Why this home stands out
Homes built in 1918 rarely survive with this much usable square footage intact. At 2,224 square feet across three bedrooms and three full baths, 404 Clay Street gives you the proportions of a modern build wrapped in the bones of early twentieth-century craftsmanship. That combination — real history, real space — is genuinely uncommon in Franklin's residential market.
ALL OTHERS AREA 67 and the Franklin real estate market
Franklin, Virginia sits in the western corner of Hampton Roads, a small independent city of roughly 8,000 people set along the Blackwater River in Southampton County. It has the feel of a working river town that has held its identity across generations — tree-lined streets, older homes with real architectural variety, and a downtown that still functions as a genuine center of community life. Clay Street fits comfortably into that fabric. The surrounding blocks reflect Franklin's historic residential character: modest lots, mature trees, and homes that were built to last. Franklin is connected to the broader Hampton Roads region via US-58, making Virginia Beach, Suffolk, and Chesapeake accessible without requiring you to live in a larger metro. For buyers who want a slower pace without sacrificing regional connectivity, Franklin delivers a quality of life that larger cities rarely match at comparable home sizes. The city's small scale means your neighbors tend to know your name.
What's nearby
Daily life is easy to manage from Clay Street. Franklin's downtown core is just minutes away, where you'll find local dining, city services, and community events centered around the Blackwater River. The Paul D. Camp Community College campus is close by, and Sentara Obici Hospital in nearby Suffolk provides regional medical access. Grocery options including Food Lion serve the immediate area. For outdoor time, the Blackwater River State Forest and nearby recreation areas offer hiking and wildlife. US-58 puts Suffolk, Chesapeake, and the broader Hampton Roads corridor within a reasonable drive.
For different buyers
For military families relocating
Joint Staff J7 in Suffolk is roughly 39 minutes from 404 Clay Street — a manageable commute that puts you in a quieter, more affordable city without sacrificing access to base. A VA loan can make a home of this size and age surprisingly attainable, and Franklin's lower cost of living stretches a housing allowance further than most Hampton Roads zip codes.
For buyers drawn to character
If you're the kind of buyer who finds newer construction a little soulless, 404 Clay Street will speak your language. Built in 1918, this home has more than a century of history in its walls. Three full baths and over 2,200 square feet mean you're not trading comfort for character — you're getting both, in a city that still feels like it belongs to the people who live there.
More buyer questions
How far is 404 Clay Street from Joint Staff J7 Suffolk?
The drive from 404 Clay Street in Franklin to Joint Staff J7 in Suffolk is approximately 39 minutes under normal traffic conditions, primarily along US-58 East.
What is the square footage of 404 Clay Street?
The home offers 2,224 square feet of living space across three bedrooms and three full bathrooms.
How old is the home at 404 Clay Street?
The home was built in 1918, making it over a century old — a rarity in the region that comes with distinctive architectural character rarely found in newer construction.
Is 404 Clay Street in a flood zone?
Flood zone information for this property is displayed in the FloodRisk tile on this page, which pulls current FEMA map data for the Franklin area.
Can a VA loan be used to purchase a historic home like 404 Clay Street?
Yes — a VA loan can generally be used on older homes, though the property will need to meet VA minimum property requirements during the appraisal process; a VA-experienced lender can walk you through what that means for a 1918-built home.
Want to know more about 404 Clay Street or Franklin's residential market? Tom and Dariya Milan at LPT Realty are happy to answer your questions and set up a walkthrough.
