Enjoy beautiful W Freemason Street in this stunning, 2003, no fee, end unit townhome. Two balconies with a dedicated elevator shaft & closet, along with a first-floor in-law or Nanny's suite with a separate entrance and an oversized 2 car attached garage set this 3235-square foot city home apart from others. Three bedrooms have ensuite baths and two share a hall bath. Interesting contemporary architectural elements blend artistically with traditional characteristics such as beautiful real oak flooring, high ceilings and 11-inch crown moldings. Significant additions by the current owners include solar panels, and EV charger and 1600 +seer HVAC . This is a home you will not want to miss!
Listing courtesy of Terri Baker · BHHS RW Towne Realty · REIN MLS #10635677
261 W Freemason St is a five-bedroom, 4.1-bath townhome-style residence in the heart of historic downtown Norfolk, offering 3,235 square feet of living space built in 2003 — walkable to restaurants, coffee, parks, and the waterfront.
What sets 261 W Freemason St apart is the rare combination of genuine downtown walkability and generous square footage. At 3,235 square feet with five bedrooms and four and a half baths, this 2003-built home gives you the breathing room of a suburban house without surrendering the energy of one of Norfolk's most storied and walkable urban neighborhoods. That pairing is genuinely hard to find.
FREEMASON HARBOUR and the Norfolk real estate market
West Freemason sits within Norfolk's oldest residential neighborhood — the Freemason District — where early-19th-century architecture lines brick sidewalks just steps from the Elizabeth River waterfront. The streets here feel like a small European quarter dropped into a mid-Atlantic port city: gas-style lanterns, mature trees, and a genuine mix of historic rowhouses alongside newer infill construction like this 2003 build. It's an area that draws people who want city life with a sense of place rather than a generic suburban backdrop. Norfolk itself is one of the most dynamic cities on the East Coast, anchored by a deep-water port, a thriving arts scene centered around the Chrysler Museum, and a culinary corridor that punches well above its weight. For buyers exploring va loan homes norfolk, the Freemason District's proximity to multiple military installations and its walkable, character-rich streets make it a compelling and relatively rare option. Norfolk is an independent city in Virginia — not part of any surrounding county — which shapes everything from governance to services.
What's nearby
Daily life at 261 W Freemason St is genuinely walkable. Freemason Abbey Restaurant, Omar's Carriage House, and Marley's @ the Y! are all within a single block for dining. Morning coffee is covered by Crave Bakery + Coffee Bar and Cure Coffeehouse, both within a two-minute walk. For provisions, Macarthur General Store, Mercato Di Grazia, and Amale Tre Focacceria & Italian Deli are all within a quarter mile. Fitness options are equally close — Blocker Norfolk Family YMCA, Jim White Fitness & Nutrition Studios, and Gym Downtown are all nearby. Farragut Park, Mermaid @ Freemason Green, and Mermaid @ Bute St round out the green space within steps of the front door.
For different buyers
Base commute and VA loan notes
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and USCG Base Portsmouth are each roughly two minutes away — a commute that's almost unheard of for a home this size in a neighborhood this walkable. For military households using a VA loan, that combination of location, square footage, and five bedrooms to accommodate a growing family is worth paying close attention to.
For buyers drawn to character
If you've been searching through houses to buy norfolk and keep getting disappointed by cookie-cutter layouts in subdivisions that feel interchangeable, 261 W Freemason St is a different conversation entirely. You're in one of the city's most architecturally rich and historically layered neighborhoods, in a home that delivers modern square footage without asking you to trade away a sense of place.
More buyer questions
How far is 261 W Freemason St from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth?
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth is approximately two minutes by car from 261 W Freemason St, making it one of the shortest base commutes you'll find for a home of this size in Norfolk.
Is 261 W Freemason St in a walkable area of Norfolk?
Yes — the Freemason District is one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Norfolk, with restaurants, coffee shops, grocery options, parks, and fitness facilities all within a tenth to a quarter mile of the front door.
What is the Freemason District like as a neighborhood?
The Freemason District is Norfolk's oldest residential neighborhood, known for its brick sidewalks, historic architecture, gas-style street lighting, and proximity to the Elizabeth River waterfront — it has a distinct, European-influenced character that sets it apart from most Hampton Roads neighborhoods.
Does 261 W Freemason St have an HOA?
HOA status for this property should be confirmed through current listing documents or directly with the seller, as it can change between ownership cycles.
Are there flood zone considerations for 261 W Freemason St?
Given its location in downtown Norfolk near the Elizabeth River waterfront, flood zone designation is worth reviewing carefully — check the FloodRisk tile on this page or request the current FEMA flood map panel from your agent.
Want to walk the block before you decide? Tom and Dariya Milan know this neighborhood well — reach out and they'll show you exactly what daily life at 261 W Freemason St looks like.
Summary generated by AI from public records and publicly available information.
Schools · VaHome School ScoreAssigned schools
Our own 1–10 rating, scored from Virginia Department of Education data.
VaHome School Score — calculated by VaHome.com from Virginia Department of Education assessment, progress, and attendance data. Attendance zones come from the MLS listing record; confirm the current zone with the school division before making an offer.
How Far Is?
Driving distance by road and typical drive time via Google Maps, to the nearest location of each.
Also nearby
Distances are straight-line (as the crow flies) from this property, not driving miles. Places within ~1 mile, nearest first. Powered by Google Places.
Homes like this one sell fast — see the next one first
Norfolk$700K – $955K5+ beds
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Military Commute
Drive times to nearest bases
⚓
NMCP
Navy
12min·3.6mi
🚢
USCG Portsmouth
Coast Guard
8min·2.2mi
⚓
NNSY
Navy
10min·3.3mi
⚓
NS Norfolk
Navy
20min·8.1mi
🪖
MARFORCOM
Marines
23min·9.9mi
Typical drive times from Google Maps, without live traffic. Rush hour and tunnel backups can add time.
Flood & environmentFlood risk (FEMA)
FEMA flood zone AE · base flood elevation 8 ft · Special Flood Hazard Area (flood insurance typically required) · FIRM 510104
🌊 Flood Risk (FEMA)
Source: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer · FIRM 510104
High Risk
FEMA flood zone
AE (1% annual chance)
Base flood elevation
8 ft above sea level
Property elevation
6 ft above sea level
2.0 ft below BFE
USGS 3DEP digital elevation model
Special Flood Hazard Area — 1% annual chance of flooding. Federal flood insurance is required on most mortgages.
Data sources: Flood zone and base flood elevation come from FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer. Property elevation is sampled from a single point on the parcel using the USGS National Map elevation service — actual elevations across a single property can vary by several feet higher or lower than the figure shown. Use these numbers as a starting reference and do your own due diligence (a professional survey or elevation certificate) before relying on them for any financial, insurance, or construction decision.
Zone AE typically means lenders require flood insurance. Factor it into the monthly numbers below.
Ghent is a historic neighborhood in Norfolk, Virginia. It is known for tree-lined streets and early 20th-century home styles. The area has restored Victorian homes, charming cottages, and smaller multi-family homes.
$281KMedian sale · 12 mo
$228Sold $/sq ft
28dDays on market
41For sale now
$83KHH income
31.7%Owner-occupied
REIN MLS closed sales, trailing 12 mo · U.S. Census ACS 2024 5-year
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
$4,635/mo
Principal & interest
$4,302
Property tax
$92
Home insurance
$242
PMI
None
HOA/Condo (paid separately)
None
Estimate only. Association (HOA/condo) fees are paid separately and are not included in the payment above. 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 & historyComparables
Price context: similar nearby homes$680,000 – $820,000The 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.
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:
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.
CompareThis home next to what else is for sale nearby
Home
Price
Beds
Baths
Sqft
$ / sqft
261 W Freemason Stthis home
$829,000
5
4.1
3,235
$256
Loading nearby homes for sale…
Active comparables from the REIN MLS, the same homes shown under Comparable Properties. Context for judging the asking price, not an appraisal.
Questions buyers ask
Is 261 W Freemason St in a good school zone?
The assigned zones on the listing record are Walter Herron Taylor Elementary, Blair Middle (VaHome School Score 2.8/10), Maury (VaHome School Score 3.4/10). School attendance zones can change — always confirm enrollment with the local school division.
Is 261 W Freemason St in a flood zone?
FEMA maps this parcel in Zone AE with a base flood elevation of 8 ft — a high-risk flood band where lenders typically require flood insurance. See the flood section on this page for the full details and sources, and verify with an elevation certificate.
Is there a gym near 261 W Freemason St?
Yes — Blocker Norfolk Family YMCA is about 0.1 miles away, per the cached nearby-places record for this address.
Are there parks near 261 W Freemason St?
Mermaid @ Bute St (Courtney) is about 0.1 miles away.
Where is the nearest grocery store to 261 W Freemason St?
Macarthur General Store is about 0.2 miles away. The closest dining on record is Omar's Carriage House (0.1 mi).
Does 261 W Freemason St have an HOA?
No — there are no HOA, condo, or association dues on the listing record for this property.
When was 261 W Freemason St built?
It was built in 2003, per the listing record.
Answers generated from the listing record, verified school zones, FEMA data, and cached nearby-places data. Never invented.
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Curious what it means for your own plans? Ask about similar homes nearby, or what your home might sell for in this market.
Listing courtesy of Terri Baker · BHHS RW Towne Realty · REIN MLS #10635677
261 W Freemason St, Norfolk, Virginia 23510 · MLS #10635677 · 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.
