Richmond, VA?

Anyone here live in the Richmond area- or know someone that does? Do you have anything positive/negative about the area?

DH is potentially being offered a relocation package with his job- I am just gathering some information.

Thanks in advance- we both grew up in the NE and do not know anyone down there!

Re: Richmond, VA?

Two of my friends that grew up on Long Island moved there. They love it. One of them bought a house with "high taxes" $1100 a year . I asked my firend what she would say to someone thinking of moving there she worte this.

Richmond summed up, good restaurants are pricey, we have lots of mexican food places (Moe's, Chipotle, Qudoba, Mexico, Las Casas Grandas, Las Haciendas,...it goes on and on and on....., we have lots of festivals all year round, we can drive to Nagshead, (amazing beaches in NC), people love country music but you won't get a Z100 station here, shopping is okay, but were 2 hours from DC and the shopping there is great, we hardly get any snow but the summers can be HOT! We have water country USA and Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion....The worst part is things are super SLOW down here....

So if you like Mexican food, amusement parks and hate top 40 music Virginia is for you .

All the best with your dh's maybe transfer. I have been down a few times to visit and I don't think having to spend any length of time there would ever be a bad thing.

Re: Richmond, VA?

I have family that lives down there, formerly from NY, they love it. The school districts in the city of Richmond themselves I have heard are not that great, a lot of people send their kids to private school, but many of the outlying suburbs have good school districts. When I visit down there it seems that the cost of living is less while still being able to live in a nice suburban area.

Re: Richmond, VA?

Check out the "West End" - Glen Allen (23060 & 23059 area codes).

My sister lives there. You can get a newer construction zoned for the better schools for $350K (10 year old 4 bed colonial) with about $2500 in taxes. its about 15 min outside richmond. Richmond city itself has its good areas and very bad areas, as most cities do.

If you want to live a little further away, its a little cheaper and I would recommend Midlothian (south of Richmond - Chesterfield County) or Mechanicsville (Hanover County). Glen Allen is in Henrico County.

Short Pump is a part of Glen Allen - they have beautiful new shopping centers, outdoor malls.

eta: Not sure where he will work but there is a corporate center in Innsbrook, which is closest to Glen Allen.

Message edited 10/29/2008 7:49:39 PM.

Re: Richmond, VA?

i LOVE richmond and wish i could move back there now i miss it so much.

i love the areas surrounding the city--the city has some pretty bad areas (as do all cities) but the suburbs are lovely.

and the prices are so much cheaper. if only i could talk DH into it, i'd be there in a heartbeat.

i completely agree with meaghan729 about the areas she mentioned

Re: Richmond, VA?

Thanks for the information, everyone. DH and I interested in the cost of living issue. At first, I would probably stay home for a few years with our son when we first move.

We would definitely live in the suburbs. We will check out the places you mentioned!

Re: Richmond, VA?

I used to live there (West End area). Our neighborhood went to the shiiiter. They are constantly building new communities and new shopping. Glen Allen is a nice area.
They are very slow down there, not fast paced like NY.
Cost of living is cheaper.

Re: Richmond, VA?

We have very good friends that moved from LI to outside of Richmond and they love it. They live in Midlothian and have a beautiful house in an amazing neighborhood. Lots of stores and restaurants around. We go down there 2x per year to visit and love it.