Hubby just got his new orders so in November we'll be moving. We dont have any kids yet. I've been looking online for apartments (dont want military housing) but came across different areas. My question is, what areas are considered the bad neighborhoods? I want to feel safe when Scott has to go away.

do you want to live only in virginia beach or are you considering the surrounding areas also?

Surrounding areas are okay. Dont want to be too far from the base.

I live about 20 miles from the base here and I hate it since the commissary is so far away.

Is he gonna be stationed in Norfolk or one of the surrounding bases?? There are quite a few bases in this area. As for strictly va beach, the only "bad" neighbor hoods I can think of off the top of my head is Green Run.

He will be at Norfolk. I was worried about the high crime rates. An apartment review website showed that some people had their houses broken into more then once. Also said that Va Beach is a horriable area. Like San Diego I know there are some areas that are nice and some that are run down.

I am from the area. Deep creek in Chesapeake. We lied in Va Beach for a while after we were married. It was good but it has gotten very crowded over the years. The same with Chesapeake. it is one of the reasons my parents moved across the state line to Moyock, NC. I have other family members who moved into Suffolk because how fast Hampton Roads is growing. We are moving back to Va from Great Lakes in a month or so and we are getting into Yorktown housing. The commute is about the same just coming from a different direction. My DH will also be deployed most of the time so we don't have to worry as much about gas prices and traffic. He just got a new motorcycle in Bahrain so that should help.

Virginia Beach is actually one of the safest cities in the area in my opinion, but every area has crime here, its very patchy. I've lived in va beach for over a year and have never had any probs

Like I've said before I've been looking at places on line but there is only so much info they give. I've been looking for those apartment renters books like the ones called "For Rent" "Rentals" ect. They dont offer them on the website for certain areas.

where do you stay at Dot? if you dont mind me asking

where do you stay at Dot? if you dont mind me asking

No I don't mind, I'm in Va Beach close to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area, and not far from Independence Blvd. I've never had any problems. Like I said Va Beach in my opinion is the best area. Portsmouth, Newport News and Hampton are IMO have some of the worst areas. If you want I'll get a apartment book and I can mail it to you just let me know.

http://www.apartmentguide.com/
This may help.

Dot that would be GREAT!!! My husband has a friend that lives there and he's been saying he would send us some stuff and thats been like 3 months ago haha. I'll pm you my address if you'd like. I knew I could ask you girls for some help. THANKS SO MUCH!!

I live in Hampton and LOVE it! I looked EVERYWHERE in VA BEACH, BUT I was not happy! After crossing the tunnel, I found this NICE apartments that my husband and I both loved! Rent's cheaper too! PLUS, I'm able to use the commisary at Langley Air Force Base!

does your apartment complex have a website I can see?

www.rent.com I look at that sometimes... Who knows when I'll be moving down to VA, but that can show you apartments... Good luck!

I live in Hampton and LOVE it! I looked EVERYWHERE in VA BEACH, BUT I was not happy! After crossing the tunnel, I found this NICE apartments that my husband and I both loved! Rent's cheaper too! PLUS, I'm able to use the commisary at Langley Air Force Base!

I agree! I live in Newport News (very close to Hampton) .. I used to live in Virginia beach, but it's very crowded and I like this side of the water better. I use the commisary at Langley AFB also and go there for my doctors appt. too.

Like someone else said every city is patched with good and bad areas but towards the Patrick Henry area in Newport News is NOT a bad area at all. Many married couples from my husband's ship live out here so we have each other too in case we need anything.

Don't trust the pictures on the rent websites~they can be deceiving. Always check it out for yourself because you'll never know if the area's good or bad until you take a drive through it during the day and at night.

I wish I could go there and check things out before I commit to a place before the pcs move.

YES, DO NOT TRUST the pictures!!!! ALSO LOOK at the reviews! We "almost" rented this place because it was everything we wanted; when we saw the complaints it was SCARY!!!!!!!
I CRIED A LOT when we first moved here! I thought for sure I would be miserable because I couldn't find a place tgo live!

hubby and I want to get a place before we get there so we dont look forever and find nothing. I'm one of those people who have to have a plan before doing something big like a move. Does that sound weird?

NO, it doens't sound weird, but I'm soooo glad I came here before we found a place! We stayed in a motel for a while ,but it was sooooo worth it!

My cousin lives close to the air force base. She likes the area, but I don't know where that is, sorry.

We lived in VB for a while too. We hate it down there. Too crowded, too much of a party town, too many sailors, tourist, etc.
We are SO much more content with Newport News. It's less expensive also. Not sure if you heard about the nightmare commutes through the tunnel, but its about the same amount of time coming from Va Beach.
Every town has their bad part but like others have said, check out the neighborhood before you commit to anything. Night time is the best to check out a neighborhood, also look at the type of cars, if they're beat up or have bullet holes or something, that's a bad neighborhood!!! Don't be in a hurry to get into a place, the Navy will hold your stuff in storage until you find a place.
If you chose VB, do NOT live in Emerald Point (will explain if needed). Mariners Cove is not too bad, the management is very shady though.
Cheasapeake has some great neighborhoods...

Good Luck!! If you need more info about the peninsula, theres several of us that live on this side of the water!

i'm just got to virginia beach too. we stayed in a hotel for about 10 days before finding a place. (of course, we were only given like 3 weeks notice before having to be down here too) honestly, i wish we would have stayed longer. we picked the first place we found because we were going crazy, and the dog was bouncing off the walls in the tiny hotel room. it's not too bad, but they have some crazy rules at this apartment complex, and the neighbors said there's a lot of drama that goes on, but for now, it's ok. take your time finding a place though. check out the neighbor hood--drive through it at night...and good luck!

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/

check this website. its a government one so hopefully its good. i haven't taken a look on it yet but i'm sure you can type in a city and it'll give you the rates for homicide, break-ins etc etc