RVs Becoming the Only Affording Housing Around Washington

Escalating housing prices in northern Virginia force some into very mobile homes.

1 minute read

April 6, 2005, 1:00 PM PDT

By Peter Buryk


RVs used to be the vehicle of choice for those touring the United States by road. Now they are becoming the only affordable housing option is a region that continues to experience some of the most severe real estate price increases in the nation. The Washington region is also home to the nation's largest job growth. According to some estimates, over 70,000 jobs were created in the area last year, with the largest percent occuring in the professional and business sectors. Government contracting is at an all-time high, and some of these new workers cannot find an affordable place to call home except local campsites that offer long-term RV facilities. "Around here, you have to go so far for a $150,000 house, forget it," said Remi Bergeron, a a computer systems support engineer. "I don't even think there are any." Some campsites have become so popular as homes that they have had to start waiting lists. A similar phenomenon occured in Silicon Valley in the late 90s. "It's gotten old," said one RV homeowner in northern Virginia. "It's not how we expected to spend our life at this age."

Thanks to Peter Buryk

Tuesday, April 5, 2005 in The Washington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

Rendering of autonomous cargo train moving across bridge across river in wooded area between Texas and Mexico.

Trump Approves Futuristic Automated Texas-Mexico Cargo Corridor

The project could remove tens of thousands of commercial trucks from roadways.

June 17 - FreightWaves

Rendering of white three-story single-stair building in Austin, Texas with staircase in the middle.

Austin's First Single Stair Apartment Building is Officially Underway

Eliminating the requirement for two staircases in multi-story residential buildings lets developers use smaller lots and more flexible designs to create denser housing.

June 17 - Building Design & Construction

MARTA bus with Atlanta skyline in background

Atlanta Bus System Redesign Will Nearly Triple Access

MARTA's Next Gen Bus Network will retool over 100 bus routes, expand frequent service.

June 17 - Mass Transit