Call John King! (757-270-3994)

facebook
twitter
YouTube
LinkedIn
Instagram
Zillow
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.

Latest Hampton Roads Real Estate Articles

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

Should Military Homeowners Sell or Rent When They PCS?

Keep it as a rental or sell when PCS orders come? Here is the honest math for Hampton Roads. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

October 06, 2026•10 min read

Should Military Homeowners Sell or Rent When They PCS?

Living Near JEB Little Creek: A Chic's Beach Perspective

What is it like to live near JEB Little Creek? A Chic's Beach Navy veteran's honest take on commutes, base noise, beach life, home prices, and where to buy. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

August 05, 2026•9 min read

Living Near JEB Little Creek: A Chic's Beach Perspective

PCS Out of Hampton Roads: A Seller's 90-Day Playbook

A 90-day playbook for Hampton Roads PCS sellers from Navy veteran REALTOR® John King. Day by day, week by week, what to do before your move. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

June 26, 2026•17 min read

PCS Out of Hampton Roads: A Seller's 90-Day Playbook

Hampton Roads Military Buyer's First 90 Days Guide

A 90-day Hampton Roads PCS home buying playbook from a Navy veteran agent: what to do day by day and week by week, from orders in hand to closing on your home. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

June 26, 2026•17 min read

Hampton Roads Military Buyer's First 90 Days Guide

VA Loan Appraisal Guide for Hampton Roads Buyers and Sellers

VA loan appraisal guide for Hampton Roads: why VA appraisals come in low, how Tidewater works, and how buyers and sellers can prepare to keep the deal together. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

June 23, 2026•14 min read

VA Loan Appraisal Guide for Hampton Roads Buyers and Sellers

How to Pick a Military Real Estate Agent in Hampton Roads

How to pick a military real estate agent in Hampton Roads: 10 tests every PCS buyer should run before hiring, from VA loan fluency to base commute knowledge. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

June 22, 2026•13 min read

How to Pick a Military Real Estate Agent in Hampton Roads

Homes Near Norfolk Naval Shipyard | Portsmouth

Homes near Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth: the best neighborhoods for shipyard families, commute times, flood zones, BAH math, and VA loan tips. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

June 07, 2026•12 min read

Homes Near Norfolk Naval Shipyard | Portsmouth

Homes Near JEB Little Creek-Fort Story | Guide

Homes near JEB Little Creek-Fort Story: the best neighborhoods, commute geography, AICUZ noise zones, flood zones, and BAH math from a Navy veteran agent. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

June 07, 2026•17 min read

Homes Near JEB Little Creek-Fort Story | Guide

Sight-Unseen Success: A Navy Family Finds Home in Norfolk

A Navy family bought their first home in Norfolk sight unseen from Chicago. Here is how we did it. From John King, Navy veteran Hampton Roads REALTOR®. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

May 27, 2026•3 min read

Sight-Unseen Success: A Navy Family Finds Home in Norfolk

Senior Military Officers Relocating to Hampton Roads: Alanton

Senior military officers PCSing to Hampton Roads choose Alanton Virginia Beach. Here is why it stands out. From John King, Navy veteran Hampton Roads REALTOR®. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

May 25, 2026•7 min read

Senior Military Officers Relocating to Hampton Roads: Alanton

Homes Near Naval Station Norfolk: Best Neighborhoods & BAH Math

Where sailors actually buy near Naval Station Norfolk: neighborhoods by commute, flood zones, AICUZ, and BAH math — from a Navy veteran REALTOR® with 441 closings. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

May 23, 2026•13 min read

Homes Near Naval Station Norfolk: Best Neighborhoods & BAH Math

Why Military Families Choose Alanton Virginia Beach for PCS

Why military families relocating to Hampton Roads choose Alanton Virginia Beach: location, water access, community, school zoning facts, and commute times to area bases. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

May 23, 2026•10 min read

Why Military Families Choose Alanton Virginia Beach for PCS

PCS to Hampton Roads: Why Military Officers Choose Alanton

PCS to Hampton Roads? Why military officers choose Alanton in Virginia Beach, commute times to NAS Oceana and Little Creek, and how your VA loan works here. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

May 22, 2026•9 min read

PCS to Hampton Roads: Why Military Officers Choose Alanton

How to Buy a Home in Hampton Roads Using Your BAH

How to buy a home in Hampton Roads using your BAH: 2026 rates by rank, real PITI math, what your allowance actually buys, and the trap military buyers avoid. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

May 22, 2026•14 min read

How to Buy a Home in Hampton Roads Using Your BAH

Veteran Real Estate Agent in Hampton Roads

Why a Navy veteran real estate agent matters for your Hampton Roads PCS: 13+ years, 400+ closings, VA loan expertise, and an honest veteran-to-veteran case. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

May 21, 2026•14 min read

Veteran Real Estate Agent in Hampton Roads

Great Neck Virginia Beach | Military PCS Guide

Great Neck Virginia Beach military PCS guide: commutes to every base, VA loan use, BAH tiers, school zones, and timing your move from a Navy veteran agent. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

May 19, 2026•11 min read

Great Neck Virginia Beach | Military PCS Guide

From California to Hampton Roads: A Military Family's Practical Guide

PCS from California to Hampton Roads? A Navy veteran agent breaks down cost of living, BAH, neighborhoods near each base, and what to know before you move. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

May 05, 2026•9 min read

From California to Hampton Roads: A Military Family's Practical Guide

PCS From Florida to Hampton Roads: A Military Family's Practical Guide

PCS from Florida to Hampton Roads? A Navy veteran agent breaks down cost of living, BAH, neighborhoods near each base, and what to know before you move. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

May 05, 2026•10 min read

PCS From Florida to Hampton Roads: A Military Family's Practical Guide

Retiring Military in Hampton Roads: Buy Now or Wait?

Got 20 years in and thinking about Hampton Roads as your forever home? A Navy veteran and local agent on whether retiring military should buy now or wait. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

May 01, 2026•11 min read

Retiring Military in Hampton Roads: Buy Now or Wait?

Private Dock Homes in Alanton Virginia Beach: Buyer Checklist

Buying a home with a private dock in Alanton Virginia Beach? John King walks through the complete pre-offer checklist covering permits, dock inspections, riparian rights, boat lift condition, and what... ...more

Military/PCS Moves

April 28, 2026•7 min read

Private Dock Homes in Alanton Virginia Beach: Buyer Checklist

Selling Your Hampton Roads Home While Deployed: Military Guide

Selling a home during deployment? A Navy veteran and local agent breaks down exactly how to set up a deployed sale that closes cleanly, from POA to communication systems to closing day. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

April 28, 2026•11 min read

Selling Your Hampton Roads Home While Deployed: Military Guide

PCS Selling Timeline: When to List Your Hampton Roads Home | 757King

Got PCS orders and trying to decide when to list your Hampton Roads home? A Navy veteran and local agent breaks down the full timeline, what should happen in each window, and the right time to start t... ...more

Military/PCS Moves

April 28, 2026•9 min read

PCS Selling Timeline: When to List Your Hampton Roads Home | 757King

Sell or Rent Your Hampton Roads Home When You PCS?

Should you sell your Hampton Roads home or rent it out when you PCS? A Navy veteran and local agent walks through the honest math on both paths and when each one actually makes sense. ...more

Military/PCS Moves

April 27, 2026•11 min read

Sell or Rent Your Hampton Roads Home When You PCS?

PCS Orders to Hampton Roads? Make This Call First | 757King

Got PCS orders to Hampton Roads? Most military families make the wrong first move. A Navy veteran agent and a veteran loan officer break down who to call first and why VA loan pre approval beats pre q... ...more

Military/PCS Moves

April 26, 2026•8 min read

PCS Orders to Hampton Roads? Make This Call First | 757King
Back to Home

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.
John King, Virginia Beach REALTOR and U.S. Navy veteran
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.

Ready to talk about your move?

Reading is a good start. A 15-minute conversation with a local agent who has logged 441 closings in Hampton Roads is a better one.

Selling
What is your home worth today?
Get a free, no-pressure home value report built from real Hampton Roads sales — not a Zestimate.
Get My Home Value
Military & PCS
Orders to Hampton Roads?
VA loans, BAH, base commutes, and neighborhoods that work for military families — from a Navy veteran who has done it.
Start My PCS Plan
Buying
Browse every home on the market
Live MLS listings across Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, and Newport News.
Search Homes

Prefer to talk? Call or text John at (757) 270-3994.

Image

441 Closings

Client-side closings across Hampton Roads since 2014.

Image

189 VA-Financed Sales

Direct experience with military and veteran buyers.

Excellence

270 Subdivisions

Experience spread across the whole region.

Copyright 2026 John King | KingRealtor757. All Rights Reserved. Equal Housing Opportunity. REALTOR(R). Virginia License 0225211050.