Real estate is always a hot topic; if you’re looking to move, perusing houses online can become a part-time job. If you already own, everyone wants to know: How much is that house down the street listed for? How much did that old house across town sell for? And whoooboy, if there’s an Open House, you can usually find a crowd inside: locals looking to see what the Joneses are up to, and house hunters desperately seeking The Perfect House.

Starting this week, Patch is going to take a new approach to House Hunt. Instead of focusing solely on Open Houses, we’re also going to highlight five houses that have come on the market in the past week. If anything has sold in the past week, we’ll highlight that, too. And if an Open House is scheduled, we’ll let you know that too.

Almost seems like it’s time to plan a cocktail party, just so you can start talking about real estate with the neighbors.

(Realtors, are you wondering why YOUR new listing isn’t highlighted? As much as we love to think of Patch as being uber exclusive, it’s really easy to get your listing in. Just email me the property’s address, list price, number of bed/bath, and MLS number. We’ll feature one photo a week, so send along a photo too, just in case your listing is the winning house for that bonus. And then go let your client know you’ve just secured their house spot in next week’s House Hunt.)

Okay, on to this week’s new listings:

10541 School St, Fairfax, VA 22030; $749,000; 4BR, 4.5BA; MLS OPEN Sun 04/17, 1:00pm – 4:00pm

10619 West Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030; $319,900; 2BR, 1BA; MLS #fc7574811

4600 Marshall Hall Ln, Fairfax, VA 22033; $469,900; 4BR, 2BA; MLS #fx7570757

4826 Piney Branch Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030; $779,900; 4BR, 4.5BA; MLS #fx7573971

10209 Burke Chase Ct, Fairfax, VA 22032; $669,888; 4BR, 2.5BA; MLS #fx7574508