Condo convenience, a newer townhouse, or a detached home with a yard: a $700,000 budget buys three very different daily lives in Alexandria, Virginia.
Location matters: these are Alexandria mailing addresses in Fairfax County, not the City of Alexandria.
Same Money, Different Life | September 9, 2026. Listing prices and Active status checked September 9. Follow the listing links for current availability.
Watch the episode
The video link will be added here when available. In the meantime, use the three listing links and comparison below to follow along.
Three choices under one $700K ceiling
Pick 1, 2, or 3 before opening the homes. After comparing the tradeoffs, ask yourself: did your answer change?
Montebello condo
$700,000
5902 Mount Eagle Drive #714
2 bedrooms + den | 2 bathrooms
1,525 sq. ft. | 1982
Priority: one-level interior and amenities.
North Hill townhouse
$695,000
2802 Dart Drive
3 bedrooms | 3 full + 1 half baths
1,871 estimated sq. ft. | 2023
Priority: newer construction and rooftop space.
Groveton Heights detached
$650,000
6630 S Kings Highway
4 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms
2,125 finished sq. ft. | 1954
Priority: detached ownership and a yard.
1. Montebello: convenience comes with recurring costs
5902 Mount Eagle Drive #714 | $700,000 | Condo fee: $1,180.12/month
What you gain: a one-level interior in an elevator building, assigned indoor garage parking, an enclosed balcony, and community amenities. The seventh-floor residence has two bedrooms plus a den, two bathrooms, and 1,525 square feet reported from assessor records.
What you give up: detached separation, a private yard, and freedom from substantial recurring association costs. The fee belongs in the monthly comparison, alongside taxes, insurance, and financing.
Who should choose it: someone who prioritizes the one-level layout and amenity access over private land. It is not maintenance-free ownership.
Bright MLS also reported a $2,360.24 capital contribution and additional one-time fees. Confirm the full association schedule, reserves, inclusions, rules, and possession terms. Seller rent-back was noted. Listing courtesy of Weichert, REALTORS. MLS VAFX2328852.
2. Dart Drive: newer construction, more stairs
2802 Dart Drive | $695,000 | HOA: approximately $98/month
What you gain: a 2023 fee-simple townhouse with a one-car garage, three bedrooms, three full bathrooms, one half bathroom, a loft, and rooftop outdoor space.
What you give up: detached separation and a substantial private yard. Four levels mean circulation is part of everyday life; think through groceries, workspaces, and where you spend your time.
Who should choose it: someone who values newer finishes and townhouse living more than a detached lot, and is comfortable with multiple levels.
The listing reports 1,871 finished square feet as an estimate; the assessor figure differs. Verify measurements before relying on a price-per-square-foot comparison. Solar ownership, financing, and transfer obligations need confirmation; no energy savings are promised here. Listing courtesy of Weichert, REALTORS. MLS VAFX2326952.
3. Kings Highway: detached living for $50K less
6630 S Kings Highway | $650,000 | 0.28 acre | No garage
What you gain: a detached home, fenced outdoor space, a patio, driveway parking, and finished lower-level living space. The asking price is $50,000 below the episode ceiling.
What you give up: newer construction and the condominium amenity model. An older detached home brings direct responsibility for the building and grounds. Evaluate the main-road setting and noise in person rather than judging them from photos.
Who should choose it: someone whose priorities are a private yard and detached ownership, with willingness to assess and manage upkeep.
Finished area combines 1,125 above-grade square feet from assessor records and 1,000 estimated finished below-grade square feet. The 2,250 total includes 125 unfinished square feet and is not all finished. Four bedrooms includes a lower-level bedroom. HOA status remains unconfirmed. The $50K price difference is not a renovation estimate or cash returned to the buyer. Listing courtesy of North Real Estate LLC. MLS VAFX2333674.
Where are these homes?
Use the address-based maps to orient yourself, then open each listing for its full property map. These are location references, not verified parcel boundaries or commute estimates.
For a regional reference, compare your actual travel needs with the Pentagon, Fort Belvoir, Huntington Metro, and your workplace. Traffic, station access, gate access, and time of day can change the trip considerably.
Our internal market numbers
These three listings are examples, not the whole market. Ask A Walker’s internal data separates completed sales from the current inventory snapshot.
These August figures cover Alexandria in Fairfax County, across all prices and property types. They do not describe only the $600,000-$700,000 bracket or only these neighborhoods.
The September 7 inventory snapshot showed 270 active listings and 160 pending listings in that same broad market area. Active, pending, and closed sales measure different stages and dates; these figures do not establish a week-over-week trend.
For additional context, August closed sales in ZIP 22303 totaled 11, with a $616,500 median price and 26 median days on market. ZIP 22306 totaled 19, with a $585,000 median price and 22 median days on market. Small samples and differing property mixes limit direct comparisons.
Compare the ownership experience, not just the price
- Which matters most: a one-level interior, newer construction, or a private yard?
- How do fees, taxes, insurance, financing, and maintenance change the monthly budget?
- Which responsibilities do you want the association to handle, and which will you handle?
- How will stairs, parking, storage, and your travel routine work day to day?
- Which facts need documents, inspection, or an in-person visit before you decide?
Use our home-affordability calculator, monthly housing-cost calculator, and down-payment scenario calculator to test assumptions. Estimates are not loan offers or guarantees.
Continue your research
- Northern Virginia home-buying guide
- Compare the Fairfax episode
- Compare the Ashburn episode
- Search current Northern Virginia listings
Your budget. Your priorities. Your next step.
Complete the Perfect Home Questionnaire to tell us what you are looking for. Then schedule a Zoom conversation to discuss your priorities, compare your options, and answer your real estate questions.
Sources and verification
- Property facts: Bright MLS reviewed September 9, 2026; linked Ask A Walker IDX pages checked the same day. Information is deemed reliable, not guaranteed. Listings are offered by the credited brokerages.
- Closed sales: Ask A Walker internal market metrics, August 2026 monthly closed-sales records, all property types, Alexandria in Fairfax County and the stated ZIP codes.
- Inventory: Ask A Walker internal revalidated aggregate dated September 7, 2026, 10:30 a.m. Eastern.
Prices, status, fees, measurements, and terms can change. Independently confirm material facts and association obligations. Conceptual featured artwork does not depict these actual listings. Listing photography remains on the linked listing pages.
