Looking to buy in Pinewell, Oceanview Norfolk Va (Hampton: foreclosures, crime)

[davsy]

I am new to the Hampton Roads area and will work at either Norfolk Navel Station Or JEB (fomerly Little Creek). I found a great house in the Pinewell section of Norfolk. I am hoping to find someone with first hand knowledge of that area.
Seems most people who live in Hampton roads give a blanket 'avoid Norfolk' but upon further questioning will admit to good areas. I'd love to hear from someone who actually lives in Pinewell or Oceanview - or has in the past year or so.

I am a woman who will be living alone - I want to feel safe. I love the feel the of the neighborhood, the house is so welcoming and the commute, well, ten minutes .

Thank you

[rtandc]

Not sure if you will find someone that lives in that area on this board but you can check the crime stats online to see what is going in in that area... search using "within a boundry", then the drop down on the left and find "civic leagues" then use the drop down on the right and find "Pinewell" to get the stats....you can only go back 90 days but it will give you an idea

http://gisweb1/crimeviewcommunity/wizard.asp (broken link)

[xGrendelx]

Definitely don't trust the posts saying to "avoid Norfolk at all costs" or anything. I think everyone has a different interpretation of the city, so if you can, just go to Oceanview and check it out for yourself. I don't think it's too bad, sketchy in parts, but it's entirely possible to be perfectly happy there and I know a number of people who are. It really depends on where you're from and what you're used to as far as living environments.

[VA Yankee]

Pinewell was always a neat older neighborhood. Plenty of older residents who are home and sort of keep an eye on things.

[Mr Williamsburg]

My sister and her family lived there for 15 + years and loved it. Her mother in Law, and sister in law ( and family) still live there and still love it. The mother in law has lived there since the early 60's. She liked it so much she built a new house there ( about five years ago) and then sold the original house to her daughter...
Happy to put you in touch with them if you want personal references..

[Bubblex]

I currently live in the Willoughby Spit section of Oceanview (off Little Bay Avenue) and have been living there since September 2009 and I have had no problems. I am also a single women living by myself so it was important for me to feel safe too. I think Oceanview has a bad rap, but they are really doing a lot to clean up the city and since they've repaved the roads and built new sidewalks, a lot of people walk around all the time and so do I --- of course, I'm a single girl - I'm not going to walk around by myself in the dark (that is stupid no matter where you live), but in the daytime/dusk, it's all good. My boyfriend and I walked on the beach last Friday around 9-10P and I didn't see any addicts out walking around or anything. I don't know why everyone says Norfolk is so horrible - I think that's a stigma from people who have never actually lived there and are just hearing and repeating things. I love Willoughby/OV, it's great being by the beach and there is everything you need in the OV shopping center - library, post office, groceries, everything!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

[telemonster]

Don't forget that home prices went up 100%+ in 7 years, while incomes didn't. So the market in Hampton Roads is very bubbly. The majority of the good paying jobs are gov't funded.

There are good and bad areas in every city.

[Erma]

Originally Posted by telemonster

Don't forget that home prices went up 100%+ in 7 years, while incomes didn't. So the market in Hampton Roads is very bubbly. The majority of the good paying jobs are gov't funded.

There are good and bad areas in every city.

Housing prices have dropped in the past 6 mos. Just spoke to a young man I work with (25) who just bought a home and said the seller really worked with him on what he expected to pay and what the appraisal value was.
I would also suggest that maybe working for a govt. funded company would be an idea for you, since reading your posts, you feel you aren't being paid enough. Just pass a background check, credit check and drug screening. Simple as that...and posses the skills needed.

[telemonster]

I'm happy with my salary, but recognize that even though it's doubled since the days I worked at NASA, the buying power of it has been eroded by those with no money willing to take on insane amounts of debt to supposedly buy houses, that they are now walking away from.

Whitehouse slipped the other day and said they expect 12 million + foreclosures coming up. That's 15% of all home owners.

I've worked for gov't contractors in the past, and recognize it was much less fulfilling than working for private companies. No motivation of excellence.

[Jfig]

To original poster of this thread I see this has been up for a bit now did you end up moving to Pinewell, because I am looking into moving there myself and would like your candid opinion about the place. Looks like a great place to live.