Call John King! (757-270-3994)

KingRealtor757 · Hampton Roads Knowledge Center

Hampton Roads Real Estate Blog & Local Market Insights

Written by John King, a U.S. Navy veteran and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices RW Towne Realty REALTOR® with 441 closings across Hampton Roads, this library covers what buyers, sellers, and military families actually need to know about real estate in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and the surrounding 757.

Explore more than 200 original Hampton Roads real estate articles covering local neighborhoods, military PCS moves, VA loan strategy, home selling, waterfront property, market trends, and home buying — lessons drawn from more than 13 years of local transactions, not syndicated content.

Every guide is organized by topic below. Start with the cornerstone resources, browse a cluster, or scroll to the newest articles.

Selling a Home Military & PCS Neighborhood Guides Waterfront Real Estate Market Updates Buying a Home VA Loans

Start here

Start with these six cornerstone resources, then explore the supporting guides below.

Market data

Hampton Roads 13-Year Transaction Study

441 closings from 2014 to 2026, broken down by year, city, price band, and financing type.

Military & PCS

Military PCS Guide to Hampton Roads

Bases, BAH, VA loans, commute-based neighborhood picks, and a 90-day plan for buying on orders.

Waterfront

Hampton Roads Waterfront Real Estate Guide

Waterfront neighborhoods, flood zones, pricing, disclosures, and what buyers actually pay for on the water.

Selling

Sell My House in Virginia Beach Guide

Pricing strategy, prep, marketing, and timing for Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads sellers.

Neighborhoods

Virginia Beach & Hampton Roads Neighborhood Guides

Guides to Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake neighborhoods: prices, commutes, flood zones, and fit.

PCS out / relocating

Moving Out of Hampton Roads Guide

How to sell here on a deadline and get a vetted agent at your next duty station.

Latest Hampton Roads Real Estate Articles

New guides and market updates are added every week. Newest first.

Virginia Beach Waterfront Luxury Home Buyer Guide

Virginia Beach waterfront luxury home buyer guide: docks, boat lifts, bulkheads, flood insurance, bridge clearance, and which neighborhoods fit boaters. ...more

Buyer Education

June 20, 2026•15 min read

Virginia Beach Waterfront Luxury Home Buyer Guide

First-Time Buyer's Guide to Chic's Beach

First-time buyer's guide to Chic's Beach Virginia Beach: what homes cost, condos vs. houses, flood insurance, VA and FHA loans, and what to know first. ...more

Neighborhood Guides ,Buyer Education

May 27, 2026•8 min read

First-Time Buyer's Guide to Chic's Beach

Virginia Beach Real Estate Taxes Explained for Homeowners

Everything Virginia Beach homeowners need to know about property taxes: how assessments work, current tax rates vs. Norfolk and Chesapeake, exemptions for seniors and disabled veterans, and how to app... ...more

Buyer Education

May 19, 2026•11 min read

Virginia Beach Real Estate Taxes Explained for Homeowners

How Much House Can I Afford in Virginia Beach? 2026 Numbers

Real Virginia Beach numbers for 2026: what your income buys at today’s rates, how a VA loan changes the math, and closing costs — from a Navy veteran REALTOR®. ...more

Buyer Education

May 14, 2026•5 min read

How Much House Can I Afford in Virginia Beach? 2026 Numbers

How to Win in Multiple Offer Situations in Hampton Roads (2026)

How to win multiple offer situations in Hampton Roads 2026: real strategies from 441 closings including escalation, clean contracts, and timing. ...more

Buyer Education

May 14, 2026•6 min read

Bayfront vs. Bay View vs. Marina: East Beach Norfolk Explained

East Beach Norfolk waterfront homes explained: bayfront, bay view, and marina access compared, with what each costs, what you actually get, and how to choose. ...more

Buyer Education

May 09, 2026•10 min read

Bayfront vs. Bay View vs. Marina: East Beach Norfolk Explained

East Beach Norfolk Flood Zone and Insurance Guide for Buyers

East Beach Norfolk flood zone and insurance guide: VE, AE, and X zones explained, what flood insurance costs, elevation certificates, and what buyers must know. ...more

Buyer Education

May 05, 2026•11 min read

East Beach Norfolk Flood Zone and Insurance Guide for Buyers

Back to Home

Browse by topic

Home Sellers Military / PCS Moves Neighborhood Guides VA Loans Home Buying Buyer Education Market Updates Virginia Beach Real Estate Market Real Estate Tips Community New Listings Meet John

Why these guides are different

Every article here is written by one local agent from his own transaction record, not by a content farm. The numbers below are the basis for the advice.

441

closings

Real Hampton Roads closings since 2014, not national averages.

189

VA-financed sales

Direct experience with military and veteran buyers and sellers.

13+

years in the 757

Market experience across multiple cycles, from 2013 to today.

270

subdivisions

Experience spread across Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, and Newport News.

About the author

John King · REALTOR® · U.S. Navy Veteran

John King is a former Navy Machinist Mate and a licensed Virginia REALTOR® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices RW Towne Realty in Virginia Beach. Licensed since 2013, he has logged 441 closings across Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, and Newport News, and specializes in military PCS relocation, VA loans, and waterfront property. He holds a 5.0 Google rating across 117 reviews and has earned the HRRA Circle of Excellence every year since 2015.

About John King See the transaction study

Common questions about this library

Tap a question to expand it.

What is the Hampton Roads Real Estate Blog?

A library of more than 200 original articles about buying, selling, and relocating in Hampton Roads, Virginia: neighborhood guides for Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake, military PCS and VA loan resources, seller playbooks, waterfront property guides, and market data. It is written by John King, a U.S. Navy veteran and REALTOR® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices RW Towne Realty, from his own 441 closings since 2014.

Which Hampton Roads neighborhoods are closest to each base?

For NAS Oceana, buyers usually look at Red Mill, Strawbridge, and the Great Neck corridor. For Naval Station Norfolk, Ocean View, Willoughby, and East Beach keep the commute short. For JEB Little Creek, Chic's Beach, Ocean Park, Shore Drive, and East Ocean View are the closest options. Each of these has a dedicated neighborhood guide on this blog covering commute, flood zones, and price ranges.

How do VA loans work when buying in Virginia Beach or Norfolk?

Eligible veterans and active-duty service members can buy with no down payment and no private mortgage insurance. Buyers with full entitlement have no VA loan limit, though a VA funding fee applies unless you are exempt. VA appraisals follow Tidewater rules that can affect negotiations, which is why the VA Loan Appraisal Guide above is one of the most-read posts here. Loan terms vary by lender, so confirm specifics with a VA-approved lender.

What is the Hampton Roads real estate market like right now?

Hampton Roads is one of the steadier markets in the Mid-Atlantic because a large permanent military presence keeps demand consistent through PCS season. Conditions still change month to month, so the Market Updates category on this blog tracks days on market, inventory, and pricing for Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake as the numbers move.

Should I buy or rent during a PCS to Hampton Roads?

It depends on tour length, BAH, and how quickly you could resell or rent the home when orders come. On a three-year-plus tour, buying with a VA loan often compares well against renting, but a short tour or an uncertain follow-on assignment can tip the math toward renting. The PCS buyer and seller playbooks above walk through both scenarios day by day.