Moving to Norfolk-Where should we live? (Virginia Beach, Chesapeake: wood floors, apartments, rentals)

[Chaiya8]

Hi :-)

My husband has just been offered a job with Virginia Opera and we are re-locating from Miami at the end of this month, so I am in real need of some information! I am very excited to be getting out of south Florida and want to make a real life for us in Virginia. We are a young couple, without children, so school district isn't a real concern at this point (but will be eventually). We are looking for a rental and would prefer a single family house (2, 3 bedroom) or a townhouse at least. We don't mind commuting into the city if we have to (30 mins would probably be ideally the most we'd like to travel one way) so I am wondering, since I am looking at apartments on-line now, what neighborhoods in the Hampton-Roads areas are good for young professionals. We are weary of the loud, party-crazy city life and are looking to have a place to call home with a good community of people around that are friendly, quiet and respectful. I cannot tell you how sick I am of condo living with neighbors who don't speak English playing their LOUD music until all hours, even if you ask them nicely to turn it down! :-) Just really looking forward to moving to a place that still has moral and ethical values where people respect each other as human beings!

Any suggestions or input would be SO appreciated!

Thanks so much :-)

[VirginiaMommy]

Welcome to Hampton Roads....(in advance).

I actually like Virginia Beach and Chesapeake better than Norfolk. The only areas I would really considering living in would be Ghent or Larchmont in Norfolk.... We used to live in Larchmont, but we found ourselves coming back to Virginia Beach every weekend...since we are native to Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach and Chesapeake just have a lot more to offer when you start thinking about kids down the line. They also just have more shopping and are more family friendly in general. Ghent really seems to be good for young couples and singles though...I know some of my friends really enjoyed their time there. We actually rented in a duplex in Larchmont when we lived in Norfolk...We lived in the top half of an old house. It was really nice, but I just prefer to live in Chesapeake or Virginia Beach....At the time, we both worked five minutes away from Larchmont though, so that played a role in our decision to live there. I am not sure of your price range or if there are any particular areas you are interested in?....My husband and I would move to Chesapeake next if we were staying in this area, but we are relocating to NC for his job soon...Let me know some more specifics, and I can probably help more.

[Mark Sr.]

Based on your post, I would recommend the entire Shore Drive corridor of Virginia Beach. Chicks (Chesapeake) Beach, Thoroughgood, Ocean Park, Pelican Dunes, Baylake Pines, Mariner's Landing (townhomes), Lynnhaven Colony, and Cape Story By the Sea.

In most of these areas you can find rentals in a variety of sizes and prices.

You would also have easy access to Norfolk and I-64, from Shore Drive.

-Mark

[lmjohnson123]

Welcome to Hampton Roads!
Shore Drive area is quite a drive into Norfolk everyday. That will get old fast. Ghent would be first choice but may be pricey. Actually there is a lot out in Northeast Suffolk that is nice, quiet, affordable and central to everything. About 15 minutes to Norfolk down the Western Freeway (I-164) through the Midtown tunnel.
check HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

[Mark Sr.]

Originally Posted by lmjohnson123

Welcome to Hampton Roads!
Shore Drive area is quite a drive into Norfolk everyday. That will get old fast. Ghent would be first choice but may be pricey. Actually there is a lot out in Northeast Suffolk that is nice, quiet, affordable and central to everything. About 15 minutes to Norfolk down the Western Freeway (I-164) through the Midtown tunnel.
check HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Chaiya8,

Ghent is a great location to be near downtown Norfolk, well worth looking at further. Don't be misled though on Northeast Suffolk. They have had a recent BOOM in new construction along the entire I-664 corridor. There is alot available there in various price ranges. But I am not so sure that it is central to anything but northeast Suffolk.

About distances however:

It is approx. 13 miles from the Shore Drive area of Virginia Beach (Lynnhaven Inlet) to Waterside Drive in downtown Norfolk. This is 6 miles mostly on a 55 mph divided highway (Northhampton Blvd.), I-64 for 2 miles, then I-264 for 5 miles.

Northeast Suffolk you will drive 8 miles through the city of Portsmouth (I-664, Western Fwy.) until you reach the tunnel. As everyone here knows the tunnels are often a big traffic problem. Correct me if I am wrong but I think the midtown is one lane each way. Then it is a couple miles to downtown. During traffic issues, the only other viable ways in to downtown Norfolk are a boat, or another tunnel (the downtown tunnel). Don't let anyone tell you our tunnels are an enjoyable way to get to work (i.e., tunnels get old even faster).

Hope this helps,

-Mark

[surfergirl79]

I love the Shore Drive area of Virginia Beach, but if your husband is working for the Opera, I agree that Ghent is by far your best choice. It is a beautiful, historic area of Norfolk with fabulous apartments and townhomes. They are nice, big, renovated historic ones with hard wood floors and balconies. Nice, friendly neighborhoods, plus you can walk to everything. Fabulous restaurants, stores, coffee shops, bars, the Norva where there are a lot of concerts, etc. There are a variety of people living in Ghent with plenty of young people and it still has a neighborhood feel. Several of my friends (late 20's) have lived or do live in Ghent, and they all love(d) it!