Selecting land in SE Virginia

[Midwilshire]

Friends,

Im looking for opinions on the best areas in southeast Virginia to start a family homestead and small farm. I'll be reporting to Norfolk in the summer, and this will be my last duty station before military retirement, so I plan to settle down for the first time since I left the family farm 24 years ago.

I'm looking for suggestions that are within an hour commute of downtown Norfolk. Initial searches suggest Chesapeake or Suffolk as good potential sites. I'm more interested in timberland than crop land, but would like the future property to have some of both. I intend to build the home and outbuildings myself. School quality is unimportant, as we homeschool.

Thank you kindly for your thoughts.

Mike

 

[widefat]

Friends,

Im looking for opinions on the best areas in southeast Virginia to start a family homestead and small farm. I'll be reporting to Norfolk in the summer, and this will be my last duty station before military retirement, so I plan to settle down for the first time since I left the family farm 24 years ago.

I'm looking for suggestions that are within an hour commute of downtown Norfolk. Initial searches suggest Chesapeake or Suffolk as good potential sites. I'm more interested in timberland than crop land, but would like the future property to have some of both. I intend to build the home and outbuildings myself. School quality is unimportant, as we homeschool.

Thank you kindly for your thoughts.

Mike

Hey, I live in Central Va - so knowledge is limited. But 3 excellent places to get the low-down on SE VA -

http://www.vahuntingforum.com/

Buy, Sell and Trade Guns for Free! | VA Gun Trader (shooting the bull section)

Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF - Freedom isn't free - Buy a Gun!

 

[polo1665]

I worked in Hampton (lived in Gloucester) for 11 years. Always thought the Smithfield area was a nice, rural type farming community. Only been to Suffolk a couple of times, so really can't comment on that one.

I do remember the traffic being horrible in the Hampton Roads/Norfolk/Virginia Beach area. It was 20 years ago that I moved away, but I am pretty sure that traffic hasn't gotten any better. Good luck on your relocation, and thanks for your service!

 

[CADplans]

I do remember the traffic being horrible in the Hampton Roads/Norfolk/Virginia Beach area. It was 20 years ago that I moved away, but I am pretty sure that traffic hasn't gotten any better. Good luck on your relocation, and thanks for your service!

Yea,, when I read that he only wanted an hour commute from Downtown Norfolk,,,
I figured a radius of eleven miles,,, TOPS!!

Better recalculate the maximum commute,, or, even leave Smithfield as "out",,,

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

I do remember the traffic being horrible in the Hampton Roads/Norfolk/Virginia Beach area. It was 20 years ago that I moved away, but I am pretty sure that traffic hasn't gotten any better.

It hasn't! We love going down to the Historic Triangle, and have been to a few shindigs in Norfolk area. It's as bad as a really big city. Not fun. Would NOT want to have to commute in it.

Yea,, when I read that he only wanted an hour commute from Downtown Norfolk,,,
I figured a radius of eleven miles,,, TOPS!!

Better recalculate the maximum commute,, or, even leave Smithfield as "out",,,

Agreed!


Mid, I'm going to give some contrary advice. Find a rental rental rental with a decent commute, get settled there and into your new position, and then start spending your weekends cruising around the area to get to know what is where. You might find you want to go farther inland, or you might fall in love with some nice little place 2 hours from the base.

There is NO WAY to make a good decision from long distance. If you do a 6 month rental long distance, and it's not a good choice, well, you have 6 months to make a better one when you're local and can make a better decision.

Do this right, so you only have to do it once.

Thanks for your service!

 

[TheMan419]

I agree with Mark. Since this is the place you intend to finally put down the roots take some time to do it right. Not sure if you can do base housing or temp housing for long. If so do that and take your time to search out the right place for you.

And I agree with Mark and mean this from the bottom of my heart..... thank you for your service. Enjoy your retirement as you have certainly earned it.

 

[s219]

Hmm, any commute from Norfolk is going to suck if you have to cross the water, and that would eliminate many good choices. I'll list them anyway, just be aware that Norfolk is the commuting black hole of the area.

Toano
Barhamsville
New Kent
Charles City
Gloucester
Hayes
Smithfield
Carrolton
Surry County

 

[Midwilshire]

Thanks for the helpful suggestions and kind words. Much appreciated! - Mike

 

[shaley]

Suffolk is probably the best bet with the new tunnel and access to RT 58.
I perk land and design septic systems in case you find raw land and want it tested

 

[wngsprd]

I grew up in the area and return frequently. I think S219 is on the right track - avoid the tunnel crossings. Your pick of Chesapeake and Suffolk are good ones. If your travel times are not at rush hours, you could look for something on the Peninsula between Newport News and Williamsburg, maybe even around Pungo in southern Virginia Beach.