🕊️ Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor behind some of the most iconic roles in film, has died at 95. See the Virginia side of his story, how he built a life in horse country, showed up locally, and why his legacy here feels so personal.

🎲 After a key Senate vote, operators like Caesars and Wynn are signaling they would consider a Fairfax County resort if lawmakers give the green light.

🚨 While much of the country talks about slowdowns and potential drops, our local market is doing something completely different, and 2026 forecasts don’t show the crash many buyers are waiting for.

Scroll down and enjoy!

—Chris Colgan

Enjoy an evening looking up as the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club and museum staff help you peer through telescopes at the moon, stars, and planets during this popular stargazing night.
📍 Location: Smithsonian National Air and Space Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly
📅 Date: Feb 28 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Free
MORE INFO→

Taste your way through wine and snacks at this annual Fredericksburg festival featuring live cooking demos, wine-pairing tips, and advice from industry professionals.
📍 Location: Fredericksburg Convention Center, Fredericksburg
📅 Date: Feb 28 | 11 AM – 4 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Starting at $23
MORE INFO→

Laugh your way into the weekend with comedian Modi, one of New York’s top-rated comics, known for sharp wit, personal stories, and big-stage presence.
📍 Location: Capital One Hall, Tysons
📅 Date: Mar 1 | 6:30 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Starting at $79
MORE INFO→

NOT ENOUGH? SEE 10+ GREAT THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND→

In this video, I take you on a tour of the incredible new homes at Innovation Town Center by DR Horton. We also explore the massive changes coming to the area, including the Manassas Airport expansion for commercial flights, the vibrant Nova Live campus with 2 Silos Brewing and Black Sheep, and the George Mason University Science and Tech campus.

Driving the news: Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor whose career stretched from The Godfather to Tender Mercies, died peacefully at his home in Middleburg at age 95.

Why it matters: For decades, he was not just a screen icon passing through, but a real fixture in Virginia’s horse country, quietly building a life in Fauquier County and treating it as his true home base.

The local angle: That Virginia connection ran deep. Duvall owned Byrnley Farm in The Plains for years, a sprawling estate that also functioned as a working cattle farm.

Locals knew him as someone who showed up, including at community meetings, like when he spoke out in 2023 about concerns over a proposed Amazon data center and the long-term impact it could have on the character of the area.

He was also tied into the local scene through business, including past involvement with The Rail Stop Restaurant in The Plains.

The backstory: Duvall’s career was the kind most actors only dream about. Born in 1931, he trained as an actor, worked his way through theater, and broke through on film as Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird.

He went on to earn seven Academy Award nominations, winning Best Actor for Tender Mercies, while delivering unforgettable performances in films like The Godfather and Apocalypse

Now. He also left a mark on television, with major roles and awards tied to projects like Lonesome Dove and Broken Trail.

Zoom in: In recent years, another side of Duvall’s legacy resurfaced through a look back at his Virginia home: a Georgian-style farmhouse he shared with his wife, Luciana Pedraza Duvall, who designed the interiors.

Their farm became known for something unexpectedly personal, too. They converted a barn into a space for tango, a passion that shaped their life together and even influenced Duvall’s work as a director.

The bottom line: He leaves behind an outsized body of work, but also a distinctly local footprint, the rare kind that makes a world famous name feel, to a community, like a neighbor.

What massive new developments are completely changing the landscape of Northern Virginia real estate?

In this video, we are diving into the massive updates shaping the DMV area. We cover the new $900 million Kalahari Resort coming to Spotsylvania, the incredible Mini-Sphere planned for National Harbor, and the best local coffee shops to survive this cold winter. We also take a tour of the new homes at Innovation Town Center in Manassas and break down five major residential projects bringing thousands of new units to the region.

Driving the news: Legislation to allow a casino in Northern Virginia is gaining traction, and major Las Vegas operators are paying attention.

The Virginia Senate passed Senate Bill 756 in a 23-14 vote, opening the door for Fairfax County voters to consider a casino resort.

Details:

Virginia’s casino market is growing quickly. In 2025:

Temporary casinos are also operating in Norfolk and Petersburg as permanent resorts move ahead.

Why it matters: For Fairfax County, one of the wealthiest counties in the U.S., a casino could create a new stream of tax revenue at a time when office vacancies have weighed on local finances.

That could support schools, infrastructure, and public services without raising property taxes, a potential win for residents.

The big picture: Northern Virginia represents a sizable, untapped gaming market. Right now, much of that spending flows across the Potomac River to MGM National Harbor in Maryland, which generated more than $823 million in gross gaming revenue last year.

A Fairfax casino (with Tysons floated as a possible site) would likely redirect a portion of that spending back into Virginia.

Between the lines: Las Vegas operators rarely comment publicly on projects this early. The fact that both Wynn and Caesars are signaling interest suggests industry confidence in Northern Virginia’s earning potential.

Competition could also raise the bar on design, amenities, and scale if the project advances.

What’s next: The legislation must clear additional hurdles before Fairfax voters could weigh in.

If authorized, expect a formal bidding process, and potentially more national operators entering the mix.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE→

Driving the news: While much of the country talks about cooling markets, Northern Virginia is moving in the opposite direction.

Supply has jumped sharply, yet home values remain steady to rising across nearly every major county.

Details: In late 2025, we saw something that normally doesn’t happen:

County breakdown:

At the same time, active listings from September to November surged 40%–45%. Nationally, inventory rose just 7%–12% during that window.

Homes here are averaging 29–35 days on market. The national average is about 39 days.

Why it matters: For our local homeowners, this is good news. Prices are holding steady even as buyers gain more choices. That creates a healthier market without the sharp value drops seen in other parts of the country.

Northern Virginia’s economy continues to support housing demand. Federal employment, defense contracting, and a strong tech presence keep high-income buyers active. That stability protects local property values and supports long-term equity growth for homeowners.

The big picture: Northern Virginia compressed roughly 18 months of market adjustment into about six months. Inventory rose quickly. Sales activity remained strong. Prices stayed stable.

This is what rebalancing looks like without a crash.

Across the country, markets are cooling slowly. Here, we adjusted faster (and stayed ahead).

Between the lines: Buyers have more leverage, but they’re also more selective.

I’m seeing what I call the “show-ready” buyer trend. Homes that are clean, updated, and properly staged are still getting strong activity. Homes needing work are sitting.

Escalation clauses haven’t disappeared, but they’re more strategic now. Inspections and appraisals are back to normal. Buyers want professional repairs and permits, not quick patches.

That tells me this isn’t a desperate seller’s market. But it’s not a buyer’s market either. It’s balanced, with high standards.

The bottom line: Northern Virginia isn’t following the national script.

Inventory is up. Buyers have options. Prices are steady. The local economy remains strong. That combination is rare, and it’s keeping our market stable heading into 2026.

If you’re thinking about buying, selling, or simply want clarity on your neighborhood, my team and I are ready to help you build a plan that fits your goals.

Let’s get to work. Visit ColganTeam.com and connect with us today.

READ MY FULL INSIGHT→