Where Does the Working Class Live? (Virginia Beach, Norfolk: apartment, rentals, countertops)

[MizAlice]

Hi, I will be finishing up my college degree this year. My husband is from Chesapeake and would like to move back there. He is thinking about going back to college once we get there. All I can find as far as rentals go seem very expensive (compared to Arkansas, at least). I am not looking to rent anything right now, as we won't be moving for several months. I am just trying to narrow down the area that we will be looking at and get a feel for the price ranges to expect. It just seems that none of the places I see will be affordable on one income if he does enroll in school. Surely there are neighborhoods geared towards single income or working class families? Not everyone who lives in Hampton Roads can be an executive. Thank you for your help!

[Erma]

We're a military community. Are you in Little Rock or another location. Depending on where you want to live is where the price of an apartment can be expensive or cheaper, but not as cheap as Arkansas.

[tabbva]

How much do you want to spend each month?

[xGrendelx]

What city are you looking to live in? It should be pretty easy to find working class neighborhoods in Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Newport News. I can understand if you were only looking at Virginia Beach, but there are some working class 'hoods in VB as well.

[MizAlice]

The specific city is not too important to us. My hubby is from Chesapeake, but he has a lot of family in VB. From what I have seen from our visits, it looks as though all the cities pretty much run into each other anyway. So far, the only preference we have is that the school districts be pretty good. I will be looking to work at an elementary school, so if I can enroll my kids in the school district I work for, that wouldn't necessarily be a deal-breaker either. The idea of a commute doesn't really bother me, I have to drive 45 minutes to get to a mall right now, so I am used to driving! I'm sorry if my question is not specific enough; I am trying to figure out what sorts of rents I can expect for an unassuming, 3 or 4 bedroom, 2 bath house. Doesn't have to be brick, townhomes are ok, don't care about upgraded carpet or countertops, etc. I am just trying to figure out how people who work, say, in a factory, would manage out there if $1500 is the cheapest rent price I can find. Basically, I don't want to move if I will have to live in the ghetto in order to afford rent.

[Randomdude]

Originally Posted by MizAlice

The specific city is not too important to us. My hubby is from Chesapeake, but he has a lot of family in VB. From what I have seen from our visits, it looks as though all the cities pretty much run into each other anyway. So far, the only preference we have is that the school districts be pretty good. I will be looking to work at an elementary school, so if I can enroll my kids in the school district I work for, that wouldn't necessarily be a deal-breaker either. The idea of a commute doesn't really bother me, I have to drive 45 minutes to get to a mall right now, so I am used to driving! I'm sorry if my question is not specific enough; I am trying to figure out what sorts of rents I can expect for an unassuming, 3 or 4 bedroom, 2 bath house. Doesn't have to be brick, townhomes are ok, don't care about upgraded carpet or countertops, etc. I am just trying to figure out how people who work, say, in a factory, would manage out there if $1500 is the cheapest rent price I can find. Basically, I don't want to move if I will have to live in the ghetto in order to afford rent.

You can stop right with the good school districts. Other then Virginia Beach, the rest of the area has either shoddy, or questionable at best systems. Some of Norfolk, Hampton and NN schools can be flat out dangerous.

A four bedroom house in VB is probably going to hit you for the area of $1500-$2000+ a month.

How people manage here is mostly that we depend on two income households far more so then the rest of the country. So unless your 1 income is 60k plus, you probably are going to have to look at a much smaller place or look in very shady areas.

[MizAlice]

Thanks for the info Randomdude! I was hoping for rent closer to $1200, but at least now I have a ballpark figure to work with when we consider our options.

[UHgrad]

Originally Posted by MizAlice

The specific city is not too important to us. My hubby is from Chesapeake, but he has a lot of family in VB. From what I have seen from our visits, it looks as though all the cities pretty much run into each other anyway. So far, the only preference we have is that the school districts be pretty good. I will be looking to work at an elementary school, so if I can enroll my kids in the school district I work for, that wouldn't necessarily be a deal-breaker either. The idea of a commute doesn't really bother me, I have to drive 45 minutes to get to a mall right now, so I am used to driving! I'm sorry if my question is not specific enough; I am trying to figure out what sorts of rents I can expect for an unassuming, 3 or 4 bedroom, 2 bath house. Doesn't have to be brick, townhomes are ok, don't care about upgraded carpet or countertops, etc. I am just trying to figure out how people who work, say, in a factory, would manage out there if $1500 is the cheapest rent price I can find. Basically, I don't want to move if I will have to live in the ghetto in order to afford rent.

Have you looked in the kempsville area? Pretty good schools, close to 64 and 264. You should be able to find a 3br townhouse over there for around $1200-$1400 in a decent neighborhood. Single family homes in that price range may be tough but there are some off of providence rd maybe near avalon woods and whitehurst landing. The area is mostly suburbs and strip malls but it 90% of it is quiet and safe, I have a bunch of friends that grew up there and still live there.

Most people who are working class around here (not military) either bought before the boom (pre-2003/2004) when it was cheap here or are relying on multiple incomes like randomdude said.