Anyone from Norfolk/VA Beach Area?

[Doodlebug939]

My husband is in the military. This should be his last tour. So far we have been to many other states just not Virginia. I know that there are several bases and I dont know for sure yet which base he would be on if he accepted these orders.

But I am more concerned with my kids schooling and owning a home. I was suprised to see online that townhomes are $225,000. Am I looking in the wrong area. Can anyone give me some pointers. Thank you for your time.

 

[polyfan]

I sent you a PM

 

[hiwaygal]

It does kinda depend where you are looking.

Some areas in VA Beach are very high, Norfolk is a little better. But, depending on which base/station you end up at, there could be better options in Chesapeake, Suffolk, or on the Peninsula (Hampton, Newport News).

The real estate market here has really levelled off (as it has in many places). You can get townhouses for less than $225k although I'm not sure how many single family houses you would find for much less than that.

As for schools, I don't know much about them since I don't have kids. I know of the better ones in the district where I live, but that is only one out of about 7 or 8.

There are lots of folks from this area here on the boards though...and I'm sure you'll get lots of help!

And Welcome to Hampton Roads!

 

[Sleepy]

We were stationed in Norfolk for 13 years. It takes about 25 minutes commute in the morning and maybe a bit longer in the afternoons depending on what time you try to deal with the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, but PLEASE, if you consider this duty station, seriously consider living in York County. They have the best schools and life is a little slower paced. Stay away from Newport News and run as fast as you can away from Norfolk and Hampton.

ETA: We had many friends who lived in Norfolk and Virginia Beach and even though on the map, those locations are closer to the base, their commute was longer than ours due to in town traffic. JUst something to consider.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I second the thought about the tunnels. I have a 7 mile commute from Portsmouth the Norfolk Naval Station every day. On good days it takes me about 25 minutes each way. At least once a week, though, it'll take 45-60 minutes.

If you can avoid a commute through a tunnel, your quality of life will be greatly improved. The other bad commutes are along I-64 in Hampton and I-64/I-264 in Virginia Beach.

Each of the 7 cities have bad parts of town and good parts of town. The base housing office should be able to give you some good guidance. Let us know which base (or which service), and we'd be able to give you some more specific advice.

 

[ozarkmom]

I haven't been there in over 20 years so I'm no help but when my dad was in the Navy we were stationed there twice and it was the fondest times of my childhood memories. No help here just thinking back to when I was a kid.

 

[Doodlebug939]

Just checking back in to say thank you for all of your replies. If my husband chooses orders there it will be at HM-14. He is on his last tour and had done 16 years of Sea duty and was hoping for 1 shore tour but so far nothing has come out. So our options as of today is HM-15 (Corpus Christi Tx) or HM-14. I am just finishing up with college and am really looking toward a goverment job. GS rating of some sort. I just like to feel out the area to see what we are getting into before he gives the ok.

 

[KarenAylwood]

I may not be all that much of a help since I don't have kids so I don't know how the schools are (other than, stay away from Hampton!) but I moved here about 1 year ago and absolutely LOVE it. I live right in Norfolk, in the Ghent area actually (the nicer area of the city) and it's a great place.

A friend of mine just moved to the area, and her fiance is moving in a week and a half- he's in the Navy and was stationed here (by request). They are both incredibly excited to be living here.

I commuted to Williamsburg for school for about 7 months and those tunnels can get pretty bad for those commuting to Norfolk. Now I work in Suffolk and use the tunnels but have an opposite commute again, so it's not bad at all. If you can avoid the tunnels, you'll be in even better shape.

Goodluck in your decision!

 

[Pin Wizard]

About 6 or 8 months ago, a friend told me to plan on spending $300,000 to be in a good area of VA Beach. Ha! Sure enough, knowing what I would get for my home on the peninsula and what prices are there after looking with a realtor, I made the decision to stay and keep the horrendous bridge-tunnel drive. Thank goodness it all worked out and I now don't have that drive. I work a measly 10 minute drive away from home. Wooooooooo hooooooooo!!! And I really do like this side of the water much better!

Good luck!

 

[hiwaygal]

And I really do like this side of the water much better!

Yeah, the Peninsula's got it ALL OVER the Southside! Mostly I like that we are really in the center of it all (roughly halfway between VA Beach and Williamsburg) in addition to having our own identities!

I don't know much about schools either, as I don't have kids...but I know that Hampton isn't quite as bad as others are making it out to be.

I'll second, third, and fourth the commuting issues. I drove that mess for 8 years!!! (From Hampton to Lynnhaven for the first four years, then to Kempsville) It was AWFUL! And it's not going to get better anytime soon.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I have to agree with being centrally located. We were just in Norfolk and VB today (since I'm taking a couple days off work.) Tomorrow we're headed to Midlothian, just outside Richmond. People I know in VA Beach will make the Richmond drive once every few months. LOL! I'll do it every other weekend. I was just there this past weekend and headed there again the coming weekend. Hmmmmm...don't know if I'll do it tomorrow considering rush hour traffic in the PM, but definitely on the weekend.