Best places to live in Virginia???

**homemaker66** · 10-11-2009, 07:56 PM

My DH and I have often wondered what it would be like to live in Virginia. We live in Northern NY and we are getting burned out on the SNOW... We often chatted between us of moving there but with today's world we are scared to take that adventure. We love the mountian areas as we drove through them. I would love to hear from the FV family on where they would move to or are living now in Virginia and what is the housing and jobs are like. Maybe one day we will become snow birds in the winter.

**Imarachne** · 10-11-2009, 10:48 PM

There are sooo many nice places in Virginia--the beaches to the mountains--Va has it all. In Richmond, its mid way and very historical like Williamsburg. We are kinda laid back and not as fast paced as " up north" ! You will love it as we do !!

**guest002** · 10-12-2009, 12:14 AM

I didn't care for Hampton Roads area (Newport News, Hampton, Virginia Beach, etc.) We were stationed at Langley AFB, VA for 3 1/2 years and it wasn't my favorite place to live.

**RaineyDaye** · 10-12-2009, 05:59 AM

ditto what Paula said. I lived in Portsmouth VA for nine years. Did not like it. But I always liked the mountains. Charlottesville is nice.

**homemaker66** · 10-12-2009, 06:43 AM

How is the job and house market in VA? Been lerking around on different web sites to read more information on it. Thank you to everyone who has any input.

**nancycg56** · 10-12-2009, 08:04 AM

I live in Hampton Roads ~ Chesapeake to be exact ~ and I love it and don't plan on ever leaving!!! In fact, we got stationed here in 1994 and never left

My daughter lives just outside Richmond and loves it there as well.

The recession didn't hit here as bad because there is so much military here. House prices came down some but not as much as we thought they would.

The weather is great ~ hot and humid in the summer, cool in the winter and we haven't had any snow for a few years. When it does snow, it rarely lasts more than a day or two. In fact, Chesapeake doesn't have any snow removal equipment so everything shuts down.

I'm from upstate NY and of all the places we've lived, Chesapeake has that small town feel that I was looking for.

**MLSMOM** · 10-12-2009, 08:07 AM

Charlottesville is great. So are some of the small counties around it.

I was born and raised in Charlottesville but moved out in the country(20 mins to C'ville ).I love it here.

**Greebo** · 10-12-2009, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by homemaker66

How is the job and house market in VA? Been lerking around on different web sites to read more information on it. Thank you to everyone who has any input.

VA is a big place. There are several markets. DC, Richmond, Norfolk, Roanoke and such...

DC area is usually pretty well insulated from recession issues, since in a recession, Government gets bigger.

Of course the DC area is EXPENSIVE. In 1989 I lived in Rosslyn, VA. I rented a room in a house with 4 other people living in it. At that time, rent was $1,800/month, and that was 20 yrs ago. Our very dear friends bought a 1 level *small* 3 br house for $500k in the Arlington area just inside the beltway.

**homemaker66** · 10-13-2009, 07:02 AM

We have been looking around in Patrick county. Prices of houses are not to bad. We already travel 25+ miles a day for work so traveling for work is no big deal. We are going to take our time on this. Thanks for the help everyone.

**NewLeaf** · 10-13-2009, 07:56 AM

I live in the Southwest tip of Virginia, Norton, VA. It is a very rural mountainous area. The housing is low here. We have alot of older homes in Norton because it was once a thriving coal mining town. The house next door is a 3 bd, 2 bth going for $60k. We don't have malls, theaters or fancy restaurants. Life is simple here. There are not alot of jobs, but there are some. We have a small college -University of Virginia's College at Wise. We have 4 grocery stores and a Super Walmart. The mall is 45 minutes to an hour away. If you don't live in town you can find a few acres to garden on.
I also have lived in Fairfax (DC area), Charlottesville and spent some time in the Roanoke area. It just depends on what is important to you. We moved back here because it was much cheaper to live and I can stay at home.