8 days on market
$260,000
1525 Des Moines Ave
Portsmouth, Virginia 23704
MLS# 10635401 · PRENTIS PLACE · Portsmouth VA
Updated May 29, 2026 · Source: REIN MLS
Est. payment
$1,687/mo
Edit below
Price / sq ft
$176
1,476 sq ft
Days on market
8
New listing
HOA
None
Year built
1953
73 yrs old
Beds
0
Full Baths
0
Half Baths
0
Sq Ft
1,476
Garage
N/A
Schools
- ElementaryBrighton Elementary School5/10
- MiddleCradock Middle School3/10
- 2/10
Info provided by GreatSchools
About this home
Opportunities like 1523 & 1525 Des Moines Ave are the "hidden gems" of the Portsmouth market. This dual-asset acquisition allows you to offset your hold of cost from Day 1 with a current tenant 1523 paying $900/month (10,800 in annual gross income), while you unlock the explosive potential of the adjacent unit. By converting 1525 into a premium 3-bedroom, 2-bedroom residence, you aren't just renovating-you are engi…
Listed by Elizabeth Abrams · Abrams Realty
VaHome Team property overview
A 1953-built multi-family property in Portsmouth's Prentis Park neighborhood, sitting just three minutes from both Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. At 1,476 square feet, this mid-century building puts two major military installations and a walkable urban grid right at your doorstep.
Read full property overview ↓Show less ↑
Why this home stands out
What sets 1525 Des Moines Ave apart is its rare proximity to not one but two major military installations — both Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth are a three-minute drive away. Layered on top of that is the Prentis Park address itself: a compact, walkable Portsmouth neighborhood with a genuine mid-century character that larger suburban subdivisions simply can't replicate. The 1953 construction gives the building bones that newer builds often lack.
PRENTIS PLACE and the Portsmouth real estate market
Prentis Park is one of Portsmouth's established residential pockets — a grid-street neighborhood where mid-century architecture lines the blocks and the pace of daily life stays refreshingly human-scaled. You're inside the city proper here, which means shorter commutes, quicker errand runs, and a real sense of place rather than the anonymous sprawl you find further out. Portsmouth itself sits on the western bank of the Elizabeth River, directly across from Norfolk, and it carries a working-waterfront identity that's been shaped by centuries of naval history. The city has been quietly investing in its older neighborhoods, and Prentis Park sits close enough to the revitalized Old Towne district to benefit from that momentum. For anyone prioritizing a short commute to the shipyard or the medical center — or simply wanting a home that feels rooted in something — this corner of Portsmouth delivers. The neighborhood's tree-lined streets and modest lot sizes create a walkable environment that's increasingly hard to find at this price point in Hampton Roads.
What's nearby
Day-to-day errands are easy from Des Moines Ave. Martha's Mini Mart is just 0.4 miles away for quick stops, and both Old Towne Market Place and Food Lion are under a mile out. For food, Jaliyah's and Jem's 'Take A Plate' are within half a mile, with Ziggy's Street Eats right there too. Cure coffee shop is under a mile when you need a proper sit-down cup. Fitness options are genuinely solid — Effingham Street Family YMCA, Brikhouse Boxing and Fitness, and Callaghan Gym and Fitness Center are all within a mile. Turnpike Park, Lansing Park, and Scotts Creek Park each sit about 0.6 miles away for outdoor time.
For different buyers
For military families relocating
Three minutes to Norfolk Naval Shipyard and three minutes to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth — it's hard to find a Portsmouth address that cuts the commute this short. Whether you're active duty, a civilian employee, or a military family weighing a VA loan, the location math here is straightforward. You spend less time in the car and more time at home, and that adds up fast over a three-year tour.
For first-time buyers
Multi-family properties built in 1953 don't come with the unknowns of newer construction — the structure has proven itself over decades. For a first-time buyer exploring Portsmouth, Prentis Park offers a genuine neighborhood feel, walkable amenities, and proximity to two major employment centers. It's the kind of address that gives you a foothold in a city that's actively investing in its older residential corridors.
Frequently asked questions
How far is 1525 Des Moines Ave from Norfolk Naval Shipyard?
Norfolk Naval Shipyard is approximately a 3-minute drive from 1525 Des Moines Ave, making it one of the closest residential addresses to the shipyard's gates in Portsmouth.
How far is 1525 Des Moines Ave from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth?
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth is also about 3 minutes away by car — both major installations are essentially in the same immediate radius from this address.
What is the property type at 1525 Des Moines Ave?
1525 Des Moines Ave is classified as a multi-family residential property, built in 1953, with a total of 1,476 square feet.
Is 1525 Des Moines Ave in a flood zone?
Flood zone designation for this address is detailed in the FloodRisk tile on this page — check that section for the current FEMA map classification.
Where is the Prentis Park neighborhood located in Portsmouth?
Prentis Park sits within the city of Portsmouth, Virginia, close to the historic Old Towne district and within easy reach of the Elizabeth River waterfront corridor.
Curious whether 1525 Des Moines Ave fits your plans? Tom and Dariya Milan at LPT Realty know this corner of Portsmouth well — reach out and let's talk through the details.
Summary generated by AI from public records and publicly available information.
Location & Neighborhood
Places within ~1 mile, ordered by distance from this property. Powered by Google Places.
Flood Risk
Property Details
Bedrooms
0
Full Baths
0
Half Baths
0
Approx Sq Ft
1,476
Stories
0
Fireplaces
0
Flooring
N/A
Heating
Cooling
Laundry
Interior Features
N/A
Sale & Tax History
List Price
$260,000
Price / Sq Ft
$176
Annual Taxes
$3,145
Monthly Tax
$262
HOA
None
Tax Rate (effective)
1.21%
Sale Timeline (this listing)
| Event | Date | Price | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listed | May 21, 2026 | $260,000 | — |
| Currently listed | — | $260,000 | — |
Public-Records Assessment
Source: City Assessor via Hampton Roads Regional Parcels. Fetched May 29, 2026.
Total Assessed
$253,640
Land
$59,380
Improvement
$194,260
Parcel ID: 01030070
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.
About buying in Portsmouth
Homes for sale in Portsmouth, VA combine historic charm with the most affordable entry prices in Hampton Roads. Olde Towne Portsmouth (23704) features cobblestone streets and Federalist-era row houses overlooking the Elizabeth River, with active listings typically ranging $250K-$500K. Western Portsmouth's Churchland neighborhood (23703) offers larger suburban homes, top schools, and direct commutes to Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Park View (23707) and Cradock (23702) provide some of the most affordable single-family inventory in the region, often under $200K. Portsmouth's biggest employers are Norfolk Naval Shipyard (one of the largest ship-repair facilities in the country) and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth — Hampton Roads' largest military hospital. Active-duty military and shipyard families make up a significant share of buyers, and VA loan financing is common. Portsmouth Public Schools includes Churchland High, Manor High, and I.C. Norcom High; Churchland is consistently among the city's top-performing high schools. Buyers looking for waterfront views without Virginia Beach prices often find Portsmouth's Olde Towne and Hodges Ferry areas particularly attractive. Browse every active Portsmouth listing below, refreshed every 5 minutes from the REIN MLS.
Military Commute
Drive times to nearest basesDrive 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.
Estimate your monthly payment
$1,687/moPrincipal & interest
$1,349
Property tax
$262
Home insurance
$76
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.
Listed by Abrams Realty · MLS# 10635401
Data provided by REIN MLS. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
$260,000
1525 Des Moines AVE, PORTSMOUTH VA 23704
Portsmouth, Virginia 23704
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