Home loans in Northern Virginia

What's different about lending here

Northern Virginia sits inside the Washington high-cost area, so the 2026 conforming and FHA limits are $1,249,125 rather than the national $832,750. That changes what counts as a jumbo loan and keeps most Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax purchases in conventional pricing. More on the limits and jumbo pricing.

It's also one of the densest military and federal markets anywhere: the Pentagon, Fort Belvoir, Quantico, Fort Myer, and the agencies and contractors around them. A large share of my Northern Virginia clients use a VA loan, often for the second or third time, and the questions are usually about entitlement, PCS timing, and whether a specific condo building is VA-approved. I've closed hundreds of these.

Closing costs in Virginia

Virginia splits recording taxes between the parties: the seller pays the grantor tax, the buyer pays the state and local recordation tax on the deed and the mortgage. Virginia is a settlement-agent state, so you'll close with a title or settlement company rather than an attorney, and I work with several across the region who can close at your home or office, or remotely with an online notary.

Property tax rates vary noticeably by county, and that shows up in the monthly payment. I run the real county rate, not a statewide estimate, when I quote you.

First-time buyers

Virginia Housing (the state housing authority) offers reduced-rate first mortgages, down-payment grants, and a mortgage credit certificate that turns part of your interest into a federal tax credit, all for buyers under the income and price limits. They stack with conventional, FHA and VA loans. If you're a first-time buyer in Northern Virginia, we check your eligibility before anything else.

Condos and townhomes

Much of the inventory under $700,000 in Arlington and Alexandria is condo or townhome. Condo loans here depend on the building: the HOA budget, owner-occupancy ratio, and whether the project is on the FHA and VA approved lists. I review the condo documents early, because a building problem is the one thing that can't be fixed at the last minute.

A common question

"Do I need a lender in Virginia, or can you do it from Maryland?" Either. I'm licensed in Virginia, I lend there every month, and the closing happens with a Virginia settlement company. The lender's office address has no bearing on the loan.