Prince William North
Braemar
Homes in Braemar, located in Bristow, often sell in less than a week, at least if they are in good condition, says Heidi Jerakis, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty in Gainesville. This development, built between 1994 and 2008 by Brookfield Residential, has townhouses from the upper-$200,000s and a range of single-family homes from smaller homes priced in the $400,000s to larger residences with 4,000-square-feet priced in the upper-$500,000s.
“People want to move to Braemar because it’s got good schools, great amenities and a great location,” says Jerakis.
Commuters can drive to a VRE station in 10 minutes, she says.
Residents can walk to school and to Braemar Village Plaza and Bristow Shopping Center within the community. Braemar is also within a short distance of Gainesville, Manassas and Haymarket. Amenities include nature trails, tot lots, tennis courts, basketball courts and two swimming pools.
“There’s a nice sense of community here, with people organizing pot luck dinners and other events all year,” says Jerakis.
The community association organizes events such as Halloween and holiday parties, yard sales and dog swim days.
The schools are among the best rated in Prince William County.
Stats:
Median Household Income: $127,044
Average Commute Time: 41 minutes
Schools: Cedar Point Elementary, E.H. Marsteller Middle, Patriot High
Zillow Forecast: Up 1.5 percent in 2018
Morris Farm
Morris Farm, another development by Brookfield Residential, is similar to Braemar but a little fancier, says Jerakis.
“Half the community is a nature preserve and there are miles of beautiful trails to walk on,” she says.
Residents can walk to a small shopping center and are located less than two miles from a bigger shopping center with a movie theater and restaurants.
“The Morris Farm community center is this beautiful Craftsman-style building,” says Jerakis.
The community center includes a swimming pool and a playground. There are also tot lots and walking trails in the development. Morris Farm is also known for its large conservation area, where residents can see a variety of wildlife or just enjoy a peaceful view.
Highly rated schools are an additional draw for families.
Homes include luxury garage townhouses priced in the mid-to-upper $300,000s, smaller single-family homes priced in the $400,000s and larger single-family homes priced in the $450,000s to the $600,000s.
Commuters can access I-66 quickly or take a bus or drive to a nearby VRE station in Manassas.
Stats:
Median Household Income: $127,044
Average Commute Time: 41 minutes
Schools: Glenkirk Elementary, Gainesville Middle, Patriot High
Zillow Forecast: Up 1.8 percent in 2018
Dominion Valley
Dominion Valley, a gated community under development by Toll Brothers, is an active community that attracts buyers of all ages and interests, says Jerakis.
“Every day feels like a Saturday here, which is the community motto, with lots of activities happening all over,” says Jerakis.
Amenities include a sports pavilion, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, golf course, restaurants, shops, fitness center and clubhouse.
“The community has two elementary schools, a middle school and a high school, all of which are considered top-tier schools,” says Jerakis.
While the schools attract families, there is also an entire active adult community within Dominion Valley that has its own amenities along with access to the rest of Dominion Valley. Jerakis says grandparents whose kids live in Dominion Valley love it because they can be engaged with their family but still have their own community, too.
While newly built homes are selling from the upper $500,000s to the $800,000s, Jerakis says there are resale homes for every price range from townhouses priced in the $300,000s up to $1 million single-family homes.
Stats:
Median Household Income: $127,044
Average Commute Time: 41 minutes
Schools: Alvey or Gravely Elementary, Ronald Reagan Middle, Battlefield High
Zillow Forecast: Up 1 percent in 2018
Prince William South
Ashland
Ashland—located off the Route 234 bypass—has about 800 homes, including both townhouses and single-family homes.
“The houses were built in the early 2000s and people like the fact that there’s a broad range of prices here,” says Jill Long, a Realtor with Century 21 New Millennium in Woodbridge. “There are affordable townhouses in the upper-$200,000s to the mid-$300,000s and single-family homes in the $400,000s, up to the $600,000s for larger houses.”
Government and military employees are particularly attracted to Ashland for its location near military bases and defense contractors, says Jerakis.
Commuters can use I-95 or head to the VRE station in Woodbridge.
Ashland has nice amenities and is close to a lot of shopping areas, including the Stonebridge shopping center that has a Wegmans, she says.
Community amenities include a swimming pool with a swim team, tennis courts, parks, playgrounds, a clubhouse and a fitness center. The family-oriented community has plenty of places for kids to play and activities to keep families busy.
The local schools are highly rated, considered to be among the best in this part of Prince William County. The fact that families can afford to become homeowners and have their kids in good schools keeps people buying in this community, says Long.
Stats:
Median Household Income: $106,818
Average Commute Time: 39 minutes
Schools: Ashland Elementary, Louise Benton Middle, Forest Park High
Zillow Forecast: Up 1.8 percent in 2018
Potomac Shores
This new community on the Potomac River is a little more expensive than nearby communities, in part because the homes are new and because of the planned amenities, says Long.
“Potomac Shores is spectacular, with this community center that looks like a spa and has amazing views of the river,” says Jerakis.
Development of this new community is about one-third of the way along, Jerakis estimates. Amenities include a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, hiking and biking trails and the new Shores Club, a 13,000-square-foot recreation center. An onsite VRE station is under construction and should be ready within two or three years, says Jerakis. A marina will also be part of the community, which has two miles of shoreline. The community also has parks and trails and will offer activities such as cooking classes and concerts, as well as a town center with shops and restaurants.
There will be several villages within Potomac Shores with homes from several builders. Townhomes are priced from the upper-$300,000s to the $400,000s. Single-family homes are priced from the low-$500,000s to the $600,000s.
Stats:
Median Household Income: $106,818
Average Commute Time: 39 minutes
Schools: Swans Creek Elementary, Potomac Middle, Potomac High
Zillow Forecast: Up 1.6 percent in 2018
Winding Creek Estates
This Woodbridge neighborhood is one of the fastest-selling communities in the southern part of Prince William County, says Long.
“Families love it here because there are good schools and lots of amenities that make it a great place to raise your kids,” says Long.
The schools are rated above-average on GreatSchools.org. The community has a swimming pool and tennis courts, plus cul-de-sacs and large yards where children can play.
Long says this is a traditional suburban neighborhood with plenty of options for family activities.
There are about 600 homesites in Winding Creek Estates, a neighborhood close to I-95, Minnieville Road and Dumfries Road. Single-family homes are priced in the $400,000s for four or five bedrooms with three bathrooms, making them attractive to first-time buyers as well as move-up buyers. The colonial or rambler-style homes were built in the late 1990s and early 2000s, most with three to six bedrooms and a two-car garage. Lot sizes average one-fourth acre.
Stats:
Median Household Income: $106,818
Average commute time: 39 minutes
Schools: Ashland Elementary, Louise Benton Middle, C.D. Hylton High
Zillow Forecast: Up 2.2 percent in 2018
