Cville Home FinderWITH MAZI
University of Virginia · Relocation Guide

Welcome to Grounds. Welcome home.

Everything new UVA faculty, staff, students and their families need to settle into Charlottesville: what to do before you arrive, where to live, how to get around, who to call for care, and where to cheer on the Hoos.

New facultyStaff & UVA Health team membersGraduate & international studentsFamilies & partnersUVA families moving away
Book a welcome call Start the checklist ↓
A note from Mazi
“Every UVA family I have moved told me the same thing: they felt lost at first. This page is the guide I wish each of them had on day one.”

I have guided many relocating UVA hires, students and their families through this move, from the first video call in another country to the first football Saturday. A new job or program comes with a hundred small decisions: which neighborhood fits your commute, when to sign a lease, how parking works, which doctor is taking new patients.

Use this guide on your own, or let me walk it with you. I will meet you, show you around, and connect you with the people who make Charlottesville feel like home.

How I welcome you

From first call to first week

1Before you arrive

Welcome call

A video meeting about your role, start date, budget, schools and lifestyle. I send a short list of neighborhoods to compare.

2Your visit

Charlottesville day

I meet you and drive your commute at rush hour, tour Grounds and the neighborhoods on your list, and show you where locals eat and shop.

3Finding home

Buy with confidence

Private and virtual tours, offer strategy and steady guidance from contract to closing, with trusted local lenders, inspectors and attorneys.

4After the move

Settling in

Introductions to doctors, schools, places of worship, contractors and community groups. I stay your local contact long after the keys.

UVA families I have helped

In their own words

★★★★★ Mazi alerted me in person and within minutes to each relevant house that became available… Mazi’s tips at the offer-stage were a game-changer and a true money-saver.
Zvi GilboaUVA Arts & Sciences faculty · Buyer in Belmont
★★★★★ My wife and I trusted her implicitly when it came to our housing needs, and Mazi did not disappoint… She is a rare individual that truly has her clients’ best interests at heart.
Adella & Garrett BartolettiUVA Medical Sciences · Buyers
★★★★★ Mazi knows people, she understands what they need, and she works tirelessly to turn over every stone on the way to the finish line… her work ethic and intuition really set her apart.
Bob PineoUVA School of Architecture · Client
★★★★★ Mazi, your diligence reflects something far deeper than ambition, it reveals the substance of your character. As a real estate agent, you guide people through one of life’s most meaningful decisions with unwavering commitment, patience, and integrity. But as a friend, you offer something even more rare: a steady presence, genuine loyalty, and the kind of care that makes people feel seen and supported. The homes you help others find may give them a place to live, but the trust, kindness, and dedication you bring give people a sense of belonging. Your work is admirable; your heart is extraordinary.
Julio’s familyUVA Medical Sciences · Gabriel’s family
Before you arrive

Your pre-move checklist

Most of the stress in a UVA move comes from timing. Start these early and the rest falls into place.

Faculty, staff & UVA Health
  • Ask about relocation support before you sign. UVA policy HRM-047 allows moving and relocation assistance when it is written into a Moving and Relocation Agreement with your department.
  • Visit UVA HR’s New Employees page for onboarding, benefits enrollment windows and the UVA Health New Hire Portal for medical center roles.
  • Partner looking for work? The UVA Dual Career Program supports spouses and partners of benefited faculty and staff.
  • Plan parking early. Permits are handled by UVA Parking & Transportation, and many staff skip the car with free UVA buses and regional commuter routes.
  • Planning to buy? Get pre-approved before your house-hunting trip so you can act quickly. Well-priced homes near Grounds can go under contract within days.
  • Choose schools by address. Charlottesville City Schools and Albemarle County Public Schools are separate districts, so the house you choose decides the school.
  • Once you move: Virginia asks new residents to get a Virginia driver’s license within 60 days and to title and register their vehicle within 30 days.
Graduate & international students
  • Thinking about buying? Many graduate-student families and UVA parents buy a condo or home near Grounds for the length of a program. I can show you how buying compares and what you could sell for when you graduate.
  • International students and scholars: the International Students & Scholars Program offers an Arriving at UVA checklist, a virtual pre-arrival series and Global Greeters to meet you.
  • Read the Graduate Guide for practical tips on life at UVA and in Charlottesville.
  • Get your UVA ID card soon after arrival. It works as your bus pass on Charlottesville Area Transit and UVA buses.
  • Register with Student Health & Wellness and confirm your insurance before you need care.
  • Family coming with you? I help student families find homes near good schools, parks and the bus line.
Grounds
What UVA calls its campus. You will rarely hear “campus” here.
The Lawn
Jefferson’s original terraced green, crowned by the Rotunda. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Corner
The restaurant and shop strip on University Avenue, right beside Grounds.
First-years
UVA says first-, second-, third- and fourth-years instead of freshmen and seniors.
Hoos & Wahoos
UVA fans and students. The teams are the Cavaliers, or simply “the Hoos.”
C’ville
What everyone calls Charlottesville. You will be saying it within a week.
Where to live

Neighborhoods by commute to Grounds

Typical drive times to central Grounds outside rush hour. I will drive your real commute with you before you decide.

AreaTo GroundsFeelGood fit for
Venable & The CornerWalkHistoric homes and apartments right beside GroundsStudents, walk-to-work faculty
Fry’s Spring & JPA5–10 minLeafy streets, near UVA Health and the Fry’s Spring Beach ClubMedical center staff, residents
Belmont & Downtown10 minWalkable, restaurants, the Downtown Mall and free trolley to UVAYoung professionals, couples
Barracks Rd & Meadowbrook5–10 minEstablished neighborhoods near shopping and GreenbrierFaculty families
Ivy & Farmington area10–15 minLarger lots, country roads, close to the west side of GroundsFamilies wanting space
Crozet20–25 minMountain-view village, newer homes, Crozet CONNECT busFamilies, outdoor lovers
Pantops & Glenmore10–20 minEast side views, near Sentara Martha Jefferson HospitalHospital staff, golf lovers
Forest Lakes & Hollymead15–20 minPlanned communities near the airport and Route 29 shoppingFamilies, frequent flyers
Lake Monticello30 minLake community with more home for the budgetValue seekers, remote days
Getting around

Buses, trains & the airport

UVA & city buses

UVA’s own buses circle Grounds for free. Charlottesville Area Transit runs across the city and county, and a UVA ID rides free. The free trolley links Grounds with the Downtown Mall.

CAT · 434-970-3649

Commuter routes

Workday CONNECT buses bring riders from Crozet, the Route 29 North corridor and Lovingston to UVA and downtown. JAUNT also offers ride-by-reservation service across the region.

JAUNT · 434-296-3184

Air & rail

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO) is about 15 minutes north of Grounds with nonstop flights to major hubs. Amtrak stops at Union Station on West Main Street, a short walk from the Corner.

Washington D.C. ≈ 2.5 hrs by car or train

Doctors & care

Health care close to home

Charlottesville is home to UVA Health, a nationally recognized academic medical center, and Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital. Find a primary care doctor soon after you arrive, since some practices have waitlists for new patients.

Emergency · 24/7

UVA Health Emergency Department

1215 Lee St · 434-924-3627

Emergency · 24/7

Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital

500 Martha Jefferson Dr, Pantops · 434-654-7000

Emergency · 24/7

Sentara Freestanding ER, Proffit Road

3263 Proffit Rd, north Albemarle · 434-654-4650

Urgent care

UVA Primary Care Riverside

2335 Seminole Ln, Suite 200 · 434-975-7700

Urgent care

Sentara Urgent Care Charlottesville

920 E High St, Suite 102 · 434-290-1226

Students

UVA Student Health & Wellness

Primary care, counseling and after-hours guidance for enrolled students.

In an emergency, call 911. Hours and services change, so call ahead for urgent care. I am happy to share pediatricians, dentists and specialists my clients love.

Eat, visit, explore

Your first favorite places

Charlottesville Downtown Mall in fall
The Downtown Mall in fall

Near Grounds

The Corner for a quick lunch, including Take It Away Sandwich Shop, a longtime UVA favorite, plus coffee shops along University Avenue, and Barracks Road Shopping Center for groceries and errands.

Bodo’s Bagels

Charlottesville’s famous bagel shop and a UVA rite of passage, with three locations: on the Corner, on Emmet Street near Barracks Road, and downtown on Preston Avenue. Expect a line, and know that it moves fast.

Downtown & Belmont

The Downtown Mall’s brick promenade of restaurants and shops, the Paramount Theater, the Ting Pavilion for summer concerts, and Belmont’s small neighborhood restaurants.

History

Monticello and Highland are minutes from town. Walk the Lawn and the Academical Village, then visit the Rotunda.

Outdoors

Carter Mountain Orchard for apples and sunsets, the Saunders-Monticello Trail, the Rivanna Trail, Humpback Rocks, and Shenandoah National Park about 30 minutes west.

Wine & weekends

Dozens of vineyards on the Monticello Wine Trail, plus mountain towns in Nelson County and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Faith & community

Houses of worship of many traditions, including Congregation Beth Israel downtown (301 E Jefferson St) and UVA Hillel for students. The Islamic Society of Central Virginia mosque is at 708 Pine St. Halal groceries: Afghan Grand Market (323 W Main St) and Ishtar Market for Middle Eastern foods (2171 Ivy Rd).

Game days · Go Hoos

Orange, blue & Scott Stadium

Football Saturdays and winter nights at John Paul Jones Arena are the easiest way to feel part of UVA. Tickets for every sport are at UVAtix.com.

Panoramic view of the field at Scott Stadium during a UVA football game
Scott Stadium · football
Exterior of John Paul Jones Arena at dusk
John Paul Jones Arena · basketball

Football 2026 Scott Stadium

  • Sat Aug 29vs NC State · Rio de Janeiro, BrazilNeutral
  • Fri Sep 11Norfolk StateHome
  • Sat Sep 19vs West Virginia · Charlotte, NCNeutral
  • Sat Sep 26DelawareHome
  • Sat Oct 3at Florida StateAway
  • Sat Oct 10SyracuseHome
  • Sat Oct 17at SMUAway
  • Sat Oct 31at Wake ForestAway
  • Sat Nov 14CaliforniaHome
  • Sat Nov 21North CarolinaHome
  • Sat Nov 28at Virginia Tech · Commonwealth ClashAway

Kickoff times are set by TV partners, often about two weeks out. Latest times at VirginiaSports.com.

Men’s basketball 2026–27 Home games at JPJ

  • Fri Nov 6NortheasternHome
  • Tue Nov 10BucknellHome
  • Tue Nov 17Old DominionHome
  • Fri Nov 20Loyola MarylandHome
  • Wed Dec 2Kentucky · SEC/ACC ChallengeHome
  • Tue Dec 8Bethune-CookmanHome
  • Sun Dec 13Western CarolinaHome
  • Sat Jan 2SMUHome
  • Wed Jan 13Boston CollegeHome
  • Wed Jan 27Georgia TechHome
  • Sat Jan 30Virginia TechHome
  • Sat Feb 6DukeHome
  • Sat Feb 13Notre DameHome
  • Mon Feb 15LouisvilleHome
  • Sat Feb 27Florida StateHome
  • Sat Mar 6NC State · home finaleHome

Plus Arkansas (Nov 8, Washington D.C.), the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas (Nov 25 & 27) and UConn at Madison Square Garden (Dec 20). Tip-off times at VirginiaSports.com.

Getting to the game

Park once and walk, or use the free fan shuttles and lots UVA posts before each game. Arrive early for big matchups.

Traditions

Wear orange, sing the Good Old Song after every score, and join the crowd on the Lawn for fall festivities.

More to cheer

Women’s basketball, soccer, lacrosse, baseball at Disharoon Park and volleyball are affordable, family-friendly and easy to catch.

What UVA offers you

Amenities on Grounds

Recreation centers

Pools, gyms, courts and classes at the Aquatic & Fitness Center, Memorial Gym and North Grounds Rec. Faculty and staff memberships are available.

Arts & culture

The Fralin Museum of Art, UVA Drama productions, concerts at Old Cabell Hall and public lectures through the year.

Libraries

Alderman, Clemons and specialty libraries, open to the UVA community, plus free LinkedIn Learning for employees.

Family support

The UVA Child Development Center and Bright Horizons back-up care help working parents.

Employee perks

A UVA discount program, a faculty and staff dining plan, and an education benefit for employees.

Trails & green space

Observatory Hill trails, the gardens of the Academical Village and the Dell pond right on Grounds.

Communities

Employee resource groups, a Muslim Students Association and hundreds of student clubs.

Events

The UVA events calendar lists talks, exhibits, performances and athletics open to the public.

Leaving Charlottesville?

Sell to the next UVA family

Taking a new position, graduating or moving closer to family? Every year I guide new UVA faculty, staff and students who are looking for a home here. Your home may already have a buyer waiting.

Talk about selling
1

Buyers already on my list

Through my relocation work I am in touch with incoming UVA hires and families who want a home before they arrive. I can match your home with them, sometimes before it hits the market.

2

Sell on your timeline, even from away

If you have already moved, I coordinate showings, repairs, cleaning and inspections here, and closing documents can often be signed remotely.

3

Pricing and presentation

Thoughtful pricing, preparation and marketing aimed at the buyers most likely to love your home, including the academic calendar’s busy summer moves.

4

Know someone coming to UVA?

Connect them with me. Helping one family leave and the next one arrive is my favorite kind of move.

Map

Around Grounds

Your UVA chapter

Coming to UVA? Let’s make it easy.

Tell me your start date and what matters most to your family. I will build your personal Charlottesville plan and meet you when you arrive.

דברו איתי בעברית או באנגלית

434.882.2287mazi@cvillehomefinder.com
Schedule a free welcome call