Sterling, VA, Real Estate

Sterling, Virginia, is a picturesque suburb of Washington D.C. located in Loudoun County and rated one of the best places to live in Virginia. Sterling has top-rated schools and is the perfect home for those who need to commute to D.C., which is only 30 miles away. Most people are attracted to houses for sale in Sterling, VA, because of the community’s relaxed pace and green vistas. Sterling is rated 13 out of 163 of the most diverse suburbs in Virginia.

Sterling's History

Like many areas of Virginia, Sterling is steeped in history. It was called Guilford in the 1800s, then Loudon, and then Old Sterling. What is now Sterling was Loudoun's active commercial center, with large homes built on either side of the railroad. From the mid-1800s and up to the Great Depression, Sterling competed with Ashburn, which was not far down the railroad line, as a tourist and business location. It wasn't until 1887 that the town name was officially changed to Sterling.

Sterling suffered a period of slow business and growth until 1962, when Sterling Park and Dulles Airport were being planned. By then, it was made up of several large farms, which are now Sterling Park. Today, the Sterling real estate market is a bustling area famous for its modern malls, high-tech data centers, and suburban communities. Parts of Old Sterling still remain, such as Algonkian Regional Park, Claude Moore Park, and Washington & Old Dominion Trail. Places like Vestal's Gap Road, Arcola Elementary School, Broad Run Bridge and Tollhouse, and Lanesville Historic District are among the many historical places to visit in Sterling.

Living in Sterling 

Sterling is a mid-sized city with 5,427 people per square mile. It has a high ranking for amenities, such as grocery stores, parks, coffee shops, libraries, and restaurants within walking distance or a short drive away. It's also close to public transportation and main roadways, including Route 28, Route 7, and the Dulles Access Road. Those looking for houses for sale in Sterling, VA, may also be pleased to learn Sterling has a 74% school test average, which is well above the national average.

The Sterling real estate market is made up of several smaller communities and is a diverse multicultural area, including a variety of religious denominations throughout the area. Communities with houses for sale in Sterling are close-knit and respectful, and neighbors look out for each other. In addition to its proximity to Washington D.C., Sterling has many job opportunities in its smaller city centers.

Many of the houses for sale in Sterling were constructed after 1959, when the Dulles International Airport was constructed. Many agricultural lots of land were subdivided for residential housing. You'll find many Arts and Crafts style single-family homes that are known for their beautiful craftsmanship. Houses for sale in Sterling run along lovely tree-lined streets and more housing options have cropped up in the Sterling real estate market in recent times, such as condos, apartments and townhomes.

Residents of Sterling homes love the Claude Moore Park and Recreation Sportsplex, which hosts a wide variety of recreational, educational, cultural, and social activities that are perfect for the entire household. It's also a favorite area for golf lovers with a golf course in Algonkian Regional Park. The park also has a boat launch, waterpark, and many hiking trails to enjoy. Residents of Sterling homes also love the fact that there are so many great deals and name-brand stores so close by, such as Dulles Town Center, with its large variety of eateries and its luxury movie theater.

Getting Around Sterling

Many of the shops and services you will need if you purchase Sterling real estate are within walking distance or can be reached by one of the many public bus routes that run in and out of Sterling. The main roads are Routes 28, Leesburg Pike, South Sterling Boulevard, West Church Road, Cascades Parkway, Potomac View Road, Waxpool Road and Algonkian Parkway.

The transit system in Sterling has been expanding rapidly to offer more convenient travel. In 2019, the Washington Metro Silver Line was connected to the nearby area of Reston, which runs to D.C., and was extended into Ashburn.

Sterling's Neighborhoods

There are many communities and well-established neighborhoods with homes for sale in Sterling, VA, that will suit your needs and preferences. Whatever your budget is, you are sure to find real estate in Sterling to call home. Here are some great neighborhoods in the Sterling real estate market to begin your search:

Cascades

Dating back to 1991, Cascades is a well-planned community over 2,500 acres. It sits between the Fairfax County Line and the Potomac River, with the Algonkian Parkway just south of it. The neighborhood has approximately 6,500 homes, many of which are large single-family homes. Cascades is situated in the northern part of Loudoun County and is well known for its Cascades Marketplace, a large retail center that covers 318,000 square feet and offers a large variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment. This is a good area for larger households looking for bigger homes for sale in Sterling that are affordable.

Potomac Falls 

Many of the homes in this area sit on large lots of about two acres of land, and the C&O Canal National Historical Park is the western boundary. Residents that have lived here for some time love the warm, social feel. If you are looking for a nice mix of privacy and a sense of community, Potomac Falls holds many annual events to get the community together, like its annual 4th of July picnic, and get-togethers at the nearby Old Angler’s Inn. The older homes here are brick Colonial or Farmhouse style homes.

Sterling Park 

Sterling Park was Loudoun County's first planned community. Homes here are medium- to large-sized (3 to 6 or more bedrooms) single-family homes and townhomes. The community here is diverse and a bit further away from the bustle of the city, so you will need a car to get around. If you prefer to search rural houses for sale in Sterling, this is the place to be. Sterling Park also offers many youth sports leagues for the community.

Broad Run Farms

This residential area of the Sterling real estate market is near Routes 28 and 7. The area is a bit older than the more recently developed surrounding neighborhoods and boasts unique regional features, such as wooded areas of old-growth trees and large lots of land. Broad Run Farms also has several civic associations that work to improve the neighborhood and keep it well maintained. The northern border of Broad Run Farms is the Potomac River. This neighborhood is home to about 340 single-family homes and farmettes that give you the best of both worlds: a quiet spot away from the hustle and bustle of the city that is still close enough to active areas to be convenient.

Sugarland Run 

Named after the Sugarland Run Stream, this planned community was built during the 1970s and followed the style of Sterling Park. Sterling homes for sale here consist of apartments, townhouses, and single-family homes. Sugarland Run is perfect for working professionals and commuters due to its ease of access to many major job centers. One of the distinguishing features of Sugarland Run is the ranch-style architecture. It also has a community center at its heart featuring Willow Lake and miles of walking paths to enjoy.

Countryside

This neighborhood of Sterling homes was built on historic land that was once wild. Europeans started to settle in the area in the 1600s, when the area was home to the Monocam and Mannahoak tribes. The community was built in 1970 and consists of condominiums, single-family homes, and townhomes. Many of the Countryside homes are in the Colonial style and many of the single-family homes have a basement and two stories. There is also a large network of paved paths that wind throughout the area.

Sterling's Real Estate Market 

Sterling is considered to be a medium-sized town with a population of 32,354 people. It currently consists of 17 neighborhoods and is the 33rd largest community in Virginia. Currently, Sterling real estate is experiencing a competitive housing market or seller's market. This means there are more buyers than homes for sale in Sterling, and many homes get multiple offers and spend only a few weeks on the market. Over the past year, home values for Sterling real estate have gone up 8 percent.

However, you can still find affordable homes for sale in Sterling, VA. Its many neighborhoods contain a variety of options, such as small single-family homes, condominiums, townhomes, and a few mansions, and a variety of styles, including brick Colonial and the newer Arts and Crafts style homes.

Schools in Sterling 

There are a few established elementary, middle and high schools in Sterling, with higher education options nearby, such as the Northern Virginia Community College's Loudoun Campus. George Washington University is located in Ashburn, only a few miles outside Sterling.

Sterling has three public high schools: Potomac Falls, Dominion and Park View High Schools. There are three public middle schools: Seneca Ridge, River Bend and Sterling Middle Schools. There are also 12 elementary schools that service Sterling, which include Sterling Elementary, Meadowland Elementary, Countryside Elementary and Algonkian Elementary.

Things to Do in Sterling 

Residents of Sterling homes have access to a wide variety of recreational, educational, historical, shopping, and dining options to enjoy. Many of these activities are easy to get to, and some are even within walking distance of the homes for sale in Sterling.

Claude Moore Park

One of the places that residents of Sterling homes enjoy is Claude Moore Park, which covers 357 acres of green space and woodlands. It also hosts a number of recreational activities that are suitable for all ages. Its three main areas are the Recreation Center, the Sportsplex, and the historic Vestal’s Gap Road trails. The Claude Moore Recreation Center hosts an Olympic-size indoor pool, a pool with water features, a gymnasium and exercise areas, and meeting and event rooms that can be rented. The Sportsplex has both softball and baseball pitches to enjoy.

Vestal's Gap Road is a historic site within the park that was once used by Native Americans and later became a route for settlers between Shenandoah Valley and Alexandria. The road was frequently used by George Washington to travel between the western frontier and Mount Vernon. It also played an integral part in the French and Indian War, where the troops of General Braddock, including Daniel Boone, traveled.

Golf Lovers

For Sterling homebuyers who enjoy golf, there are a variety of 18-hole golf ranges to challenge you, including the award-winning Algonkian Regional Park on the shore of the Potomac River. The course here is considered challenging and offers other recreational facilities, such as hiking trails, a water park, a boat launch, and many pavilions to enjoy a picnic.

Top Restaurants

Whatever your tastes are, Sterling has a range of restaurant options that include authentic international cuisine, upscale American eateries, and many locally-owned establishments. Are you a sushi lover? You'll definitely want to visit Aoba, which is considered to be the best sushi place in town. You can also get such staples as spicy ramen. With its expansive sushi menu, the staff can make suggestions if you don't know what to choose.

If you want a more traditional cafe experience, Joe's Cafe is for you. It's an American restaurant that serves traditional meals including breakfast, its famous lunchtime sub sandwiches, and some continental dishes. It's considered to be the best breakfast cafe in Sterling.

Shopper's Haven

Shopping is also found in abundance for those who choose to buy a home in Sterling. Visit the Cascades Marketplace for its friendly neighborhood vibe, or travel to Dulles Town Center for more than 180 stores and the most luxurious movie theater to be found in Loudoun County. The Starplex Luxury Cinemas 11 has comfortable reclining seats, a snack bar, and an adult bar.

Heritage Farm Museum and Village

For more than 20 years, the mission of Heritage Farm has been to renew the Appalachian region. It has an Artisan Center, seven museums, five log cabin inns, and multiple attractions, like its Way Back Weekends. When you visit the Sterling real estate market, visit Heritage Farm to experience what it was like to be a pioneer with its exhibits, interactive folk crafts, and traditional methods of crafting. Heritage Farm is the place to go for celebrating the cultural heritage of Appalachia, and they added a new adventure park in 2021.

Oatlands Historic House & Gardens

Oatlands started its historical journey back in 1798 when this prime farmland was inherited by George Carter, a descendant of one of the first European-American families in Virginia. It was turned into a plantation home that produced wheat and small grains, raised sheep for wool, and built a mill complex on Goose Creek. It was then purchased in 1903 by William Corcoran Eustis. In 1964, it was donated to the National Trust. It has a number of historic structures, like the Mt. Gap Schoolhouse, the Carriage House, and Carter Barn. The historic site is surrounded by acres of woodland, nature, wildlife, and trails to enjoy.

Loudoun County History

Sterling is only one piece of the Loudoun County puzzle with historical roots. Loudoun had its humble beginnings in the 1600s, when it was home to the Sioux, Algonquin, Iroquois and Piscataway tribes. Settlers began to move into the future Loudoun County in 1722, after a treaty was signed between Lt. Governor Spotswood and the Iroquois, naming the Blue Ridge Mountains the buffer zone between the white settlements in the east and American Indian territory in the west. 

What is known as Route 50 today was once a well-used American Indian trail used by travelers. Today's Red Fox Inn is the tavern that serviced those travelers. Loudoun County was made official in 1757. For more than two centuries, Loudoun County had an agricultural way of life that continued until the 1960s, when Dulles International Airport was built. After the construction, new businesses and residents were attracted to the area and many of today’s communities, such as Sterling, were born.

Real Estate Taxes

The Sterling real estate market falls under the Northern Virginia area for property taxes, and taxes can vary between one county or city to the next. In some instances, you may have to pay both the county and city taxes for your Sterling home. The real estate taxes in this area generally fall around the national average.

Are You Ready to Move to Sterling?

This is just a small snippet of what the Sterling real estate market and Loudoun County have to offer. Sterling homes are the ideal option for commuters with its close proximity to D.C. and many major roads. Given the diversity and variety in its many neighboring communities, homes for sale in Sterling, VA, offer something for everyone. From rural communities to city living, and neighborhoods that offer a bit of both, you are sure to find the home you'll love here.

The best way to find the right home for you is to give our real estate advisors a call at 703-462-0700. We have a lot of experience within the Sterling real estate market and Loudoun County, and we can help you find your perfect forever home.

Thinking of Selling Your Sterling Home?

Contact us to request a free comparable market analysis, which will give you an idea of how much your property is worth in the current Sterling real estate market.