Retiring in Williamsburg questions (Virginia Beach, Charlottesville: rentals, houses, buying)

[NY Flo]

Originally Posted by YorktownGal

A friend lives in Williamsburg. I spent three weeks this spring helping her move in. I get the impression, it is more conservative and more religious than Chicago. I also think it's far less diverse than Chicago. I don't know what cultural city is only two hours away from Williamsburg except Richmond.

Why not Washington DC? It's liberal and diverse. It has culture and many federal museums.

Williamsburg -- more conservative and more religious, less diverse. You've given me something to consider. My husband and I are retirees. We're thinking of relocating in the general area in the next year or two. Perhaps we should look for something in Newport News or Norfolk. I'm progressive and having a politically congenial climate would matter to me.

[citydweller]

I’m not too familiar with Newport News. Norfolk is a smallish but urban city that might be more tailored to your progressive views.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by NY Flo

Williamsburg -- more conservative and more religious, less diverse. You've given me something to consider. My husband and I are retirees. We're thinking of relocating in the general area in the next year or two. Perhaps we should look for something in Newport News or Norfolk. I'm progressive and having a politically congenial climate would matter to me.

Neither of those two cities is really considered that safe. A small part of Norfolk is safe and you can find safe areas in Newport News. This is what my sister in VA Beach tells me. My niece has lived in Newport News for a year now and is going to buy a house there, but she is young and just starting out so that's all she can afford. She found an area that seems to be safe. After they have kids and need good schools and a better area, they'll probably move elsewhere. I'd go for Williamsburg; I don't think it's religious and conservative. Moderator cut: link removed, competitor site

[ctr88]

Originally Posted by T Elizabeth

I’m from liberal Massachusetts and I can get the same sq ft house there for $150,000 less and 1/4 taxes. I’m looking at this and I current live 40 miles west of Boston and the cost of housing is killing my retirement. Progressives like me might just have to invade.

I find it strange when liberals flee their own high tax states for lower tax states. Then vote in the same liberal gov't in the new state who will implement the same policies that lead to them to flee their high tax former states. Happens all over the country. It's the "Do as I say, not as I do" Libs. Total hypocrites.

[Spazkat9696]

Originally Posted by T Elizabeth

I’m from liberal Massachusetts and I can get the same sq ft house there for $150,000 less and 1/4 taxes. I’m looking at this and I current live 40 miles west of Boston and the cost of housing is killing my retirement. Progressives like me might just have to invade.

Please don’t

[michmom22]

Hi everyone! I am the original poster of this thread. First, I want to thank everyone who replied as the replies were very helpful. Second, I thought my update might be helpful. We have purchased a home in Ford's Colony and been here a little more than a month. We absolutely love it. Although this is a difficult time for everyone everywhere, our neighbors have been great, and because we walk all of the paved walking trails, which are one of my favorite features, we have met so many people.

As for the political issues raised above - I am not going to be controversial on these forums. I mentioned originally that we lean liberal. I certainly did not move in and immediately ask my neighbors who they are voting for. That being said, I am aware that many of my neighbors are liberal as well and, driving around Williamsburg, I have seen many more Biden signs in the yards. Ford's Colony does not allow yard signs. I am not concerned at all that this area will be too conservative for our tastes. It was a factor we considered in deciding where to live.

We looked at many areas of the country and are thrilled with our choice. If anyone has any questions, I will be happy to do my best to answer.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by ctr88

I find it strange when liberals flee their own high tax states for lower tax states. Then vote in the same liberal gov't in the new state who will implement the same policies that lead to them to flee their high tax former states. Happens all over the country. It's the "Do as I say, not as I do" Libs. Total hypocrites.

Originally Posted by michmom22

Hi everyone! I am the original poster of this thread. First, I want to thank everyone who replied as the replies were very helpful. Second, I thought my update might be helpful. We have purchased a home in Ford's Colony and been here a little more than a month. We absolutely love it. Although this is a difficult time for everyone everywhere, our neighbors have been great, and because we walk all of the paved walking trails, which are one of my favorite features, we have met so many people.

As for the political issues raised above - I am not going to be controversial on these forums. I mentioned originally that we lean liberal. I certainly did not move in and immediately ask my neighbors who they are voting for. That being said, I am aware that many of my neighbors are liberal as well and, driving around Williamsburg, I have seen many more Biden signs in the yards. Ford's Colony does not allow yard signs. I am not concerned at all that this area will be too conservative for our tastes. It was a factor we considered in deciding where to live.

We looked at many areas of the country and are thrilled with our choice. If anyone has any questions, I will be happy to do my best to answer.

Congrats on finding a place you love! So glad that you have found that you do have things in common with your neighbors. No matter what anyone may say, it does matter because you want to have friends and people to do things with, not people with whom you have very little in common.

To address the first post above, our liberal states get expensive because so many people want to live there. I'm from Massachusetts and it's a wonderful state with a lot going for it. And the Boston area has a super job market brimming with high paying jobs--that's what's made it expensive. The Boston people make a boatload of money and they can afford the houses and boats, expensive cars, all of it.

The taxes aren't that high, not the property taxes anyway, because we voted for a tax cap way back in the 1970s. We do have some expenses that Virginia wouldn't have like snow removal and more expensive road maintenance due to ice and snow, so the taxes will reflect that. But to say that it's our "policies" isn't very accurate. The state is just doing so well economically that it's getting so that ordinary people can't afford to live in places like the Boston area anymore. The rest of the state is much, much more affordable.

[skimbro000]

We just got back from visiting Williamsburg this week. We retired to and live in Farmville. We had such a great time and will be back. It’s a great small town with large town amenities and restaurants. I’m glad you like it so much. Welcome to VA. I hope you’ve voted!

[slowlane3]

Originally Posted by YorktownGal

A friend lives in Williamsburg. I spent three weeks this spring helping her move in. I get the impression, it is more conservative and more religious than Chicago. I also think it's far less diverse than Chicago. I don't know what cultural city is only two hours away from Williamsburg except Richmond.

Why not Washington DC? It's liberal and diverse. It has culture and many federal museums.

Metropolitan Washington DC combines a very high cost of living, with the 2nd-heaviest traffic in the USA (according to careful studies by the Amer. Auto. Assoc.) Steamy humid summers. Since hitting a low point in the 1970s, the city itself in recent years has been growing and gentrifying with many young professionals and new apartments/ condos. True, it has possibly the largest concentration of Free museums in the nation or world.

[peaceka]

My wife and l are considering Williamsburg as one place we would like to live in the future with our kids.

All the houses we see for sale are part of HOAs. Are there single-family homes that are not part of HOAs? Also, how easy would it be to find a single-family home to rent (budget is max $2000 a month)?

Thank you.