Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is Virginia's second-largest incorporated city, with a population of 234,403 as of the 2000 Census. Norfolk is also one of the few urban areas in Virginia showing resurgence in population, with an estimated population of 238,832 in 2006.
The city is bordered to the west by the Elizabeth River and to the north by the Chesapeake Bay. It also shares land borders with the cities of Chesapeake to its south and Virginia Beach to its east. As it is surrounded by multiple bodies of water, Norfolk has many miles of riverfront and bay front property, and is linked with its neighbors by an extensive network of Interstate highways, bridges, tunnels, and bridge-tunnel complexes. Norfolk is also easily accessible from all corners of the world, thanks to the Norfolk International Airport. Avid travelers can even depart on various cruise lines from the Norfolk Cruise Ship Terminal, opened in 2007 and located conveniently in the heart of the downtown waterfront area.
One of the oldest cities in the Hampton Roads area, Norfolk is considered to be the historic, urban, financial, and cultural center of the region. Norfolk is home to both the Norfolk Naval Base, the world's largest naval base, and corporate headquarters of the Norfolk Southern Railway, one of North America's principal Class I railroads.
First settled in 1622 by Adam Thoroughgood, Norfolk had developed into what many believe was the most prosperous city in Virginia by 1775. It was a major shipbuilding center and an important trans-shipment point for the export of goods. Norfolk was officially incorporated as a city in 1845, with a population of about 14,000, and by 1950, it was the fifth fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States.
Norfolk has a newly revitalized downtown area, home to the MacArthur Center mall, Chrysler Hall Performing Arts Center, Scope Arena, and several other shopping and cultural arts venues. Fans of the performing arts can enjoy Broadway shows at Chrysler Hall, opera at the Harrison Opera House, and top-notch regional theater at the Wells Theater. Sports fanatics enjoy rooting for the hometown triple-A baseball team, the Norfolk Tides (an affiliate of the Orioles) at Harbor Park, and the Norfolk Admirals ice hockey team at Scope Arena. Families enjoying a day in downtown Norfolk can dine at world-class restaurants or explore the Nauticus National Maritime Center, the Virginia Zoo, or the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Being a waterfront city, the best way to see Norfolk is aboard one of the Norfolk harbor cruises. Choose from lunch cruises, dinner cruises (including the Spirit of Norfolk dinner show cruise), sailboats, paddlewheel ships, or a Naval Base cruise.
Norfolk's efforts to revitalize its downtown have attracted acclaim in economic development and urban planning circles throughout the country, with Money Magazine proclaiming it as the number one city in which to live in the South in 1999. Located just northwest of downtown, the Ghent district of Norfolk is one of the Hampton Roads region's premier urban residential communities. With abundant nightlife options and a wide variety of restaurants, Norfolk also plays host to numerous yearly festivals and parades, mostly at Town Pointe Park in downtown.
Norfolk City Public Schools is made up of 5 high schools, 8 middle schools, 34 elementary schools, and 9 special-purpose/preschools. In 2005, Norfolk Public Schools won the $1 million Broad Prize for Urban Education award for having demonstrated "the greatest overall performance and improvement in student achievement while reducing achievement gaps for poor and minority students". There are several private schools in the city, and Norfolk is also home to four major universities: Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, Eastern Virginia Medical School, and Virginia Wesleyan College.
Norfolk, like most of the Hampton Roads area, enjoys a humid subtropical climate with moderate changes of seasons. In addition to the urban residential areas, there are also miles of bayfront resort property and beaches in the Willoughby Spit and Ocean View communities. Home prices vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, but Norfolk is generally considered to be moderately priced, and an excellent value for property near the sea.
Norfolk VA Homes For Sale
What's My Norfolk Home Worth
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by: Dave.Macklin on Mar 16, 2008 @ 9:39 am Leave a comment »
Forbes calls us, “An affordable and fast-growing city where there are plenty of professional opportunities for the aging segment of the population, Virginia Beach/Norfolk has the fifth-lowest tax burden of cities measured in the report and has lower-than-average health-care costs.” Want more information on Virginia Beach real estate? visit ButlerTeamHomes.com. Related Posts: Virginia Beach VA Real Estate Market Is Different 
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Looking for a place to retire with mild weather and a change of seasons? You couldn’t pick a better spot than Virginia Beach and Norfolk, according to |
by: Dave.Macklin on Feb 28, 2008 @ 12:47 pm Leave a comment »
Being the large metropolitan area that we are, Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads seem to be on everyone’s comparison list. Some see us as the best and some see us as the worst, but if you are like us, you think this a a pretty neat place to live. Here’s how others rank us: 1. Coalition for Excess Weight Risk Education named Norfolk the second-fattest area in the country in 1997. 2. Old Dominion University was on Men’s Fitness 2005 list of ‘fat’ universities. 3. Men’s Fitness currently ranks Virginia Beach as the #6 most-fit city. 4. Field & Stream, in 2005, ranked Virginia Beach the 20th best place to go fishing. 5. Virginia Beach is #6 for the top 100 cities for walking in 2006, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association and Prevention magazine. 6. Sperling’s Best Places ranks Norfolk #7 in the top 10 places for dating. 7. Virginia Beach was the best place for women and families in the Ladies’ Home Jounral 2002 survey. 8. Virginia Beach is currently Fit Pregnancy magazine’s #8 pick for having a baby. 9. We are currently named the least-stressed metro area by BizJournals.com and the 8th least-stressed in 2004 by Sterlings Best Places. 10. In 2001, Norfolk won honors for the ‘best breathing place’ for animals by Purina’s Healthy Pets 21 Consortium. 11. Men’s Health put Hampton Roads in the top third of 100 for most work related stress. 12. Beer Advocate named the Bier Garden in Portsmouth as one of the top 50 places to have beer in America (2005). There you have it, some say we’re fit, some say we’re fat…we know we’re GREAT!! You can visit ButlerTeamHomes.com for all your Virginia Beach VA real estate needs or start your complimentary MLS Search.
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by: Dave.Macklin on Feb 27, 2008 @ 2:38 am Leave a comment »
Tuesday was a sad day for Norfolk VA preservationists when demolition of the century-old Guild House in Ghent began. The demolition took place as the Norfolk City Council voted to explore ways to preserve the community’s historic offerings and before a Circuit Court judge could rule on an injunction sought by a neighbor. Five historic structures have been lost in the past year. Interested in buying a century old house in Ghent? Visit ButlerTeamHomes.com to learn about Norfolk Va real estate and start your complimentary MLS Search.
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by: Dave.Macklin on Feb 26, 2008 @ 12:09 am Leave a comment »
Norfolk experienced a 35 percent decline in sales this January compared to January 2007. Market times increased 73 percent. The median price declined 1 percent to $208,225 and the average sales price decreased 8 percent to $247,699.
Now is a GREAT time to be buying a home in Norfolk VA. To learn more about Norfolk real estate, please contact us at 866-222-0158 #550 or visit ButlerTeamHomes.com. To begin searching for Norfolk VA homes for sale, please use our complimentary MLS search. Also read Virginia Beach real estate market report.
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by: Dave.Macklin on Feb 19, 2008 @ 3:50 pm Leave a comment »
Virginia Beach & Hampton Roads mortgage insurance requirements will tighten March 3. MGIC Investment Corp, the nation’s leading mortgage insurance provider, plans to limit its exposure in a number of the weaker housing markets around the country by requiring higher credit scores and larger down payments. Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads are among the areas affected by the tighter standards. Starting March 3, MGIC will require at least 5 percent down on homes and a 10 percent down payment on condos. Mortgage insurance is required by lenders when buyers put less than 20% down on a home. If the borrower misses mortgage payemnts, the mortgage insurance company pays the lender. If homes end up in foreclosure, both lenders and insurers lose money. Read the full story. Wondering how this tightening of lending requirements will affect your ability to buy a home? Give us a call to discuss your situation, 866-222-0158 #550, or visit our website, ButlerTeamHomes.com.
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To begin your search for the perfect home or to sell your home in the Virginia Beach area,
call Dave Macklin and The Butler Team at 866-222-0158 #550.
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