Suffolk, Va Beach, Chesapeake, or Norfolk? (Virginia Beach, Newport News: relocating, military, rental)

[akachans]

We will be relocating to the area in about a month. We are trying to figure out where to buy a house (we are looking to spend around $250K)? My husband will be working at Norfolk Naval Station. We have two young kids and a dog. We are hearing mixed ideas of where to live??? We are considering all areas but just can't decide! Please help! Obviously we want good schools, low crime, ect but we also want a house that will need little to no updating....we will only be in the area for 3 years. My husband is willing to commute about 30 min to work and we'd like to be within 10 or so minutes of store, grocery, ect.

[Erma]

Virginia Beach....Kempsville, Windsor Oaks or Windsor Woods. I go to the Naval Station now and then and I make it in 20 minutes taking the HOV lane in the mornings that go directly to the naval station. There is alot in the areas I've mentioned. Lowes, Home Depot, Grocery Stores, Banks, Gyms, you name it, it's not but 5 minutes away!

[zuzu'spetals]

If you're only going to be here for 3 years, rent-- do not buy housing in Hampton Roads because you'll get stuck with it when you leave!! It's a declining market in HRoads, and will continue to worsen. Very nice rentals abound-- you should stick an ad on craigslist saying when you need a place-- there are many military folks here who can not sell their homes & who will give great deals to a trustworthy renter.

[Erma]

Originally Posted by zuzu'spetals

If you're only going to be here for 3 years, rent-- do not buy housing in Hampton Roads because you'll get stuck with it when you leave!! It's a declining market in HRoads, and will continue to worsen. Very nice rentals abound-- you should stick an ad on craigslist saying when you need a place-- there are many military folks here who can not sell their homes & who will give great deals to a trustworthy renter.

Not necessarily...the house across from me sold within a month. The navy couple got stationed in Italy. The housing market for sellers is NOT to make the profit we did two years ago. It's a buyers market pretty much and if you want a nice home in a good school district, look for homes where the seller is willing to negotiate.

[jhrichmond]

Originally Posted by Erma

Not necessarily...the house across from me sold within a month. The navy couple got stationed in Italy. The housing market for sellers is NOT to make the profit we did two years ago. It's a buyers market pretty much and if you want a nice home in a good school district, look for homes where the seller is willing to negotiate.

Exactly. It is impossible to predict what will happen 3 years from now. Hopefully, by that time a lot of our military will be back home and they will be in need of housing.

[akachans]

We have been seriously looking into the 664 and Bennettes Creek area of Suffolk. I think we can get the most for our money there. Can anyone tell me about that area? I've heard mixed opinions about the area and schools. We don't mind be a little ways away from everything as long as there are a few stores (Target, grocery,ect) near by. What would the commute to the Naval Station be? And since we are military, there is always a chance we could be in the area longer....that's why we are taking the chance and buying a house. Plus, the market cant keep going down forever...it has to come up sometime!

[Erma]

OMG...that is a mess in the morning (lots of construction) heading to the base and IF there is an accident on the high rise bridge..forget it. I go MMBT to Newport News Shipbuilding (now called Northrup Grumman) and I see the bumper to bumper traffic heading towards the base. Take forever to get to the HOV lane. I have now learned to take MMBT to the yard and HRBT back. I left Newport News at 3:45pm taking the MMBT and didn't get home til 6pm!

[stacylee926]

Originally Posted by akachans

We have been seriously looking into the 664 and Bennettes Creek area of Suffolk. I think we can get the most for our money there. Can anyone tell me about that area? I've heard mixed opinions about the area and schools. We don't mind be a little ways away from everything as long as there are a few stores (Target, grocery,ect) near by. What would the commute to the Naval Station be? And since we are military, there is always a chance we could be in the area longer....that's why we are taking the chance and buying a house. Plus, the market cant keep going down forever...it has to come up sometime!

Personally I love this area. You are within 15 min of Ches Square Mall. This is a smaller mall, but there is never traffic - even during the holidays. The area is also slowly growing which means it is still a little rural, new, and things that you need daily are close by - grocery, drugstore, a few small restaurants.

You are right in the middle of Hampton Roads so nothing is more than 30-40 min away - Williamsburg, Va Beach etc. As far as your commute, I am not sure. The MMBT is the BEST tunnel in HR, also the Mid Town tunnel is lesser used.

The schools there are pretty new and decent. It is a nice family oriented area with parks nearby.