help needed for family of 5, moving to VA - all details are in post. (Richmond: sales, apartment)

[jenloyer89]

Hey there!

My husband and I have been looking to relocate our family to somewhere cooler. We currently live in Oklahoma, before that we lived in Michigan. So we are on the hunt for the happy medium. As far as location goes we need to be within a few hours of Spotsylvania, VA (that is where a close friend lives and the main reason we are looking to VA) Job wise we do not have set careers yet. My husband has lots of factory work, construction, and other odd jobs. I have customer service background with insurance and currently I work hospital registration. So options for jobs needs to be availale, and of course a lower cost of living/housing/ect. We do not mind winter weather, as long as it isn't as horrible as Michigan has been the past few years (months below 0). We have 3 children, two are in elementary school, so great schools is needed, doesn't matter if private or public. We would love to live near mountains. I hope some place is out there that will work for our family! Please let me know if anyone has an idea on a location we can look into.

THANKS!!!!!

[Bigfoot424]

Winchester. Has what you're looking for and is well within reach of Spotsylvania,

[jenloyer89]

Thanks I will look into that area.

[Bigfoot424]

Winchester has been growing steadily for some time now but still far enough from DC to be the country. Surrounded by mountain areas and close to many jobs. I really like the area.

[jenloyer89]

After doing some research, it seems like th COL is a little high, rent starting at 900 or so? Is this true? Is this the norm for VA?

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by jenloyer89

After doing some research, it seems like th COL is a little high, rent starting at 900 or so? Is this true? Is this the norm for VA?

Rent is lower compared to the much denser NOVA area but you can find cheaper rent further south in VA. But with cheaper rent typically comes fewer jobs or at least lesser paying jobs.

[jenloyer89]

That is true, just hoping to find that happy medium. Thank you!

[LynchburgLover]

It might be helpful if you could describe the type of housing that is acceptable -- house, townhouse, apartment, mobile? I'm assuming at least three bedrooms mimimum. Are you looking for a rural or suburban community? And the maximum sales price or monthly rent.

Also, you mention public or private schools. What type of private would you be interested in?

Mention hobbies/interests that are important.

It does sound like a smaller city in the Valley (Front Royal, Harrisonburg, Staunton) might work. You can rule out Northern Virginia, Richmond, Charlottesville because of cost of living. You could look at smaller towns around the smaller cities such as Amherst near Lynchburg or the Danville area.

Best of luck.

[jenloyer89]

Well as far as housing goes we would rather a house over a apartment, townhouses are ok. As far as mobile homes, I wouldn't mind as long as a tornado risk is generally low in that area, I am not to sure on how the weather is there.

I know I said either or but honestly I would like public due to the costs of private. How is home schooling in VA?

The most important thing is being able to enjoy nature without it being too hot or too cold. We left one extreme for the other and just hate it.

[LynchburgLover]

Homeschooling is very popular in Virginia. The Home School Legal Defense Association is based in Loudoun County (Northern Virginia -- very expensive area). But you shouldn't have trouble finding other families that are home schooling.