Moving to Lynchburg or areas around- HELP! (Richmond, Roanoke: rentals, house)

[hbrown2377]

Hello!!! My husband is getting a job in the Lynchburg. VA area, and we are coming from Charleston, SC, so we have no clue regarding any of this area. We are going up to visit, so hopefully we will have more insight once we go. Does anyone know anywhere I can look online to possibly see some house rentals. We are looking in possibly renting a home for a few years before buying since it is a new area for us?? I read some threads regarding the Peakland/Boonsboro Rd. area. We are looking for more of a "city" outside of Lynchburg, since it is more isolated of some sort in Lynchburg ( or that is what we have heard). Can anyone give me direction on where I should look or what neighborhoods seem to be slightly newer?? Thanks for your help!!

[badger74]

The Forest/Bedford area and areas of far west Lynchburg have the most new nicer homes. Very good areas. But for nicer older homes in mature neighborhoods you cannot beat Peakland. You can see photos of some of them on my facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...00000805404951

[pjxii]

I don't live in Lynchburg, just spent time there looking for a house as we were planning on relocating there (ended up with a job in Roanoke). The best thing you can do (if you can) is to give yourself a week if possible and drive around the city exploring. Lynchburg does seem isolated compared to really big cities (like Philadelphia where I'm originally from), because cities like Philly have at least half of the metropolitan are population in the suburbs. Lynchburg really doesn't have suburbs and that is why it seems to sit off by itself in sight of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The closest cities are Roanoke and Charlottesville (Lynchburg is about halfway between the two).
For day to day living, I know that I wouldn't have needed to drive to another city for anything if I'd moved to Lynchburg. There's no IKEA or Opera Company, but aside from specialized things like that Lynchburg isn't lacking much, and doesn't feel "isolated" unless you make the drive to Charlottesville and drive past the miles of trees in Amherst County to the north.
If you could give a little more information, such as where in/around town your husband's job will be, if you have kids and their ages (for schools) and maybe an idea of your housing budget, others here could give you a bit more guidance (I wish I could help more because I love Lynchburg but am very limited with my experience there).

[sregorat3]

Lynchburg is a little less isolated than Roanoke, but it isn't as bad as you've heard. Example- the metro area is half the size of Charleston's, but it closer to large metro areas than Charleston is- 2 hours to Richmond, the Triad or RTP and 3 hours to DC (with the added benefit of Northeast Regional commuter svc).
As Badger mentioned, Bedford County has great housing selection as does the Peakland/Boonsboro area. If you like large historic homes, there are plenty in the historic districts or along Rivermont Ave.