Historic Homes in Virginia: Options to Consider in Today's Market

By Elaine VonCannon, ABR, SRES, Associate Broker, Notary, Team Leader, Property Manager, Award Winning Agent

It takes a special buyer to purchase a historic home or property, one who intends to give it tender loving care, perhaps after years of neglect. Restoring a historic property or renovating and updating a historic home for a primary residence are the dream of some. These individuals are connected to the past, and want to live a lifestyle that puts them in touch with that remembrance. The cultural and aesthetic legacy historic homes possess, as well as ample acreage and lavish living spaces indoor and out – make these dwellings a status symbol for some, while it's a lifestyle choice for others.

Extra Features of Historic Properties

In Virginia, many historic homes are remnants of times long past, when there were large land grants and plantations. As a result, many of these historic properties are set-up with some unique features such as: smokehouses, basements designed for preservation and storage of food and beverages, springhouses, stables and barns, additional outbuildings and living spaces, and even more.

A sense of nostalgia and a desire to return to Early American roots motivates many who purchase and cherish historic homes and estates, making them more popular than ever. There are many historic homes for sale all over the state of Virginia.

Funding Historic Home Restoration

Some properties are in the National Register of Historic Places program, and owners are eligible for preservation benefits and incentives from the federal government. Others historic homes may be qualified to be in this Register, and need to be nominated and accepted to be recognized as such. Then there are a slew of historic properties that are privately held and preserved – or updated – over time at the expense of owners and their inheritors.

Why Has Interest in Owning Historic Property Risen?

Builders stopped building during the recession, and people who wanted to own a home needed to look at living in a historic home as an option. With historic home owners, the choice is clear: either revive the home to its glory days of the past, or update it. Over the past several decades salvaging fixtures and parts of old homes before they were torn down has been a lucrative business. Some homeowners want to restore their home with period appropriate décor and fixtures and features. For them, finding specialized parts is easier these days, with companies like Salvage Dogs in Roanoke, whose main focus is salvaging parts of historic homes and reselling them to people who want to restore them properly.

Areas in Virginia Where Historic Properties are Clustered

There are many historic homes in Virginia. Some are even found in the National Register of Historic Places. It's common to find a wide selection in the following areas of Southeastern Virginia: West Point, Smithfield, Williamsburg, Richmond, Gloucester and Mathews. A buyer can purchase a historic cottage in Gloucester or Mathews that is on the York River or the Chesapeake Bay. Many of these historic properties come with piers or access to boat launches on property or nearby. Rural or urban choices are available for historic homes. The buyer will find plenty of historic homes in Williamsburg and Richmond and on the corridor in between - Route 5 continuing all the way to Henrico County. West of Richmond there are even more choices for historic homes. Some of these may be working farms or equestrian properties, offering additional sources of income and space for livestock.

For those who love old, historic homes, Virginia is one of the top places in the U.S. to find them. These historic properties may have been designed for other eras, but luxury, privacy, and the desire for spacious living never go out of style.

Waterfront Homes in Tidewater Virginia

By Elaine VonCannon, ABR, SRES, Associate Broker, Notary, Team Leader, Property Manager, Award Winning Agent

The Tidewater area of Virginia is especially scenic because of the waterways that meander from the Chesapeake Bay. Tidal rivers, such as the York, James, Chickahominy and Rappahannock Rivers are great for boating, fishing and other watersports. Tidal rivers are fed by estuaries, streams, canals and coves and are often connected to deeper waters.

The geographic area of Tidewater, Virginia begins in Virginia Beach and extends as far west as New Kent County and the western shorelines of the Chesapeake Bay, also known as the Northern Neck. There are many desirable places to live the waterfront lifestyle. Avid boaters and fisherman choose the Tidewater area for retirement because they enjoy these activities, or they have wanted to live on the water. There are some ideally situated waterfront homes and lots for sale in the waterfront communities, some include piers, while others have marinas and other recreational facilities.

This overview will highlight waterfront properties for sale, waterfront communities and likely places to find waterfront property in these areas. They include: Williamsburg, York and James City Counties, Gloucester, Gloucester Point, Mathews and Lancaster. This article will exclude waterfront homes on the Southside of Tidewater - Virginia Beach and Norfolk. Here, waterfront home prices may trend higher, because these waterfront properties are located in desirable urban markets.

Buyers need to simply be willing to travel twenty to thirty minutes from an urban area to find better pricing on comfortable waterfront living. A buyer who has the luxury of searching outside an urban area will find a choice of properties in a more rural setting for a more affordable price than urban waterfront homes.

Waterfront homes in a rural area are well worth owning because they provide access to rivers and bays, brackish or salt water, and are often situated on larger pieces of property. Waterfront properties can be held as investment properties, rented for part of or the entire year. Or, they may be primary residences or second homes.

The waterfront home market is beginning to ignite once again, as many put the recession behind them, or decide to retire in their fifties or early sixties. Having a waterfront home is a lifestyle choice and those who choose it are willing to pay for the luxury of being on the water. Many who own waterfront homes also own boats and they want their own dock so they can use their boat at their leisure.

Here are some great examples of waterfront communities in rural Virginia that provide access to the water and in many cases – additional amenities any boater will covet. Many recreation communities also provide facilities to lead an active physical and social life, too.

Waterfront Homes for Sale Near Williamsburg: The Colonies

The Colonies is an established waterfront community in New Kent County, Virginia, just 20 minutes west of Williamsburg and 25 minutes from Richmond Airport. The Colonies is a longstanding bedroom community of waterfront homes. Grocery stores are only 10 minutes away. Even though New Kent is a rural county, amenities are not faraway, making the location convenient. For some locals, The Colonies are a well-kept secret.

Situated on large 2-6 acre lots, many of the homes are waterfront, some are not. Woods and other natural features are well preserved on these properties, adding to the scenic, tranquil setting.

There is a home currently for sale on Colony Trail, with a property on the shoreline of the Chickahominy River. This property comes with a wood pier, so it appeals to boaters who want this convenience. Another waterfront property in The Colonies that is currently available is on Island Trail, where a pier is being constructed. The seller intends to attract a buyer with a boat who wants to live a suburban lifestyle.

Heritage Point in Lancaster, Virginia, is a remote location. This particular waterfront community is located at the northernmost point on the Northern Neck, not far from the Rappahannock River. This recreation community includes a marina, boat ramp, clubhouse, pool, beach, tennis, basketball and deep water access for boating. Although Heritage Point is situated at least an hour’s drive from urban areas, these homes are perfect as a second home or a retirement dwelling and ideal for boaters. Home sites are available in this community.

Gloucester, Gloucester Point, Mathews

Multiple waterfront properties are available in these locations, also known as the Northern Neck: Gloucester, Gloucester Point and Mathews, Virginia. These are affordable places to purchase waterfront homes. Southern access to these remote areas is restricted by a bridge across the York River. Here the homebuyer may find almost any type of waterfront home, from a seaman’s cottage, to a single-family residence, to an historic mansion.

Waterfront Homes in York County Virginia

Just across the York River from Gloucester Point is York County, Virginia. Here, waterfront living is enjoyed in the seaside town of Seaford; this northeastern tip of land is perfect for waterfront properties, some on the York River, and other properties overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.

West Point

This often-ignored area is where the Mattaponi and Pamunky Rivers meet. Scenic waterfront properties can be found here. West Point is not only known for its waterways, but also its excellent schools. Families wanting to enjoy the waterfront lifestyle may find West Point appealing, so will professionals from the Richmond or Williamsburg areas, because it offers a convenient commute to either city.

For many, purchasing a waterfront home is the dream of a lifetime. Perhaps it is the tranquility and beauty of living next to a body of water that is appealing. Or, maybe the idea of boarding a boat docked on the property and enjoying a leisurely day on the water is a desirable way to spend time. Buyers who want waterfront properties need to look more extensively at the selection of homes in the Tidewater Virginia region - outside of urban areas - where the waterman’s way of life has been practiced for centuries.