Hello ladies,
My husband recently took a job in Richmond by the international airport. I was wondering if you had any recommendations as to what area would be a suitable neighborhood. We have a 2 year old and a 5 month old so schools aren't of huge importance at This TIme. We need TO have a laRge Grassy bAck yaRd wiTH plenTY of space for Two acTive BOys. Somewhere safe and convenient to shopping would be helpful as well. If you have any incite that would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry about the random caps, my computer is wigging out.
Thanks for all of your help we ended up finding a nice home in Short Pump right across from the Town Center Mall. Without your responses I would have been lost!
There's a neighborhood in sandston by seven pines elem. School thats nice. Its not really in a "subdivision" though. I've lived there for over 2 years and haven't had any problems what-so-ever. The neighbors are very friendly too!
Hi,
We live in Sandston since my husband is a pilot. The airport is about 10 min. from our house. We live in a quiet neighborhood where the homes range from 160-230 K with lots nearly one acre. Regarding the nearby shopping, we have a Food Lion 5 minutes away, we are 5 minutes from Interstate 64 and 8 minutes from Interstate 295. they are building a huge shopping complex about 2 minutes from the airport opening this October. you can look it up online if you google 'white oak village, richmond, va.' If you buy a home in the Sandston/New Kent area, typically you will have more home/yard for the money. Jenkins Bluff is a new neighborhood with spacious lots (1-3 acres I believe) and Elko Station is a pretty neighborhood about 15 minutes from the airport.
Mechanicsville has more shopping options. Houses are more expensive outthere than here, but they boast Hanover County Schools which helps the real estate market.
The area with the best shopping is in the West End near Short Pump- about 20-25 minutes from the airport.
Welcome to VA M.! I grew up over in Sandston by the airport. In fact, my parents still live over there in the same house. LOL It's not what it use to be to be honest with you. Check out areas around there like New Kent, Varina, Charles City. They are the closest areas to the airport but are not up on top of the airport either. Most houses will have land with it too. You are welcome to email me directly at ____@____.com if you have any questions. Good luck to you and your family.
Take Care,
N. :) SAHM homeschooling 3 boys 12, 7 & 2yrs old and married to Mr. Wonderful for almost 15yrs. Have you heard of Angel Food? Check out www.angelfoodministries.com for more info on how you too can buy groceries for less money. We love it!
check and see if you can find a place in either Varina or New Kent. New Kent you could get a great price and space, but I don't know anything about the schools.
Varina has great county schools and is near to some decent shopping (and some being built), but I don't know if the prices are going sky high for land there now or not.
Hi M., my name is S. Sale and I am realtor in your area! I am also a SAHM...I live in Mechanicsville right now but have lived in the Sandston area for a few years. My husbands family is from this area and I work for my father-in-laws Real Estate Company (Rick Sale Realty) I would be happy to help you find some thing! Email me directly at ____@____.com and we can exchange phone numbers and talk directly!
Welcome to Richmond! I recall so very well the weekend my husband and I came to Richmond to look at housing. How intimidating it was to me as I tried to decide where we should locate! There are so many beautiful areas of town and so many wonderful neighborhoods, each with its own character. I remember being surprised to learn that even many neighborhoods within the city itself were decent places to live, safe and charming.
Like you, we wanted suburban living with a grassy backyard and neighborhood children to play with. And don't be fooled by the current ages of your children; schools are ALWAYS important, even with children ages 2 and 5, because of resale value.
We had lived on a very large lake before we moved here, so we asked about lakes. That's how we discovered all the wonderful neighborhoods surrounding the Swift Creek Reservoir. The lake itself is really prett. Whether you have a waterfront home or not, gorgeous views of it become part of your daily routine just driving in and out of neighborhoods along Genito and Woolridge. A small portion of it is even visible from 360. Children love spotting the sailboats on daily drives past the lake!
There are houses in any price range in the neighborhoods around the lake, from million dollar waterfront properties to smaller homes under $200,000.
Woodlake is a fantastic neighborhood, with a club that offers two great pool complexes. One is especially great for young children with a large mushroom pool; you'll love it, and so will your children. As they age, they'll love the water slide, and you'll appreciate the indoor pool in the winter. Tennis courts and a great gym are part of the package. Walking and trails throughout this neighborhood make it easy to get anywhere on foot -- and offer you a route that has gorgeous views of the lake. You can walk to neighborhood playgrounds which are scattered thorughout this very large neighborhood. Your boys will love it! It's an established neighborhood, with great landscaping -- and since the houses aren't the very newest out there, it's affordable.
Brandermill offers the same sort of walking trails, and seems to have a wider selection of smaller, inexpensive housing than Woodlake. But it also has some gorgeous million dollar waterfront homes.
There's a small, beautiful park -- Sunday Park -- right on the water, which your children will adore. The Boathouse Restaurant offers waterfront dining inside or out. Two large play areas on the peninsula have swings, slides and climbing structures for children, and a walking trail winds through the woods around the peninsula. Picnic shelters right on the water are available for rental by members of the neighborhood. Pontoon boats are also offered for rental.
Holidays are great fun for families in these lakeside neighborhoods. The Fourth of July starts with a neighborhood parade, and ends with a huge fireworks show over the water. There's another fireworks show over the water on Labor Day. Woodlake has bands and food sales at its lakeside stage, and non-stop pool parties on holidays. Brandermill has a big Easter Egg Hunt and its own Fourth of July picnics and games and activities.
Great elementary schools serve both these neighborhoods! There are also some excellent preschools and many fine churches. And speaking of churches, you'll find many of the individual neighborhoods within these larger neighborhoods have Bible studies for women with young children, so the meetins are part playdates for the kids, part social opportunities for the moms and part Bible lesson!
Shopping is so convenient. Almost anything you could want is on Hull Street, also known as 360, which is the main traffic artery alongside all these neighborhoods.
You'll only be about 20 minutes from downtown Richmond via the Powhite Parkway or 95, so you can easily go to a nice restaurant or show with your husband. Your children will love the Science Museum, the Children's Museum and Maymont -- a wonderful 100-acre park with Victorian Mansion and gardens. It's part zoo, with animal displays along a winding trail, and features a great new quatic exhibit with otters and more. There's a great Christmas light show at the Botanical Gardens at Christmas,a fantastic Easter program at Maymont every year -- and so much to see and do that you just never will get it all seen and done, no matter how long you live here. :)
As a transplant from elsewhere, you'll appreciate the fact that many of the folks living in these neighborhoods are also transplants, which means they are very welcoming to other newcomers. I think most folks here are very, very friendly and welcoming!
Other neighborhoods not directly on the lake, but very close, with great family infrastructure, include Hampton Park and Foxcroft.
To see some views of the lake at the center of all these neighborhoods, go to:
http://www.sundaysrestaurant.com and take the virtual tour.
I know there are many areas closer to the airport than these, but via the Pocahontas Parkway, it really isn't a very far drive for your husband. I don't know of anything like this near to the airport. Your husband could drive down 288 to 95 every day, and take the Pocohonatas Parkway across the river.
I hope this proves helpful to you....Welcome to Richmond, and happy neighborhood hunting!
I live in a very nice neighborhood. It is 20 minutes from the
airport. This is a new subdivsion. We have been here for 2 yrs now. All the neighbors are very helpful & nice. The subdivision name is Oakley Hill off Cold Harbor. If you would like any more information you can e-mail me back with your questions through this website. Good luck with your search.
Thanks,
L.
It depends on what price range you are looking for. I don't know much about the airport area, but I'm sure there are nice areas over there. I grew up in the west end (Henrico County) That's probably 15-20min from the airport depending on where you live in the west end. There are some beautiful places over there. My husband and I currently live in Midlothian and I wouldn't live anywhere else. I live in Westbury which is in the Smoketree area. There are other great neighborhoods around here, Brandermill, Woodlake, Charter Colony, the Grove. Price varies from neighborhood to neighborhood too. The schools are impeccable as well. It's probably 20min from the airport too, but you have to pay tolls. Chesterfield county has some great areas and not so great areas as well. Bon Air is nice, but can be pricey too. I don't know much about Mechanicsville either, but I do have friends that live out there and love it. It will be a bit farther from the airport.
Good Morning!
I live in Richmond. I am in the West End of Henrico. There are several nice neighborhoods. I would stick to Henrico (West End and Far West End) and Hanover Counties. I am a teacher. Last year I was with Henrico but am going to Hanover this school year. When my hubby are ready to buy a house we are looking at Hanover and the West End. With Hanover you have some more rural areas, but there are alot of nice neighborhoods. I would say that Hanover prob has some of the best schools around. There also tends to be more 'space' in Hanover.
Good Luck!
