Moving to Virginia (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake: best cities, crime, houses)

[naturelover]

My husband and I are looking at moving from Florida to somewhere less HOT. We are curious about two areas- Virginia Beach and Richmond. First, V Beach - how conservative of an area is it? We are a bit more liberal to moderate. We just want a nice place that is liveable and not radical to the right or left. How is the housing market? More affordable than NOVA?

Same questions about Richmond, but more concerns. Have read many different web sites that state there is a lot of racial tension and the two types of people are "snobs and red neck snobs" This was a quote from a " best cities in North America" not mine. Also, it seems to be ranked very high in crime too. But on the other hand it is ranked as one of America's most liveable, best places to relocate to...So I thought I'd ask for some honest opions.

We just want a place to raise a family, have some culture nearby, experience nature while not living in the sticks and most importantly have four seasons.

Thanks for the help!

[AllWeatherAgent]

Hey NatureLover,

Just wanted to hit on a few things:

Originally Posted by naturelover

My husband and I are looking at moving from Florida to somewhere less HOT. We are curious about two areas- Virginia Beach and Richmond. First, V Beach - how conservative of an area is it? We are a bit more liberal to moderate. We just want a nice place that is liveable and not radical to the right or left. How is the housing market? More affordable than NOVA?

-No. 1 on the "Best Cities for Women" list (big cities), Ladies' Home Journal, 2002-

Virginia Beach favors the right to the left, but we are surely not radical in either way. I've lived here for 18 years, so I hope I would have picked up on that by now. The housing market it healthy and definitely more affordable than Northern VA. What were you looking to spend? I could email you a couple of listings in the area that fit what you're looking for.

Originally Posted by naturelover

Same questions about Richmond, but more concerns. Have read many different web sites that state there is a lot of racial tension and the two types of people are "snobs and red neck snobs" This was a quote from a " best cities in North America" not mine. Also, it seems to be ranked very high in crime too. But on the other hand it is ranked as one of America's most liveable, best places to relocate to...So I thought I'd ask for some honest opions.

By law, I can't steer you towards a place or away from it, but I will provide some websites for you to look at and base decisions off of.

http://www.morganquitno.com/cit99safe.htm - crime related
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6555449/ - crime related
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12954585/ - driving related

As far as liberal v. conservative...Richmond voted liberal in that last two presidential elections...it's pretty far to the left according to it's recent political history.

Originally Posted by naturelover

We just want a place to raise a family, have some culture nearby, experience nature while not living in the sticks and most importantly have four seasons.

Thanks for the help!

If I were in your shoes, I would favor Virginia Beach over Richmond. Prices are a little better, there is a bit more to do with your children in Virginia Beach.

Let me know if there is any other information I can pass on to you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at bboyd@roseandwomble.com

[Washingtonian]

I lived in Richmond for a while. I hated it. I ended up moving to NOVA. That was before the prices where so expense. I stayed in the Va Beach a few years between college. I loved it. Va Beach, Norfolk, Cheseapeake, you should definately find something affordable.

[kake79]

Might I suggest Charlottesville VA? It's moderate-to-liberal being a college town (the University of VA is located there). Frommer's Cities ranked it "Best Place to Live in America" in 2004. You can check out their web site at www.charlottesville.org.

A little disclaimer: I don't live in C'ville or work there and am not in anyway associated with them. I just live about a half hour away from there which is how I know about it.

[naturelover]

Thanks for all of the info - Our price range for homes is 250 - 300K.

Thanks!

[Tom]

Dear Nature Lover, Someone mentioned Charlottesville as a wonderful place, and they are right. However, housing costs there are as high as Florida. May I suggest Stanton, a half hour to the west in the Shenandoah Valley. It is lovely, affordable, and quite progressive. There are quite a number of newcomers to the area, but happily, they have bought existing houses rather than new tract housing that is a blight anywhere you go. It truly is worth a look.

[brookells]

My husband and I currently live in Texas and are looking to move to Virginia for the weather and nature. We're wanting a place with people our age (late 20s) that has plenty of nature things to do as well as night life. Any suggestions?

[civitas]

Virginia is for Nature Lovers: Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, Mountains, and more.
Now - as a couple in your 20's, finding nightlife and nature in the same venue is going to be a challenge. Your best bet may be the major college towns of Charlottesville and Blacksburg. Wages in college towns tend to be low. Northern Virgina has good jobs, and good nightlife, but nature takes a backseat to subdivisions and highways. Come visit - the size of Virginia will fool you. It isn't Texas, but it spans from the Atlantic Ocean to as far west
as Columbus, Ohio.