Annandale, VA, Real Estate

Annandale is a large surburban community located in Northern Virginia's Fairfax County. The history of Annandale can be traced back to the pre-revolutionary period. Since then, the Annandale real estate market has grown into a large suburban community with a thriving economy and a reputation for academic excellence. Annandale real estate has a lot to offer homeowners and residents, including a variety of opportunities for both indoor and outdoor fun. 

Living in Annandale 

Those who purchase Annandale real estate will find themselves living in a flourishing economy with numerous local job opportunities, due to many large companies holding their headquarters in the area, including ENSCO Inc., DynCorp, ExxonMobil Aviation, and Computer Sciences Corp. 

Many of the single-family homes in the Annandale real estate market are set in lovely surroundings and well-established neighborhood communities, such as Annandale Terrace, Bristow, Broyhill Crest, Columbia Pines, and Crestwood Manor. Homes in the Annandale real estate market come in many styles, including Rambler, Cape Cod, Colonial and split-level styles.  

There are also a number of luxury townhomes in the Annandale real estate market, in areas such as Ravensworth Villa, Aspen Hill and Heritage Woods. If living in a condo community is more your style, many gorgeous units can be found in well-established condo communities in the Annandale real estate market, such as Glen Hollow, Woodburn Village, Heritage Court, and Briarwood Court. 

Getting around Annandale 

Those who purchase Annandale real estate will find it easy to getting around Annandale and its surrounding areas because of its close proximity to the Capital Beltway; Interstates 494, 95, 66 and 395; and Routes 29 and 50. There are a number of bus routes that run through the area as well, and many attractions are only a short walk away from your home in the Annandale real estate market. Washington D.C is just under 15 miles away, Dulles International Airport in just over 20 miles away, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is 13 miles away. 

Shopping and Entertainment in Annandale 

Annandale real estate residents have a wide variety of shopping and dining options to choose from. Downtown Annandale is home to delicious restaurants such as Lighthouse Tofu Korean Restaurant, Hangang Korean Cusine, Silverado, Honey Pig, Jukebox Diner, Chicken Pollo, and Shilla Bakery. 

Shopping opportunities also abound around the Annandale real estate market. Available national chains include Kmart, Giant Grocery Store, and Petco. There are also plenty of locally opened shops, including an abundance in Koreatown, which provide Annandale real estate residents with the opportunity to shop from family-owned businesses. 

Getting Outdoors 

Those who invest in Annandale real estate will have plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun. Annandale has a variety of parks, such as Mill Creek Park and Hidden Oaks Nature Center, both of which have nature trails perfect for walking, jogging and biking. There are also many playgrounds to enjoy, lakes to fish in, and tennis and basketball courts to play on. Skateboard enthusiasts will love the skatepark in Annandale. 

If you like history and the arts, a quick 30-minute drive will take you into Washington D.C., which offers a number of historical landmarks, museums and a wide variety of exciting activities. 

Schools in Annandale 

Annandale real estate is in an area known for great public and private schools. The community is proud to be home to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, which was ranked the #1 public high school by US News and World Report for three years running.

Other schools in the area include: 

• Weyanoke Elementary School 
• Holmes Middle School 
• Annandale High School 

A Bit of Annandale History 

Annandale has a unique history that can be traced to pre-revolutionary times. In 1685, more than 24,000 acres of land were purchased by Colonel William H. Fitzhugh from Great Britain. His descendants would later name the land Ravensworth. Fitzhugh converted this untamed wilderness into one of Northern Virginia's largest tobacco plantations, which was farmed for more than six generations until portions of the land were slowly sold off.  

Upon Fitzhugh's death, his two eldest sons inherited the land. The northern portion of the inheritance included all of the land that is now Annandale. 

It wasn't until 1830 that the name Ravensworth was no longer used and this area was named Annandale, after the Annan River found in Scotland. 

Historical Mansions of Ravensworth 

Three great homes were built on this land during the 18th century, one of which is still standing today as a monument: Oak Hill, Ossian Hall, and Ravensworth. 

Oak Hill was built in 1779 and initially consisted of four very large rooms, two on each floor. The home was refurbished in 1936 and expanded to resemble one of the other Ravensworth mansions. It is the oldest of the three mansions and still stands on about four acres of land. It is privately owned and situated just off Wakefield Chapel Road, hidden by trees on all sides. 

Ossian Hall was built in 1783 by Nicholas Fitzhugh, son of Major Henry Fitzhugh. There is a belief that this home was actually built in 1730, but none of the Fitzhughs lived there at the time. Records show that the area it was built upon was actually leased to William and Daniel Talbot well past that date. Nicholas had more than 12 children and was the first of the Fitzhugh clan to live at this property. Ossian Hall faced what is now Braddock Road, right where Rosslyn Road and Royston Street intersect. The home was said to resemble Mount Vernon, and had many notable people visit it during the Colonial era, such as George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette, and George Mason. Ossian Hall was burned to the ground on September 3, 1959, by Annandale's Fire Department to make way for the subdivision of Bristow. 

The third of these great mansions, Ravensworth, was built by William Fitzhugh in 1796. When Anna Maria Fitzhugh died, the mansion was used by Robert E. Lee's family as a summer home. The home had orders to be protected by both Confederate and Union sides during the war. The home was situated slightly southeast of what is now the intersection of Capital Beltway and Braddock Road. In 1925, the mansion mysteriously burned to the ground. 

Schedule a Time to Visit Annandale!

If you’re in the market for Annandale real estate, call me at 703-462-0700 or email me at DarrenRobertsonHomes@gmail.com so I can go to work for you. I’m a skilled negotiator who will work hard to make sure you get the best deal possible on your Annandale real estate purchase.

Thinking About Selling Your Annandale Home?

If you own Annandale real estate and are considering selling, contact me for a no-obligation home valuation. This will give you a good idea of how much your home is worth in the current Annandale real estate market.