Teaching/Living in Hampton Roads Area (Virginia Beach, Norfolk: apartments, rentals, condos)

[Kalysa19]

So I started reading ALL the hundreds of posts on living in the Hamptons Roads area and was overwhelmed by the responses. So I decided to start my own thread on it and see what response I get for what "I" am looking for.

Currently I live in Illinois and have tried for two years to get an elementary teaching job here. Obviously I've had no luck, otherwise I wouldn't be doing this.

I have applied in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Accomack in this area and Fairfax County, Alexandria, and Montgomery County near D.C.

And while I've applied to work in these areas, it doesn't mean I have to live in them. So, knowing that, I would like to get an idea of rental prices for apartments/condos/townhomes for good neighborhoods/complexes. Overall I am looking for safety above all else. I've read on here about the "crime" that is in the area and how it is growing, but wonder to what extent that crime is. I live near Chicago, so I would guess that my definition of bad crime could be different than someone living in the Hampton Roads area? Or no?

I've read traffic is bad there, but it's probably comparable to here as it takes me nearly an hour to go twenty miles to work each day.

My alternative to the Hampton Roads area is near D.C. I have a few friends that teach there now and love the areas that they live in and work. But I want to keep my options open at this point.

Any help would be appreciated...

[irisheyes13]

Have you looked in to York County in the Hampton Roads area? The schools are great and the area is very safe. It is not one of the areas you listed but not far from the Norfolk area. Sorry I can't provide any info on those areas in particular.

[f14norm]

We left Va. Beach last summer...military hubby...but have lived there on and off for 18 years. I love the area and would move back in a heartbeat. Others on the area though....traffic is lousy, but don't know that you would think it's any worse than where you are. The morning/evening commute between Va. Beach and Norfolk (providing things are moving decently) is about 30 minutes. Some of the local roads can get pretty heavily bogged down at busy times of the day.

Crime..... Don't know what it's like in Chicago, but can tell you that after leaving the area for Memphis, Va. Beach/Norfolk seems tame! As long as you are careful to stay out of the rougher areas, you should be fine. We kept the alarm on at night, and even with a hubby who was frequently away, I felt comfortable.

Wish I could provide you some info on rentals, but we always owned when we lived there. I do know that the market went crazy about 2-3 years ago, but think things have mellowed just a little bit now. We had a 5 bedroom/3 bath in a fairly nice, but not extravagant neighborhood. After living there 4 years and selling, we saw a $225K profit. My guess is that you could expect to pay anywhere from $1000-1500 for an apt./condo in a nice area. But again, not sure as we haven't rented.

Schools are mostly good. Again, stay away from the less desirable areas. Having left, realize what we had now. Smaller elem. school w/ lots of parental involvement and high test scores. Med. size middle school still w/ a fair amt. of parental involvement, lots of extra-curricular, and lots of options for electives.

Hope this helps!