Something consequential is happening to the Washington region.
For generations, Washington's residential geography has been shaped by government, law, diplomacy, finance and the institutions surrounding them. Today, another group of economic forces is becoming increasingly important: artificial intelligence, defense technology, energy, digital infrastructure and the enormous amounts of capital flowing into them.
I think those forces are beginning to create what I call the Washington Wealth Corridor—a geographic and economic connection stretching from Georgetown and Northwest Washington through McLean and Northern Virginia, into Old Town Alexandria, and west toward Virginia Hunt Country.
These communities are very different. But they increasingly sit within the same economic ecosystem.
AI May Live in the Cloud, but Its Infrastructure Lives Here
Northern Virginia already contains the world's largest concentration of data centers. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that Virginia's commercial electricity sales increased by nearly 30 million megawatt-hours between 2019 and 2025, with data centers driving much of that growth. The agency expects Virginia's Dominion territory to experience the largest absolute increase in summer peak electricity demand in its regional grid between 2026 and 2030.
And the investment continues. On October 2, Amazon Web Services announced a $1 billion, five-year investment in American communities hosting its data centers, including Virginia. The initiative is intended to support areas including education, workforce training, energy affordability and resource preservation.
It is an important reminder that the AI economy isn't merely about software. It requires land, electricity, fiber, engineering, construction, financing and enormous amounts of physical infrastructure.
Defense Is Becoming Technology
Washington occupies another unusual position in the emerging economy. Artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, cybersecurity and advanced software are becoming increasingly important to national defense. That places the Washington region at the intersection of two enormous industries that once seemed much more separate: technology and defense.
The companies, investors, attorneys, advisers and executives surrounding those industries have increasing reasons to spend meaningful time near Washington. And industries don't arrive alone. People come with them.
Capital Eventually Becomes Personal
The Washington luxury housing market is another place to watch these changes unfold. As wealth is created in technology, defense, energy, finance and related industries, some of that capital will inevitably find its way into personal decisions—including where people choose to live.
Georgetown continues to demonstrate the substantial values commanded by one of Washington's most established residential neighborhoods. Old Town Alexandria presents a different value proposition: authentic historic architecture, walkability and proximity to Washington within another exceptionally distinctive residential environment.
But averages tell only part of the story. Exceptional houses are individual assets. Architecture, condition, provenance, location, privacy, land and lifestyle can matter enormously to the buyer willing to place a premium on the right property.
Four Markets, Four Different Lifestyles
Georgetown offers extraordinary historic architecture, walkability and proximity to Washington's institutions.
McLean and Virginia's Gold Coast offer privacy, larger residences and estate-scale living close to the capital.
Old Town Alexandria combines authentic historic architecture and a walkable urban environment with convenient access to Washington, Reagan National Airport and Northern Virginia.
Virginia Hunt Country offers something altogether different: acreage, privacy, horses, landscape and genuine retreat.
A buyer attracted to one may not be attracted to another. But increasingly, I believe the economic forces creating those buyers overlap.
What This Means for Sellers
For owners of exceptional historic homes and estates, the important question isn't simply, “What did the house down the street sell for?”
It is also: “Who is the next buyer for my house?”
That question should influence everything from preparation and staging to photography, storytelling, pricing and where the property is marketed.
The history of a house matters because it helps us understand what makes the property distinctive. But provenance alone doesn't sell a house. The real opportunity is connecting what makes a property exceptional with the people most likely to value it.
That's the idea behind the Washington Wealth Corridor—and it's something I'll continue exploring as technology, defense, energy, capital and Washington's extraordinary residential real estate increasingly intersect.
Greg Doherty
Historic Homes & Estates
Coldwell Banker Realty | Global Luxury
Old Town Alexandria • Georgetown • Virginia Countryside
Helping Buyers Achieve Their Dreams and Sellers Realize Their Goals.
