Thinking to move to Va from NJ need help (Virginia Beach: for sale, real estate)

[daggi1]

I am not quite certain about relocating to Va, NC is still my 1st choice. Love both States, today my 25 year old daughter ask me if I would consider Va , perhaps moving to the Norfolk area. My daughter, 3 small children , of course myself( I am 50 now )and my dogs. I was fortune to retire so I do not need to find work. Born and raised in Germany, maybe Va likes German people, my grandchildren are bi racial, hope that this would not be a problem. The 6 year old boy has Autism what kind of help can he get in Va?He is high function. Looking for a house with at least 10 acres, where can I find this in the Norfolk area, or maybe around the Richmond area, honestly I have no clue where to look for. How high are the taxes in the State
Please can someone help me in here?

[Hokie]

Did you really mean 10 acres? You won't find that in Norfolk. It is a city. You could go out to Suffolk, which is about 20 mnutes away. It is rural in some areas, but subdivisions are popping up all over there. Still, 10 acres would cost you a fortune. You could find 1 acre.

[sheldonteam]

There are many resonable priced properties in Chesapeake and Suffolk with 5+ acres

[NJR]

Originally Posted by daggi1

I am not quite certain about relocating to Va, NC is still my 1st choice. Love both States, today my 25 year old daughter ask me if I would consider Va , perhaps moving to the Norfolk area. My daughter, 3 small children , of course myself( I am 50 now )and my dogs. I was fortune to retire so I do not need to find work. Born and raised in Germany, maybe Va likes German people, my grandchildren are bi racial, hope that this would not be a problem. The 6 year old boy has Autism what kind of help can he get in Va?He is high function. Looking for a house with at least 10 acres, where can I find this in the Norfolk area, or maybe around the Richmond area, honestly I have no clue where to look for. How high are the taxes in the State
Please can someone help me in here?

Having moved here from NJ myself, I can honestly tell you that it is very comfortable here (Chesapeake) The cost of living is definitely cheaper that NJ. Property tax will be at least 50% to 75% less depending of which county you came from. ( $1.04 per $100 assessed) Also car insurance is cheaper. There are of course certain "culture shock" issues you have to learn to live with.

1. Personal Property tax on your car (levied annually)
2. Sales tax is only 5% but on prepared foods it's much higher
3. Water cost (expensive) With a min charge regardless if used.
4. People here are oblivious of the driving rules (read other posts here)
5. Extensive Cell phone use while driving (Cars are mobile phone booths)
6. Tailgating is common practice (NASCAR calls it draftin')
7. Virginia motto: "It is what it is"
8. Real Estate tax, homes assessed at 100% annually

You will love the weather here, it's quiet here (check jet noise areas the new F18 are louder than the F14s) Municipal services are excellent as are schools (check www.greatschools.com) Like I said the cost of living is much cheaper than NJ so if you have a retirement package commensurate with a NJ lifestyle you'll have extra disposable income here.

Good luck on your move. I highly recommend you drive down and stay a week or so in the areas you have researched to get the lay of the land. It's actually very nice here!

[Erma]

I strongly urge you to go to GATES,NC if you are looking for land and it's cheaper there to say the least. I have two co-workers who bought land and built homes there and they enjoy it. Best place to raise their kids, have plenty of pets and a good environment. Now if I can just find an acre on the lake, I'd be a happy camper!

[Tony Williamson]

Originally Posted by Erma

I strongly urge you to go to GATES,NC if you are looking for land and it's cheaper there to say the least. I have two co-workers who bought land and built homes there and they enjoy it. Best place to raise their kids, have plenty of pets and a good environment. Now if I can just find an acre on the lake, I'd be a happy camper!

Erma's right! As a long-time Realtor®, I'm referring more and more of my out-of-town buyers down toward Elizabeth City. A buyer can get much more value for their $$$. Plus save a ton on real estate taxes! Commute is usually better too.

[daggi1]

Thanks for telling me all about the good and the bad. You are right I will drive down to Va and check the area out and also NC before I will make the move from NJ to the south.I don't understand the water bill I knew about the annual car tax. I had a culture shock when I moved from Germany in 1982 to America to Alabama.
Where is Elizabeth City? Where are the Gates in NC?
Thanks once more for all your information's








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[Erma]

Originally Posted by daggi1

Thanks for telling me all about the good and the bad. You are right I will drive down to Va and check the area out and also NC before I will make the move from NJ to the south.I don't understand the water bill I knew about the annual car tax. I had a culture shock when I moved from Germany in 1982 to America to Alabama.
Where is Elizabeth City? Where are the Gates in NC?
Thanks once more for all your information's

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Gates is about 1 mile over the virginia boarder on the west side of the dismal swamp. We bought our camper from a private party down there and I can understand why people are moving there and building. My friends husband built their 4,000 sq. ft. home in Suffolk 9 years ago. They sold it for over 400,000 dollars 3 years ago and bought land in Gates and he built another large home for 2/3 the cost of the one in Suffolk. With the meaning of taxes being lower, their real estate taxes ARE much lower than when they lived across the boarder in Suffolk, VA.
I have seen many lots/acerage for sale down there, but none are on a lake that I would be interested in. My whole retirement plan is to buy an acre on a lake and build a 2 bedroom cottage. I still have that "On Golden Pond" dream

[shellytc]

Daggi, please also check out the schools. The other responders have given you some interesting options, but they are not always the most sought after when you have children. I see that your daughter has 3 little ones and it may be of concern for you all.

Chesapeake and Virginia Beach both have rural areas that you can get land, depending on how much you are willing to spend... and you will get more sought after schools that have very good test scores. You and your daughter can check out Great Schools - Public and Private School Ratings, Reviews and Parent Community if that interests you.

YOu asked about taxes as well. Well, much less than New Jersey, LOL!!! Va. Beach is at .89 per $100 of assessed value. So if a home is assessed at 350k, taxes would be about $3100 per year. chesapeake has a tax rate of about $1.04 per assessed... so it is more than Va. Beach.

If you need additional information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask or email me.

shelly

[daggi1]

Thanks Shelly
education is very important, find good Schools is a must Like I already have mentioned that the 6 year old is Autistic so is hard to find a School for him. Yeah, New Jersey taxes and car insurances are very high. I found a house build on 14 aces land outside Winston Salem NC , maybe I should move to NC.I always can visited Va . go to Bush garden and Va Beach.NC and Va are Neighbors. I have time until next year to make up my mind