[NoahFL]

Next month, my husband, me and daugther will be taking a trip to Hampton, VA to look at the housing market. My husband is a contractor for the military and the contract he works on is moving to Langley AFB. He was basically told to name his price to move up there. After MUCH thought about it and toying it over for 6+ months, we decided to go for it. The money was just too good to pass up. All of our family lives down here, but we have to do what's best for us, so we're looking at moving between Jan-March of next year. Since Hurricane Ivan, the housing market has dramatically increased, so we're really in a good situation right now.

So.. to make a long story long, we're going next month to look at homes currently in construction. If we can't find one, we'll go back in December and look for an already built home. We're going to take Zeus with us because my inlaws, who normally watch Zeus if we go out of town can't watch him because my FIL just had open heart surgery. The longest Zeus has been in a car is 2 hours,but he's a great passenger. Usually, I would just let him sit in the back seat w/ my daughter, but my husband just recently got me a new Nissan Murano with leather seats (other car had cloth) and I"m a bit concerned with his nails scratching the leather. Is he going to be ok in his crate for 6 hours (2-6 hour days). Of course I"ll be stopping every couple hours so he can go potty and stretch. Also, how are hotels with small dogs?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[NoahFL]

Thanks Ms_P! I've looked at Realtor.com and LongandFoster.com. I'll check out Century21 as well. I wasn't as shocked as I thought I'd be. We've done some prelimary research on the area and from what I understand, the Hampton/Newport News area is much less then the Alexandria area which many people relate VA cost of living to. Is that correct? Florida has no state income tax and VA's is 6%? I"m not looking forward to that. Hrmm... can't I just buy a lot in Florida and keep my FL residency?? lol I found some houses we like that are in our price range. Fortunately, we bought our home in FL in 1997 and the value of the home has appreciated 100% from the original cost of the house when we built it. Between the appreciation and the equity we have in the home, we'll be able to move into a larger house for the same amount of money we're paying in a mortgage currently. The houses in that area are absolutely beautiful and I love the vegetation. I'm about 2 miles from the beach, so trees are a rarity here and all homes are generally a 1-story. I've always been fond of Colonial homes. I'm actually looking forward to see all 4 seasons. This morning, I took Zeus out and it was 65 degrees. I came into the house and said to my husband "Wow, it's freezing outside." and he just laughed and said "This is nothing, wait until you experience a winter in VA." My husband was raised in Baltimore. I'm actually looking forward to seeing snow. I've never even driven in snow. I'm sure that will be an experience. I'm going to need a whole new wardrobe when I move. All I own is shorts/short sleeve shirts/a couple nice slacks and a light jacket. LOL

Thanks again for the advice. Any information you have about that area would be greatly appreciated. Good idea about the blanket and seat. I'll get a thick enough one that his nail can't penetrate it.

Thanks again, Rebecca

 

[NoahFL]

Thanks all for the great advice. This move sounds like an adventure, but it's also quite stressful. Virginia is about 12 hours from family. Right now, family is about 45 mins (my parents and my husbands). I'll have to buy Zeus a sweater before we go up there next month for a visit. I never really had to buy Zeus sweaters. He had one when he was a baby because it was in the 60s and he was so tiny. I'll keep you all posted and if anyone has anymore advice, I welcome it.

Moving with 4 cats, ferret, and 1 dog. My parents will be bringing the 2nd dog ( 8 year old beagle/walkerhound) when they come to visit the first time because she spends a lot of time w/ my parents currently and moving everyone at once I think would stress her out and my parents won't keep her permanently.