Local Realtor without a local area code?

I’m a local Realtor without a local area code, and if you’ve been on my website (and you have, if you’ve found your way here), you may have noticed that the phone number I use does not have a local 757 area code!

Isn’t a realtor’s main business to be local?  

If you’re wondering why – after all, isn’t a realtor’s business to be local – it’s a really good question! At this point, I have lived and worked here for over a decade, and the answer is quite simple: like so many of us I have roots in 2 places; my hometown and my home of choice, Hampton Roads.

For a long time I had incorporated a Google Voice number that allowed me to have a 757 area code. As I got busier with more clients, bouncing between 2 numbers was stressful, and I am ALL about limiting stress.  Ultimately, too, I felt that my area code – 757 or no – wasn’t really a reflection of who I am.  

Like so many people who find themselves transplanted in Hampton Roads, I found my way here from somewhere else.

You see, I make NO qualms about my roots. I am a Washington, D.C. Metro area native, born and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland, which is 10 minutes outside of Northeast D.C. 

I love my first home: Washington, D.C.!

I grew up in the seat of democracy for this great nation. I remember going on school field trips to monuments, The Smithsonian Museums, the National Zoo and historical sites. 

As I got older, politics was not just an abstract concept; I knew many people employed in some fashion by the Federal Government, from FBI agents to support staff for Congressmen. I was raised on Junkyard go go music, Mambo Sauce, Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill, The Beltway, The Parkway, 395, and Washington sports teams (FKA ‘Skins, Nats, and C-A-P-S Caps! Caps! Caps!) 

We went to the wharf in Southwest where we got our Blue Crabs, vacationed in Ocean City, walked the streets of Annapolis and saw the midshipmen at the prestigious U.S. Naval Academy. I’ve been to Baltimore more times than I can count to eat in “Little Italy”, to party at Fells Point, to visit the Inner Harbor and the National Aquarium. 

The University of Maryland main campus was 5 minutes from where I lived; many people I grew up with went to school and earned their degrees there. My hometown exposed me to culture, to food, to music, and to an excellent education.

Now that I’m married, working, and living somewhere else – I still miss my hometown.

I still find a longing for my hometown when the Washington sports teams are televised and they pan across the Capitol Building illuminated at night. I miss it when I visit family and I drive through the city and see my old haunts and how much my beloved city has changed. I will NEVER not have love for the town and the people that made me. I have had this phone number as long as I have had a phone! And no, I won’t disclose how long that has been!

I choose the 757 – it’s where my husband and I live and work and raise our children.  

But keeping my D.C. area number doesn’t mean I don’t love Hampton Roads just as much. Yes, I am a Hampton Roads Realtor without a local area code.

I have laid roots here and it has become my home; we are raising our children here, and I have dear friends and the most amazing clients here. I feel a kinship with the military families who have their hearts in two places; their hometowns and current duty station in Hampton Roads.

There’s so much to love about living in Tidewater, Virginia!

I love the Waterside District in Norfolk for ambiance and for the boating scene there. Ghent is an amazing stop for foodies because of its vivid nightlife and the boutique hip restaurants. I adore Virginia Beach for the coastal beach feel and the music scene; riding bikes along the ocean, stopping to hear a solo artist playing and grabbing a cocktail while the sun sets is amazing.  

I appreciate the antiquity of Williamsburg and the rich history found in our historic triangle to include Jamestown and Yorktown. The community feel in Williamsburg offers something for everyone young and older. There are restaurants, hiking / biking trails, and some of the coolest historical sites are preserved for us to explore. Check out some suggestions of what there is to love about tidewater here.

Home to me is steeped in history – from Washington D.C. to our Historic Triangle.

Hampton offers a mix of history and a coastal vibe; Phoebus has a Main Street U.S.A. feel with boutique shops, a plethora of dining options; it’s just a 5 minute drive from Fort Monroe which offers beaches, breweries, and water sports activities. 

Every time I venture out in Hampton Roads I find something new to love about where I have decided to build my adult life, and I am grateful that I live in what I consider one of the most beautiful places on the East Coast. 

The high standard of living in Newport News, Hampton, Williamsburg, York County, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach really can’t be beat.

The cost of living is WAY more affordable here. The traffic is better. Who doesn’t want to spend a day on the beach without having to pack the car and trek 200 miles? The people who live in my community and neighboring areas can do that on a Tuesday if they like.

I’m as local to the 757 as it gets!

I have seen more of the side streets and know my way around Tidewater like the back of my hand, just like I navigated through D.C. Lots of times I know my way around better than a “true” native. 

I have suggestions in every city for my clients for trusted tradesmen, restaurants, kid friendly activities, cleaning services, and beyond. And while yes, I assume that some people would prefer everything about me screams “I LOVE VIRGINIA” from my logo to my phone number, I don’t feel that I need to change every single detail about me in order to be considered a local expert and a trusted advisor. A Realtor without a local area code is not as unusual as you might think.

We are our own melting pot, much like D.C. 

We are the most military saturated area in the world and so many people here don’t have 757 area codes either, so I know I’m in good company.

I grew up a military brat and sometimes it’s the small things that make us feel whole, like having a little reminder of home where people who you have known longer than you can remember can still pick up the phone and reach you. 

I can’t bring myself to give up my phone number.  It’s a tie to my old home that I can’t seem to cut.  

I love it here.  And if you’ve found yourself in Coastal Virginia I’m the realtor who can help you find your home here, in the 757. Whether because you’re PCSing, because you grew up here, because you’re moving here to work in the shipyard or NASA, or because you’re just looking for an awesome beachy place to retire or start your family,I can help you find your perfect home.

D.C. transplant, now a Virginia resident.  And there you have it. Local Realtor without a local area code.

If you’re ready to schedule a showing or to start the search for your dream home in the 757, give me a call at 240-381-5596!