We Serve the Greater Coastal Virginia Area

Hampton, Virginia

Hampton sits right on the Atlantic Ocean in an area commonly referred to as “America’s First Region.” This is the seventh most populated city in Virginia with more than 100,000 people living in the area. This city is one of the oldest settler communities on the continent and was settled in 1607 before formally becoming a town in 1705.

The city was built around Fort Algernourne, which was finished in 1609 and is now Fort Monroe. It’s also home to Hampton University, one of the oldest African American universities in the nation. The city also boasts Bethel College, Thomas Nelson Community College, Virginia School of Hair Design, and a Bryant and Stratton College campus.

The city is home to the NASA Langley Research Center, which was established in 1917 and is the oldest NASA field center in the nation today. The concentration of scientists and engineers in this region rivals that of Silicon Valley. More than 20% of adults in the city have at least a bachelor’s degree. A majority of residents live with at least one other person with about a third of the population living alone. The area is rich with cultural diversity from Hispanic and African American influences.

More than 90% of the population has a computer and internet access at home. This city is a thriving tourist destination with many visitors during the moderate summer months. A variety of diverse people have lived in the city for years, with a small percentage of foreign-born persons moving there.

Virginia is a thriving state with a lot of attractive waterfront properties. The median family income in Hampton is just over $66,000 with adults over 25 making on average around $37,000. Almost 90% of the population is above the poverty line. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about half the population lives in homes they own. The median value of owner-occupied homes from 2015 to 2019 was $186,700 with the average monthly rent for renters being $1,118.

Many homes and apartments are ready for purchase or renting in the city. Most of the houses with two to three bedrooms that are within easy driving distance of the waterfront can be rented for about $1,250 to $1,700 per month. Apartments with one to two bedrooms and a variety of luxurious features are available starting from around $1,000 a month. This city has many accessible housing options available for every family and household.

Newport News, Virginia

When you consider a city possessing an economy intertwined with the boating industry and miles of waterfront property, perhaps you think of Newport News, Virginia. An independent city located along the east coast of the United States, it is the 5th most-populated in the state, as well as 140th on the list of high populations in the country. Once an area of rural landscape and a modest fishing village, the community enjoyed population growth soon after the American Civil War. Workers flooded into the area to aid in the construction of the railroad and shipyard, developing into a part of the Hampton Roads metropolis it is today.

The city is midway between Williamsburg and Virginia Beach, and its culture is deeply enriched with history. On the west end, following U.S. Route 60 brings visitors to battle sites dating back to the Civil War, which has been protected. This section of Newport News is also home to Lee Hall, roadways to numerous plantations dating back to the 19th century, and The Mariners’ Museum.

The Mariners’ Museum and Park is one of the largest and most significant maritime museums in the country. The number of artifacts housed is in the neighborhood of 35,000, with a third of the collection being paintings. The rest are three-dimensional, including a recovered collection from the USS Monitor. The 10 permanent galleries create an international scope for this collection, and new exhibits are added regularly. This museum, along with the nearby Virginia War Museum, offers a trip through time for the history buff. The latter covers the military history of the country from 1776 to the present day and includes a portion of the Berlin Wall in its list of objects on display.

Real Estate Market

At the time of the 2020 census, there were 186,000 individuals and counting residing in the locality. Homes for sale are ample on the market, with the median listing price being $229,900. The median value of owner-occupied homes is $194,000. There are houses for sale in line with every budget and many desirable property locations, such as waterfront listings. The city is a hot spot for those looking to settle near Hampton Roads at an affordable cost. Shopping, restaurants, and other amenities are within 5 to 10 minutes of most homes in the area. Median gross rent was reported to be $1,507 with a one-bedroom unit costing $1,088.

Properties in Newport News spend, on average, just shy of two months on the market. Neighborhoods such as Kiln Creek and Hilton Village are praised for being desirable for young families. Of course, being close to the beach, a deep cultural contribution, as well as the job market makes this city a pleasant place to call home.

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Beach, Virginia (VB)is the most populous city in Virginia with 460,000 permanent residents. It is a resort city located at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay on the Atlantic Ocean within the Hampton Roads metropolitan area.

In the late 19th Century, Virginia Beach started development as a resort city with the completion of a railroad connection. The Princess Anne Hotel was opened in 1888. The city continued to grow as a popular vacation spot with the construction of many hotels and restaurants employing more and more permanent residents.

Winters are cool with light snowfall. Summers, as they are in other beach towns, are hot and humid. The mean annual temperature is 59 degrees with average annual precipitation of 49 inches. It is ideally located between storm paths, south of the usual northern paths of higher altitude storms and north of the usual hurricane paths.

Fifty-four percent of VB’s households are married couples with 39% of them with children under 18. It has a relatively young population with 28% under the age of 18, 44% from 18 to 44, 20% from 45 to 64, and 9% older than 64.

The median household income is about $48,000 which is among the top ten of large metropolitan areas in the United States. The crime rates for all categories are well below the national average.
Education levels of VB’s residents exceed the national averages, with 28% with bachelor degrees or higher and 90% with high school diplomas.
More than 170,000 people work in the city. Tourism employs 15,000 residents. Three military bases comprise the largest employers.

Real Estate Market

The average rental for a 2-bedroom apartment was $1,450 in January 2022. The most recent data on home sales showed the median list price of $320,000 with a price per square foot of $187 The average sales price to average list price is almost 100%. The average days on the market in December 2021 was 50 days.

There are 20 designated neighborhoods with the highest median list price of $378 per square foot (North VB) and the lowest median list price of $147 per square foot (Level Green).

Virginia Beach has one of the world’s longest stretches of beautiful sandy beachfront. The 3-mile Boardwalk (commonly referred to as the Oceanfront) includes 40 hotels and other attractions. The historic Cavalier hotel opened in 1927 at the height of the jazz age and from 1930 to 1950 hosted all of the popular big bands.

A bike path runs the entire length of the boardwalk with many bike rental places. The oceanfront features many monuments to famous Virginians and the Naval Aviation Monument Park.

Many entertainment venues are located along the Boardwalk with several nightclubs interspersed with hotels and restaurants.

There are myriad attractions for history buffs. At the north end, a granite First Landing Cross commemorates the 1607 landing of English settlers who settled Jamestown, the first English settlement in America.

Other historical sites for a day trip include Jamestown and the Yorktown battlefield where General Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington and our French allies.

About 80 miles away is Colonial Williamsburg a re-creation of the capital of the Virginia Colony including the actual House of Burgesses. It includes historical pubs, working artisans, and a quaint hotel.

Closer to home is the massive United States Navy’s Naval Air Station Oceana home to 14 strike fighter squadrons operating F/A18 Super Hornets. While the base is not open to the public it hosts the annual Oceana Air Show in September.

In 2019, WalletHub.com listed VB as the best big city to live in based on the cost of living, safety and health, and education options. You can’t go wrong moving your family to VB.

Williamsburg, Virginia

Located between the York and James rivers on the Virginia Peninsula, Williamsburg is rated as one of “The South’s Best Small Towns 2020” according to Southern Living. The population is estimated to be 14,858 and is also one of the safest places to live in the state. Situated in the northern part of Hampton Roads, which is the 36th largest metropolitan area in the country, it is considered a very touristy area.
Rich in history, it was the capital of the Colony and Commonwealth from 1699 to 1780. It is part of the Historic Triangle, along with Jamestown and Yorktown. It is also home to the second oldest college in America, William and Mary, founded in 1693 and named after its founders, King William III and Queen Mary II of England. The public schools are highly rated and approximately 27% of the population has a Bachelor’s Degree while 30% have Graduate Degrees.

Real Estate Market

The city offers a low crime rate and low cost of living, compared to the national average. The recent typical home value is $383,946, which is seasonally adjusted and includes only the middle price tier of homes. Home values have increased by over 13.8% in the past year. The latest median household income in 2019 was $57,463. The average rental cost for a 1 bedroom apartment is over $1,300 per month. Holly Hills is a very desirable neighborhood, along with Kingsmill on the James, and Ford’s Colony. New Town is one of the newest planned neighborhoods with both commercial and residential areas.
Located in the historic district, this area is considered a living-history museum and is the largest one of its kind in the states. It is here that you can learn about the history of our country and Virginia. You can purchase different ticket options which include: touring the art museum, guided sites, trade shops, gardens, carriage rides, and performances on the Charlton stage. Tours are also available for the Governor’s Palace and the Everard House that was built in 1718.
For some family entertainment, visit Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. The only RocketBlast coaster on the East Coast is here and will surely give you a thrilling ride! Chickahominy Riverfront Park is a 140-acre where you can enjoy fishing, boating, and camping. Canoes, kayaks, and motorboats are all available to rent. If you love to shop, then the Outlet Mall is the perfect place to find the treasure you’ve been looking for. You’ll also find distilleries, wineries, and breweries offered on a tour where you can let someone else do the driving.
It’s an amazing place to visit for a day, a weekend, or to put down roots. Residents love living only about three hours from Washington D.C. and the rich suburban lifestyle.

Suffolk, Virginia

Known as a big city with Southern charm, Suffolk is located in the southeastern region of the state of Virginia. As of 2019, it has a population of over 90,000 people, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the fourteenth largest in the country. Suffolk’s name was inspired by the English hometown of Sir William Gooch, who was Virginia’s governor from 1727-1749. It was incorporated as a town during the Industrial Era when its strategic railroad location allowed its economy and population to thrive.

This region of Virginia is found in a subtropical climate, which means Suffolk’s summers are hot, winters are mild, and geography is lush and green. The city is part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area along with nearby Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach. A large portion of the Great Dismal Swamp is found here as well as the Nansemond National Wildlife Refuge. Other locales of interest include the Driver Historic District, the Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, and St. John’s Church, a historic building dating back to 1755.

Unofficially regarded as the peanut-processing capital of the world, Suffolk is perhaps most notable for being the birthplace of Planter’s Peanuts. The company, which is now owned by Hormel Foods, has been a fixture in the local economy since 1913. Other major industries include the processing of tea and manufacturing of bricks and wood products. Large retail corporations, such as Wal-Mart, Target, and QVC, have a presence in the area as well, employing many of Suffolk’s local residents. In spite of the city’s modernized business sector, farming and the manufacture of farm tools and machinery remains an important part of the local economy.

Suffolk’s real estate market is relatively stable. As of 2021, the median home price is $325,000, which is up 16.1% from 2020 prices. On the other hand, the average rent for a 979 square foot apartment in Suffolk is $1,478 per month as of December 2021, which is slightly below the national average. The neighborhood with the lowest average rent is Applewood at $1,223/month. Meanwhile, the neighborhood with the highest average rent is Warrington Estates at $1,618/month.

When it comes to schools, families with children can choose between 30 elementary, middle, and high schools rated “above average” by the website greatschools.org. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Suffolk’s median household income in 2019 was $74,884, which is higher than the nation’s median of $65,712.

Chesapeake, Virginia

Chesapeake, Virginia, a verified mecca for outdoor activities, wildlife, and shopping, is only minutes away from Virginia Beach and downtown Norfolk. Located on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, it has all the perks of being a coastal town, but its location makes it easy to explore a variety of geographical landscapes, including rivers and wetlands.

According to the 2020 census, Chesapeake’s population was 249,422, making it the second-most populous city in the state of Virginia. Despite its size, it maintains a small-town charm and remains one of the five safest cities of its size in the United States, according to the FBI.

The Chesapeake region was settled early on in Virginia’s colonial era, which means that it has much historical significance. If you are interested in visiting historic landmarks and museums related to the birth of America as well as the Civil War era, then keep the following locations in mind:

• Jamestown settlement
• Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways Museum
• Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
• Battleship Wisconsin
• St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
• Chesapeake African American Heritage Trail

Chesapeake is known for its natural beauty, which means there are all sorts of outdoor activities to enjoy. From kayaking in deepwater canals, hitting the trails, and camping along the coast, to more relaxing trips to the beach, you have your pick of excursions. You also have access to wetlands and can explore the Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge. It is the perfect place for fishermen, bird watchers, and animal lovers alike.

If you prefer to explore indoor activities, there are plenty of top-rated restaurants and breweries to enjoy, including The Garage Brewery, Big Ugly Brewing Company, The Butcher’s Son, and Amber Lantern Restaurants. For shopping, you can visit Greenbrier Mall or Chesapeake Square Mall. Both have a collection of well-known department stores as well as more high-end retail shops. For coffee lovers, consider paying a visit to Battlegrounds Coffee House & Grill, Pale Horse Coffee, or Gather.

Real Estate Market

Regarding real estate and home values, the median sales price for homes in Chesapeake, VA is between $273,700 and $314,600. Regarding rentals, the median price is $1,279. As of 2019, the median household income was $78,640, and the percent of people in poverty was 8.6%. Public schools are highly rated and the population is mostly made up of families and young professionals.

Isle of Wight County (Smithfield, Carrollton, Windsor), Virginia

Smithfield

This Virginia town is full of charming communities and rich architecture dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The historic downtown area has been completely revamped for an updated experience that’s fully accessible to all. Perhaps the town’s most significant claim to fame is its Smithfield hams, which are cured and produced here. Those who are interested in catching a show won’t be disappointed with the Smithfield Little Theatre.

The population of this town was 8,367 as reported by the United States Census Bureau in 2019. In December 2021, $385,000 was this Virginia town’s median home price listing. For a two-bedroom apartment in 2022, the monthly rent ranges from $1,038 to $1,864 currently.

Carrollton

This is an area with a low risk of crime that’s great for settling down and raising a family or enjoying a quiet vacation. You’ll have the opportunity for ample exploration with the Carrolton Nike Park, which includes several historic sites. St. Luke’s Historic Church and Museum are loaded with fascinating information and breathtaking architecture. The town is situated close to the James River Bridge’s south end, opposite Newport News.

Carrollton’s population was 6,442 as of the 2019 Census. This significant growth from 2010’s reported population of 4,574 is large2010s because Carrollton has become a bedroom community. This means that many people who live and sleep here don’t spend much of their waking hours in town.

$310,000 is the median listing home price, with a median of $163 per square foot. As of January 2022, monthly rent ranges from $1,400 to $1,900.

Windsor

This incorporated town is located in southeastern Virginia’s Hampton Roads region. The town isn’t far from the crossroads where U.S. Routes 258 and 460 intersect.

There’s plenty to do in Windsor, and you especially won’t want to miss Windsor Castle Park, formerly known as the Arthur Smith plantation. This is just one section of a massive public park that extends 208 acres. There are beautiful views that look out over the Pagan River running through the nearby towns. And for those who love a good scare, there is a fun-spirited ghost hunt that traditionally happens around Halloween which is an entirely different way to experience this area.

The median home listing price is $297,500 at a median of $158 per square foot, with the monthly rent averaging out at $1,709. The population reported in 2019 was 2,721.