Where should we move to? (Richmond, Hampton: for rent, house prices, high school)

[jky123]

My husband and I may be relocating to Virginia and can choose where we want to go. My family wants us to go to northern Virginia. I've lived there before and it's very expensive for rent.

Based on my research, Richmond and the surrounding areas seem like good places to raise a family based on schools and things to do, and especially because housing costs are more affordable than northern Virginia.

Famiy keep saying "not necessarily" in terms of affordability. Or "you could make it work". So that leaves me feeling conflicted. And it's annoying because I feel like it is pressuring.

My friend in Richmond supports the research I have found. Are there nice parts of northern Virginia that I'm over looking that are also affordable with good schools?

Loudoun county is nice but the places with good schooling has very expensive housing, based on my research.

Thanks in advance.

[tgbwc]

It depends. What do you consider to be "affordable"? Everything is affordable to somebody.

[jky123]

House under 250k

[mpier015]

Originally Posted by jky123

House under 250k

Around 400k seems to be the price to get your foot in the door in most Northern Virginia areas with good schools. Richmond would probably be your best bet.

Is it possible to get a lot for less than 400k in the current market?

Have you considered Hampton Roads? Are you only looking at larger cities in Virginia or would some smaller cities like Charlottesville or Roanoke do the job? What specifically, aside from affordability, are you looking for in a city?

[jky123]

That's what I thought too for Northern Virginia house prices. We really like the country setting but don't want to be in the middle of nowhere. So that's why I was thinking about a suburb of Richmond. And it's not too far from fairfax which is important. However we do want good schools and things to do for kids that we will have within a few years. That's why we don't want to be surrounded by nothing! Roanoke is nice but further out than we'd like to be. Suburb of charlotteaville is a possibility. Want to avoid flood zones. How can we find out about schools and family friendly areas? Internet lists only help so much.

[Bigfoot424]

You might consider Winchester. Growing by leaps and bounds yet away from NOVA and DC. I don't know the schools there but I have many friends out there and their kids are doing great from what they say regarding the schools.

As far as Richmond not being too far from Fairfax you may be right, depending on what your definition of "too far" may be. But have you ever done I 95 on the weekends when one would assume you would likely do the trips? Just look at WTOP.com on the weekends and see what 95 looks like from DC to Richmond. It's not pretty at all.

[jky123]

Thanks all. We are also considering harpers ferry or Charles town in West Virginia.

[jobber123rd]

Originally Posted by jky123

That's what I thought too for Northern Virginia house prices. We really like the country setting but don't want to be in the middle of nowhere. So that's why I was thinking about a suburb of Richmond. And it's not too far from fairfax which is important. However we do want good schools and things to do for kids that we will have within a few years. That's why we don't want to be surrounded by nothing! Roanoke is nice but further out than we'd like to be. Suburb of charlotteaville is a possibility. Want to avoid flood zones. How can we find out about schools and family friendly areas? Internet lists only help so much.

Ask in the specific Sub-forums for each area.

In the Richmond metro, the Mechanicsville area has houses for < 250k in a well-regarded high school zone (Atlee).

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by jky123

Thanks all. We are also considering harpers ferry or Charles town in West Virginia.

My brother and his wife bailed on Charles Town before their kids were of school age. They didn't like what they were seeing and hearing about the schools, drugs and so on.

[Jkgourmet]

Isn't 'Where is your job' the most important part of where you should live?