Preserving history and opportunities for the future in Radford
Radford is an independent college town with a history that traces to the late 1700s. Mary Draper Ingles escaped Ohio after being captured from her home in present-day Blacksburg, and she walked over 600 miles to return. Ingles and her husband later settled in Radford along the New River, which had helped guide her home. The couple started Ingles Farm and Ingles’ Ferry, which drew businesses and workers to the budding town. Radford keeps history at the forefront with its monuments, but there’s also a sense of looking toward the future with Radford University.
Most people move to Radford for its housing prices, university accessibility and nearby recreation options. “Radford is so convenient,” says Katrina Compton, Broker with Giesen-Caldwell Agency, Inc. REALTORS, who grew up in Radford. “We’re right off the interstate, but you can still get to Christiansburg or Blacksburg in 15 to 20 minutes, and there are a lot of different roads to get there. The cost of living, the taxes and the price of homes are cheaper. Blacksburg is so expensive. A house in Blacksburg is $100,000 to $150,000 more for the exact same home you can get in Radford.”
Ingles Farm, named after Mary Draper Ingles, is located in Radford.
Mid-century homes make up most of the market in Radford.
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Renting and home ownership throughout Radford
Most ranch-style and split-level homes were built in the 1960s and 1970s, but there are Victorian homes from the early 1900s that have been renovated. Newer townhouses are close to campus. Gloria Villas is Radford’s newest subdivision, though construction around town has slowed down. The median home price is $285,000, below the $406,100 national median reported by the National Association of Realtors.
Compton says there’s a mix of renters and homebuyers because of the university. “When people move into the area, they may not know where they want to live, so they rent until they decide where to buy,” says Compton. “The west end is more family-oriented with owner-occupied homes, and the east end is near the university with more apartment rentals.”
Homes in Radford feature large front yards.
You can find many unique homes around Radford, Virginia.
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A town dedicated to education
With Radford University in town, it’s no surprise educational jobs lead the economy, followed by manufacturing and biomedical jobs. Radford City Schools earns a B-plus from Niche and has a total of four schools. Radford University gets a B-plus, and the school recently created the Tartan Transfer program in coordination with the Virginia Community College System, making the process of transferring schools smoother for students.
Radford University sits on 112 acres and offers undergraduate and graduate programs.
Radford University is a division 1 university located in Radford, Virginia.
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Enjoying the New River and nearby destinations
The New River flows around Radford, and summers are often spent tubing along the water or launching boats at Bisset Park’s dock. The Riverway Trail is a paved walking path that extends to Bissett Park, Wildwood Park and the community boat launch near RU. “You can get to Mountain Lake, where they filmed Dirty Dancing,” Compton says. “You can get to anywhere in the New River Valley (NRV), including Claytor Lake State Park, the New River Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and the Blue Ridge Parkway, and everything’s 30 minutes away or less”
The Radford Farmers Market is held on the lawn of The Glencoe Museum, a Civil War-era home that doubles as the Radford Visitor’s Center. Residents can support local vendors before walking over to the Mary Draper Ingles Cultural Heritage Park to see the bronze statue of the famous resident.
The New River has caused flooding in nearby parks, like Bisset, during torrential rain. This flooding can affect roads leading to the parks, but it doesn’t usually reach Radford homes.
Radford is a rural city about 20 minutes from both Christiansburg and Blacksburg.
Radford locals can take a stroll along the New River at Bisset Park.
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Driving or busing around town
Tyler Road leads drivers 6 miles south to the Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, and the road connects to Interstate 81. Commuters can take I-81 20 miles to Blacksburg or about 10 miles to Christiansburg. Radford Transit buses run throughout town, with stops near campus and Main Street shops. Students who rent townhouses or apartments close to campus might bike down residential streets to class.
Floral shops, boutiques, cafes and bars are spread out along East and West Main Street, while more chain restaurants are closer to campus along Tyler Avenue. Churches make up most of Radford’s places of worship. The Presbyterian Church of Radford is one of the oldest, built in 1893.
Celebrating July 4th along the New River
“The main event is the Spirit of America, the Fourth of July celebration,” Compton says. “It’s down at Bisset Park, and they do car shows and bouncy houses, and then there’s fireworks in the evening. I used to live on Berkley Street, which is a couple of streets up, you can see them from everywhere.”
Virginia categorizes reported crimes into Group A or Group B. Group A often includes violent crimes, while Group B has nonviolent crimes. Radford City Police reported a decrease in most Group A and Group B crimes from 2021 to 2022.
Darin Greear, in 2023, was ranked #8 in Virginia and #322 Nationally in transactions according to Real Trends and The Wall Street Journal and was inducted into the 2022-2023 Marquis Who's Who in America. Darin has been extremely active in the local, state and national association of REALTORS® and attends many local, state, and national association events, workshops, conferences and more. Darin is a Member of Long & Foster's Top 100, Gold Team and Master's Club in recognition of his 2024 Sales and Production. Greear remarked "Being a REALTOR means more than just showing properties and selling houses. To me, being a REALTOR means helping your clients achieve the American Dream of Home Ownership! It means that I have the opportunity to serve people and help their dream become a reality every time I go to work. Whether it is a first-time home buyer, a new executive relocating or someone transitioning to a new phase in their life; it is a true honor to be their advocate, their trusted source for information and to be their REALTOR! Being a REALTOR also gives me the opportunity to build lasting relationships and community connections that continue to grow and flourish. Being a REALTOR means much more than selling houses, it also means giving back to your community and anyone in need!" This philosophy was recognized when he was chosen to be the recipient of the 2013 NRVAR REALTOR® of the Year, a lifetime achievement, awarded Ethics in Action, a lifetime achievement award, and the Good Neighbor Award by New River Valley's Association of REALTORS® in 2009. In addition to his many professional accomplishments, Darin is generous with both his time and resources and is very active in the community, serving on the Board of Directors for the Montgomery County Farm Bureau, the local Southern States Cooperative and the Riner Volunteer Rescue Squad, which he helped establish in 2011. Darin and his wife Tabitha have donated nearly 1,000,000 pounds of fresh produce that was grown on their farm to over 40 different food banks over the course of the last 15 years. He is a lifetime resident of the Riner community in Montgomery County and a Graduate of Radford University with a B.S. in Math and Economics. Darin is knowledgeable of farmland, acreage, new development, new construction and residential homes and can provide you with a free Market Analysis of your home. Whether you are a first-time home buyer or seasoned investor, Darin is looking forward to working with you.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
