From contemporary condos to gorgeous ranch-style homes, Riverwalk real estate offers home buyers plenty of options for both style and budget. Home prices for the area begin around $110,000 and range as high as $500,000. While the median home price is similar to the $250,000 to $280,000 average found in nearby Greenbrier West, Riverwalk homeowners have options that are more affordable than those found in some neighboring areas. Buying a home in Riverwalk lets you take advantage of a safe, stable neighborhood that provides suburban charm with access to all the amenities of the city. With this neighborhood, you really can have the best of two worlds.
Riverwalk is a family-friendly neighborhood that is bordered by schools, community centers, lakes, and the Elizabeth River. Families, couples, or individuals living in the area can spend time on the weekends boating, swimming, or participating in water sports on nearby lakes and rivers. The days are often sunny, and average temperatures from April through October are over 60 degrees. Even colder months tend to be mild, but you can expect a few snow days each year. One of the benefits of living in Riverwalk is that you get the charm of all four seasons without the annoyance of harsh weather for half the year.
If the weather is too harsh for outdoor fun, families and others can retreat to the interior of the River Crest Community Center. The center includes a gym where groups can shoot hoops, fitness rooms with exercise equipment for keeping pounds off despite the weather, a game room for youth, and a club room for social activities. Outside, the center offers an area for hosting picnics and a playground for children.
Parents will be happy to note that the neighborhood features strong graduation rates. Approximately 88 percent of adults in the area have a high school degree and almost a third have a four-year college degree. Students attending public school are likely to graduate from Oscar F. Smith High School, which is one of the newer schools in the district. As a new school, the high school features some of the most modern educational technology available, such as technology labs and a large, well-equipped gymnasium. The school also boasts an auditorium that can sit 1,000, a stadium that holds 7,000 and a theater equipped with the latest in entertainment technology.
In addition to the River Crest Community Center, the neighborhood features the Riverwalk Swimming Pool. The community pool features six swimming lanes and is 25 feet long. Children up to age 18 can join the local swimming team, which competes in the Virginia Beach Swim League.
Kids and families can also swim at Oak Grove Lake or spend the day on the lake fishing. The entire family can enjoy outdoor and healthy living by joining the Greenbrier Country Club, which is located just to the east of Riverwalk. The club features access to tennis and golf courses, a large pool with kids programs, dining, and youth programs. Residents might also make use of the indoor fitness center to stay healthy year round. Youth programs during the summer include a junior golf program and a sports camp.
Other outdoor activities of note include enjoying the Elizabeth River, spending time in Bells Mill Park, or making a day trip to the Great Dismal Swamp. The swamp is a marshy preserve that is home to numerous species of plant and wildlife. Visitors can explore trails, take advantage of tours, and learn more about the natural history of the area. In the spring, birding festivals are hosted at the swamp, and in the winter, you can spend an evening looking for owls in the area.
Riverwalk and the surrounding area is one of the most stable and safe areas in Chesapeake. Crime rates in the area are lower than they are nationally, and the neighborhood is safer than over 55 percent of all other cities in Virginia. Crime in the area has decreased about 4 percent year over year, and the bulk of crime reported in the area is associated with property crimes such as burglary rather than violent crimes.
Riverwalk is also more financially stable than many areas of Chesapeake. It features a lower unemployment rate than the city or state average, and more than 70 percent of adults living in the neighborhood work 35 hours or more each week. Only around 20 percent of the people living in the area don’t work at all, and that includes children. Around a quarter of individuals in the area make between $40,00 and $60,000 per year with a small percent averaging over $100,00 per year.
The Riverwalk area is a small, tightly knit community that features one major looping road and several side streets. Along the streets, houses and condos offer modern amenities, comfortable living, and the chance to create a home for your family in the middle of Chesapeake. When you buy real estate in Riverwalk, you get a residential home that provides convenient access to employment, shopping, and education options in Chesapeake and the surrounding cities.
