Portsmouth, Virginia

Buying a home in Portsmouth will put you at the heart of a city that is more than 250 years old. Named after a prominent English town, the area that would become Portsmouth grew up around the shipbuilding industry. This was inevitable because Portsmouth features a natural harbor on the James and Elizabeth rivers which empty into Chesapeake Bay. Shipbuilding and shipping have remained a central part of city life with the presence of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (located in Portsmouth despite its name) which builds and repairs the Navy's ships.

$500,000 - Up

A quarter of the city's area comprises water, making it a great place to buy a waterfront home. Portsmouth, like many of the cities in the Hampton Roads area (the others are Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Norfolk, Hampton and Newport News), has a mild climate enabling residents to spend much of the year outdoors.

Portsmouth Attractions

As a Portsmouth homebuyer you can enjoy the many delights of the Hampton Roads area which attracts millions of visitors each year. One of the key areas of Portsmouth is the Olde Towne business and historical district which has been preserved and redeveloped. It includes the Hawthorn Hotel & Suites at The Governor Dinwiddie Hotel, the Pass House and many other historically significant buildings. There are also lots of water-based attractions, such as cruises, as well as golf and other sporting activities. Downtown offers a great mix of shopping centers, community facilities, restaurants and residential areas.

Kudos for Portsmouth

Portsmouth is a bustling part of an area that has won kudos for being a great place to live, being family friendly and being a great place to do business. It was recently named a Coast Guard city for over 200 years of supporting that institution. Within easy reach of the city there are appealing cultural venues offering symphony, opera, theatre and a range of museums and as well as a wide range of sports and entertainment facilities. It is no wonder that homes in Portsmouth VA are so popular.

Jobs in Portsmouth

The military is a major employer in the Hampton roads area. There are several military bases including those in Virginia Beach (Oceana), Hampton (Langley), Newport News (Fort Eustis), and Norfolk (Little Creek and NOB). Other bases include Fort Story and Fort Monroe. Other opportunities also exist in the maritime sector, logistics, health, food and beverage, retail and professional services.

Homes for sale in Portsmouth

If you're looking for homes for sale in Portsmouth, you've got a wide range to choose from. There are plenty of waterfront homes, as well as single-family homes, condos, townhouses, co-ops, apartments, lofts, farms/ranches, multi-family homes and vacant land. A detached single-family home will start from around $175,000. There are multiple communities within the city, each with distinct characteristics. In the charming Historic District one can find the Olde Towne, Cradock, Port Norfolk and Truxton neighbourhoods. Downtown Portsmouth offers a fashionable vibe with neighbourhoods like Park View, Swimming Point, and Westbury Place. The Midtown neighbourhoods range from practical to posh and include Glenshellah, Waterview, Mount Hermon, and Westhaven. Lastly, the Victory community is made up of the Simonsdale, Kings Gate Crossing, Green Lakes, Crystal Lake Estates and Cavalier Manor neighbourhoods.