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Portsmouth › ALL OTHERS AREA 21 › 12 California Ave✓ Source: REIN MLS #10640145 · record updated Jun 26, 2026 · synced every 5 min · your inquiry is never resold
12 California AVE, PORTSMOUTH VA 23701 - Main photo
12 California AVE, PORTSMOUTH VA 23701 - Photo 2
12 California AVE, PORTSMOUTH VA 23701 - Photo 3
12 California AVE, PORTSMOUTH VA 23701 - Photo 4
12 California AVE, PORTSMOUTH VA 23701 - Photo 5
$250,000
$228 / sqft · est. $1,602/mo →
2beds
1baths
1,098sqft
8days on market

12 California Ave, Portsmouth, VA 23701

ActiveResidential · built 1942 · ALL OTHERS AREA 21

About this home

The listing, in the seller's words

Tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sack, this charming 2 bedroom Cape Cod offers the privacy you've been searching for. Inside, you'll find bright, light-filled living spaces, an updated kitchen with modern finishes, and a beautifully remodeled oversized bathroom. Minutes from shopping, dining, and major commuter routes, this hidden gem is ready to welcome you HOME!

Listing courtesy of Kristyn Michael · Real Broker LLC · REIN MLS #10640145

VaHome team overview

Our read on this home

At a glance

A 1942-built, 2-bedroom, 1-bath home in Portsmouth, Virginia, offering 1,098 square feet of classic character just seven minutes from both Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and Norfolk Naval Shipyard — a compact, well-located property with genuine historic bones.

Read the full overview ↓

Why this home stands out

What sets 12 California Avenue apart is its rare dual-base proximity — seven minutes to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and seven minutes to Norfolk Naval Shipyard — paired with the kind of solid 1940s construction that simply isn't replicated in newer builds. At 1,098 square feet, the layout is efficient without feeling cramped, and the home's age means character details that newer cookie-cutter properties can't match.

ALL OTHERS AREA 21 and the Portsmouth real estate market

Portsmouth is one of Hampton Roads' most historically layered cities, and 12 California Avenue sits within that story comfortably. The surrounding area carries the quiet, lived-in feel of a mid-century neighborhood — tree-lined streets, modest lots, and neighbors who tend to stay put. Portsmouth itself straddles the Elizabeth River across from Norfolk, giving residents easy access to the broader Hampton Roads metro without the congestion of larger city centers. The city is home to Olde Towne Portsmouth, one of the largest collections of pre-Civil War architecture on the East Coast, and a working waterfront that gives the area genuine personality. Daily errands are manageable from this address, and the street grid is straightforward to navigate whether you're heading toward the shipyard, the medical center, or downtown. For anyone looking for a Portsmouth home with history baked into its walls, California Avenue delivers exactly that.

What's nearby

Everyday conveniences are within easy reach of 12 California Avenue. Grocery options, pharmacies, and casual dining are all accessible within a short drive along the surrounding corridors. The nearby Elizabeth River Trail system connects pedestrians and cyclists to waterfront greenspace, and Prentis Park offers a local outdoor anchor for morning walks or weekend downtime. Downtown Portsmouth's Olde Towne district — with its restaurants, coffee shops, and waterfront boardwalk — is a short drive away, giving you a genuine neighborhood destination rather than just a strip-mall errand run.

For different buyers

For military families relocating

Seven minutes to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and seven minutes to Norfolk Naval Shipyard — it's rare to find an address that sits this close to two major installations simultaneously. For military households managing unpredictable schedules or split-command assignments, that kind of commute cushion matters. A VA loan can make a property like this even more accessible, and the location speaks for itself.

For first-time buyers

If you're stepping into homeownership for the first time, 12 California Avenue offers a manageable footprint — 1,098 square feet, two bedrooms, one bath — without the overwhelming scale of a larger property. The 1942 construction means the home has already proven its durability over decades, and Portsmouth's price point tends to be friendlier than neighboring Norfolk or Virginia Beach for buyers just getting started.

More buyer questions

How far is 12 California Avenue from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth?

The drive is approximately seven minutes under normal traffic conditions, making it one of the closer residential options to the medical center in the area.

How far is 12 California Avenue from Norfolk Naval Shipyard?

Norfolk Naval Shipyard is also about seven minutes away, which is an unusual convenience for households with personnel assigned to either installation.

What is the square footage and layout of 12 California Avenue?

The home offers 1,098 square feet with two bedrooms and one full bath — a compact but functional layout well-suited to individuals, couples, or small families.

Is 12 California Avenue in a flood zone?

Flood zone status for this address is detailed in the FloodRisk tile on this page, which pulls current FEMA map data for the specific parcel.

Can a VA loan be used to purchase 12 California Avenue?

Yes — as a residential single-family property in Virginia, 12 California Avenue is generally eligible for VA loan financing, subject to standard appraisal and eligibility requirements.

Curious whether 12 California Avenue fits your situation? Tom and Dariya Milan at LPT Realty know this Portsmouth market well — reach out and let's talk through it.

Summary generated by AI from public records and publicly available information.

Schools

Info provided by GreatSchools

Facts & features

The record, sourced

Type

Residential

Year built

1942

Price / sqft

$228

HOA

None

Taxes

$2,783/yr

County

Portsmouth VA

Waterfront

Yes

MLS #

10640145

Sources: REIN MLS record · city assessor · null fields are suppressed, never faked

Flood & environment

The flood answer first — quantified, not buried

FEMA flood zone X · outside the high-risk area · FIRM 515529

Flood Risk

Looking up FEMA flood zone…

Hurricane Evacuation Zone

Evacuation Zone A

Source: Virginia Dept. of Emergency Management — Know Your Zone

Location intelligence

Minutes to real places, not a score

Location & Neighborhood

Places within ~1 mile, ordered by distance from this property. Powered by Google Places.

Military Commute

Drive times to nearest bases

Drive times via Google Maps with current traffic patterns. Times are typical and may vary by time of day. Use the "Analyze" button up top to see live drive time to your saved base.

The numbers

Run the real carrying cost

Estimates only — taxes come from the public record; confirm rates with your lender. VA-eligible buyers: $0-down financing may apply.

Estimate your monthly payment

$1,602/mo

Principal & interest

$1,297

Property tax

$232

Home insurance

$73

PMI

None

HOA

None

Estimate only. Insurance assumed at 0.35% of home value annually. Actual taxes, insurance, and rate will vary by lender, credit, and property. Contact a lender for a personalized quote.

Value & history

Judge value on real ground

Asking vs. assessment

111% of $224,460

City assessment record · taxes $2,783/yr

Land share of assessed value

37% — $82,500

Improvements $141,960 · assessor record ✓

Why we show no algorithmic estimate.

National AVMs misprice homes whose value drivers they can't see. Instead: the sourced assessment above, the carrying cost, real price history, and honest comparables below.

Price context — similar nearby homes

$150,000 – $269,000

The 6 most similar homes nearby (same city, within ~20% of this size, ~2.5 mi; 6 sold). Context for judging the asking price — not an appraisal or an estimate of this home's value.

1303 Stratford ST · 1.4 mi · 1,000 sqft$250,000 sold 2026-05
314 Avondale RD · 1.9 mi · 1,100 sqft$266,000 sold 2026-06
121 York DR · 1.8 mi · 1,056 sqft$150,000 sold 2026-03

Sale & Tax History

List Price

$250,000

Price / Sq Ft

$228

Annual Taxes

$2,783

Monthly Tax

$232

HOA

None

Tax Rate (effective)

1.11%

Sale Timeline (this listing)

EventDatePriceDetail
ListedJun 18, 2026$250,000—
Currently listed—$250,000—

Public-Records Assessment

Source: City Assessor via Hampton Roads Regional Parcels.

11% above assessment

Total Assessed

$224,460

Land

$82,500

Improvement

$141,960

Looking for multi-year tax assessments or prior sales? REIN MLS only ships data for the current listing. For full property history, check the city assessor record:

Portsmouth Real Estate Assessor

Tax data above from REIN public-records sync. Sale timeline tracked from this listing's first appearance in our feed forward; prior owner sales are not included.

Comparable Properties

Comps are selected by city, bed count, square footage and price proximity. Composite similarity score weights bed match, sqft variance, price variance, and straight-line distance.

Market tempo

8 days on market — read it in context

Days on market reflects pricing, season, and inventory — compare it against similar nearby homes below before reading anything into it.

Questions buyers ask

Real questions, answered from the record

Is 12 California Ave in a good school zone?+
The assigned zones on the listing record are Westhaven Elementary (GreatSchools 1/10), William E. Waters Middle, Churchland (GreatSchools 5/10). School attendance zones can change — always confirm enrollment with the local school division.
Is 12 California Ave in a flood zone?+
FEMA maps this parcel in Zone X, outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area. See the flood section on this page for details and sources.
Is there a gym near 12 California Ave?+
Yes — Crunch Fitness - Portsmouth is about 0.3 miles away, per the cached nearby-places record for this address.
Where is the nearest grocery store to 12 California Ave?+
Farm Fresh International is about 0.6 miles away. The closest dining on record is Griff's Restaurant & Sports Lounge (0.3 mi).
Does 12 California Ave have an HOA?+
No — there are no HOA, condo, or association dues on the listing record for this property.
When was 12 California Ave built?+
It was built in 1942, per the listing record.

Answers generated from the listing record, verified school zones, FEMA data, and cached nearby-places data — never invented.

The people

You'll talk to a person, not a lead queue

TD

Tom & Dariya Milan

LPT Realty · Hampton Roads · answer their own phone

✓ Your inquiry goes to Tom & Dariya — never sold to strangers

Listing courtesy of Kristyn Michael · Real Broker LLC · REIN MLS #10640145

Call or text (757) 777-7577

Ask Dariya — instant answers

Schools, flood, drive times, what it really costs to own — answered from this page's data, by chat or voice.

Schedule a private tour

Free, no obligation — your inquiry goes to Tom & Dariya, never resold.

See it in person — the record only says so much.

Call or text (757) 777-7577

12 California Ave, Portsmouth, Virginia 23701 · MLS #10640145 · Source: REIN MLS + public record. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed — verify independently. School zones subject to change; confirm with the local school division. All locations are described by neutral geographic fact. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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