Alexandria Opens Tidelock Affordable Homeownership Lottery
Applications Open for Income-Eligible First-Time Homebuyers in Alexandria
ALEXANDRIA, VA – The City of Alexandria’s Office of Housing is now accepting applications for affordable homeownership opportunities at The Residences at Tidelock, a new condominium community located at 1111 North Fairfax Street in Alexandria, Virginia.
The 65-unit development will include four affordable condominium units available through a lottery process for income-eligible, first-time homebuyers who live or work in the City of Alexandria. The affordable units include one one-bedroom unit, one one-bedroom-plus-den unit, and two two-bedroom units. One of the two-bedroom homes is designed as an accessible unit.
The affordable homes are expected to become available in August 2026. Due to anticipated demand, eligible applicants will be selected through a lottery rather than on a first-come, first-served basis.
Application Period and Requirements
Applications for the Tidelock Homebuyer Lottery will be accepted from Saturday, May 23 through Monday, June 22, 2026, at 5 p.m.
Applicants must complete the Tidelock Homebuyer Lottery Application and submit all required documents through the online Smartsheet application portal.
Required application materials include:
- Tidelock Homebuyer Lottery Application Form
- Copy of a mortgage preapproval letter
- Virginia Housing Homebuyer Education training certificate
Paper copies of the application are also available upon request at the Office of Housing, located at 100 North Pitt Street, Suite 425, Alexandria, Virginia, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the city’s Homebuyer Resources webpage to understand eligibility requirements and the lottery process before applying.
What Qualifies for Affordable Housing in Alexandria?
To qualify for affordable housing and Committed Affordable Units (CAUs) in Alexandria, your gross annual household income generally needs to fall between $57,400 and $136,680, depending on your household size and the specific program.
Standard market apartments also require you to earn at least 2.5 to 3 times the monthly rent. Alexandria offers several distinct affordable housing tiers. Exact salary requirements scale with your household size.
Rental Income Limits (Committed Affordable Units) These programs restrict rent based on the Area Median Income (AMI). Maximum gross annual income thresholds apply: 50% of AMI (e.g., Low-Income Units): Up to $57,400 (1 person); $65,600 (2 people); $81,950 (4 people).60% to 80% of AMI (e.g., Workforce Housing): Up to $68,880 – $91,840 (1 person); $78,720 – $104,960 (2 people); $98,340 – $131,120 (4 people).
Note: For official availability and unit-specific qualifications, check the Alexandria Committed Affordable Units List.
Homeownership Requirements: If you are looking to buy, Alexandria’s Workforce Affordable Homeownership and Shared Equity programs offer below-market prices. Income Limit: Gross annual household income typically cannot exceed 120% of the AMI .
Caps by Household Size: Up to $119,640 (1 person); $136,680 (2 people); $170,760 (4 people).
Requirements: Buyers must be first-time homebuyers and complete a Virginia Housing-sponsored homebuyer training class. Explore available assistance and requirements via the Alexandria Homebuyer Resources Portal.
Market Rental Rules: For apartments outside of government-subsidized programs, property managers in the DC-Metro/Alexandria area generally require that your gross monthly income is at least 2.5x to 3x the monthly rent. For example: For a $2,000/month apartment, you would need an income of roughly $60,000 to $72,000 per year to qualify.
Additional Information and Accessibility Services
For questions about the affordable units or The Residences at Tidelock, prospective buyers may contact Kaye Placeres by email at TidelockADU@urbanpace or by phone at 571-201-7114.
Residents needing reasonable disability accommodations may contact Gabriella DiLena at [email protected] or 703-746-3089 or through Virginia Relay 711. Free interpretation and translation services are also available through the City of Alexandria. Please email LanguageAccess@alexandriava.
