Virginia Beach Homes for Sale.

Real Estate and Lifestyle

While Virginia Beach, VA is known to vacationers as a great place to spend a few days relaxing, to nearly half a million locals, it is home year-round. And why not - with all it has to offer, Virginia Beach, VA suits tastes and lifestyles across a wide spectrum. From its sun-kissed beaches to its idyllic rural farms, Virginia Beach, VA is a city with something for everyone.

If you are in the market for suburban paradise, Virginia Beach, VA may be the perfect location. The city offers countless real estate options from small starter homes in modest neighborhoods to custom-built luxury homes in gated or golf course communities--and everything in between. In the Bayside and Kempsville areas of the city, for example, one will find scores of small real estate developments typical of single-family suburbia: comfortably-sized homes designed for families of five or fewer, with yards of a size perfect for customizing yet manageable on a full-time work schedule. Comfortable, well-maintained townhouses are also common in these areas.

In the North End area of Virginia Beach, VA real estate is toward the more grand. In the Alanton or Forest Hills neighborhoods, for example, you may find large lots, gentrified, tree-shaded streets, waterfront, and luxuriant landscaping. Or, if unquestionably high-end is your taste, try one of the city's most exclusive real estate areas, Bay Island. With its isolation from traffic, lovely water views, private boat launches, custom features, and large--even palatial--homes, this neighborhood offers a lifestyle even a Hollywood celebrity would appreciate.

Virginia Beach, VA has many faces. Though the majority of the city's real estate is suburban, some areas offer character that is distinctly different. Ocean lovers may find the perfect home in Sandbridge, a long, narrow strip of real estate surrounded by the Atlantic on the east and Back Bay on the west. Homes in Sandbridge are designed for beach living: typically narrow but two or three stories tall, often with convenient bath facilities on the ground or garage floor. Many properties have direct or even private beach access. Sandbridge's geography also means one road in and out, a sought-after isolation which offers a pleasant respite from the noise and pollution of traffic. Other shore-lovers may wish to try the Chicks Beach area. Houses here are often similar in style to Sandbridge but are located along the Chesapeake Bay. Both separate and townhouse-style homes are readily available. Chicks Beach is also not far from the public oceanfront, offering the joys of both sea and bay as well as easy access to shopping and transportation.

Virginia Beach, VA offers yet another personality in its southernmost areas. Pungo and Blackwater are largely rural. Here you'll find wide-open spaces, farm land, charming older homes, a fascinating local history, and friends and neighbors who look out for each other in a comfortable small-town atmosphere. South Virginia Beach, VA residents enjoy a relaxed pace and fresh air as well as fresh local produce--or the land to grow their own!

No matter what area of Virginia Beach, VA you call home, city-sponsored amenities are near. There is an extensive central library plus nine other branch libraries, a law library, and an active Bookmobile program. It also has a large collection of materials for disabled readers. The city's public schools are similarly appointed. Consistently rated among the top in the Commonwealth, the public school system offers fine neighborhoods schools as well as a wide array of specialized programs for students of every interest. Gifted programs are in place at all grade levels. In addition, both elementary and high school level academies offer extensive arts, science, legal, and other targeted curricula. And for high schoolers and adults, the city offers advanced technical and vocational training.

Virginia Beach, VA's parks and rec facilities are not to be overlooked, either. The city provides a variety of themed facilities including two skateboarding parks, two dog parks, three municipal golf courses, bike trails, camping, swimming pools, sports fields, and boat launches. These are in addition to dozens of neighborhood parks and playgrounds.

Looking for culture? Virginia Beach, VA has many historic, educational, and arts venues. Among them are the Contemporary Arts Center, Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, historic Francis Land House and historic Thoroughgood House, Little Theater, and Fort Story/Cape Henry Lighthouse. And throughout the year, events popular among locals and visitors alike happen here. From the down-home charm of the Pungo Strawberry Festival to the kitschy appeal of Viva Elvis, Virginia Beach, VA offers culture for every taste.

With its complex geographic history and largely suburban nature, Virginia Beach, VA never had a single downtown area. However, in the past several years, city leaders have created Town Center, a massive economic real estate project in what is known as the Central Business Corridor. Town Center offers most everything you would find in a typical "natural" downtown: abundant office space, high-end retail shopping, an eclectic array of dining, an outdoor square that often features live music acts, and nearness to the highway system. Town Center is home to the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, where a vast variety of music, drama, and dance shows appear year-round. You can even live at Town Center: in these new luxury condos, someone who yearns for the energy of an urban atmosphere will find a perfect home.

And living in Virginia Beach, VA, you needn't worry about your career. Virginia Beach, VA is well-known among the military as well as hundreds of national and international companies. Among the city's largest non-government employers are Stihl, GEICO, and Amerigroup. Companies appreciate the potential work force Virginia Beach, VA represents: with Oceana and Little Creek military bases here, there is a near-constant influx of highly-trained specialists available. Virginia Beach, VA also is home to a number of college and university campuses and satellite facilities, contributing even more knowledge and skill to the population.

The beauty of a beach vacation spot plus the convenience and comfortable familiarity of home year-round: this is living in Virginia Beach, VA.