Virginia Beach, Virginia SperlingViews

Having lived in Virginia Beach for 25+ years, I have watched the city grow in just about every area, i.e., schools, shopping, neighborhoods and transportation. Also, the growing Atlantic coast provides an affordable vacation spot and now finds visitors from all parts of the US and Canada. The cost of living is comparable to most cities of the same size. Entertainment is plentiful as Broadway shows tour through Norfolk, VA, a neighboring city. Concert venues are provided in several nearby cities. The number of military installations in Virginia Beach and other cities allows for many services which provide employment for just about every industry sector. As the population gets older, new hospitals and medical providers are rising as well, including 55+ only communities.

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I would not move here ! - 1/16/2013

I have lived here on the oceanfront for 9 years to long now. I am from Baltimore Md. The reason for me staying , my clients, I am a hair stylist. Took all these years to build it up.Sooo $$$ is good. First off. 1). very rude people 2). terrible traffic 3).dirty trashy 4)drug infested 5). big roachs locals call them waterbugs Bullcrap 6).gangs 7).just this month 5 shootings in a 1 mile from my house, and I live in one of the better areas. Felt safer in Baltimore 8). lack of jobs 9) filthy restraunts 10) lack of things to do eat and drink thats it! 11) very hot and humied in the summer 12)lots of homeless people everwhere 13) rent and property are very high 14)taxes are 10% for restruants.15)money rules here 16) they rape there locals on taxes here. you are taxed on everything !! 16) you will pay property taxes on your car every year and on top of that you will need to get it inspected every year. 17) you better be a repub. and not a dem. when you move here or you will be shuned. hope i hit the lottery[read more...]

Relocation to VA Beach - 12/1/2012

Lisa, I am a Realtor here in VA Beach and actually live in the John B Dey school district. I am happy to help you navigate the area if you have not already found something (I see you were asking this question back in August!) Many of the communities in this area have a little neighborhood park and many homes have individual pools because of the climate. However, one of the benefits of VA Beach is our Recreation centers. they are throughout VA Beachand there is one right down Great Neck Road from John B Dey. They are VERY reasonable and have a pool, fitness centers, racquet ball, basketball & various programs/classes for the community. There are also several golf/and or country clubs that you could join if you like. There are many options and if you need help send me a response [read more...]

VARIED CLIMATE - 11/24/2012

Very nice place for families; affordable, low crime and excellent schools. The weather is somewhat varied but not too extreme. Summers are hot and humid, spring and fall are ideal and winter is cold but not too bad. My only dislikes are the humid summers, thunderstorms, hurricanes, the many mosquitos and the lack of interesting things to do. I'm single and traveled quite a bit and just find things a little too slow moving for me and not much culture; I'm actually bored here and although it has pockets of prettiness, it's not for me.[read more...]

COST OF LIVING HIGH TRAFFIC IS BAD AND ROADS ARE T - 11/13/2012

I lived in virginia beach area for a total of seven years, 2002-2006 loved it had alot of potential, crime was low. When I left I couldnt wait to get back, even bought another house 8 miles from the board walk, Crime had increased and it seemed like trashy people took over the city. Didn't feel safe walking the boardwalk. Man was beaten to death, police officer killed. housing maket crashed leaving everyone trapped in over priced houses. I bought a outdated house fr 300,000 New construction is done half ass, most people with heat pumps freeze in the winter, most of the city doesnt have gas lines running through them so unless you have propane, eletric is very high. When it comes to jobs, its who you know, you will be treated as a outsider by locals. took three years before some of my neighbors even spoke to my family and the schools have students favorites, unless you donate alot of money or take over the PTA.[read more...]

Virginia Beach - 11/13/2012

I love the climate, because I don't mind the humidity in the summer, but the traffic around here is atrocious (good luck if you have to commute far, especially if you need to take the highway), and the pay for jobs really sucks. It's probably because there are so many military people that the retired military already makes a decent retirement, so they are able to take jobs for crap pay.[read more...]

A suggestion - 8/25/2012

I like the houses however some the house should make the landscape such as cutting the grass and other stuff look better[read more...]

Need guidance for relocation to Virginia Beach! - 8/12/2012

My husband's company requires a relocation of our family to Virginia Beach,Va. I am excited for this new chapter in our lives, have done the work to attain license to practice as a PA (physician assistant-haven't started looking for work out there just yet) but am in need of some guidance as to which area to move. We intend to rent a 4+ bedroom home until we are ready to buy. We have a 3 year old daughter and 1 year old son, so a family fun community within zones of top schools is priority. I've narrowed down to 10 elementary schools that seem the best through reviews on greatsschools.com. Based on what I've found, John B Dey seems to be our top choice for school. I would love to be walking distance to the beach but also have access to a community clubhouse, swimming pool and tennis courts....it would be a dream come true! Any ideas or tips would be appreciated! I'm finding it difficult to find this ideal area...perhaps it will remain a dream? Also, we like to be involved in volunteerism, specifically with children's activities and any event for underserved....so leads there are welcome also. Thank you![read more...]

Why Live in Virginia Beach, VA - 4/25/2012

Having lived in Virginia Beach for 25+ years, I have watched the city grow in just about every area, i.e., schools, shopping, neighborhoods and transportation. Also, the growing Atlantic coast provides an affordable vacation spot and now finds visitors from all parts of the US and Canada. The cost of living is comparable to most cities of the same size. Entertainment is plentiful as Broadway shows tour through Norfolk, VA, a neighboring city. Concert venues are provided in several nearby cities. The number of military installations in Virginia Beach and other cities allows for many services which provide employment for just about every industry sector. As the population gets older, new hospitals and medical providers are rising as well, including 55+ only communities.[read more...]

Best of Both Words: Four Season Variety Without th - 3/5/2012

I love the weather in Va Beach. Just enough cold to remind me of winters growing up in Pennsylvania (with an occasional snow flurry) and hot, steamy summers as the perfect counterpoint (great for the beach.) As for spring and autumn? They are fabulous![read more...]

Salem Middle School - 2/17/2012

I read these posts and I can't help but wonder what planet the parents are living on. Everyone is afraid to admit there is a racial problem at this school. I have had several daughters who have had the unfornuate experience of going to this school and the fear and harassment they have had to indure.I am not talking about how it use to be many years ago, or thats been gone since the new principal. Its the same now as it has ever been.The problem is that nobody in the governing body has the guts to tell the problem kids they are done. That it is a PRIVILAGE to go to school NOT A RIGHT no matter how loud some degenerate in her pajamas and curlers screams and shouts. All I hear is you are blowing this all out of proportion. NO I AM NOT!! My child should be afraid to go to school. She should not be afraid of reporting unsatisfactory conduct for fear of reprisal. The school authorities are powerless with the current status quo.The realiation moves of the school property. You say well call the police. You who say this never lived through the fear of being in the wrong place, caught alone with no where to run.You start to hope that they do find you and that it wont be so bad at least it will be over. I lived through just such a time.I could not go anywhere without being scare I would get beat on. I was fortunate enough to have been a male. Like they say you kick a dog long enough he will bite. But even then the kids were scared of their parents finding out, not now. There is no disciplinary solution for this problem that does not include permanent expulsion. Until then, same as it ever was. Anybody with the guts to admit it probaly has a child who has come to them scared praying for some king of adult intervention, but they all have their heads in the sand. signed:Fed Up[read more...]

Life's a Beach for the Tourists in Virginia Beach - 2/11/2012

Tourists rule in this town. The city is becoming overcrowded. Houses on top of each other in many of the suburban areas, unless you move to the further reaches toward Chesapeake. This is the only place in Virginia where I've seen single-car garages (vs. double-) in single-family homes. Property lines w/just a few ft. between neighbors predominate in many middle- to lower-middle-class housing areas, where most live. Mini-cities of apartment complexes have been popping up everywhere. Builders are obviously given far too much leeway by city officials in this town, w/ builders even claiming areas of land previously designated as untouchable "wetland." If you're wealthy, neighborhoods near the beach areas have some very distinctive and lovely homes. The oceanfront is overcrowded with skyscraper-ht. hotels and condos; has a large boardwalk, however. To access most of the beach requires traipsing across and through the paved streets and many hotels and businesses (presuming you found a place to park!), among the tourists, etc., dragging your beach gear and kids in-tow. Crime definitely has increased in the suburban areas especially - many burglaries and home-invasions of residences and businesses alike, plus robberies, but this situation is worse in nearby Norfolk. Having spoken w/a Beach policeman recently, "yes, many of the crimes here have gone/go "unreported" to the public. Police here are overwhelmed. Criminals seem to have the advantage. Health care is quite good here. Several very good hospitals. Schools are so-so, unless you can afford to attend a private school, or your child "qualifies" to attend a public "Academy" school. Virginia and the Beach don't give education nearly enough funding or importance. Northern Va. has best educators and is best bet in Virginia for education opportunities for families. Police force more adept there, too. Sorry for the criticism, but the Beach quality of living needs more consideration and improving for the residents who live here year-round.[read more...]

Beach Life - 1/23/2012

We're from a small town in IL and moved to Virginia Beach because of the Navy. We've been here for almost three years now and our favorite thing is definitely living close to the beach. We're only 15 minutes from the beach. We prefer Sandbridge to the Oceanfront though as Sandbridge doesn't have as many tourists. [read more...]

Virginia Beach - 1/3/2012

Great place to live over all. Lots to do, beautiful area. Tourist Town without feeling like one. Only down side is that it's getting too crowded. The roads are way too conjested.[read more...]

Virginia Beach Quality of Life - 12/31/2011

Virginia Beach has a great Ocean Front, plenty of good restaurants, lots of educational opportunities, a stable economic base with high,military and tourist concentrations. Weather is pleasant most of the year with few extremes. School system is good to great with a fair number of private alternatives that are good to great. In addition our emergency system of police, fire, and volunteer rescue is about as good as it gets.[read more...]

Retirement - 4/13/2011

The personal property tax and insurance will drive me out when I retire. My federal retirement will be taxed by the state also. [read more...]

VB - 2/2/2011

Great schools, clean beaches and tons of things to do... [read more...]

Double digit losses in 2010, more of the same pred - 1/19/2011

In 2010, Virginia beach endured a 12% dip in housing prices, and now talking heads are saying that they expect 2011 to be another poor year with a 10% or more drop in prices. Factor in foreclosure inventory lingering in the background, and the area's homeowners could be upside-down on their mortgages for some time to come. [read more...]

Va Beach - 9/21/2010

Overcrowded, over priced, angry, noisy, stressful and dirty. I have lived in VA Beach my entire life (41 years) and have seen a beautiful rural community develop into the hussle and bussle that destroys quality of life. Maybe it is just me, but I preferred a quiter VA Beach where you knew the police and they knew you (or at least your family). A place where people waved when you drove past their house. Those days are gone. Time to look elsewhere for me and my family to find peace.[read more...]

Cost of Housing in the USA - 9/1/2010

Hi, My name is Mark Dickenson. I am amazed at the cost of housing in the USA. I just saw that the median price of a home in Dickenson county Virginia is $US65,000. In Australia we are lucky to by a run down home on less than 1/4 of an acre of land for under $US440,000. I would suggest to Americans, that you start approaching Australians to look at purchasing Real Estate in the USA. Why ? 1) To start with, Australia is the only western country that has not been in recession. The latest figures show that the economy in Australia is still growing. 2) Australians have been ripped off with the cost of housing in Australia for the last twenty years. Even with the current AU$/US$ exchange rate, Australians can buy 6 of your houses for the cost of one of ours with a good deal of money left to renovate. 3) Australia has been allied with the USA since WW2. If you cant trust us, you can not trust anyone. Have a think about it. You guys need some sales and we need to reduce the cost of housing in Australia!!! Kind Regards Mark[read more...]

Awesome place to raise kids...breath taking - 7/26/2010

As a seasoned real estate agent,I have been all over the hampton roads area of Virginia. I can say with out a doubt I love all Virginia Beach has to offer. We have beautiful beaches, a water park (Ocean Breeze), aquarium, plenty of shopping and a new performing arts center (Sadler Center)in the heart of Virginia beach. Not to mention the beautiful homes and hidden mansions tucked away in the city. The children are not exposed to the crime of a urban city. Instead it is a mixure of country and a little city. This gives children a balanced exposure. The schools here are great as well as the people. Dont be surprised If you see several stickers saying "Virginia is for lovers"..its true.:) The housing market right now is excellent for buyers. Currently there are decent priced homes to choose from now if you are ready to enjoy the well desired beach life. Feel free to look at property at www.aqilarealestate.com See ya at the beach!!![read more...]