Whether you already live in the area or are making a move, it may be difficult to decide where in Hampton Roads to settle down and which neighborhoods you should focus on when looking for your new home. With over half a million residents, Virginia Beach can have a nice small-town feel mixed with the energy of a big city, without being crowded and overwhelming. At CoVA Collective Realty, our goal is to help our clients find their perfect home in Hampton Roads – based on location, budget, needs, style, and more. Here is some information about the pros and cons of Virginia Beach, so that you can better-decide whether Virginia Beach is right for you.
Pro #1:
Virginia Beach has an array of wonderful homes to choose from. In terms of options, you can find modern condominiums in the downtown area, beautiful two-story homes all around town, oceanfront properties, brick ranch-style homes, new construction options, and even houses out in the country with quite a bit of privacy. If you’re curious about Virginia Beach neighborhoods, check out those in the areas of Great Neck, Red Mill, Thoroughgood, Chic’s Beach, Lynnwood, Alanton, Little Neck, Princess Anne, Red Mill, and Pungo, to name a few.
Pro #2:
One of the benefits of coastal living is that there are countless things to do, and so many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Virginia Beach has wildlife refuges and waterways such as the Lynnhaven and Elizabeth Rivers. The city also has the most visited state park in Virginia, First Landing State Park. It’s no surprise that the city is known for its beautiful beaches – Sandbridge, Chic’s Beach, and the North End Beaches are among the most popular, and most areas of the city are an easy drive to the beach. The oceanfront area offers up even more fun and excitement, and there are multiple festivals on the boardwalk throughout the year. Ocean Breeze Waterpark is a popular attraction, as well as the Virginia Beach Aquarium and Marine Science Center which offers dolphin and whale watching cruises. Virginia Beach is also home to 17 golf courses, a state-of-the-art soccer and volleyball complex, and the Veterans United Virginia Beach amphitheater where you can catch a concert in the summer.
Pro #3:
There are so many great places to eat and grab a drink in Virginia Beach that there are too many to mention. Many restaurants offer freshly caught seafood – some of the best seafood restaurants are in areas like Rudee’s Inlet, Chic’s Beach, and the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The restaurants at Town Center are also very popular and where you can find Indian, Japanese, Mexican, Italian, and even South-African-inspired cuisine.
Pro #4:
For the size of the city, Virginia Beach is one of the safest places to live. Virginia Beach is consistently showing up in reports as one of the best places to live in the U.S., as crime in the area is well below the national average.
Pro #5:
Virginia Beach City Public Schools are consistently highly rated, and the entire school system is fully accredited. Students in high school also have access to academies and advanced programs that focus on specialized academics. They can also choose to attend a technical and career education center. Private education is also an option, and schools like Cape Henry Collegiate, Saint Gregory the Great, and Catholic High are well-regarded.
Con #1:
For those who aren’t members of the military, the jet noise can take some getting used to. It is important to keep in mind that not all parts of the city are affected by jet noise. The city offers a Noise Zone Map that helps home buyers decide which areas of Virginia Beach are subject to the least amount of jet noise. Buyers who choose a home in one of the higher noise zones will need to be prepared for flight drills throughout the day and oftentimes at night. Some parts of Virginia Beach are also labeled as “crash zones,” because they surround military bases, which makes these areas at higher risk of being affected by an airplane malfunction.
Con #2:
On average, homes in Virginia Beach are more expensive than in any of the other cities in Hampton Roads, and prices have increased in the last two years. The average home cost in Virginia Beach is approximately $350,000. On the other hand, Virginia Beach has the lowest real estate and property taxes in all of Hampton Roads.
Con #3:
Tourism gives the city an economic boost, but the extra traffic and busyness in the summer months can be bothersome at times. During tourist season, residents may have to drive a little farther to find less-crowded beaches or wait a while longer than usual for a table at a restaurant. Traffic can be heavy in Virginia Beach during rush hours, so when tourists are added to the mix, commute times can increase even more. However, residents who live away from the beach areas may not notice much of a difference.
Con #4:
It is quite necessary in Virginia Beach to have a car. The town is spread out and covers a large amount of land, and the public transportation system isn’t as expansive as the area itself. City bus routes are set up to serve mostly the main roads, and other than a few trolleys at the Oceanfront, there are no other options for travel.
When moving to a new area, it is important to consider both the good and the bad before choosing a city to buy a home in. Virginia Beach is both a popular and great place to live – at CoVA Collective Realty, we can answer all of your questions about the pros and cons of Virginia Beach, as well as any other areas of Hampton Roads.
