Happy Friday, Northern Virginia!
In today’s update:
💎 Northern Virginia’s luxury market stayed strong in 2025, with buyers paying top dollar for standout estates. From record-breaking sales in McLean to historic properties on massive acreage, these 10 homes show where high-end demand is really landing.
🍝 Gainesville’s most talked-about restaurant space just found its perfect match. A beloved Italian spot from Arlington is moving in, and it’s not your typical pasta and wine joint. Think handmade dishes, bold flavors, and the kind of place you actually want to linger.
🍸 What’s the best-selling spirit in Virginia? Hint: It’s not a surprise (but what’s bubbling up behind it might be). From Tito’s vodka dominance to tequila’s unexpected surge, Virginia’s alcohol sales tell a bigger story about changing tastes and rising local brands.
Scroll down and enjoy!
—Chris Colgan
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Best Things To Do This Weekend
in the NoVA/DC Area
The Del McCoury Band
See this Grammy Award–winning bluegrass band live, led by Del McCoury alongside his sons Ronnie and Rob. The group is touring its 2024 album Songs of Love and Life, featuring fan favorites like Just Because and Evangeline.
📍 Location: The Barns at Wolf Trap, Vienna
📅 Date: Jan 16–21
🎟️ Tickets: $65.50–$87
MORE INFO→
Grease
Pied Piper Theatre brings the classic 1971 rock-and-roll musical to the stage, following greaser Danny Zuko and new girl Sandy Dumbrowski as they navigate high school life in the 1950s.
📍 Location: Hylton Performing Arts Center, Manassas
📅 Date: Jan 16–25
🎟️ Tickets: $30
MORE INFO→
Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Peace Walk and Parade
Celebrate and honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day with DC’s 21st annual parade and a 2-mile peace walk along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue.
📍 Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Washington, DC
📅 Date: Jan 19
🎟️ Tickets: Free
MORE INFO→
📉 $49 Million Flex Turns Into a
$13 Million Deal
Driving the news: Dan Snyder’s former mega-estate in Potomac, once listed at $49 million, just sold for a jaw-dropping $13.3 million at auction, a 73% markdown that sent shockwaves through the luxury real estate world.
Details:
Originally listed in 2021 for $49M
Dropped to $34.9M, then $24.9M — no bites
Donated to the American Cancer Society in 2024
Auctioned off this month for $13.3M
The 13.5-acre estate features a 25,000-square-foot main home with 5 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, a private theater, wine cellar, and club room — plus a staff residence, carriage house, and sweeping Potomac views.
Why it matters: As someone who works every day with luxury buyers and sellers, I see firsthand how important it is to price high-end homes realistically from the start. This sale wasn’t just a rare deal, it’s a case study in how even the most extravagant properties can get stuck if they’re out of step with the market.
And for locals? This is big news. The buyer scored one of the largest luxury discounts we’ve ever seen in the DMV, and Potomac just added a new mystery neighbor.
The big picture: This isn’t just about Snyder’s house. Ultra-luxury listings are facing real pressure across the board. Oversized, hyper-custom estates — no matter how grand — don’t move quickly unless there’s a real match between price and buyer expectations.
Between the lines: The longer a high-end home sits, the more it loses its shine. Ultra-specific design choices, like French chateau layouts or bunker-style builds, can narrow the buyer pool, and once the buzz fades, it’s hard to get it back.
The bottom line: In luxury real estate, patience isn’t always profitable. Pricing smart from day one can mean the difference between a buzz-worthy sale… and a $35 million face-plant.
🎥 How Northern Virginia Will Reinvent Itself by 2035
In this video, we're taking a look at how NoVA will reinvent itself completely by 2035!
👀 Massive Data Center Quietly Moves Forward in Prince William
Driving the news: A major new data center project, the Dulles South Innovation Center, is quietly taking shape along Sanders Lane in western Prince William County.
Details:
Developers are aiming to secure 1,930 acres of mostly agricultural land by working directly with residents and landowners.
The area lies just north of Pageland Lane, the site of the highly debated Digital Gateway project.
A cultural resources assessment has been filed — a required early step before any rezoning for industrial use can begin.
The developer, LSI Communications, has strong ties to the data center industry and local politics.
The project's vague website references “the digital brain” and “safeguarding our environment,” but offers no concrete details.
No official site plans, renderings, or rezoning applications have been submitted to Prince William County yet.
Why it matters: The proposed data center could bring major economic impact to the Gainesville area, including potential new jobs, tax revenue, and improved infrastructure.
But it may also spark another round of local debate over land use, development, and rural preservation.
The big picture: This push follows stalled progress on the nearby 2,100-acre Digital Gateway project. By contrast, Sanders Lane developers appear to be moving more cautiously: starting with surveys and quiet land acquisition rather than aggressive public proposals.
Between the lines: The firm has links to local figures like School Board member Erica Tredinnick and former Supervisor Pete Candland, suggesting possible political influence in how the project might proceed.
What’s next: A cultural review will be completed by mid-January 2026, which could set the stage for rezoning requests. Until then, residents and county leaders will likely keep a close watch on what unfolds.
💬 Let’s Connect: Buying, Selling, or Growing Your Brand in Northern Virginia?
Whether you’re looking to move to Fairfax, Prince William, Winchester, Alexandria, Arlington, or Reston — or want help growing your business with smart, local content I’ve got you covered.
📍 Explore homes for sale across Northern Virginia
📲 DM me on Instagram for real estate or content marketing help
💼 Visit ColganTeam.com to learn more or collaborate on your next project
💰 New Year, New Tax: Fairfax Meals Now Come With Extra Cost
Driving the news: As of Jan. 1, 2026, Fairfax County diners are now paying a 4% meals tax on top of Virginia’s 6% state sales tax, bringing the total to 10% on all prepared food and drinks.
Details:
The tax applies to dine-in, carryout, and delivery from restaurants, bakeries, food trucks, coffee shops, and delis.
Exemptions: Meals in the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, or the towns of Herndon, Vienna, and Clifton, are not taxed. Meals on college campuses are exempt if bought by students or employees.
Businesses that pay on time will receive a 3% rebate on collected taxes for the first two years.
Why it matters: The county expects to collect $67 million this year to help fund schools, transportation, and public services—without raising property taxes. This provides budget relief while reducing pressure on local homeowners.
The big picture: Fairfax joins neighboring counties that already use meals taxes to diversify funding. The policy aims to shift some tax burden to visitors and non-residents, helping to stabilize the local budget long term.
Between the lines: Community reactions remain split:
Supporters say it’s a fairer way to raise revenue, especially since it spreads the cost to tourists and non-homeowners.
Critics argue the tax hurts small restaurants still recovering from pandemic-era losses and could deter people from dining out.
The bottom line: Whether you're grabbing a coffee or dining out with friends, meals now come with a higher tab in Fairfax County, but supporters say it’s a way to protect core services without putting the squeeze on property owners.
Our Current Local Market Numbers
Washington, DC’s housing market remains somewhat competitive. Homes are selling in about 54 days with roughly two offers on average. The median sale price sits near $700K, showing modest year over year growth, even as price per square foot has softened slightly. Sales volume is down compared to last year, signaling a slower but more balanced pace.
For buyers: You’re seeing more breathing room. Homes are taking longer to sell, inventory is less frantic, and there’s more leverage to negotiate price, inspections, or concessions, especially on listings that linger.
For sellers: Pricing strategy matters more than ever. Well prepared, correctly priced homes are still moving, but overpricing can stall momentum fast. Presentation and timing are key in this market.
In Other News…
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And don’t forget to tell me which one was your favorite. See ya!