Chesapeake is one of the fastest growing cities in Virginia’s Tidewater Region. The Census estimates that 240,397 residents called this place home in 2017. It welcomed 2,509 new residents from 2015 to 2016, many of them drawn to the city’s peaceful and family-oriented environment.
It’s also one of the most scenic places in Virginia, with acres upon acres of farmland, wetlands, forests, historic canals, and inland channels. If you love nature, you’ll appreciate the numerous hiking and biking trails that meander through forested wilderness, as the well as the playgrounds and picnic shelters that can be found throughout the city.
As one of the Seven Cities that make up Hampton Roads, Chesapeake was formed from the merging of Norfolk County and the City of South Norfolk in 1963. But its landmarks point to a long and rich history that dates all the way back to 1620.
Once a rural area, the city began developing an efficient network of services, transportation, utilities, and land use planning in the 1960s and 70s, with efforts at economic development following suit in the 80s.
Today, it has a good mix of rural areas and urban centers, providing its citizens with remarkable schools and cultural and recreational facilities. It has retained its small-town atmosphere despite making great strides in the last few decades.
Spanning 353 miles, it is Virginia’s second largest city in terms of land area and is situated on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, which extends from Maine to Florida.
Real estate in Chesapeake, VA
Population and economic growth continue to drive the demand for real estate in Chesapeake. The city is projected to become the second most populous in the state, surpassing Norfolk with an estimated population of 253,355 in 2020. The arrival of new residents is expected to create more demand for housing. The availability of buildable land makes it ripe for development.
Businesses are also eyeing the city for its talented workforce, telecommunications, transportation infrastructure, and strategic location. In fact, the city is known to have one of the most highly skilled workforces in the nation. As a result, Chesapeake has succeeded in attracting and retaining both new and existing companies, all of which have a strong impact and presence in the community.
Despite the potential for development, however, residents are calling for smart growth, with a focus on land conservation.
Housing inventory remains low – in September 2018, for instance, the inventory was below four months. As a result, homes go under contract much more quickly and are likely to receive multiple offers.
Developers, for their part, are rushing to meet the demand for housing. Several real estate projects are in the pipeline. These include The Manor Homes at Jolliff Landing, a mixed-use development with 361 single-family homes, as well as a luxury community that is set to rise two blocks from the intersection of Executive Boulevard and Volvo Parkway and will house the Dollar Tree headquarters.
Real estate property taxes are assessed on a fiscal year basis and are payable in four installments.
Let my team help you find the perfect houses for sale in Chesapeake VA. Call (757) 481-0441 or send an email to [email protected].
Living in Chesapeake, VA
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North Landing River Natural Area Preserve
The area encompasses 3,000 acres of marshes, swamps, and forested lands situated along the North Landing River. Several species of birds and butterflies can be found here.
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Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
This swamp is recognized as the largest intact remnant of a magnificent habitat that once spanned more than a million acres in Southeast Virginia and Northeast North Carolina.
Today it covers 112,000 acres of forested lands and sparkling lakes. Wild animals, such as river otters, raccoons, red foxes, robins, and woodpeckers call the refuge home.
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Chesapeake City Park
The park’s crowning jewel is the Fun Forest Playground, which features a dolphin tunnel slide, shaky bridge, three-way underground telephone, and more. Other facilities include an outdoor fitness area, a walking trail, and several dog parks.
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Mount Pleasant Farms
Visit the farm for some fruit, berries, milk, dairy, and baked goods. The farm is known for Fall Festival Weekends, a series of fun events that take place in October.