[Yacht Rock]

Hello Everyone,

My family and I are moving from Northern California to the Lynchburg area and are looking for some advice on the best areas to live and the areas where we may not want to live.

We are looking to move next summer in June, July, or August.

We have two children, 2 and 8 and are looking to send our daughter to Liberty Christian Academy.

Any thoughts, suggestions, or advice?

Thanks!

[Purple Haize]

Look out to 460 East towards Appomattox and Concord. It will seem like a long way but I can make it to the Mountain in about 15 minutes. Try that anywhere else in the city! Oh, low property taxes and no traffic

[BJWilliams]

Haize is right on the ease of travel on 460 from Appomattox. Its also a beautiful area out there and you can give the kids quite a history lesson to boot

[Purple Haize]

Haize is right on the ease of travel on 460 from Appomattox. Its also a beautiful area out there and you can give the kids quite a history lesson to boot

Those are nice things to say. I take back 1 bad comment I ever said about you

You will probably be directed to the Forest area. That too is nice but the schools are over crowded and taxes are 2xs as much. Of course, from where you are moving from you will laugh at the low property taxes anywhere around here!

[UVALibertyFan]

I would also look into the New London area of Forest. Some very nice houses in that area and a quick drive to LCA on the bypass.

[lynchburgwildcats]

As everyone else has said, get out in the counties. Definitely do not live in the city unless you hate longer commutes to work, assuming you are probably working in the city.

[rogers3]

Haize is right on the ease of travel on 460 from Appomattox. Its also a beautiful area out there and you can give the kids quite a history lesson to boot

Those are nice things to say. I take back 1 bad comment I ever said about you

You will probably be directed to the Forest area. That too is nice but the schools are over crowded and taxes are 2xs as much. Of course, from where you are moving from you will laugh at the low property taxes anywhere around here!

Boonsboro, where BJ and his ilk tend to congregate. He's actually lobbying for a Trader Joe's out there, as well.

Seriously- PM badger74- he has good advice.

[Yacht Rock]

Thanks everyone for the great advice!

I actually will be working from home so commute for me to work will not be an issue. My wife will likely be finding a job somewhere in the city while she "regrows" her photography business that she currently has out here in California and we are trying to send the kids to the Liberty Christian Academy.

Likely when we first move we will move into a nice apartment and then look for a home since we have never been out to Lynchburg before.

Anyone know of apartment homes they would be willing to recommend that would make a family with two younglings feel safe? Although from California, we currently live in a quiet rural peaceful area.

Thanks again! We look forward to heading out there!

[Cider Jim]

You will probably be directed to the Forest area.

That's where Mrs. Cider and I live, but just barely inside the city limits. We love it out there, and only a 15-minute communte to LU and LCA.

Generally avoid the downtown area for housing, unless you are looking for a loft apartment, though the downtown restaurants are pretty nice (see Smoothy for details).

[Purple Haize]

You will probably be directed to the Forest area.

That's where Mrs. Cider and I live, but just barely inside the city limits. We love it out there, and only a 15-minute communte to LU and LCA.

Generally avoid the downtown area for housing, unless you are looking for a loft apartment, though the downtown restaurants are pretty nice (see Smoothy for details).

As yu can see the Snobby people choose the Forest area. Out here where we live is nice and rural but close e nought to everything without traffic.

Yes, downtown you should frequent Shoemakers and The Boiler Room.

[Cider Jim]

Actually, when we moved from Timberlake to the Forest area in 1989, we were moving out to the country--route 221 was a country, 2-lane road then. Now, it's 5 lanes with car dealerships everywhere, but I still have a creek and woods behind my house.

[fan00]

http://www.lifeatwillowbrook.com/willowbrook.asp

My parents came to visit for Thanksgiving and commented on how quiet my apartment community was. I really like living here and as a single girl feel completely safe. There are lots of kids around, a pool, a lazy river, a playground, a carwash...I did the apartment hunt about 6 months ago and chose these because of amenities and location. There are other nice ones around, but I can personally recommend Willowbrook. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions. Like I said, I just did the apartment hunt myself not too long ago!

[Purple Haize]

Actually, when we moved from Timberlake to the Forest area in 1989, we were moving out to the country--route 221 was a country, 2-lane road then. Now, it's 5 lanes with car dealerships everywhere, but I still have a creek and woods behind my house.

We lived in Goode when we first were married. It was gorgeous. But didn't want to deal with all the 2 lane traffic and 'traffic jams' to get anywhere. Now we have more land same house and less payments. And I'll see your creek and field and raise you a farm and 65 mph speed limit into town.

[rogers3]

Actually, when we moved from Timberlake to the Forest area in 1989, we were moving out to the country--route 221 was a country, 2-lane road then. Now, it's 5 lanes with car dealerships everywhere, but I still have a creek and woods behind my house.

We lived in Goode when we first were married. It was gorgeous. But didn't want to deal with all the 2 lane traffic and 'traffic jams' to get anywhere. Now we have more land same house and less payments. And I'll see your creek and field and raise you a farm and 65 mph speed limit into town.

If I were to choose rural, it would be Amherst County, hands down. Great highway access and the best mountain scenery in the region.

[Sly Fox]

We have been watching the residential real estate market from a distance for about 5 years. So while I have nowhere near the insight of badger74, I can provide a bit of an outsider's perspective.

I agree completely with the assertion that the city is to be avoided with a couple of rare exceptions on the NW side of town despite there being some ridiculously Inexpensive properties. Taxes and crime are the obvious negative. And frankly you can get anywhere in the area in 20 minutes or less.

If we were to buy today it would probably be in Forest if my wife were choosing and more rural options with water access as my preference. The latter is a better buy these days in Amherst County that is much more accessible to LU/LCA today than it was just a few years ago. But there are great options in Western Appomattox, Campbell & Eastern Bedford counties. Even Altavista is attractive with better access these days.

[JK37]

Quiet and rural is Campbell County as well - Rustburg and Altavista. Probably the most land for your buck going that direction. Anywhere along US-29 to Rt. 24 is less than 15 minutes to LCA's campus, and not much longer if you go a little further south to Altavista.

But if you're close to Rustburg, you will develop a very unique twang in your voice!

[ALUmnus]

You don't want Rustburg, ask LUconn. Not the easiest place to sell your house when the time comes. Something about the name.

Forest, Evington, Concord, Elon, Goode....all have very nice neighborhoods with easy access into Lynchburg. Since you're looking to rent at first, you may want to find a place in the city just to get a feel for the place before you house hunt. If not, a lot of townhomes have been built in the Forest area in the last several years that are pretty well-priced for rent.

[From the class of 09]

Not sure why everyone is anti living in the city. Rivermont and Boonsboro have a lot of pluses. Restaurants in walking distance, blackwater creek trail, original homes etc. If you want the country obviously stick to the county but the city has plenty of positives for those of us that actually like people

[PAmedic]

I can give you 2 guesses:

1. AGE

2. CHILDREN (Y/N)

makes a big difference.

If I was single and 22 I wouldn't be living in BFE either but it's something you transition into when your priorities change. Not that it's a bad thing.

[ALUmnus]

Yeah, when you're single and chasing tail, the city is the place to be. After a while, though, you start to crave freedom and property.

I will say though, that Lynchburg itself has some real nice neighborhoods that I would love to live in. Anything that reminds me of where I grew up really gets my attention, and there are some places in town that I would love to see my kids grow up in.

[LUconn]

I really like campbell county and Rustburg, but yes, it does seem to have some sort of stigma that kills your resale options. People think of it as very far out in the county, because some of it is, but some of it is also within a mile of LU. A lot of people find Appomattox an attractive option because you can get some great prices out there. Same with Amherst. But in all the cases I personally know of, the folks got sick of the drive into Lynchburg pretty fast. I guess it all depends on what kind of drive you're comfortable with. It's not just a commuting to work problem but Lynchburg is basically where stuff is that you need to get to. I guess it all depends on how far out you go, but it's appropriately priced in that regard.

Tell your wife the photography market in this area is very crowded. Lots of housewives with a DSLR wandering around here. But there are a ton of weddings, a ton of newborns, a ton of engagements, etc. to be had. Just gotta find the business before someone else does.

[BJWilliams]

housewives and starving college students flood the photography market here. If she wants to do weddings, the person to talk to is Jennifer Prince with the Hill City Bride blog...most vendors advertise on her site. If you talk to the Campus Pastors Office, you'll pick up a lot of student business as well.

[Yacht Rock]

Wow...go to sleep for a few hours and wake up to see a forum explode. Thanks for all the tips everyone.

We have a similar situation here with the photography market. My wife though has done well and gets most of her business via referrals from previous clients so we understand it will take time to build those relationships in Lynchburg.

We have looked at the Forest area and it does look nice. When we buy, it will definitely be on our list. I agree that when we first move there, we will want to be a little more centrally located.

Here are the apartments and townhomes we are considering.

Willowbrook
Corner of Oakhaven Drive and Cora Lee Road

The Vistas at Dreaming Creek
7612 Timberlake Road

Legacy at Linden Park
1000 Misty Mountain Road

Gables at Cornerstone
203 Capital Street

Wyndhurst Villas
301 Northwynd Circle

Commons at Cornerstone
Rotunda Drive

Liberty Manor
320 Capstone Drive

The last two aren't really on our radar too much due to the fact that they can't send me a floorplan of the property which is a must due to the fact that I work from home and need to be sure that I can comfortably use the home as my office.

If any of you have any thoughts on any of these properties that would be helpful. Thanks for the tips on Willow Brook already!

[lynchburgwildcats]

Unless one enjoys driving a lot, do not move to Appomattox. Minimum of about a 30 minute drive to get to the main commerce areas in Lynchburg. There is next to nothing in Appomattox, even the Walmart is trash compared to the two in Lynchburg or even the one in Farmville, and the one in Farmville sucks. Of course, if your family has a thing for really expensive, high class furniture, living in Appomattox and being about 30ish minutes from Farmville isn't too bad given the proliferations of stores with furniture I could only dream of being able to afford...

[Purple Haize]

Unless one enjoys driving a lot, do not move to Appomattox. Minimum of about a 30 minute drive to get to the main commerce areas in Lynchburg. There is next to nothing in Appomattox, even the Walmart is trash compared to the two in Lynchburg or even the one in Farmville, and the one in Farmville sucks. Of course, if your family has a thing for really expensive, high class furniture, living in Appomattox and being about 30ish minutes from Farmville isn't too bad given the proliferations of stores with furniture I could only dream of being able to afford...

How fast do you drive? 30? Wards Rd to Appomattox is ~20 minutes. Even still it's a great drive. Try getting from JF area to Wards Rd, it's about the same time and with more traffic.
You are right about the Wal Mart. It does great on the basics and the pharmacy is awesome but not as much selection as Wards Rd.