Housing Alexandria’s Cardinal Path project is expected to deliver 16 two-bedroom and 15 three-bedroom townhomes between September 2025 and January 2026. 

The townhomes will be priced as follows: 

• 2 Bedroom/2 Bath 16’-wide Townhome (with 2-car tandem parking in garage): $365,000 ($390/month condominium fee)
• 3 Bedroom/2 Bath 20’-wide Townhome (with 2-car parallel parking in garage): $395,000 ($390/month condominium fee)

To qualify for the program, prospective applicants must:

1. work or live in the City of Alexandria, Virginia;
2. not have owned a home in the last three years;
3. have a total household income (before taxes) at or below 80% of the area median income (which ranges from $91,840 to $152,160 for a household of one to six, respectively);
4. complete the screening form; and
5. complete the required trainings (described below).

• Prospective applicants must attend a Housing Alexandria’s Shared Equity Homeownership Program orientation prior to applying. The last orientation before the full application is released will be on July 1 at 7 p.m.; registration is required.
• Homebuyer education classes held by Virginia Housing are required for City assistance and Cardinal Path applications. A calendar of upcoming homebuyer education classes is available on Virginia Housing's webpage. Virtual classes are also offered. The classes are free, however, registration is required.

Housing Alexandria will provide $8,000 in closing cost assistance to each selected homebuyer household. Households may also be eligible for the City’s Flexible Homeownership Assistance Program to assist with down payment and closing costs. Applicants will not need to apply for City assistance separately. Once found eligible through Housing Alexandria, applications will be reviewed by the Office of Housing for assistance eligibility. 

Qualified applicants who submit a complete application to purchase a home at Cardinal Path by 11:59 p.m. on July 15, the first day the application becomes available, will be placed in a lottery pool. Provided there are still homes available after the lottery drawing, households who submit their application after July 15 will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Prospective applicants can review Housing Alexandria’s Application Guide which provides an overview of the application process, questions to expect, and documents to prepare. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications earlier in the day on July 15 to avoid any last-minute technical issues. Applications received on July 16 will not be entered into the lottery.

Neighborhood Stabilization Program: Through this program, the City and its nonprofit partner, Rebuilding Together Alexandria, acquire and fully renovate distressed properties and offer these homes for sale to income-eligible, first-time homebuyers. The homes are available to homebuyers who live or work in the City of Alexandria and have a gross annual income below 80% of the area median income. Buyers may be eligible for a City shared equity loan of up to $75,000 in downpayment and closing cost assistance through the City's  Flexible Homeownership Assistance Program. Additionally, buyers may be eligible for a 1% mortgage interest rate reduction through the Virginia Housing (formerly Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA)) Sponsoring Partnerships & Revitalizing Communities (SPARC) program (see below). Buyers are encouraged to secure a first-trust mortgage through a City designated participating lender. For more information, please contact Anelva Corcos Beltran at 703.746.3092.

NO PROPERTIES ARE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME

This program provides a limited number of affordable, resale-restricted units in some newly constructed homeownership developments. The homes are available to first-time homebuyers who live or work in the City of Alexandria and have a gross annual income below 100% of AMI. Buyers may be eligible for a City shared equity loan of up to $50,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance through the Flexible Homeownership Assistance Program. Additionally, buyers may be eligible for a 1% mortgage interest rate reduction through Virginia Housing (formerly Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA)) Sponsoring Partnerships & Revitalizing Communities (SPARC) program (see below). Buyers are encouraged to pursue a first-trust mortgage through a City designated Participating Lender. For more information, please contact Anelva Corcos Beltran at 703.746.3092. 

• The application period for the Aidan Old Town is now closed.

This program helps market resale-restricted units purchased with City assistance. The units are priced at levels affordable to low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers and have long-term affordability requirements. The homes are available to first-time homebuyers who live or work in the City of Alexandria and have a gross annual income below 100% of AMI. Buyers may be eligible for a City shared equity loan of up to $50,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance through the Flexible Homeownership Assistance Program (see below). Additionally, buyers may be eligible for a 1% mortgage interest rate reduction through Virginia Housing Sponsoring Partnerships & Revitalizing Communities Program (SPARC). Buyers are encouraged to pursue a first-trust mortgage through a City designated Participating Lender. To qualify for SPARC and/or City of Alexandria financing, participants must complete a Virginia Housing-sponsored homebuyer training class, followed by a two-hour individual counseling session. Visit Virginia Housing to learn more about their services. For additional information, please contact Anelva Corcos Beltran at 703.746.3092.  

• 6151 Edsall Rd, Unit M (Edsall Bluff) - This property is currently under contract.
• 6153 Edsall Rd., Unit E (Edsall Bluff) - This property is currently under contract.

Workforce Affordable Homeownership units are priced at levels affordable to moderate-income first-time homebuyers and have long-term affordability requirements. The homes are available to first-time homebuyers who live or work in the City of Alexandria and have a gross annual income below 120% of area median income ($119,640 for a one-person household, $136,680 for a two-person household, $153,720 for a three-person household, $170,760 for a four-person household). Buyers may be eligible for a City shared equity loan of up to $50,000 in downpayment and closing cost assistance through the Flexible Homeownership Assistance Program (see below). Additionally, buyers may be eligible for a 1% mortgage interest rate reduction through Virginia Housing Sponsoring Partnerships & Revitalizing Communities Program (SPARC). Buyers are encouraged to pursue a first-trust mortgage through a City designated Participating Lender. To qualify for SPARC and/or City of Alexandria financing, participants must complete a Virginia Housing-sponsored homebuyer training class, followed by a two-hour individual counseling session. Visit Virginia Housing to learn more about their services. For more information, please contact Anelva Corcos Beltran at 703.746.3092.  

• NO PROPERTIES ARE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME

This loan program provides no-interest, deferred payment downpayment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers purchasing a home through the Affordable Set-Aside Homebuyer Program, Neighborhood Stabilization Program, and Resale Restricted Homeownership Program only. Two income tiers are used to determine the amount of assistance available to participants. Applicants are strongly recommended to receive a mortgage from a Participating Lender. For more information, please review the  Program Description and Steps in the Homebuying Process, or contact Anelva Corcos Beltran at 703.746.3092. 

The City of Alexandria offers the Employee Homeownership Incentive Program (EHIP) to income-eligible employees of the City of Alexandria, Alexandria City Public Schools, Alexandria Commonwealth Attorney, Alexandria Clerk of Court, Alexandria Sheriff, 18th Circuit Court, 18th General District Court, 18th Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Alexandria Court Services Unit, Alexandria Law Library, Alexandria Registrar of Voters, Alexandria Public Library, and Alexandria Health Department who regularly work 20 hours per week or more. EHIP provides an interest-free, deferred payment loan of up to $15,000 for home purchases in the City of Alexandria. Eligible purchases include condominiums, townhomes, cooperative housing, and detached homes with a sales prices of up to $725,000. To apply or learn more, contact Anelva Corcos Beltran/703.746.3092. 

The City of Alexandria Office of Housing is pleased to announce the availability of Sponsoring Partnerships & Revitalizing Communities (SPARC) funds to provide first-time homebuyers with permanent financing for their home purchase. SPARC funding supports the City of Alexandria’s efforts to increase affordable homeownership for income-qualified first-time homebuyers. This funding is made possible by the Virginia Housing (formerly Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA)) and applies only to Virginia Housing mortgages. SPARC funds reduce Virginia Housing mortgage loans 1% lower than Virginia Housing's published First-Time Homebuyer mortgage interest rate. SPARC financing is an allocation; and not a grant or a loan. It does not require repayment. However, SPARC allocations are only reserved for individual homebuyers after the buyer has a ratified sales contract. 

To qualify for SPARC financing with the City’s Flexible Homeownership Assistance Program, participants must complete a Virginia Housing-sponsored homebuyer training class, followed by a two-hour individual counseling session. Homebuyers do not have to participate in the City’s Flexible Homeownership Assistance Program to use SPARC funding, but they may eligible. Those interested should contact the Office of Housing. Homebuyers may also be eligible for Virginia Housing’s Down Payment Assistance Grant and should work with their lender to apply for funds. Click here for additional information on Virginia Housing services.

To qualify for a City of Alexandria-sponsored SPARC allocation, the prospective homebuyer must meet the following criteria:

• Purchase a home located in the City of Alexandria corporate limits;
• Live or work in the City of Alexandria for six months prior to request for SPARC funding;
• Have an annual household income at or below 100% of Area Median Income;
• Be a first-time homebuyer, defined as someone having had no ownership interest in real property in the past three years (exceptions may be granted based on circumstances regarding a termination of prior ownership);
• Receive a first trust Virginia Housing mortgage from a City of Alexandria designated Participating Lender; and
• Purchased home must be located within the corporate limits of the City of Alexandria.

To provide City of Alexandria-sponsored SPARC funding, the prospective lender must meet the following criteria:

• Be a Virginia Housing lending partner and provide homebuyer with a Virginia Housing first trust mortgage that meets their loan requirements;
• Obtain designation from the City of Alexandria as a Participating Lender. To become a Participating Lender, mortgage institution must agree to provide loans per City of Alexandria requirements; as well as, successfully provide financing to at least 1 first-time homebuyer participating in the City’s Flexible Homeownership Assistance Program; and 
• Provide required documentation on behalf of borrower to City staff/Virginia Housing to reserve the necessary SPARC  funds for individual home purchases (includes 1003, SPARC Reservation Form, Demographic Information Addendum, and verification of Alexandria residency or employment).

Lenders and homebuyers who wish to use SPARC funding should contact Anelva Corcos Beltran at 703.746.3092. 

To qualify, prospective purchasers must:

• live or work in the City of Alexandria, Virginia;
• have a total gross (before taxes) household income at or below 100% of the area median income (see table); and
• be first-time homebuyers (have had no homeownership interest during the most recent three-year period).

Households with two or more members will be given priority for the two-bedroom units.

The City accepted applications between March 15 and April 15, 2024 at 5 p.m.  Due to high demand, eligible purchasers were selected through lotteries the week of May 6, 2024.  A separate lottery process will be conducted for the accessible two-bedroom unit.

To be considered for the lottery,  interested purchasers must have submitted the following documentation by April 15, 2024 at 5 p.m.:

• Pre-screening application form;
• Copy of their mortgage preapproval letter; view the list of the City's participating lenders; and-
• Copy of their Virginia Housing training certificate.

Applicants should indicate at the time of application if they are interested in the accessible unit.

Documents should be emailed to Vicente Espinoza at Vicente.Espinoza@alexandriava.gov or delivered, in hardcopy, to the Office of Housing (attn: Vicente Espinoza), City of Alexandria, 421 King Street, Suite 215, Alexandria, VA 22314.

Selected purchasers should be prepared to provide an earnest money deposit of $2,000 at the time of signing the sales contract. 

The City’s preferred realtors are:

• Geraldine Gudiel (Pearson Smith Realty), Geraldine.Gudiel@PearsonSmithRealty.com/571.505.9953
• Carla Moore (Century 21-New Millennium), CarlaMooreRealtor@gmail.com/703.994.0508
• Vanessa Rodriguez (Re/Max), Varnmax@gmail.com/703.477.7433

Purchasers may also use their own realtor, however the realtor should be familiar with the City’s Flexible Homeownership Program and Shared Equity Homeownership Policy.

Eligible purchasers may qualify for closing cost and downpayment assistance up to $50,000 through the City’s Flexible Homeownership Assistance Program. Eligible purchasers may also be eligible for reduced mortgage interest rate financing through the Virginia Housing Sponsoring Partnerships & Revitalizing Communities (SPARC).

To qualify for SPARC and/or City financing, participants must complete a Virginia Housing-sponsored homebuyer training class, followed by a two-hour individual counseling session. The counseling session will be coordinated by Office of Housing once there is a ratified sales contract. To register for a Virginia Housing homebuyer training (available in English and Spanish), visit Homebuyer Training.

The affordable homeownership units are subject to the City’s Shared Equity Homeownership Policy. This means that selected purchasers will be required to provide (share) a percentage of their increase in equity at the time they decide to re-sell their unit to another income-eligible homebuyer. 

The community features a range of amenities, including parking and bike storage, a rooftop terrace, and fitness center. Learn more about the Aidan Old Town amenities.

For more information about the application requirements, available downpayment assistance, the lottery process, and obligations of the purchaser, please contact Vicente Espinoza at the Office of Housing at Vicente.Espinoza@alexandriava.gov, or 703.746.3087. Free interpretation and translation services are available upon request.

For information about the community’s amenities and individual unit features, interested purchasers are encouraged to visit the Aidan Old Town's Sales Center at 525 Wythe Street, Alexandria, Virginia, open daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m, or to call 703.494.3344 or 571.512.2195.