Housing
- Manassas Park Expands Affordable Housing and First-Time Homebuyer Initiatives for Fiscal Year 2027
The City of Manassas Park is expanding its affordable housing initiatives and updating eligibility requirements for prospective homeowners as part of its Fiscal Year 2027 community spending plan. Local officials are leveraging federal HOME funds to support a First-Time Homebuyer Program that provides critical down payment and closing cost assistance. These programmatic updates are designed […]
- Virginia Budget Proposal Reaches Near $100 Billion as Spending Outpaces Revenue Growth
Outgoing Governor Glenn Youngkin released the biennial budget on December 17, 2025, outlining significant fiscal priorities for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The proposed general fund operating spending totals a staggering $34.8 billion in fiscal 2027, which represents a substantial 6.2 percent increase over the fiscal 2026 base budget. Fiscal conservatives are already raising alarms because […]
- Virginia’s $17 Million Eviction Program Expansion Sparks Fiscal Concerns
The Virginia state budget recently advanced a massive expansion of taxpayer-funded housing subsidies, raising concerns among fiscal conservatives about runaway spending. Lawmakers allocated an astonishing $17 million for eviction prevention assistance over the biennium, vastly expanding the state’s footprint in private housing matters. This hefty appropriation represents a drastic expansion from t
- Bert Mizusawa Suggests Capital Gains Exclusion Update for Housing Relief
Senate candidate Bert Mizusawa has presented a proposal to modify capital gains tax exclusions related to the sale of principal residences as a means to address housing supply issues. The suggestion focuses on revising limits that have stayed fixed since the late nineteen nineties. This adjustment is intended to encourage more property transactions and expand […]
- Youth Detention Pressures Mount in Hampton Roads Region
Hampton Roads communities are confronting challenges in their youth detention services as juveniles are sent to facilities outside their immediate areas. The practice stems from limitations in local capacity that force reliance on distant options. Keeping youth connected to home environments has been identified as important for their overall development. Presentations on the topic outline […]
- Democrats challenge Beyer in Va.’s 8th Congressional District, marred by federal layoffs
Everyone in Northern Virginia knows someone who was “DOGEd,” either laid off or otherwise impacted by sweeping cuts initiated through President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Virginia is home to nearly 200,000 federal workers; over 20,000 of them lost their jobs last year. The pain of those losses runs […]
- Detention Center Sees Inmate Growth Amid Falling Temperatures
Prince William County Adult Detention Center has observed an increase in its inmate population coinciding with declining temperatures. This development connects directly to challenges involving homelessness and access to basic needs. Officials have shared observations about why certain individuals may perceive the facility as offering greater security than outdoor conditions. Temperature-Related P
- Loudoun County Boosts Sheriff Funding for Overtime and Equipment Amid Growth
Loudoun County has approved increased funding for the Sheriff’s Office overtime and equipment upgrades as part of its FY2026 budget. The allocations respond to ongoing population growth and rising demands for law enforcement services in expanding suburban areas. County officials have tied these increases to measurable trends in call volume and staffing requirements. Population Growth […]
- George Mason University President Receives Reported Annual Compensation of $1.245 Million
The president of George Mason University receives a compensation package reported at $1,245,000 per year in addition to several benefits. This amount comprises a salary of $870,000, a potential annual bonus reaching $125,000, $50,000 in annual accrual, and $200,000 in deferred compensation. Additional provisions include support for travel, a vehicle, club access, and housing. The […]
- Rejected Virginia student voter registrations, Judge approves settlement
A federal judge has approved a consent decree requiring Virginia election officials to accept certain voter registration applications submitted by college students, resolving a lawsuit that alleged students were being improperly denied registration over missing dormitory-related details. The agreement, approved last week by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, bars electi
- Fairfax County Holds Real Estate Tax Rate Steady for FY 2026
Fairfax County has maintained its real estate tax rate at $1.085 per $100 of assessed value in the fiscal year 2026 adopted budget plan. This action continues the rate level that has remained unchanged since fiscal year 2022. The decision supports homeowner stability amid rising property assessments while funding essential county operations. Revenue projections estimate […]
- Virginia Resident Raises Concerns Over Rental Pricing Practices
A Virginia resident provided input during a legislative session regarding experiences with rent determination methods employed by corporate landlords in the state. The presentation detailed how certain pricing mechanisms lead to increases at specific times along with supplementary costs outlined in agreements. The individual recounted efforts to address these elements through direct engagement wit
- Virginia General Assembly approves Spanberger’s budget amendments, ending monthslong impasse
With less than 48 hours remaining before the start of Virginia’s new fiscal year, the General Assembly on Monday approved a package of amendments proposed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger to the state’s two-year budget, formally ending a budget fight among the Democratic majority that had dragged on for months. The House of Delegates and state […]
- Fairfax County Considers Affordable Housing Near Gas Stations Amid Health Discussions
Plans for affordable housing development in Fairfax County have drawn attention to the site’s location next to five gas stations. Community members have raised questions regarding possible health implications tied to emissions from these facilities. The discussion centers on benzene and other compounds associated with petroleum operations in the area. Visual materials include a map […]
- Fairfax County Weighs Affordable Housing Amid Gas Station Proximity Issues
Fairfax County is considering the development of affordable housing in an area situated next to five gas stations, as highlighted in recent presentations and maps. The location, shown on detailed maps with the Government Center at the center, features gas stations marked along Franconia Road and adjacent thoroughfares, creating a cluster that has drawn attention […]
- Starting next year, public bathrooms in new Virginia buildings must have diaper-changing stations
A baby changing table in a public restroom. (Photo by Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Sen. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, D-Alexandria, had an “ah-ha” moment when her daughter, now three, was a newborn. She’d been at a restaurant and needed to change her diaper but there was no changing station in the bathroom. Virginia law […]
- Virginia House Advances Bill Expanding Uses of Passenger Vehicle Fees for Local Emergency Medical Services
Virginia lawmakers have moved forward with a proposal to update how local communities can spend money collected from fees on certain types of vehicles. The legislation, known as House Bill 57, was introduced by Delegate Michael Feggans during the 2026 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly. This bill aims to amend section 46.2-694 of […]
- Prince William County Lowers Real Estate Tax Rate, But Average Homeowner Bill Still Rises
The Prince William County Board of County Supervisors approved its Fiscal Year 2026 budget on April 22, 2025, including a reduction in the real estate tax rate designed to partially offset rising property assessments. Despite the rate cut, most homeowners will pay more in property taxes this year due to strong growth in home values […]
- 60 acres of Virginia Land Given for Free in Henrico for Black Virginians to Farm
Duron Chavis on land transferred to the Central Virginia Agrarian Community Land Trust. May 2026. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) In a fallow field off the Virginia Capital Trail in Henrico County Tuesday morning, urban agriculture expert Duron Chavis walked through the grass alongside Parker Agelasto, a former Richmond City councilman who now leads the […]
- Resident Voices Financial Hardship at Warren County Supervisors Meeting Over Proposed Tax Increase
In his public comment, Jenkins stated he works six days a week, tithes at church, and pays his taxes diligently. He disclosed having only 75 cents in his bank account, attributing it to the demands of family life. Describing his current home as too small for his growing family, Jenkins noted the challenges posed by […]
- Local governments race to attract data centers, often in spite of concerns from their constituents
Marvell data center is one of eight newly approved data center campuses in Culpeper County. (Photo by Evan Visconti/Virginia Mercury). Data centers — proposed beside town centers, on generational farmlands, in view of cemeteries and next to Civil War battlegrounds across Virginia — are testing local governments’ ability to regulate industrial land use. Concurrently, the […]
- A new law will make it easier to build a tiny house in your back yard, starting next year
An ADU with alley access in Richmond’s Fan neighborhood. (Photo by Wyatt Gordon) Accessory dwelling units — which could be a tiny house on another home’s lot, a garage-turned-apartment, a carriage house, or an ‘in-law suite’ — will be easier to build beginning next year, following Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s signature of a new law this […]
- Early poll is sobering for Spanberger, but it’s a wake-up call, not an epitaph
Gov. Abigail Spanberger speaks with reporters outside the Executive Mansion in Richmond earlier this month. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury) The first report card on Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s still brand-new term is in, and she can’t be happy with it. I’m hearing she’s decidedly unhappy. A new survey by the Washington Post and George Mason […]
- Loudoun County Allocates $85.8 Million to Attainable Housing Since FY2023 in Proposed FY27 Budget
Key components of the FY27 proposal include $10.5 million allocated to a loan program anticipated to fund 100 units and $4.5 million for the attainable housing fund targeting 110 units. Starting in FY2027, a penny from cigarette tax revenue will be dedicated to down payment and closing cost assistance. These efforts build on a property […]
- Loudoun County’s FY 2027 Proposed Budget, Non-Departmental Expenditures
Loudoun County’s FY 2027 Proposed Budget lists Non-Departmental Expenditures as one of the largest single categories in the General Fund, totaling approximately $2.103 billion — an increase of $119.5 million over the FY 2026 adopted amount of $1.984 billion. While this broad line item supports legitimate centralized functions, its size and lack of granular detail…
- Virginia General Assembly Debates Tax Treatment of Vacant Land Amid Housing Concerns
During the public session, one speaker advocated for reduced taxation on undeveloped parcels, arguing it would incentivize property owners and developers to improve the land. ‘Having a lower tax rate on vacant land encourages development and improvements,’ the speaker said, suggesting it could lead to more housing units entering the market. Counterarguments focused on fiscal […]
- Virginia Republicans Unanimously Approves Bill Easing Rental Lease Terminations for Military Personnel
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia General Assembly has delivered a strong show of support for the state’s military community by passing House Bill 174, which streamlines the process for active-duty service members to terminate their rental agreements when faced with permanent changes of station, deployments, or other official orders. HB174 amends the Virginia Residential Landlord […]
- Virginia HB4 Clears Senate Committee, Poised to Expand Local Control Over Affordable Housing Sales
RICHMOND, Va. — House Bill 4, a measure designed to preserve affordable housing in Virginia, advanced through the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee on March 4, 2026, with a 9-6 vote. The bill, which passed the House of Delegates on February 2 by a 65-34 margin, now moves closer to a full Senate vote […]
- Loudoun County Democrats Considers Taxpayer-Funded Land Subsidies for Tiny Homes Amid Soaring Housing Costs
In a move that has sparked debate over fiscal responsibility, members of Loudoun County’s Affordable Dwelling Unit Advisory Board (ADUAB) have discussed subsidizing land costs for multi-unit tiny homes as a potential solution to the county’s escalating affordable housing crisis.
- Rappahannock Tribe acquires nearly 1,000 acres along its namesake river
On Wednesday, the Rappahannock Tribe acquired the largest amount of its ancestral lands to date with the transfer of nearly 1,000 acres from The Conservation Fund, to be preserved in perpetuity under easement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Virginia Board of Historic Resources.
- Trump appointee fires Freddie Mac CEO
Bill Pulte was quick to launch a cleaning campaign when he was confirmed as the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency on March 13. According to reports, Pulte terminated Freddie Mac‘s CEO Diana Reid on Thursday. The website of the government-backed Mortgage Financing Provider lists Freddie Mac’s President Michael Hutchins, as interim CEO. Reid’s […]
- Virginia community colleges end diversity, equity and inclusion practices
Virginia’s 23 community colleges will be required to ensure all of their programs and practices comply with federal regulations to ensure everyone is treated fairly and equally, ending policies that promote diversity, equity and inclusion. The decision by the Virginia Community College System’s State Board is in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order to […]
- Prince George resident files lawsuit against apartment management over mold
Lauren Stephenson, wearing a mask to protect her face, pointed out the new wood that was installed along the baseboards of her kitchen cabinetry. This is one of many spots in her apartment located at Jefferson Pointe, Prince George County, where black mold had been growing. Other spores were found inside cabinets, on windowsills, and […]
- University of Virginia Dissolves DEI Office
The University of Virginia Board of Visitors has passed a resolution dissolving its Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Community Partnerships and ordering an audit of university policies and programs to ensure they are in compliance with the Equal Protection Clause of U.S. Constitution.
- Experts say that reports of the NoVa housing collapse are exaggerated.
Has the Northern Virginia Housing Market Imploded in the wake of Elon Musk and President Donald Trump’s efforts at firing hundreds of federal workers via Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency?
- Senate majority leader champions Tysons casino bill
A lobbying flyer shared with lawmakers in Virginia includes a rendering Comstock’s proposed casino development at Tysons.
- Virginia housing groups look to 2025 for legislative, funding solutions
The number of Virginians who are unhoused has been on the rise, according to various data sources. A report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development showed that in 2023, roughly 7.8 per 10,000 people in Virginia were experiencing homelessness. Recent point-in-time counts in the greater Richmond area showed an increase in unhoused citizens over the past year.
- Virginia Executive Action to Catalyze Growth of Workforce Housing Supply
a new initiative at Virginia Housing that will invest $75 million over five years with the potential to catalyze $750 million and build 5,000 units of workforce housing in conjunction with economic development projects in the Commonwealth.
- Governor Glenn Youngkin Commemorates National Hire a Veteran Day in Virginia
Governor reaffirms Virginia’s dedication to serving as a top state for veteran employment RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin commemorated today, July 25, 2024, as National Hire a Veteran Day in Virginia to remind and encourage Virginia employers to reach out and recruit military veterans to fill positions in their companies and organizations.