6 days on market
$289,000
820 Gay Ave
Portsmouth, Virginia 23701
MLS# 10636673 · SIMONSDALE · Portsmouth VA
Updated Jun 8, 2026 · Source: REIN MLS
Est. payment
$1,822/mo
Edit below
Price / sq ft
$198
1,456 sq ft
Days on market
6
New listing
HOA
None
Year built
1940
86 yrs old
Beds
3
Full Baths
2
Half Baths
0
Sq Ft
1,456
Garage
Yes
About this home
Classic 3 Bedrooms and 2 full bath Cape Cod full of warmth and character! From the inviting family room to the beautiful Kitchen, this home offers timeless appeal with modern comfort. Spacious living areas, generous bedrooms, and a flexible floor plan make this property ideal for everyday living. Large fenced backyard provides plenty of room for entertaining, pets, or play. Convenient Portsmouth location close to sch…
Listed by Diane Old-Ricks · CENTURY 21 Nachman Realty
VaHome Team property overview
820 Gay Ave is a 1940-built, 3-bedroom, 2-bath home in Portsmouth, Virginia, offering 1,456 square feet of living space with two major military installations reachable in under ten minutes and everyday conveniences practically at the front door.
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Why this home stands out
What sets 820 Gay Ave apart is its rare combination of vintage mid-century bones and genuine day-to-day convenience. Built in 1940, the home carries the kind of solid construction and character details that newer builds simply can't replicate. Pair that with a location that puts Naval Medical Center Portsmouth eight minutes away and Norfolk Naval Shipyard nine minutes out, and you have an address that works hard for a wide range of buyers.
SIMONSDALE and the Portsmouth real estate market
820 Gay Ave sits in a residential pocket of Portsmouth, Virginia — a city with deep roots in American naval history and a community identity that's equal parts working waterfront and close-knit neighborhoods. Portsmouth has been steadily attracting buyers who want genuine character without the price tags of trendier markets, and this part of the city reflects that well. Streets here are lined with homes from the mid-twentieth century, giving the area a cohesive, established feel that's hard to manufacture. Neighbors tend to put down roots, and the pace of daily life is refreshingly manageable. The city itself offers quick access to the broader Hampton Roads region via the Downtown Tunnel and the Midtown Tunnel, connecting you to Norfolk, Chesapeake, and beyond without much fuss. For anyone weighing Portsmouth as a home base — whether you're tied to one of the nearby installations or simply drawn to the city's character — Gay Ave delivers a location that keeps both work and leisure within easy reach.
What's nearby
Everyday errands are genuinely walkable from 820 Gay Ave. Food Lion is just 0.3 miles away for grocery runs, and MP International Grocery at 0.4 miles is great for specialty finds. When you'd rather skip the kitchen, Heaven's Kitchen is a short 0.1-mile walk, and Bubba-N-Frank's Portsmouth is only 0.3 miles out. Fitness options are well-covered too — TIGER Academy of Martial Arts is 0.6 miles away, with Crunch Fitness and Marable's Fitness both under a mile. Portsmouth Volleyball Center, Portsmouth City Park, and Hodges Manor Park all fall within 0.8 miles, giving you solid outdoor options close to home.
For different buyers
For military families relocating
With Naval Medical Center Portsmouth just eight minutes away and Norfolk Naval Shipyard nine minutes out, 820 Gay Ave is a natural fit for military families navigating Hampton Roads duty assignments. The home's 3-bedroom, 2-bath layout handles the practical needs of family life, and a VA loan can make the path to ownership here especially straightforward. Short commutes mean more time at home — and that matters.
For first-time buyers
If you're stepping into homeownership for the first time, 820 Gay Ave offers a compelling starting point. Three bedrooms and two full baths across 1,456 square feet gives you real, livable space — not a starter-home compromise. The 1940 construction means you're getting a home with genuine character, and the surrounding Portsmouth neighborhood provides the kind of stable, established community that makes putting down roots feel right.
Frequently asked questions
How far is 820 Gay Ave from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth?
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth is approximately 8 minutes by car from 820 Gay Ave, making it one of the closest residential options to the base in the area.
How far is 820 Gay Ave from Norfolk Naval Shipyard?
Norfolk Naval Shipyard is about a 9-minute drive from 820 Gay Ave, giving Shipyard-assigned personnel a short and straightforward daily commute.
What is the lot and home size at 820 Gay Ave?
The home offers 1,456 square feet of living space across a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom layout, built in 1940 on a residential lot in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Is 820 Gay Ave in a flood zone?
Flood zone information for 820 Gay Ave is displayed in the FloodRisk tile on this page, which pulls current FEMA map data for the property's specific parcel.
Are there grocery stores and restaurants within walking distance of 820 Gay Ave?
Yes — Food Lion is 0.3 miles away, Heaven's Kitchen is just 0.1 miles out, and Bubba-N-Frank's Portsmouth is 0.3 miles from the front door, making daily errands and dining easy without a car.
Tom and Dariya Milan at LPT Realty know Portsmouth inside and out — reach out to get the full picture on 820 Gay Ave and what it could mean for your next move.
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
3
Full Baths
2
Half Baths
0
Approx Sq Ft
1,456
Stories
2
Fireplaces
0
Flooring
Ceramic, Laminate/LVP, Wood
Heating
Cooling
Laundry
Interior Features
N/A
Appliances
220 V Elec, Dryer, Dryer Hookup, Energy Star Appliance(s), Microwave, Gas Range, Refrigerator, Washer Hookup
Sale & Tax History
List Price
$289,000
Price / Sq Ft
$198
Annual Taxes
$2,852
Monthly Tax
$238
HOA
None
Tax Rate (effective)
0.99%
Sale Timeline (this listing)
| Event | Date | Price | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listed | Jun 2, 2026 | $289,000 | — |
| Currently listed | — | $289,000 | — |
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
$1,822/moPrincipal & interest
$1,500
Property tax
$238
Home insurance
$84
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 CENTURY 21 Nachman Realty · MLS# 10636673
Data provided by REIN MLS. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
$289,000
820 Gay AVE, PORTSMOUTH VA 23701
Portsmouth, Virginia 23701
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