Where to live in Chesapeake? (Norfolk, Hampton: house, neighborhoods, purchase)

[navymdwife]

Will be moving to Hampton Roads this summer. Hubby will be working at NMC Portsmouth and we are thinking of living in Chesapeake (we like the suburbs, shopping, neighborhoods, etc). Our son is only 14 months and we will likely only be in VA for 4 years, so schools aren't a big deal (except for resale value of the house; he will probably go to a Christian preschool). We've been looking online and like the look of places like Sawyer's Mill (though maybe not the best place commute-wise??). Any suggestions on where to live for an easy commute to NMC Portsmouth, nice neighborhood (community feel, kids can play outside, etc), and close to shopping (e.g. grocery store and Target, not Gucci)? We'd like to spend around $300,000 for a 4 bed, 2 bath house.

Thanks for the help!

[LibertyCedar]

Early welcome to Hampton Roads! My husband also works at NMCP. While we live in Norfolk, we have many friends who have done the Chesapeake commute to the hospital. Here's your decision tree.... decent public schools and suburban neighborhood OR easy commute for hubby? Unfortunately the area around the hospital is not very safe making Chesapeake the safer bet. If you live around the Sawyer's Mill area, your husband is probably looking at a 35 minute commute depending on traffic.

[summers19]

Ships Crossing in Chesapeake may be a good option. It's close to Sawyer's Mill but has great access to the new Moses Grandy Trail (highway). You can purchase a 4/2.5 home for around 300,000-310,000. It's a really safe, suburban neighborhood and the kids run around freely. My son frequently had lemonade stands in the driveway (and made money!) and the neighbors are the best anywhere. We frequently got together for parties, happy hours, college football games on tv, etc. It's a great neighborhood and we miss it very much. We just moved to the Chicago area where the people are not as friendly. We miss that southern hospitality. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. Oh, and the neighborhood has good resale value. We put our home on the market two days before Thanksgiving and it sold within 32 days!

[sheldonteam]

You may also like to look at the Burbage lakes area in Suffolk. May actually be closer to the Hospital. Sawyers Mill is nice, in your price range you will be looking at the backside near rt 17 the more expensive home are on the cedar road side. Your commute will depend on what time of day you will be traveling, no traffic 15 minutes but you want to make sure you time any bridge openings on Dominion Blvd.

[stacylee926]

Try the Western Branch area of Chesapeake. Close to Ches Square Mall and the highway, but you can avoid all highways and tunnels to Portsmouth from Western Branch. Western Branch is right in the corner of Chesapeake that meets Portsmouth and Suffolk.

[Gail S. Miller]

My husband and I are retiring and have moved to the NC Mountains. We have found that our house in Chesapeake, VA was too much for us to keep up with and after our children have grown and left. We would love for you to look at our house in the Great Bridge area in the Tunbridge Station subdivision. It's on Kensington Way. We had great neighbors and it is close to shopping, great schools, and our church, Woodland Heights Baptist Church is in the Greenbrier area about 20 minutes away. A great place to raise your family.

[marnay]

Ummmm.... the original post was from 5 years ago. I think they moved here and away again by now!