs Enforcement later this month. In a statement, the Guard said the soldiers will deploy with ICE in early September to ‘provide administrative and logistics support’ to the federal agency.” [WVTF]
White House to Review Smithsonian — “The White House is ordering a wide-ranging review of the Smithsonian museums and exhibitions ahead of the country’s 250th birthday with a goal of aligning the institution’s content with President Donald Trump’s interpretation of American history.” The eight museums subject to the initial review include the National Air and Space Museum, whose Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly. [Associated Press]
Fairfax Man Charged in Fatal Crash — “A Fairfax driver has been charged in a crash killing a motorcyclist and injuring two others in Nokesville Monday, according to Prince William County Police.” An 18-year-old driver of a 2012 Mazda 5 has been charged with reckless driving for allegedly failing to yield the right of way on a left turn, which caused a motorcyclist to crash into a Jeep Wrangler. [Patch]
Dems Push for Indigenous People’s Day — “State Democrats plan to make Indigenous People’s Day an official holiday in Virginia and will discuss the proposal in the next legislative session in January, a state delegate said over the weekend. The measure could face opposition from Republicans and others because it would mean replacing Columbus Day.” [Virginia Mercury]
Beyer Clashes With DHS — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security “publicly criticized U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D) in a press release after he visited Farmville Detention Center on Friday. It accused him of prioritizing detainees with criminal convictions over crime victims.” Beyer’s spokesperson responded with criticism of the conditions at the immigration detention center. [ARLnow]
Arrest Made in 7-Eleven Robberies — “A man being held without bond in the Alexandria jail faces robbery charges for allegedly walking into convenience stores in Alexandria and Fairfax County with a hammer or tire iron and stealing cigarettes from behind the counters.” [ALXnow]
Changes to Expect in New School Year — “It’s back-to-school season already, and many NoVA families will notice some significant changes.” For Fairfax County Public Schools, notable changes will include an expansion of weapons scanners to all high and middle schools, new cell phone restrictions, and additional speed cameras. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
Free Car Wash for School Workers — “In celebration of the start of the new school year, Mr Wash Car Wash is offering free car washes for all school employees on Thursday, Aug. 14 at all of its Northern Virginia locations, including the Mr Wash Car Wash at 8218 Leesburg Pike in Tysons.” [Patch]
It’s Wednesday — Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms, with a high temperature around 89°F. The 60% chance of precipitation declines to 40% at night, with showers and thunderstorms possible before 2am. Anticipate a mostly cloudy evening with the temperature dropping to around 73°F. [NWS]
A new paid parking system is in place for the retail shops outside the Dunn Loring Metro station.
The garage and surface parking lot adjacent to District Taco in the Shops at Avenir Place now requires visitors to pay for parking using their cell phones — specifically the app Metropolis, which boasts a process without tickets or cash.
One month after Congress passed a federal budget bill with a provision directing NASA to transfer a space shuttle to Texas, the space agency remains tight-lipped on any impending relocation plans.
The bill, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, requires acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy to identify a space vehicle to transfer to a NASA field center. The requirements stipulate that the ship must have flown into space, carried astronauts, and is selected with the concurrence of a nonprofit entity designated by the administrator.
A new gym is getting warmed up in Vienna’s former Tuesday Morning storefront.
After months of preparation, Pump24 Vienna anticipates opening in the Vienna Shopping Center at 136A Maple Avenue sometime in August, though the official launch date remains a moving target.
The Fairfax area’s luxury housing sector is holding up slightly better than the overall real estate market, according to a new data analysis.
Sales prices for the top 5% of the D.C. region’s market increased 2.3% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2025, according to a new report issued by multiple-listing service Bright MLS.
Lawmakers Criticize Trump Move on D.C. — “Alexandria’s congressional delegation joined a chorus of regional lawmakers Monday condemning President Donald Trump’s decision to federalize Washington D.C.’s police department and deploy National Guard troops, with U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine calling the move a ‘waste of taxpayer dollars’ designed to distract from other issues.” [ALXnow]
Virginia Shares Personal SNAP Info — “The Virginia Department of Social Services is sharing the personal information of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applicants with the federal government, a VDSS spokesperson confirmed to VPM News Friday.” Names, dates of birth, social security numbers, addresses and other data were requested in May by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in response to an executive order from President Donald Trump. [VPM News]
Reston Man Sentenced on Child Porn Charges — “A 52-year-old Virginia man was sentenced in federal court on Friday to 188 months in prison on child pornography charges, according to court records.” The man pleaded guilty in April to possessing hundreds of videos and images that were found on his phone by police, who arrested him at Dulles International Airport last year. [Patch]
Amtrak Hits Record Ridership — “Amtrak Virginia’s ridership numbers continue to show increases, according to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. Ending fiscal year 2025, more than 1.4 million passengers traveled on state supported rail service — an increase of 4.8% compared to the same time last year.” [Virginia Mercury]
Inova to Add Hospice Care — “Falls Church’s Inova Health System has teamed up with a Baltimore-area hospice and palliative care provider to bring its end-of-life services into Northern Virginia.” Expected to begin in early 2026, the new service from Gilchrist Hospice Care will be available to patients in Inova’s hospitals and senior living facilities as well as their own homes, addressing “an unmet need” in a region where 18% of the population is older than 60. [Washington Business Journal]
Cheese Shop Coming to Falls Church — “Contractors are currently building the storefront for The Cheese Cartel at 922 W. Broad Street, founder Alyssa Romashko told ARLnow. The new small business plans to carry a rotating selection of meats, cheeses, wines and bread.” [ARLnow]
Vienna Baker Frosts Cupcake Delights — “Adam Wald, a Giant associate for eight years, has captured the hearts of the Vienna community with his elaborate pull-apart cupcake creations. Wald transforms simple treats into dinosaurs, dragons, unicorns, and firetrucks. What started as a small creative experiment during the pandemic has grown into a full-blown bakery sensation.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Tuesday — Expect patchy fog to clear by 8am, making way for partly sunny skies and a high near 91. A calm wind will pick up from the south around 6 mph in the afternoon. As for Tuesday night, it’ll be partly cloudy with a low of 74, and the south wind will continue at around 6 mph. [NWS]
Two Fairfax County Police Department commanders have been dropped from a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the mother of the victim in a fatal police shooting.
A federal judge on Friday (Aug. 8) granted the removal of both Deputy Chief Wilson Lee and Major Scott Colwell from the civil lawsuit initiated by the mother of Timothy Johnson, who was killed by a police officer during a chase in February 2023.
The D.C. region’s annual Summer Restaurant Week is coming back next week, and around 30 restaurants around Fairfax County are joining in.
The restaurant week is run by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), which also organizes winter restaurant weeks. Restaurants offer three-course meals for brunch, lunch and dinner with some wine and cocktail pairings at some locations.
