Moving to Va..PLEASE HELP!! (Virginia Beach, Norfolk: for sale, apartments, rental homes) - Hampton Roads area - (VA) -Chesapeake - Hampton - Newport News - Norfolk - Portsmouth - Suffolk - Virginia Beach - City-Data Forum

stayathomehero · 09-17-2008, 02:31 PM

My hubby is military and coming to Naval station norfolk. I am trying to find a NICE, CLEAN, GOOD area to live in! We have 3 daughters and can't afford to take a chance on safety and cleanliness. He will get orders maybe a week before we arrive so I am trying to figure things out now! We will be coming there in the beginning of November. I have been told areas but not specifics. I don't know areas so that doesnt help me! If you can give me specific apartments to look into that are reasonable or a lead to a realtor in the area that could help us find a rental home vs an apartment! We would like to stay under $1000, but we need a good, safe area so price is somewhat negotiable! We need a 3 br (or 4 if there isn't a den/family room). Thank you for any advice/help you can offer!

stacylee926 · 09-18-2008, 07:50 AM

I do not know Norfolk that well, but I can give you some very valuable advice. Do NOT live on the Peninsula - you do not want to commute thru the HRBT (Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel) on a daily basis. You actually want to try to avoid any tunnel commute if at all possible, but if you had to do the tunnel commute - you might want to consider Northern Suffolk or Churchland (Portsmouth) for affordability. That would send you thru the Midtown tunnel which is manageable and once you cross into Portsmouth there is almost no traffic.

Check out some homes/apts in those areas and then ask specific questions about them. This is a hard place to be general about. There are pockets of not so nice neighborhoods everywhere.

I currently rent a SFH in Churchland for $1075 a mo - 3/1.5 ba which is very comfortable for us. So you should be able to find a place in a safe neighborhood.

Maybe someone will chime in about specific Norfolk neighborhoods to check.

rtandc · 09-18-2008, 10:59 AM

I would first ask if your daughters are school age and what grades they are in so we can give you some advice on what school districts to stay away from...that area plays a big part on many peoples minds when it comes to which city to reside in....next it would be traffic and how far your hubby wants to travel everyday to and from the base

stayathomehero · 09-18-2008, 05:34 PM

my daughters are 3, 2, and 2 weeks. my hubby will work at naval station norfolk. so less than a 40 minute commute would be nice!

rtandc · 09-19-2008, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stayathomehero

I have been told areas but not specifics. I don't know areas so that doesnt help me!

With not having to worry about school districts for a few years because of the age of your kids you have a much wider area you can choose from.....I know you stated you have been told areas but not specifics.........and I can understand your frustration and that is why you are on this forum trying to find out those answers ........ but trying to assist you in certain apartments or rentals is difficult without you at least having a general idea of what city, area or neighborhoods you are looking at...... Hampton Roads is a fairly large spread out metro area especially when you are talking about your hubby is willing to do up to a 40 minute drive everyday to work........I think once you decide on a certain city then we can start narrowing down certain sections of that city to try to assist you in your best options

Iris F. · 09-19-2008, 02:41 PM

Go to [URL="http://www.realtor.com"]www.realtor.com[/URL] and click on the rental link. If I can assist let me know.

Thanks

sigevo · 09-20-2008, 07:57 PM

Oldtowne Portsmouth is always an option. Right across the water from Norfolk with many places to walk to down here.

Erma · 09-22-2008, 04:52 AM

Many nice places in Virginia Beach, near the parks so you can take your children there. I go to NNS quite a bit and I wouldn't live in Norfolk just to be near the base. My commute in the morning is 20 minutes most of the time, because the HOV lane is open going to the base.

astoryia143 · 10-12-2008, 10:38 PM

Hey stayathomehero, I actually just did almost the exact same post, except I don't have children. I am so lost, it is really hard, huh? Well, if I get any information, i will definitely give it to you and help you, because I know I really need help too, and want the same things as you. When are you expecting to go?

gator girl · 10-14-2008, 06:04 AM

Hi,

I live in the Larchmont/Edgewater section of Norfolk. It has the best public elem. school within walking distance. The neighborhood is very family friendly and active. We are on the northern boundary of Old Dominion University and bordered by the Elizabeth River. The houses in this neighborhood are quite varied in price from the $100k's (small homes on Hampton Blvd) through the Millions (on the river). There are new homes and historic homes, all in a very kid friendly environment.

There is also a public library in the neighborhood. While the neighborhood is generally very safe, I would advise going at least 3 blocks away from the University to avoid the student rental homes...they can have some noise and vandalism issues. We live north of Bolling Ave and haven't had any problems.

From this neighborhood your husband would have about a 5-15 minute commute to the back gate of Norfolk Naval Air Station, depending on traffic and time of day. If you look on the map of Norfolk, you will find Old Dominion University on Hampton Blvd (NW Norfolk). Across Hampton Blvd, you will see Larchmont Elementary School. Keep going north on Hampton Blvd and you will get to the back gate of the base. Or, at the edge of the base, turn right and Terminal Blvd will lead you around to the front gates.

We are also about 3 miles north of the hospital complex in Norfolk and about 2 miles north of Ghent. There is ample shopping, but I like to go to Greenbriar or VB for a big shopping day. We have a great mall in Norfolk. It is called MacArthur mall and has lots of nice stores and restaurants. It also has a huge theater with about 15 screens.

Best wishes on your move and welcome to the area!

ps. There are homes for sale in the neighborhood that have been on the market for quite a while. Some people that I know are willing to rent to the military for long leases (avg 3 years) while the market is bad. Consider working with a realtor for helping to find one of these situations (Nancy Chandler Assoc and William E Wood are two great Realty Companies). You will find it better than apt living.