Virginia Real Estate

Meet Our Agents

With 50+ years of combined experience, our agents are top producers who work with clients across different counties, states, and time zones – but somehow never miss a beat.

Because real estate never sleeps, so why should we? We keep the ball rolling 24/7. Get ready to discover the GenStone difference.

Lifestyle

“Virginia is for Lovers” – the state’s official tourism and travel slogan – definitely fits Virginia perfectly, as there’s simply so much to love about living here. From its picturesque beaches, mountains, and parks, to its fascinating historic sites, cultural venues, delicious cuisine, world-class wines, and a whole lot more, there’s a near-endless variety of destinations to explore, activities to enjoy, and experiences to savor when you’re living in Virginia.

Virginia’s stunning natural landscape

Nestled in the scenic Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions, Virginia is a state that has inspired countless visitors and residents with its breathtaking natural beauty. Known as “Old Dominion,” the state extends from the soaring Appalachian Mountains all the way to its long coastline where Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic.

In addition to its mountains and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia also features four major rivers flowing towards Chesapeake Bay: James River, Rappahannock River, the Potomac-Shenandoah River, and York River. Right between these four rivers is an extensive network of other smaller rivers, a unique feature that largely contributes to the state’s awe-inspiring natural beauty.

Virginia’s history at a glance

• In its earliest days, the area now occupied by present-day Virginia was home to several tribes belonging to the Algonquain, Iroquoian, and Siouan Native Americans.
• During the late 16th century, the area was named “Virginia” by Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Walter Raleigh, in honor of the Virgin Queen.
• Virginia’s first permanent English settlement was founded by John Smith and a group of colonists in 1607. Among these colonists was John Rolfe, who married Pocahontas in 1614.
• Although the English homeland was quite a distance away from Virginia, the establishment of a colony in the area was done purely for economic reasons. The early settlers however, discovered a harsh environment that was ill-suited for cultivating crops. After forging a friendly relationship with the local natives, the colonists found success with harvesting Spanish tobacco.
• As the site of the first permanent English settlement, Virginia came to be known as “the birthplace of a nation.” The state is also known as the “Mother of Presidents,” as eight Virginia-born residents went on to be elected into the highest office in the nation.
• Virginia’s independence from the British Empire was declared by the Virginia Conventions on May 15, 1776. The Convention adopted the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which was eventually included in a new constitution.
• During the American Revolutionary War, Virginia’s capital was moved to Richmond upon the request of Governor Thomas Jefferson, who saw Williamsburg’s coastal location as a site vulnerable to British invasion.
• In 1781, the combined might of the Continental Army and French naval and land forces surrounded the British on the Virginia Peninsula, leading to a decisive victory for George Washington, Comte de Rochambeau, and their troops over British General Charles Cornwallis. This event came to be known as the “Siege of Yorktown.”
• Two battlefields in Virginia played a significant part in US history as the site of surrenders which ended wars: Appomattox for the Civil War and Yorktown for the Revolutionary War.
• The invention of the tobacco cigarette rolling machine by James Albert Bonsack paved the way to new industrial scale production in Richmond, contributing largely to the Commonwealth’s economy in the late 1800s.

Living in Virginia

Whether you’re a nature lover, a history buff, a young professional, or a retiree, you can look forward to a high quality of life in Virginia. Here are some of the most important things you should know about Old Dominion:

Cost of living

While both the standard of living and the cost of living in Virginia is relatively high compared to most states, taxes here are fairly low. State tax rates range from 2% to 5.75%, with the higher rate applying to individuals with a taxable income exceeding $17,000.

Property tax rates in Virginia also fall below the national average. The rates vary from county to county, and by city in some cases, ranging from around 0.42% to 1.37%.

Employment

Virginia has a vibrant economy supported by various sources of income, including local and federal government, technology, military, and agriculture. There are currently more than 30 Fortune 1000 companies with headquarters based in Virginia.

Virginia is notable for being home to the largest data center market in the country, the third-largest port in the East Coast, and the highest concentration of tech workers in the US. In addition, the state serves key national and international markets from a prime East Coast location, offering both quality and stability for companies and businesses looking to expand.

Climate

Virginia generally has a humid subtropical climate which transitions to a humid continental climate, mostly in areas west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Stream have a significant impact on Virginia’s eastern and southeastern coastal communities, which results in consistent, warmer climate for those areas.

Recorded extremes in temperature and precipitation throughout the state are focused on the Blue Ridge Mountains and its western sections. The state experiences an average of 43 inches of precipitation yearly. Its driest region is the Shenandoah Valley due to its location flanked by mountains on both sides.

Schools

Virginia’s educational system is one of the best in the country, ranking consistently in the top five states in the National Assessment of Educational Progress conducted by the US Department of Education. Public K-12 schools in Virginia are administered by their respective cities and counties, and not by the state.

Virginia is home to several prestigious top-ranking colleges and universities, such as:

• University of Virginia
• College of William & Mary
• Virginia Tech
• George Mason University
• Virginia Commonwealth University</li>

Find your dream home in Virginia today

Ready to start your search for the perfect home in Virginia? Our team of expert realtors at Genstone Realty are ready to help you find an ideal property that matches all of your real estate goals.

Get in touch with me today by calling 833.396.0091, or send an email to info@genstonerealty.com

Highlights

No matter what you’re passionate about, whether it’s shopping and dining, checking out historic sites, spending time in nature, wine tasting, immersing yourself in arts and culture – Virginia has it all. Virginia is for Lovers after all, so you definitely won’t find any shortage of interesting places to visit and fun activities to partake in.

Here are some of the top attractions you can find in Virginia:

Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains are one of the most captivating and iconic pieces of the diverse North American landscape. Here, you’ll find attractions like the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail, known as one of most popular trails in the world.

Take a step back in time by visiting the sites where battles were fought. Virginia’s National Battlefield Parks offer a unique insight into not just the history of the state, but the history of the entire country as well.

Virginia locals and visitors look forward to a stellar lineup of unforgettable events every year. One of the state’s most popular festivals is Virginia Beach’s Neptune Festival, which attracts crowds as large as 500,000 every year. From the months of May through September, the Neptune Festival produces more than 40 individual events that include everything from concerts, athletic competitions, sand sculpting contests, oceanfront wine tastings, boardwalk celebrations, firework displays, and many more!

Looking forward to a relaxing day at the beach? Virginia’s prime location along Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic means there’s a vast stretch of coastline where you can sit back, relax, and soak in the sun. There’s the serene coastal community of Sandbridge Beach, Virginia Beach where you can also indulge in some of the finest seafood dishes in the world, and First Landing State Park, home to numerous amenities including hiking trails, campsites, boat ramps, and more.

The Virginia Arts Festival showcases the work of talented artists across nine Virginia cities. Started in 1997, the festival has invited some of the top artists in the world, attracting countless travelers to the Commonwealth of Virginia every year.