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Random Quote: Fishing keeps us-part of us anyway-boys forever. Geoffery Norman
Military? 3-4 br houses are going for 100,000-250,000 best areas are East Beach $$$$ , Roosevelt Gardens,Bel-Aire, ok areas are Bayview,Larchmont. Norfolk public schools Granby, Norview ,Maury,and Lake Taylor are average, private or home schooling will allways be the better way to go. They're plenty of marina's and some of the best fishing anywhere, Lot's of jobs in the Marine industry,as well as Govt contractors and shipyard work. You can go to htt://www.pilotonline.com for local news and real estate info, as well as job availability. The city of Norfolk also has an information web site. I hope this helped a little bit...
One thing I would encourage is live on the SAME side of the river (James River) you WORK on! LOTS of congestion in the I-64 corridor! If you work on that side of Hampton Roads, I would LIVE on that side. All depends on how long you like to commute?
The Chesapeake/Great Bridge area (west of VA Beach) has a LOT of growth/construction goin on between there and the NC line, still relatively "rural", and is only 70mi. or so from the Outer Banks.
The Suffolk area looks to be a good "growth area", too - along I-664 and west of Portsmouth/Chesapeake.
Can't help with housing prices - maybe check online for real estate companies such as Long & Foster in that area. They usually have the "scoop" on the best schools, etc., too.
I guess my own preference would be the Chesapeake area "overall".
I was in Pensacola (Cory Field/Naval Communications Training Center) from Jan.-July, 1968 and really enjoyed that area! What BEAUTIFUL beaches!
"Norfolk" area is BIG - maybe even Williamsburg or Yorktown would be alternatives?
There are a number of members here that live/work in the Hampton Roads/Norfolk/Newport News/VA Beach areas and will probably chime in and help!
Regards,
__________________
Bruce
2001 Scout 175 Sportfish, 115 Yamaha
When I was still running freight trains I worked in Norfolk. I love the place and would go back right now. The City does more for the citizens with their tax dollars than most. Great things to do both in, on and out of the water. I lived up near Lynhaven Inlet, it was fairly cheap to live there then. Probably very high now.
Probably pretty reasonable home prices in Cheasapeake area. We also had quite a few people who lived in Moyock, NC and commuted in to the city.
Housing prices have gone way up the last 4 years. Expect to pay around $400K in a good school district. Nice area and fishing is great almost year 'round. John, Chesapeake, VA.
Virginia Beach made the top 10 list for cities in the US. I think Norfolk was in the top 100. Would definitely look in Virginia Beach and go for the Cox school district if you want to send your kids to public school. Will be pricey for a home >$450k for a 4br but well worth it. Lots to do in VA Beach and can launch your boat in Lynnhaven and will be at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in 15mins for some awesome fishing. Can't beat the DEC ocean striper run and the flounder action in the summer. Oceanfront is going through some dramatic changes and has things going on nearly every weekend in spring/summer/fall. Been living in VA Beach for 5 years and was lucky eneough to buy on the water on the Lynnhaven River so I have a 30min run from the back of my house to the ocean/bridge tunnel! All in all a good place to live.
Like the above have said I would look in the cities around Norfolk. If you not interested in good schools you can still find places on the water in Portsmouth for a relatively decent price. Chesapeake and VB have the best schools by far. Suffolk is growing fast but you can still get houses with some land around them if you want. I have lived here (Tidewater) for 28 years and it is a great place. Lots of fishing and boating options.
All of the above and you're still only 1 to 1 1/2 hrs from the OBX and all that it offers.When I bring clients in from out of town for some fishing and/or booze cruising, the most common phrase I hear is "If I lived here I'd never get anything done!"
You can fish at least 11 months out of the year-I usually use April to put the boat on the hill and get it ready to do all over again
Forget Norfolk. Bad schools, high crime. Take Bruce W's advice and live on the same side that you work - traffic is a major pain during the rush and the tunnels are choke points.
Virginia Beach and Chesapeake are the cities to live in - good schools and neighborhoods for the most part. Cox school district in VB, Hickory district in Ches. are tops. Suffolk is up and coming, but kinda off the beaten path. SOME parts of Portsmouth are OK, but I would advise against it.
You can get an idea of prices by clicking on the The Virginian-Pilot Classifieds and selecting the city you're interested in. http://homes.hamptonroads.com/
Thanks for the great info guys!
I would rather hear opinions here than from an unknown resource.
I guess I should have given a bit more info. My wife has a job lead in Norfolk (Engineering Graphics work)
and I have a corporate type job with SHARP. Work out of my house or on the road. We have 4 yo so good schools are definitely a must. Home prices in Norfolk cannot be any worse than what has happened in the Pensacola area since Hurricane IVAN.
norfolk opinions
... lots of gunfire. 
