moving to virginia (Norfolk, Richmond, Hampton: rent, daycare, house)

[tellula]

i am currently thinking of moving to virginia but im not sure which area. i like ashland but i dont know much about it, im also considering hampton, hopewell, natural bridge, and fairfax. i need some help. im looking for an area that is not to far from a beach, i would prefer to live outside of a city instead of in the middle of it, i grew up in the country so i would like to stay in a lite country setting, but with stuff around for things to do. also a place where jobs are good. i have a daughter so a really good elementary school is a definite possibly one with after school daycare options. but at the same time i would like to live in a place that is exciting. if anyone has any ideas please let me know im anticipating on moving at the end of june.

[Chug70]

Well bring your pocket book if you move to Fairfax, very expensive, taxes are high and not much country left there if any.

[williamsburgfan]

price range? what type of "good job"?
the places you mentioned are truly different from each other - which is fine, but seems to not make sense - have you visited these palces? What has made you choose Va? Where are you moving from? Va has many wonderful communities in all types of price ranges offering a wide variety of amenities. So do many other states. Keep in mind any place with excellent schools usually has higher priced housing. tell us a little more, especially price range and if buying or renting. good luck

[tellula]

im moving from upstate new york, i will be renting for right now, i would like to stay around 500 a month till i get a good job, im doing this all alone so its a big step for just me and my daughter. i have not visited these places but these are the ones that are most appealing, im going down next weekend to visit some places but i thought it would be nice to get some opinions of people who live there. i chose virginia because its closest to new york but has nice weather, my daughters father is staying in new york so im trying to stay as close as i can for driving distance.

[saganista]

At $500 a month, you should probably just scratch Fairfax off the list. There simply isn't anything livable (particularly when with children) for close to that amount in this area. The bottom for a small but at least decent one-bedroom would probably be around $800, and finding actually available places at that level would be hard to do. You might snag a Room-to-Let in someone's house for $500, but a small child will not be much of a plus in that endeavor. There are probably more 'good jobs' available in Fairfax than in some of the other areas you mentioned, but until you have one of them and can afford to knock the rent commitment up a couple of notches, the Fairfax City area is going to be a very tough go as far as housing is concerned...

[Chug70]

500 a month rent, you would be lucky to live within 50 miles of NOVA and find something decent for that amount.

[tewhann]

If you're looking for $500 in rent, you can forget any part of VA except southwest. Check out Roanoke, Lexington, Abingdon, Lynchburg, and places like that. SW VA is beautiful, but I don't think I'd call it "exciting".

I'd rule out the entire NoVA area if you don't want to spend 1/2 of your life in traffic.

The Richmond area isn't terrible, but you're looking at $750+ in rent for somewhere not next to a crack house.

Hampton/Norfolk just edges in behind NoVA with the worst traffic in the state. I don't know much about housing prices in that area, so maybe someone else will check in on that.

[Stonecoldharbours]

I do not even think you could rent somewhere in Hampton for that amount of money, get a roommate(s), that might help you get a nicer place, I would personally spend 1,000 for NN or hampton and some parts of Williamsburg, it may be small but the schools are better. Good luck to you!