What to Look for When Buying a Home in Hampton Roads

Hampton Roads is a wonderful place to call home. With seven unique cities and nearly 1.8 million people, there is truly something for everybody. Whether it’s your first time here or you are a lifelong resident, Coastal Virginia has something to offer that you will love from beaches and forests to waterside homes and urban condos. 

However, there are many factors in deciding which city and neighborhood to ultimately choose. The most important step? Contacting the team at ProActive Real Estate Services that offers decades of experience and market knowledge to find the home of your dreams and make the home buying process easy and efficient.

What’s Your “Vibe”?

To start, you may want to ask yourself what’s your “vibe?” Every community in Tidewater offers a unique sense of community. Heck, every neighborhood in every city gives you a different feeling! With so many options, it can sometimes be overwhelming nailing down exactly what you want. There are historical neighborhoods scattered all over the Southside and Peninsula. Check out Norfolk’s historic Freemason District, Portsmouth’s Olde Towne, or Olde Hampton in Phoebus. With classic architecture and rich history, these neighborhoods are filled with memorable homes that have withstood decades upon decades.

On the other hand, maybe you are not looking for an old home but a newer home filled with the latest amenities. Fortunately, Hampton Roads has you covered. You may appreciate the homes and townhomes in Chesapeake’s Culpepper Landing, all developed post-2010. If you are looking elsewhere in the Southside, Suffolk’s Harbourview neighborhood offers new homes with expansive developments around it. If you are not looking for a single-family home, Spence Crossing in Virginia Beach has beautiful new townhomes and condominiums. Maybe you want to be near the water or ocean? Take a look at Norfolk’s East Beach neighborhood.

If neither of those are up your alley, no worries! Plenty of options throughout Hampton Roads give you the best of both worlds. You might like Norfolk’s Larchmont or Lochhaven neighborhoods, which are near Naval Station Norfolk and Old Dominion University. Maybe you would like to enjoy the ocean views and cottage homes in Virginia Beach’s North End. Your options in Hampton Roads are limitless.

How Do You Like to Get Around?

One of the unique parts of living in Hampton Roads is traversing the seven cities. On your daily commute, you could experience a bridge, a tunnel, or even a bridge-tunnel! While all the surrounding water is beautiful, it can sometimes make getting around a hassle. This means it may be a consideration for you in the homebuying process. For example, if you work at Naval Station Norfolk but live in Newport News, you will be navigating the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel every day. Depending on the time and day, it could mean an extra hour in your vehicle.

Instead, you may wish to look at homes in Norfolk. If you are working in the Newport News Shipyard, but want to live in Suffolk, you will have to familiarize yourself with the long stretch on the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel. Depending on what commute you are accustomed to, the time spent on I-264 in rush hour may not be a dealbreaker for you. 

Alternatively, you may be used to a trip to work of only a few minutes and would want to move somewhere much closer to the office. Working in Downtown Norfolk or Town Center Virginia Beach? Check out Norfolk’s Ghent and West Ghent or Virginia Beach’s King’s Grant, Thoroughgood, or Kempsville neighborhoods. 

How About Schools?

The Hampton Roads area offers a wide array of schools for educating children. From many high-ranking public schools to small faith-based private schools, once again, there is something for everyone. 

Virginia Beach and Chesapeake have top tier programs at large public schools. For example, Princess Anne International Baccalaureate Program or the STEM Academy at Chesapeake’s Grassfield High School. Would you prefer a private school? You may want to look in Norfolk or Newport News at schools like Norfolk Collegiate, Norfolk Academy, or Hampton Roads Academy. 

Many of Hampton Roads’ schools are highly ranked and offer a plethora of extracurriculars from athletics to the performing arts. This is just a sampling of the many unique programs available in each city, and at the end of the day, you will find a more than suitable education offering for your kids.

What is There to Do?

Recreational and social opportunities here are expansive. While obvious, there is nothing quite like the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. However, there is plenty more to do in Virginia Beach including First Landing State Park, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and the Virginia Aquarium in addition to numerous restaurants and bars that many consider to be the best in the area.

Maybe that’s not your scene? Perhaps the City of Norfolk might be the next place to look with plenty of entertainment for history lovers including a World War II-era battleship, the USS Wisconsin BB-64. Norfolk also has a thriving art scene, anchored by the Chrysler Museum of Art and the Neon District neighborhood in Downtown Norfolk. Or perhaps you enjoy a more lackadaisical outdoor experience. Try The Hermitage Museum and Gardens or the serene Norfolk Botanical Garden, the largest in Virginia! Norfolk also offers one of the best craft beer scenes in the commonwealth, and the city’s breweries are sure to be a good time for people of all ages.

Sold on Hampton Roads?

Hopefully, we’ve given you a glimpse into all that is going on in Hampton Roads. No matter what it is you and your family enjoy, you will be sure to find it in Coastal Virginia. Let us help you find the perfect home for your lifestyle and call the ProActive Team today at 757-652-1225!