Living in Virginia Beach Pros and Cons

Moving to Virginia Beach? Here are some helpful things to know.
Reminiscing about what it’s like to live in Virginia Beach? You’ll also relate!
I’ve got 5 pros and (sadly) 5 cons of living in Virginia Beach that will paint a well-rounded picture of what you can expect when living here!
And I love finding things that are amazing and telling everyone! Watch ‘til the end of the video and I mention of my favorite restaurants IN THE WORLD, in Virginia Beach, along with even what to order!
Hi! I'm Sam! I'm a full-time real estate agent, a native Hampton Roads-ian, am married to my dream girl, and we adopted a Bengal which apparently is the equivalent of a 2 year-old.
Here's my blog post about the Pros and Cons of Living in Virginia Beach!: / pros-and-cons-of-livin...
Does your home in Va Beach require flood insurance? Check here! www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/vi...
Here’s the niche.com link with Virginia Beach’s highly-ranked public high schools! www.niche.com/k12/search/best...
WalletHub ranked us #2 in the COUNTRY for “Best Big Cities to Live In”! wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-...
New videos every WEDNESDAY - Subscribe here: goo.gl/KVJ4Km
Contact me here:
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Have fun searching for homes on my website: www.samsansalone.com
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Music by Joakim Karud / joakimkarud

[@latoyamatson6197]

My Grandma grew up here. She just recently passed and her only dream was to go back home. After getting a job at the Pentagon she just never got the chance. Now all of a sudden all of this information for Virginia Beach keeps coming in my name. I know it's her. I've never thought about moving out that way...but now??? It feels so right.

[@samsansalone]

Latoya Matson wow! What a story! Sorry to hear about your Grandma. But it seemed like you both had a strong bond, which is so great! The Pentagon is a pretty unique place to work, so I could understand why she took the job. My dad is from D.C. so I'm very fond of the area. Virginia Beach would welcome you fully if you decided to come! And I would love to answer any more questions you have about the area if you have any!

[@andrewhorton5101]

I'm a native who has lived all over the place and moved back. Rush hour here is like Sunday afternoon in any actual big city. People who complain about the traffic have absolutely no frame of reference or clue. You can get anywhere in this entire area in 20 minutes at the height of rush hour.

[@samsansalone]

Andrew, I say that all the time - that it takes about 20 minutes to get anywhere (or less). I had a conversation with a client today about this same thing. It's all about context, right? Thanks for commenting!

[@markmittens]

You are so right grew up in the area live in DC now I didn't know any better when I complained about traffic there

[@ilovetech]

I agreed I live there now

[@gfg8262]

Pros', it beautiful , jet noise is awesome plus watching jets & ships is cheap entertainment. Cons, traffic & Va Beach has turned very Hood.

[@dorianmcclure3715]

Great video I moved here from Pennsylvanian with my wife to start a family here in Virginia beach. I live at ocean front! Pro: Always something to do, A lot of diversity! Con: Due to retire and military the pay at a lot of jobs are really low. If your not military this can really make it tough to find a good job and that's with a college degree. Restaurants: Captain George's Seafood buffet is awesome! Dockside, Rockefeller's are great restaurants for seafood. Sakura is a great sushi place, Yamachan Ramen and Boba Bola is great in ramen. Rick's Cafe best bang for your buck when it comes to breakfast food. American best wings best wings I have ever had. Fat Fish is another great restaurant too

[@samsansalone]

Hey Dorian! Sorry I didn't respond sooner! I so appreciate you watching and am glad you like the video! Great pros and cons, too. I'm glad you like it here, what made you decide on Va Beach from Pennsylvania? If you do want to respond, but don't feel comfortable doing so on here feel free to email/call/text/FB message anytime! Those restaurants are great picks - actually I've never been to Rick's Cafe! You're making me want to give it a try. Haven't been to Fat Fish, either. Appreciate you taking the time to write them! Glad you're here in VA, Dorian!

[@dorianmcclure3715]

@@samsansalone We wanted to start a family here. With military, schooling, culture festivals, amusement parks, museums, and not to mention a beach it was just a all around better lifestyle then it was in Pennsylvania. Personally I want to do entrepreneurial things. Which it seem this area has a lot of creative ideas to try. Pennsylvania was pretty much if you didn't have a farm or Amish it was a no go. Further more LOVE the little bit of snow. PA doesn't clean up snow and except you to drive in the danger where as here I heard they don't play around and will shut down roads. I'd rather be safe then sorry so that's a win in my book. I also forgot Scramble on oceanfront is another great breakfast place. So far all we do when we treat ourselves is try out local restaurants. This place is great.

[@saltysnowflake5832]

Another tip: stay away from the oceanfront at night! There is a lot of violent crime around that area, especially during tourist season. Also, research College Week (originally called Greek Week). Lots of fights, shootings, stabbings, etc.

[@MyRealtorKerri]

Lol. Love the sound effects. Great way to get your point across. Great video.

[@samsansalone]

Thank you, Kerri!

[@jayjay-bz3rr]

Also, drivers are not very considerate to pedestrians. I learned this by experience. I press the pedestrian walk button on the pole and still get mowed down by drivers 🚦 🚶

[@jayjay-bz3rr]

But I still like Va. Beach

[@ExploringSouthernNevada]

Hi Sam! Great video. Loved the little music and the tweaks like the map and the arrow!!

[@samsansalone]

Exploring Southern Nevada by Andrea Johnson thank you! The tweaks sometimes take the longest to create so I'm glad they're liked!

[@Universalpest]

Great information. We love VB.

[@atlantarealestatewiththorn8092]

If we ever moved, this would be a great video and I would call on you.

[@MattRooney1]

Great video, very helpful link for finding out if you are at a higher risk of flooding.

[@samsansalone]

Matt Rooney Real Estate Ontario thanks a lot! I tried really hard to help give extra help like that for people as it can sometimes be hard to navigate where to go online.

[@1mama402]

Moved to Va Beach 15 yrs ago from Central Florida. We are beyond impressed with the school system here. We love experiencing the 4 seasons and love that we are 4 miles from the ocean and 4 hours from the mountains. We live in Ocean Lakes and our neighborhood has flooded twice since we lived here and many times the jets fly so low our entire house shakes. Lol. Thanks for the restaurant recommendation, have not heard of it before will definitely check it out!

[@tamparealestatewithmichelle]

Good tip on the jet noise! I used to live on an Air Force base down the street from the flight line and I loved the sound when the fighter jets took off.

[@samsansalone]

Did you live near Oceana? Or was it a different base?

[@tamparealestatewithmichelle]

Sam Sansalone I actually lived on Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage AK

[@samsansalone]

@@tamparealestatewithmichelle Wow! Ok, about as far away from here as possible.😂

[@damingdaan264]

Yah,,I love the noise of FREEDOM from NAS OCEANA,,I leave in SOUNTHERN BLVD near north east runway of NAS OCEANA,,

[@KateSmithRealtor]

This is cool, fun take!

[@samsansalone]

Kate Smith thank you!!

[@MaryAnglin]

I spent January 1977 in the Hampton/Virginia Beach area. It was my first time seeing the ocean. And such nice people. Those cons don't seem so bad!

[@samsansalone]

They aren't! And boy has the area developed since 1977. That's one thing I didn't mention, was the people. A pinch of Southern Charm!

[@favoritelasvegasrealtor]

Great pros and cons video of Virginia Beach!! Spoiled here in Vegas, no humidity...

[@samsansalone]

The O'Hare Team thank you!!! Yeah, the one time I went to Vegas I was shocked at how relatively mild mid 90's felt!

[@jessicabrodziak9612]

Thank you for your video!

[@samsansalone]

Jessica Brodziak you’re very welcome! I’m glad it helps you! Appreciate you watching, too! If there are any questions you have about VB or any of the cities here, feel free to ask 😃

[@theblackknight9783]

Getting stationed out to VA Beach. Super excited about getting sent here.

[@samsansalone]

TheBlackKnight awesome! Where do you live now? Let me know if you have any questions I can help you with.

[@dougarnold7955]

Thanks. It's something to think about. I read a little on VB years ago.

[@samsansalone]

Glad it's helpful! Thanks for watching and your feedback!

[@CoriSellsNJ]

THis video is fabulous!

[@samsansalone]

Thank you, Cori!!!

[@MeadeSkeltonMusic]

VA Beach has a nice climate. You can swim clear up to November.

[@samsansalone]

Meade Music I agree!!!

[@LaJuera25]

Thanks for the video! We are moving from Colorado and I have really no idea what to expect.

[@samsansalone]

Welcome...eventually! Haha, if you have any questions feel free to send me an email - best address is in the pinned comment.

[@Dannybones]

How do you like it so far Squirrel Girl? I live in Colorado now but need to move.. it's ridiculous pricing and the people are way to pompous! Lol

[@EllenPitts]

PRO: Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel...so pretty at night! Con...Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel...20 minutes of terror as I contemplate the structural soundness of tunnels and bridges in the US.

[@samsansalone]

Harmony Realty this is SO TRUE. I love telling people about the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel but like you said it's such an architectural phenomenon it makes one think, "am I really that safe? 😂

[@MsTori_boss]

Sometimes there will be one lane on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.

[@catherinedurbin9298]

THIS

[@1mama402]

Try going thru the CBBT in a 37 foot RV with an 18 wheeler in the opposite lane approaching you inside the tunnel….absolutely terrifying but my hubby drives that thing like it’s VW Bug. Lol

[@siamese.cheese]

i've lived in virginia beach for the majority of my life (11 years) and all of this is true! another con i thought of is all of the tourists that come during the summer. i live near the oceanfront boardwalk and it gets so crowded in the summer months! i also live in a neighborhood in which jets are constantly flying over and i personally hate it. i really enjoyed this video!

[@samsansalone]

vinn thank you for your feedback! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!! And yeah, there is such significant difference in crowds between the summer months and right after Labor Day, right?! Not to mention the middle of January - it's almost like you have your own private boardwalk then! 😂

[@b-radagent2411]

Those tourist bring lots of revenue

[@georgiacoasthomes]

You have missed your calling as a tv personality, Sam! This was awesome.

[@samsansalone]

Georgia Coast Homes by Karin Carr wow! Thank you! Maybe I'll try to report news as I show houses!

[@KarinCarr]

​@@samsansalone That would be a funny shtick for your channel for sure!

[@calebg6917]

He's still alive.

[@kerrylyndsay902]

Great restaurant recommendation? Tried Mama's Meat Bowl with the lentils, peas, coconut rice,... My new favorite!

[@samsansalone]

Kerry Hofheimer omg right?!?! I'm so glad you tried it! And the server is so nice, too. 😃

[@markburnsworth3591]

Good video, and he is right on all the pro's and cons...at first the jet noise drove me nuts even though i spent a career in the Air Force but you do get used to it. You also learn to deal with the traffic, however 2 things that still get to me....the way people drive here, way too fast...or literally crawling like they are lost, and maybe they are...lol. And the large number of traffic lights. The weather is hot, but its really not bad compared to other areas, and the winters are generally mild. You will pay more to live here though, between higher taxes, and the utilities. But it leads to good schools and an overall safe environment. Enjoy....

[@samsansalone]

Mark, thank you so much for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed it! Totally agree with all that you're saying, sounds like we're on the same page! Thanks for your service, as well.

[@WriterandPhotographer]

I always found that it was impossible to hear what the other person on a phone call was saying when the jets were going overhead. I lived in the flight path close to Oceana, so during touch and goes, there was a lot of........"can you repeat that.......I didn't hear what you said."

[@ANDYDAVIRGO]

I want to move out to that part of the country eventually. Great video!

[@samsansalone]

ANDYDAVIRGO thank you!!! I'm glad you liked it, and we'll have a spot reserved for you when you come 😃

[@ANDYDAVIRGO]

@@samsansalone Thanks. I hope to be out there as well.

[@RichFlemingRealtor]

The bloopers are funny! Good job.

[@samsansalone]

Why thank you!

[@MyFrontRangeLiving]

This is great!

[@samsansalone]

Mark Hubert Real Estate thank you much!

[@LIVINGINPALMBEACHFLORIDA]

Great video! You are a natural on camera. Look forward to visiting Virgina Beach!

[@samsansalone]

+Raymond Fernandez Realtor appreciate that very much! We will most definitely welcome you when you come!!

[@LIVINGINPALMBEACHFLORIDA]

@@samsansalone Awesome. Thank you!

[@PalmBeachesPaul]

Wow Sam great video good content and well edited. I wish I could make videos where the words come on the screen the way you do but my video editing software has very basic title options. I could probably do it I just haven't figured it out yet but love the video

[@samsansalone]

Palm Beaches Paul thank you so much, Paul! I really appreciate it. I try very hard to make each video informative and content-rich, so it encourages me when you say that!

[@phukyew14]

Bay Local is a really good restaurant as well! Great video my guy!

[@samsansalone]

Thanks a ton! Appreciate you taking the time to let me know - very encouraging!

[@peytonlutz1]

I want to go back to Virginia Beach this summer just to try that restaurant now... Visited two summers ago and loved the beach and it's drive-able unlike Florida

[@samsansalone]

Peyton Lutz glad you like it here! And pleeeeease go to the Carib Shack!!!!! 😂

[@joshyong2509]

Thank you so much fro this information I'm moving to Virginia beach next year all the way from Asia

[@samsansalone]

That's awesome!! You're very welcome, you coming here for a job?

[@joshyong2509]

@@samsansalone no actual for school

[@samsansalone]

@@joshyong2509 Nice! Which school?

[@HoustonKatyHomesGroup]

Sounds like a great place to live!

[@samsansalone]

Houston Katy Homes Group born and raised and don't want to leave!

[@daisymaddie8503]

Your video made me smile :) It's pretty darn accurate. That's why I stayed...the safety, public school system, and the outdoors. Btw, you hit bullseye on the public transportation. I'll give you a Like ;)

[@samsansalone]

Daisy, thank you!!! This is so great! I appreciate the kind words and it makes me happy to know that my videos are accurate. That's my primary goal! Appreciate you watching!

[@daisymaddie8503]

Hey! Sam! Thanks & you're welcome! I find your video very entertaining ~ I'm am your new subscriber :)

[@samsansalone]

@@daisymaddie8503 Thank you!!

[@dragonson72]

VB high schools each specialize in something different and a child can go to the school they wish to study,example Tallwood is the Lang. school, yes they will need to get to that school on their own but that is something

[@electricedge4383]

My cousin lives here it’s amazing we visit them all the time and go to the pub

[@samsansalone]

Awesome! Which area of Virginia Beach?

[@electricedge4383]

Sandbridge road

[@emmie3028]

Thank you for sharing great info! :D Con: Huuuge Bugs! and lots of them... :( We moved in to VB a few month ago from California, and extremely scared of those bugs!

[@samsansalone]

Church Girl yes! This bugs are crazy! The Palmetto bugs are the worst! Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed it! And welcome to the area! If you need any specific tips/advice please ask!

[@emmie3028]

@@samsansalone Wow thanks for replying me! Omg yes, I just googled it and that's the bug I'm scared of :( I'm looking forward to your next video, hope you have a wonderful day :)

[@samsansalone]

Church Girl and hope you have an awesome day, too! Next video will be tomorrow! 😃 and if you have any questions, always feel free to ask here or in the video descriptions is my contact info!

[@lkjhb1]

Also during the winter sometimes it gets 70 degrees and when it's 70 degrees in the wintern every indoor public place is boiling.

[@samsansalone]

OMG SO TRUE. This is a great one.

[@Bassplayingboy]

IKEA is in Norfolk. Surfrider is a good local owned seafood restaurant.

[@thehooverteam]

Have a very good friend in the area. He loves it!

[@samsansalone]

The Hoover Team of Keller Williams Realty Hoo-ray! Have you ever been? Thanks for watching, too!

[@thehooverteam]

@@samsansalone Not yet. He keeps trying to get us up there!

[@naran3337]

I went to Virginia Beach last summer and it was absolute paradise

[@samsansalone]

Giovanni Naranjo I'm glad you liked it! Did you stay on the oceanfront?

[@naran3337]

Sam Sansalone Yes, not to mention that there were actual dolphins in the water as well!

[@samsansalone]

Giovanni Naranjo not everyone can say they had that part of the experience! That's awesome!

[@naran3337]

Sam Sansalone yep I’ll try to go for the next summer great video btw

[@samsansalone]

@@naran3337 thank you very much!! Glad you're coming back next summer!

[@ncavefan]

margie and rays is a great seafood restaurant in the back bay area

[@reagansecrist902]

I lived in Virginia Beach all my life and some things are bad like heat in the summer but I love it Also I lived by the jets and I liked the noise

[@samsansalone]

Rey Vlogs I love it too! Never lived directly under the jets, but the noise is quite nostalgic to me nonetheless!

[@theItalianshamrock]

What parts of the area are best to live and affordable?

[@samsansalone]

@@theItalianshamrock Hi! Thanks for reaching out and for watching! Hope you enjoyed the video. The answers to your questions have some nuance. Virginia Beach is so large and many areas are optimal depending on the type of lifestyle you enjoy/where you work, etc. In terms of real estate, the Oceanfront/Northeast Virginia Beach is typically some of the higher-priced areas in the city. The Southeast also has some higher priced areas, heading towards the more rural parts of town. The farther Northwest you go (closer to Norfolk) the prices generally reduce. It's known in the city (and surrounding cities) that the values can sometimes be altered significantly within very short distances based on a myriad of reasons. Feel free to respond here if you'd like, or you can also email/call/text/FB message me, too, if any of those are more preferable way for you to ask any questions. I try to respond as quickly as humanly possible! My contact info is in my pinned comment at the top!

[@damingdaan264]

YAH,,,I like the noise of FREEDOM from NAS OCEANA,,,

[@phukyew14]

Accurate 👌🏼

[@damingdaan264]

I love tha NOISE OF FREEDOM from the JETS in NAS OCEANA,,,I leave in SOUTHER BLVD near north east runway of NAS OCEANA,,I proud my self that I saw everday that the JET land and fying over my house,,,

[@samsansalone]

daming daan ha! This is awesome! Thanks for the comment, from a true local!

[@damingdaan264]

SAM SANSALONE,,thanks sir,,

[@dragonson72]

Con, This has to do with traffic but locals know to stay off the interstates between 2pm and 5:30 pm weekdays, take back roads, the back roads may seem longer but during this time frame, no. A Pro is the rec centers they have for locals, swimming, exercise fun things for teens and kids

[@samsansalone]

adam perkins these are some more good ones. Yeah, VB's public rec centers are outstanding! So many, too. The new one on Kempsville is great! Also a good point about traffic. I personally don't take back roads that early in the day, but I definitely do as I get closer to 4 or 5:00. Though I still find myself caught in interstate traffic frequently (some habits die hard)

[@marym3118]

I love Caribe Shack!

[@samsansalone]

Mary M ah! You've been there! What's your favorite dish?! 😃

[@peytonmeiggs945]

Favorite restaurant is zekes!

[@samsansalone]

LOVE Zeke's!!! Great one, thanks for mentioning it.

[@Grey_Shard]

i left in '83. i couldn't remember a lot of positives. was curious what might have changed since then.

[@TheTrueTy]

I loved your video but I gotta know after living in Baltimore half my life I hope too see people who look like me in VA Beach. Hoping to move out there in the future.

[@samsansalone]

Hey Ty! Thanks for taking the time to watch and I'm glad you enjoyed it. The Baltimore skyline was actually designed by the same group who designed the Norfolk skyline. Not sure if you've been to Norfolk before, but both skylines look quite similar to me, though Baltimore's is bigger. Anyway, Va Beach is also a great spot and diverse. If you ever have questions about it feel free to reach out. [e-mail]

[@williamharmon6854]

Only you look like you. Do you mean other black people ? I'm from Annapolis Maryland 25 min from Baltimore. It's gorgeous in Annapolis, severna park, Arnold. Baltimore county is ok the city....stay away.

[@cailiebetz8490]

What are the winters like?

[@HarryMoore]

I visit my uncle in VA Beach most summers. The jets are REALLY loud!

[@samsansalone]

Harry Moore it's hard to explain until you experience it, right?

[@HarryMoore]

Yes! Although I did notice they seemed less frequent last summer when I was there.

[@andersonbragaoficial35]

Well that’s great information! What about music? it’s easy to build a career ?

[@samsansalone]

Thanks for the question! While there are quite a few artists who are from this general area (Missy Elliott, Clipse/Pusha T, NERD, Pharrell/The Neptunes, Timbaland, Teddy Riley, etc), I'm not personally aware of how easy or difficult it would be to build a career here now.

[@andersonbragaoficial35]

Sam Sansalone I used to live in Vegas but now I’m in Brazil I have a experience in music business and a friend of mine who lives in Virginia Beach told me that is a quite good area to start! When I return I wanna go and see what is like! Thank u brother! Follow u now!

[@AlexaKissLive]

Do you think that… If given the right location do you think you could possibly transport around town in a scooter/motorcycle safely?

[@samsansalone]

Alexa Kiss great question - I think scooter would depend on where/how far the commute would be. Motorcycles are all over the place, plenty of people drive them so I think that would be fine. Only thing to keep in mind is the many 2-lane country roads with plenty of bends. Some have ditches that you have to be a little careful around, but again it’s pretty common for motorcycle owners to live all through the area.

[@MB-fr6gu]

New subscriber! Thank you for your video, what is the best place.. close to beach .. university.. affordable and good for family .. By the way is the beach water worm in summer like Florida or cold like California

[@samsansalone]

Hi Maria! Thanks for subscribing! I got notified of your comment but it wasn't showing up in the comments. But I figured out what happened! There is so much I can tell you. Are you looking for an area close to a specific school? Or are you targeting going to a specific school? Or are sending kids to a school? Part of my advice would depend on if you're looking at one specific university/school. Also, as far as the water - it actually stays cool for a while in the spring until normally June-ish. You'll get warm water for 2-3 months, until it starts cooling a bit as the fall sets in. So a bit of both, I'd say? You can ask me questions here, or please contact me any way that's helpful! My email is [e-mail] or you can contact me any other way - I've listed the ways in the pinned comment at the top of this video (or any video)! Thanks for subscribing, too!

[@gerryburlage9849]

@@samsansalone The ocean water is warm enough to swim from June to early September. The bay is also warm during these months but sometimes has jellyfish which can sting. No jellyfish in ocean. The ocean also occasionally has waves where you can body surf or surf..

[@samsansalone]

@@gerryburlage9849 Yes! This is perfect. Thank you! I've never gotten stung by a jellyfish yet, but have you?

[@gerryburlage9849]

@@samsansalone Yes, I was stung 2 or 3 times as a kid in the 60's. Not sure if they're as bad as they were back then but a sting feels as bad as a bee sting but over a wider area. As mentioned the ocean water is usually too choppy for them.

[@cailiebetz8490]

And what are the job prospects?

[@danielmackowiak1606]

Pro: the weather is overall pretty good Con: parking ticket prices. My cousin had to pay 160 dollars

[@samsansalone]

Daniel Mackowiak I got hit with one of those tickets, too!

[@surfside16]

What are the safe neighborhoods that don't experience jet noise in the Hampton Roads area? Do you have any Californians relocating to VA Beach and the surrounding areas?

[@samsansalone]

Hey! Thanks for asking - first of all there are plenty of Californians who move here, often because of the military (San Diego). And also, there are a ton of neighborhoods that aren't in the same line as the jets - only a specific few areas are really affected by the noise. Otherwise, in most of the city you'd forget that the Ocean base is in Va Beach in the first place!

[@gwendolynbleu1454]

Hi 👋 I’m in Los Angeles thinking of Moving to Virginia Beach 🏖 Any info? No kids late 30s just want to relax!! Thanks 😊

[@jonahtrott4434]

The jets are LOUD

[@nicholasburgess1998]

What are people like with foreigners(from England) are they friendly/secluded? And are nights out/ clubbing big in this part of the US?

[@MeadeSkeltonMusic]

Virginia Beach is very family friendly and relaxed. It's not a big party city . I don't know about clubbing, but it has the 700 Club and Regent University.

[@rjlovett160]

Captain George has the best seafood

[@samsansalone]

rj lovett a staple of Va Beach!!! Thanks for watching!

[@gymnastgoddess2729]

i’m coming here next week and i probably can’t swim in the ocean because it is cold but my hotel has a indoor pool😂

[@samsansalone]

gymnast goddess alriiight! Welcome to the area! Been here before?

[@JonDeLeon]

Have a question....is it true that the kids can go to any school they want if is is out of the school zone area as long as you take them their

[@saltysnowflake5832]

It depends. The high schools have specific “academies” that you have to apply for, however if you get in you can go to any of those schools for that academy (Kempsville for business, law at First Colonial, STEM at Landstown, etc). The only high schools you can’t do this with are Kellam and Green Run I believe.

[@JonDeLeon]

Danny Love My daughter wants to know what HIgh Schools for girls sports are the best in the area if not the state

[@samsansalone]

**New videos every WEDNESDAY! Subscribe here:** bit.ly/2E9sdhY **Have fun searching for homes on my website:** www.samsansalone.com **You can also follow me here:** **Facebook:** facebook.com/samsansalonere **Instagram:** instagram.com/samsansalone (But please don't follow me in the dark)

[@nicolesbanks7742]

Thanks for the video.. my husband got a job offer there but we just moved to Atlanta beach fl in June 😩😩 I want to stay here but he said it’s more money to make there in his field

[@samsansalone]

Wow! Quick move! Do you mean Atlantic Beach, near Jacksonville and the military base? Sorry to hear you have to make moving decisions again so quickly!

[@nicolesbanks7742]

Sam Sansalone yes to both and I know I am really enjoying the weather here 😩😩

[@samsansalone]

@@nicolesbanks7742 I don't blame you! You headed near the beach or is it more inland?

[@nicolesbanks7742]

Sam Sansalone we have no idea yet but whichever one is safer lol

[@samsansalone]

Nicole Banks I hear you, there are plenty of areas to choose from. If you need any guidance feel free to contact me - email, phone, FB whatever works

[@openskies7230]

I am thinking of moving from Boston to Virginia Beach. I am not looking for night life or anything like that. My only concern is safety and weather.

[@samsansalone]

Boston! One of my favorite cities, though I still have an affinity with Virginia! Have you been here before? Not sure what type of weather you're comfortable with (though I'm pretty familiar with Boston weather). As far as VB, we definitely experience all 4 seasons, though the length of time we experience each season varies. For instance, winters normally bottom out with lows in the low 30's, but every once in a while we'll get a cold blast that pushes us in the 20's or teens, but typically that doesn't last too long. In terms of snow/ice, we've recently been getting 1-2 snow storms a year, but "storm" is relative. We aren't known for having a ton of snow, which results in many locals not knowing how to drive in snow (another con), so business/schools close sometimes with even the expectation of a significant snow. This past year we didn't have any snow at all, so it really is random, but we rarely ever get a storm that's greater than a few inches and that's very uncommon. But we're usually in the 30's-40's in the Jan/Feb months. And then again we sometimes have random spurts of warm weather up to the 50's-70's in that same time frame. So it really can be all over the place within that 30-40 degrees in the winter. As far as summer we do get a lot of humidity, mainly in the June-August months, so summers can get hot/muggy. But right now we're right in the middle of Spring, where our highs are in the high 70's-low 80's and this will last for probably another 2-3 weeks before the heat starts rolling in. This and fall are my favorites times of year here weather-wise! And in the fall as the temps dip into the 50's and 60's I love taking the hour trip north to Williamsburg to watch the leaves change. As far as safety, that's also a bit relative but I can definitely say that a good portion of Virginia Beach has pretty low crime. There are always the spots that aren't, like any city. But a great deal of the city (and Chesapeake, right near VB) are very family-oriented, which leads to many lower-crime communities. If you ever have questions I can answer specifically for you, please reach out anytime! My email, phone, website are in the pinned comment. I enjoy answering questions and giving help to people who are learning more about moving here!

[@storieswithori]

Sold

[@wealth1ness]

How is the hiking around there?

[@samsansalone]

There are some spots directly in Virginia Beach for short hikes, such as First Landing State Park, for instance. Also, there are some options in the southeastern portion of the state, too. There are longer hike options closer to the Great Dismal Swamp, though that's in Chesapeake, about 35 minutes away from many parts of VB.

[@phinehasfreeman3051]

I'm gonna move to Virginia Beach at the end of this year... alone for a while. Can I SURVIVE without own my car? I think a bicycle is the best for me. What do you guys think about living with just a bicycle in Virginia Beach?

[@samsansalone]

김주동 great question! To be honest it might be difficult to do that while living in Virginia Beach. It might depend on a) where you will work in coordination with b) where you'll live. The city has a large land mass and while biking is possible on most roads in the area, it's a large area to cover if you have to travel across most of it every day. So it would definitely depend on your living/work/leisure situation while you're here. Have you decided on where you'd live/work yet?

[@phinehasfreeman3051]

​@@samsansalone Wow! Thanks for your super quick response! The company is decided but the location isn't fixed yet, because they're gonna move the HQ office to somewhere around Virginia Beach. Can I ask something more when I need to? :D Thanks!

[@samsansalone]

김주동 Absolutely! Anytime! Depending on where they move it around the VB area will be very dependent on what I would recommend. You can message me here or call/text [phone] or email [e-mail]. The rest of my contacts (Facebook, Instagram, etc) should be in the description!

[@mackyronni]

Honestly you’re gonna need a car. It’s not a sense city in the sense that New York is with blocks of streets it’s very very spread out and nothing is really next to anything else

[@samsansalone]

@@mackyronni I agree. I left them a caveat of the possibility of their job being close to an area that has everything they need. But definitely for 97% of the city I agree 100% of the time, haha. And the roads are windy, which makes it more complicated - I wish that wasn't the case.

[@mariaali114.]

I’m moving there just to save money honestly.. hopefully it’s good place

[@samsansalone]

Maria Ali I love it! (maybe I'm biased 😃) let me know if you have any questions that I can answer about moving to the area!

[@lkjhb1]

You coming from NYC? Lol

[@bigdaddympd]

We lived in Nashville for 5 years before moving to Virginia Beach. Traffic here is nothing.

[@samsansalone]

Interesting you say that - I'll be talking about VB's perception of traffic in a video coming up! I've been to Nashville several times and it does seem that their traffic is definitely worse.

[@dragonson72]

First year of living in VB" The jet noise is terrible" a year after that " What noise, oh you mean the jets, what jets"

[@samsansalone]

adam perkins 😂😂😂

[@Kristof_Lazaar]

Is Virginia Beach 2nd amendment friendly? Fishing and hunting available?

[@samsansalone]

Hey David! According to my most recent research Virginia is a state that allows open carry without a permit, if that's sort of what you're asking. Fishing is one of the top features VB has to offer - plenty of fishing! Hunting is more prevalent in areas around VB (Chespeake/Suffolk, for example) and those are about 20-45 min depending on where in VB you live. Smithfield is another area, which is closer to an hour.

[@Kristof_Lazaar]

@@samsansalone Thank you

[@lkjhb1]

Yep of course It's the third most conservative city in the country....

[@eddiesmith8307]

hows about an informative video of neighborhoods with properties that MIDDLE class (us poor folks) can afford??

[@ericbressman9547]

I love heat but fuck our humidity we got

[@samsansalone]

+Eric Bressman our humidity is rough for sure!

[@ianchase8758]

Seafood in Virginia Beach is NOT something to brag about. Want good seafood close, go to the Eastern Shore

[@suaveclt]

What about bugs?

[@samsansalone]

Mosquitos are the big one! It's a common issue all across the area, especially near water (or standing water). They bite me a lot so have to be prepared. Screened-in porches are the best!!

[@kerrylyndsay902]

Terrific video! Just wanted to add: pro--we're a pretty hip, open-minded city; con--our population is transient; hence, a cross-border criminal element. Human trafficking is an issue.

[@samsansalone]

Kerry Hofheimer thanks for watching!! Interesting, thoughtful pros/cons, too!

[@dragonson72]

Polokes Chicken is the best chicken on the planet, Glorias Bakery has the best Pizza Beard

[@rodrigoloru]

Moving there in two weeks, I didn't find Polokes in Google. Where is it located?

[@dragonson72]

@Rodrigo Lopez Rueda, , my spell check crashed Pollards Chicken, On is at Woods Corner shopping center but the original is at the London Bridge shopping center, they do huge catering orders. The fried Okra is great, my son love the mac and cheese. The cook has been at this location at least 40 years, knew the founders he will always come out from the back to say hi and ask if everything was good, this alone makes this a place to go

[@rodrigoloru]

adam perkins thank you for replying! For sure I will be there as soon as I can. 🤤

[@dragonson72]

Enjoy

[@MsTori_boss]

Cons- Minimum wage jobs still at $7.25 an hour, since 2008 - Less hours, employers not giving health benefits You have to work multiple jobs, unless military/healthcare/etc Commonwealth state = more taxes Bridge tolls Outmigration means more people leaving Va Rent is overpriced to a point,, which you have to buy houses Jet noises in Virginia Beach Oceanfront crimes on college weekend news Slow speed limits on oceanfront, especially the beaches Events near Oceanfronts --Certain roads can be closed to traffic

[@samsansalone]

Hey, Tia! Thanks for sending these! I tried to make specific mention also about the jet noise. When you mention the bridge tolls, are you referring to the tolls in Chesapeake/Portsmouth? Or are you referencing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel? Or, is there another toll in Va Beach that I'm not covering? Thanks again for reaching out!

[@MsTori_boss]

@@samsansalone In the 1990s, there used to be tolls towards Rosemont Rd, but they took those out. They brought tolls on downtown, Midtown, Jordan Bridge, Chesapeake Bay (Delaware, Maryland, and Atlantic City faster router). Only plus part of Virginia Beach is parking is cheaper after 5pm on the beach. Parking garages can cost over 7 bucks, because time goes by fast. There are too many houses for sale in Virginia Beach. More people want to move out.

[@samsansalone]

@@MsTori_boss I remember those tolls you're talking about! You're referring to Route 44, correct, what is now known as I-264? I do disagree with more people wanting to move out, though. Just about every year in the past 10 the population of the city has increased, though I do agree that the parking at the beach can be frustratingly high and the evenings do help, just like you said. Sounds like you might have had some tougher experiences in Va Beach - if so am sorry to hear that! Do you live in Virginia Beach currently?

[@MsTori_boss]

@@samsansalone Yes, I live in Virginia Beach. I-264 E what I was referring towards Rosemont Rd. I'm glad they got rid of those tolls. Tolls were dirt cheap back then. Now you need a EZpass. Pay by the plate adds up fast.

[@mrshowtime991]

Food is ok, nothing to brag about

[@samsansalone]

Sha Zulu aka Brooklyn Brawler I guess it could depend on personal experience. Do you live in Va Beach?

[@njaneardude]

Great vid. Not biased and good points. Another con, unless you live close to the ocean the public schools are ruled by punk kids. Just my .02. Here's a food tip: Beach Pub softshell crabs Benedict and grits 😋

[@samsansalone]

Hey! Thanks for watching and the $0.02 😃 - really love the feedback. I've actually never been to Beach Pub, sounds like a dish my wife might like. Thanks for the tip! Do you live in the area?

[@larrymee1484]

Real estate agent doing a Pro/Con video in the state of which he is a real estate agent is basically equivalent to going to Wikipedia for reliable accurate information LMAO

[@samsansalone]

Ha! Well first, thanks for watching anyway and also, why do you say that?

[@camcaethy8837]

Thank you for being polite. We are ex military family we moved around the many places. Virginia Beach is the worst I ever experienced in America. Basics every day services don't exist. Our favorite fast food is Chick-fila . They are so outdated in Virginia Beach and dirty . My wife's sandwich had hair from cleaning brush, when I talked to manger he was not Even surprised he was yea it is the hair from cleaning brush! Seriously! Never apologized white rude off course Christian. That was Larkin road location. Going to shop at the mall, Pembroke mall is dead out of business. The flea market in Florida looks better than Pembroke mall. Lynheaven mall worst customer service. They don't even know what is customer service. Going to Wal-Mart, same trash I had to call regional office in NC to get them act like normal humans. Cost of living is so over priced. I haven't met one person who likes Virginia Beach. Only people are tolerance people never been anywhere else.

[@nira9114]

Cons#1: 🚌public transportation,,you will wait 2 hours⏳ per each route....they arrive whenever....always break down..etc🙄.....good luck keeping a job,,,,,uh that low paying job at that😒which is #2 Con: low wage paying jobs....#3 Con; insane deafening jet noise.....you feel the noise vibrate through your whole damn body....✈️.😖#4 store and clothing style options,,,very few good shopping stores,,mainly KUNTRY🙄style clothing...

[@lkjhb1]

we mostly have chain clothing stores here like JC pennys Macys and Target

[@redastrachan8978]

1) Drivers *REFUSE* to signal. 2) Cyclists *IGNORE* rules.

[@samsansalone]

That's an interesting point! Sometimes turn signals are spotty, now that I think about it!

[@housephone9090]

CAPTAIN GEORGES IS THE BEST RESTAURANT IN EXISTANT CHANGE MY FUCKING MIND.

[@lonedolo644]

I grew up by the water basically half my life and I’ve never been there. I feel betrayed😭😭

[@ashtonsanfelice8209]

Forget the crime?

[@samsansalone]

Ashton San felice I mentioned safety in part of the video - I will say that every city has parts of it that have lower and higher crime, though the city as a whole is generally know as being relatively safe, while I know there are certain locales that don't always fit that same criteria.

[@williamcarter665]

What about the gangs aand drug dealers all over the strip!!

[@Jraax]

As soon as you said you were a Real Estate Agent, I shut it off.

[@samsansalone]

Hey Joe! Sorry that was a disappointment! Do you have a belief about all real estate agents that makes you assume that what I might say is wrong? I'm very proud of what I do and what I enjoy doing to help people, so I'd love any feedback that you can offer! Thanks for watching for the first few seconds of the video! Lol, hey you gave the video a shot - that's all I can ask for!

[@peytonmeiggs945]

Cons-tourists

[@indignorhousepublishing4134]

Public transportation sucks here and is a waste of tax dollars.

[@samsansalone]

Public transportation is a toughie. Can be difficult to maneuver around and use it very much. Hope the city can be creative to find new ways to improve the system.

[@jayghost1482]

Virginia Beach now vs. Back then ,being black I wouldnt live there. Good to visit, but the hatred in the heart of a white person there now is 20x worse. A lot of seasoned gentiles and heathens who teach the young the ways theyve been taught. VB is a beautiful place with the a lot of the wrong type of people in it that make it disgusting.

[@samsansalone]

Jay Tookie thanks for your comment! I'm deeply sorry to hear that you've had that experience. Did you ever live in the area?

[@jayghost1482]

Lived up and down the city from elementary school to a lil bit of high school lived in all the so called good areas too.

[@jayghost1482]

@@rogerbpugh2293 That was my experience, I wouldn't let anyone deter me from going anywhere I wanted to go. Cause Yah gave me working legs and feet to do so and so shall I do! I've never been racist my entire life despite what I've gone through living there. I'd say if you do end up moving there have some tough skin!