Thinking of moving to VA Beach area (Virginia Beach, Norfolk: sale, real estate market)

[thutch65]

I think that some of the people who have posted about the crime and traffic in Va. Beach must never visit any really large cities. I have lived in Va. Beach for over 16yrs. It has some bad points but the good out weigh the bad. I've lived in a lot of other cities and have travel very much over the years. Va. Beach does not have crime or traffic compared to most large cities. I will admit the that both are getting worse than what it was when we first moved here but that is to be expected as the city grows. I have never not felt safe in Va. Beach. I don't think that the neighborhoods are of on one street and bad a few streets away. There are neighborhoods I wouldn't live in but you have that everywhere. I have 3 children I think the schools are great and my kids are getting a great education. It's a great place to raise a family. My children are bi-racial and we have never had a problem. In fact one reason we stayed here to raise our children was due to the fact that it is not a redneck area where our kids would have problems. All the neighborhoods are mixed race we don't have "ghetto" neighborhoods like you see in big cities. There is almost always something to do here as far as events, concerts, festivals etc. are lots of shopping as well. Traffic is getting to be bad but I have seen worse in Northern VA., D.C., Maryland area where we used to live. The end of July and First of August are very hot and humid but the rest of the time the weather is fairly mild. There is always a breeze going because of the ocean and all the other water surrounding us. I raise dogs and have never had to give my animals chemicals for and type to pest. However termites and ants are a big problem. Housing is no longer affordable the average house is over $300,000 now. I don't like the fact that the city can't leave any piece of property undeveloped and I would like to see more parks and green space added when an area is developed. But over all Va. Beach is a nice place to live.

[ChessieMom]

Originally Posted by Georgepl

Then perhaps you should make yourself more marketable, it's called education/training/experience and you are never too old to start.

Exactly.

[Lethal_Poison]

Originally Posted by Georgepl

Then perhaps you should make yourself more marketable, it's called education/training/experience and you are never too old to start.

I have a bachelors degree, and 1.5 associates degrees.....how many more do I need to make a good wage? The problem isnt that Im not marketable, the problem is there are no jobs. I can walk in to a 45-50k job with what I have currently in practically any other "real" city in the country.

I refuse to go into 10's of thousands of dollars of debt getting a masters degree or more, so I can compete for a 40k job here. Thats just flat out ignorant and a waste of time and resources.

[CosmicWizard]

When I lived in VA BCH, I had a computer technology job that paid $48,000 ( in 2006 ) and I had no degree whatsoever. Employers are looking for skills and experience. Wether or not you have a degree is irrelevant. Simply because a job ad states that a degree is required, doesn't mean that the employer will hold fast to that requirement.

As a big sports fan, I remember when Pete Rose was chasing Ty Cobbs all time hit record. Even non sports fan got caught up in the hoopla. Pete Rose was one of the very few major league ballplayers from that era not having a college degree, and the writers and broadcasters enjoyed making an issue out of it. During one interview, the interviewer asked Pete what college he got his degree from. Pete said, "I don't have a college degree, but I almost bought a college last year!" That was the end of that line of questioning.

So I agree with Lethal_Posion. Why go into debt for a masters degree. Focus on acquiring experience instead. So you work a $35 K job for a year or two to get some experience. At least you're not acquiring debt. Then apply for the better paying job. Your experince is going to speak volumes compared to the fresh out of school masters candidate with book knowledge only. You'll get the job and the masters degree candidate will end up with the $35 K job for a year or two to get some real world experience, which will be required for the higher paying job anyway. Most of his salary will go toward paying off debt, while you're now earning $50 K. Over a 2 or 3 year period you'll be $50,000 ahead! ( don't get too hung up in the numbers, I'm just making them up as I go along! But you get the point.)

blessings....Franco

[Lethal_Poison]

Originally Posted by NewAgeRedneck

When I lived in VA BCH, I had a computer technology job that paid $48,000 ( in 2006 ) and I had no degree whatsoever. Employers are looking for skills and experience. Wether or not you have a degree is irrelevant. Simply because a job ad states that a degree is required, doesn't mean that the employer will hold fast to that requirement.

As a big sports fan, I remember when Pete Rose was chasing Ty Cobbs all time hit record. Even non sports fan got caught up in the hoopla. Pete Rose was one of the very few major league ballplayers from that era not having a college degree, and the writers and broadcasters enjoyed making an issue out of it. During one interview, the interviewer asked Pete what college he got his degree from. Pete said, "I don't have a college degree, but I almost bought a college last year!" That was the end of that line of questioning.

So I agree with Lethal_Posion. Why go into debt for a masters degree. Focus on acquiring experience instead. So you work a $35 K job for a year or two to get some experience. At least you're not acquiring debt. Then apply for the better paying job. Your experince is going to speak volumes compared to the fresh out of school masters candidate with book knowledge only. You'll get the job and the masters degree candidate will end up with the $35 K job for a year or two to get some real world experience, which will be required for the higher paying job anyway. Most of his salary will go toward paying off debt, while you're now earning $50 K. Over a 2 or 3 year period you'll be $50,000 ahead! ( don't get too hung up in the numbers, I'm just making them up as I go along! But you get the point.)

blessings....Franco

I will never make 50k in my field here any time soon. The only positions paying over 50k in accounting and finance in the Hampton Roads area are top level executive positions requiring 10+ years of experience, and often an MBA and or a CPA.

Why would I take the time or pay the money to get all those certifications, when if I simply moved to a place where my field is in demand, I could make nearly that without any of those prerequisites?

Sometimes it goes far deeper then just not having "skills, education or qualifications". Some times the jobs just dont exist.

I also think experience is heavily overrated. I have very little experience in my field, but I continuously instruct/help/construct reports for people who have had dozens of years of experience. Experience can be helpful in management or sales positions or hands on production type jobs, but I feel that there is far too much emphasis placed on it in regards to purely cerebral type jobs that dont require expertise of a particuliar industry.

[CosmicWizard]

Lethal Poison wrote:

Some times the jobs just dont exist.

You got that right!



Lethal Poison wrote:

I also think experience is heavily overrated.

Perhaps experience is not the best word to make my point. What I mean to say is that employers want a sense that you will be able to do the job. If you are able to convince the potential employer that you have a proven track record of doing something similar at least, you got a better shot than someone who isn't able to do so. That is where experience on a resume might prove helpful. Experience CAN also be an obstacle, EG: if someone has been doing a particular job ineffeciently for x number of years, they are likely to bring their experienced inefficiency into the next job too.

Good luck with your job search wherever you decide to focus your search.

blessings...Franco

[jj2008]

What area do you suggest to raise a child?
thanks

[DunnoDunne]

well for your information, i'm 17 years old boy who born and raised in virginia beach. in the fact, i attend to the boarding school in dc, visited to other states to see my relatives, and traveled other cities and places with my friends often. in the total of the places i have been visited, id say virginia beach's just perfect for me. I'd pick VB over Indianapolis, Atlanta, Jacksonville and NYC

to be honest with you all,
people who don't really like to live in vb are taking big deal on traffic blockades and crime situation. name a big city that don't have any gidlock traffics and low percentage of crime.

houses in vb are extremely high, but houses in dc, nyc, and atlanta are 3 times higher than vb.

if you're in middle of dc, you would have to walk around or find other route to avoid homeless people laying on the streets and you'll have to aware the strangers around you on the street. while in vb, trust me, you could have probably walk around in vb with 500 bucks in ur hand and nobody will touch you.

the negative issues about vb:

-lack of professional sport leagues
-metro transportantion system are weak

and...what else? compare with other big cities, virginia beach are just a orginial city.

[VABeachMom]

Originally Posted by jj2008

What area do you suggest to raise a child?
thanks

There are lots of nice areas in Virginia Beach. I grew up in Kempsville and currently live in Little Neck with my daughter. What is your range for cost of housing? Are you looking to rent or buy? How old is your child? (schoolage?)

[surfergirl79]

The Great Neck area of Virginia Beach or the North End of the Oceanfront (streets numbered in the 50's through the 80's) are great. Great health food stores near the beach are the Fresh Market on Laskin Road and the Heritage Store near the Oceanfront. There are wonderful local eateries that are not chains. At the Oceanfront / Laskin Road, I love Eat Bistro, Terrapin's, Pacifico, Zoe's, Zinc (French), and Coyote Cafe. Nawab Indian food is great on First Colonial Road. Bangkok Garden at First Colonial and Laskin has great Thai food. Sushi and West on Great Neck Road has good Japanese and Havana on Great Neck Road has delicious Cuban. Luna Maya is wonderful in Ghent, as is Bardo's, Bodega, Cracker's, and Todd Jurich's. Rajput Indian is also good in Ghent. Plenty of yoga classes near the Oceanfront, as well as Belly Dancing. Pasha restaurant in Chesapeake has great Turkish food. Seashore State Park is nearby the beach off of Shore Drive for walking and cycling. There is another health food cafe on 19th Street at the beach that is really good for light fare, but I forgot the name of it. There are some great independent coffee shops in the area such as Java Surf at the Oceanfront, Fairgrounds in Ghent, and Borjo near ODU. There are no Whole Foods yet, but I drive to Trader Joe's in Newport News bi-monthly. Stay away from the chain restaurants at the VB Town Center and all over Chesapeake. Also check out the Golden Fork Awards from Hampton Roads magazine, which tells all the best places to eat.