Relocating to the Roanoke area, soon! (Clifton: for sale, house, neighborhood)

[breeze823]

Thank you again Erin!

[j1n]

Originally Posted by Erin1264

Yes, look North of Roanoke in Botetourt and Craig Counties, or Northern Roanoke County.

Franklin County would be in the wrong direction as your husband would have to travel all the way across Roanoke to get to work.

Yeah, Franklin county would be all the way across town and then south. However...
We live pretty far into Franklin County and my wife works right in Roanoke...commutes every day. The traffic on 220/581 generally moves along pretty well. If you were to find a great place in Franklin County, the drive to Gander is 90% 4-lane (and more on 581) highway driving. Not a bad commute at all. Gander is right off an I-81 exit, so you wouldn't have to navigate the city at all.

[breeze823]

Originally Posted by j1n

Yeah, Franklin county would be all the way across town and then south. However...
We live pretty far into Franklin County and my wife works right in Roanoke...commutes every day. The traffic on 220/581 generally moves along pretty well. If you were to find a great place in Franklin County, the drive to Gander is 90% 4-lane (and more on 581) highway driving. Not a bad commute at all. Gander is right off an I-81 exit, so you wouldn't have to navigate the city at all.

He wouldn't mind a 20-30 minute commute, would that be do-able? Thanks!

[seanpecor]

We're 5 miles west of Boones Mill in Franklin County, and we're about 35 minutes from the I-81 exit, so I think a 30 minute commute from Franklin County is do-able. But, if you find a place closer in Botetourt or Craig County, then that makes a whole lot more sense. Gas ain't getting any cheaper Even with my Prius, that sort of commute would cost about $120/month in gas alone.

Sean

[Erin1264]

Someday, we will be looking for a home with more land and perhaps not in a subdivision. (so essentially looking for the same type of property that you are). Knowing what we know about the area and with the desire to stay near the airport and the Valley View Mall area, I'd keep our focus in Troutville, Blue Ridge, Buchanan, Fincastle.

We really like the rural rolling hills and farms in these areas. When we bought our house, our second choice house was off of Country Club Rd. in Troutville and we also liked that area!

If you find that property that feels right to the whole family, then I'm sure you'll make the commute work! Good luck and I hope you have a great time in town tomorrow!

[valsmiles]

Hi everyone,

I am planning to move to Roanoke too, I am going back to college and will be attending Hollins, I have a daughter that's almost 16 and will be a junior next year, she was a member of the color guard this past year and Glenvar HS is giving her a chance to join them, I would love some feedback about this school, the district and the area in general... things like housing, safety and such...

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[SV2012]

I would go to Clifton Forge/Covington in Alleghany County. Only an hour away from Roanoke Alleghany is GREAT! I was born and raised there. But moved because of job. If land is what your looking for go to the western end of the county or the eastern. You could get farm sized land or close to it since it is so rural. As for your kids my kids went to Alleghany County Public Schools and they are much better than Covington city public schools. My kids never went to the high school there but they did go to elem. and middle and they were great for sports. My niece went to the high school and has had a great time. Sports aren't a problem when you are in elem. school you use the recreation department for sports but they give each school a team! In middle school they can participate in rec. league until eighth grade where they have a middle school football team(which has no tryouts just show up) and a basketball and cheerleading team(has tryouts) and a cross country and track team(no tryouts) and in eighth grade they can tryout for JV baseball, softball, and soccer team! High school is just high school sports every team you have to tryout for except football, track, cross country! Look past the lack of entertainment in the county itself and alleghany county is great to raise a family in! As a matter of fact, most of the families go to Roanoke or Staunton for entertainment both 45 min. to an hour away(: !

[texaschic]

Having been in search for a home in the Covington area for about 4 months.... your suggestion for Alleghany County is easier said than done. We have had horrible results in our search.... everything there is old and overpriced.... no new construction AT ALL. Most homes in the 2-4k range are older nad need even more money dumped into them for updating. We would love to find a home there... as my husband is already there working.. but it is a very slow process. So we wait......

Having said that.... it is Very beautiful country and schools seem very good. I just wish that some new home builders would get in there and start building!!!!!

[SV2012]

texaschic, although the houses in alleghany county aren't the best they do have character and if they are fixed up and looking better the views the homes have make the property more valuable! my family and i recently sold our property in clifton forge because of a better job AWAY from the mill in cov. if you are lookinginto new homes check out falling springs area of the county! they are putting in a new subdivision right on the Jackson River(before going through Meadwestvaco) and they will be spectactular it is right up Hot Springs Road on Rt. 220 heading towards Bath County. Your kids would go to Falling Spring Elem. and then onto the middle and high school. If schools are a factor Alleghany County Public Schools are much better than Covington. And generally there is a better atmosphere at the county schools. If the "clicks" are a problem you might face both schools have them! The middle school was built in 2001 so it is new and they have agreat band system in high school and middle school. Sports for middle school are very successful they generally do well my kids were on some of those teams. The high school usually does well in sports. Being a AA school and a smaller one they neccessarily dont always win everything but the program is great! Teams aren't to hard to get into anyways! And another place you may look in on the other end of the county towards lexington past clifton forge it is the sharon/longdale furnace area. you could check out homes on Rt. 42 towards Bath County it may be a hard process in finding a home in 'ghany but you will love it once you find one!

[texaschic]

Thanks SV2012... we would love to find an older home that is fixed up within our price range... they're just not out there right now. Obviously no one wants to leave ghany! I have heard that the county schools are great... and I'm actually hoping that wherever we buy it will be in County school system... I have a daughter going into 8th grade and not ready 4 her to be in high school... which is where she would attend in the city. Both my kids are very involved in sports & band so it sounds like a perfect fit! Now.... if we could just find a home!!!!!!