Hold Period — Cities of Virginia

Cities of Virginia ranked by average flip hold-period.

Public Record

Currently viewing: Virginia · View nationwide

National avg hold

0.92 yr

Fastest-flip state

—

Longest-hold state

—

Flip pairs analyzed

15,519

Fastest-flip states (shortest avg hold)

Longest-hold states

City ranking — Virginia (avg hold period)

Cities in Virginia (sample ≥ 20 flips)

Sorted shortest to longest

#	City	Avg hold (yrs)	Avg hold (mo)	Avg gain %	Sample
1	Toano	0.57	6.9	+302.3%	97
2	Woodford	0.60	7.3	+142.7%	22
3	Daleville	0.67	8.2	+210.0%	21
4	Smithfield	0.69	8.4	+176.4%	78
5	Springfield	0.71	8.7	+51.4%	100
6	Ashland	0.72	8.8	+338.5%	187
7	Woodbridge	0.72	8.7	+49.6%	199
8	Centreville	0.72	8.7	+46.3%	38
9	Appomattox	0.73	8.9	+176.8%	26
10	North Chesterfield	0.73	8.9	+127.9%	108
11	Annandale	0.74	9.0	+63.5%	66
12	Grottoes	0.75	9.2	+104.9%	23
13	Dinwiddie	0.75	9.1	+261.6%	31
14	Burke	0.76	9.2	+70.8%	28
15	Amelia Court House	0.77	9.4	+203.7%	29
16	Sterling	0.77	9.4	+42.2%	51
17	Vinton	0.78	9.5	+118.2%	50
18	Henrico	0.78	9.5	+123.1%	311
19	Portsmouth	0.78	9.5	+121.5%	275
20	Harrisonburg	0.79	9.6	+78.2%	28
21	Keswick	0.79	9.6	+218.1%	47
22	Madison Heights	0.80	9.7	+176.0%	41
23	Colonial Heights	0.81	9.9	+108.7%	72
24	Sandston	0.81	9.9	+203.5%	41
25	Chesterfield	0.81	9.9	+185.4%	275
26	New Kent	0.82	9.9	+161.4%	45
27	Reston	0.82	10.0	+39.9%	41
28	Ruther Glen	0.82	10.0	+176.1%	111
29	South Chesterfield	0.82	10.0	+189.5%	40
30	Alexandria	0.82	10.0	+62.1%	408
31	Richmond	0.83	10.1	+125.2%	986
32	Franklin	0.83	10.1	+184.4%	21
33	Herndon	0.83	10.1	+60.5%	50
34	Hampton	0.83	10.2	+120.9%	302
35	Petersburg	0.83	10.2	+159.8%	262
36	Mechanicsville	0.83	10.1	+171.0%	161
37	Virginia Beach	0.84	10.2	+60.6%	466
38	Norfolk	0.84	10.2	+126.3%	347
39	Hopewell	0.84	10.3	+135.1%	172
40	Chester	0.84	10.2	+179.0%	150
41	Crozet	0.85	10.3	+161.4%	76
42	Charlottesville	0.85	10.3	+168.1%	216
43	Newport News	0.86	10.4	+101.3%	273
44	Partlow	0.86	10.5	+240.6%	23
45	Rockingham	0.86	10.4	+95.4%	25
46	King George	0.86	10.5	+115.9%	54
47	Stephens City	0.87	10.6	+129.4%	55
48	Dumfries	0.87	10.6	+51.8%	61
49	Chesapeake	0.87	10.6	+113.8%	347
50	Triangle	0.88	10.7	+121.7%	21

What hold period tells investors

Liquidity signal

Short average holds (under 2 years) indicate a liquid market — properties trade often, exit timing is flexible, and capital recycles quickly. Long holds (5+ years) suggest fewer buyers, slower exits, and higher carry-cost risk.

Flipper vs. landlord markets

Markets where typical investors hold 3–9 months are dominated by fix-and-flip operators. Markets averaging 5–10 years are dominated by buy-and-hold landlords. Choose the strategy that matches the market — don't fight it.

Caveats

This metric reflects only properties that resold. True buy-and-hold landlords who never sold during the data window are invisible here. Treat the numbers as a relative ranking across states, not an absolute hold-period truth. Source: public record.