Shortleaf, Ruther Glen, VA 22546

"Great lakes for swimming and fishing. Plenty of outdoor activities for families. There are a ton of kids, in the area, so great for them to meet new friends."

"I drive 20 minutes to work on a major road. there are only 3 traffic lights and not much traffic. I work in a larger town and there is not much to do in ruther Glen"

"We moved in to Ladysmith Village last year and what I love is that it feels like a vacation every time I come home. The community is beautiful, the people are friendly, the architecture has lots of character and the overall impression is charming. The grounds are kept professionally maintained and while the HOA is restrictive, I've never found it hard to comply with the rules that are in effect for the sake of home values and basic community standards. I commute to Fairfax from here, and as crazy as that sounds, it's really not that bad. Development is starting to pick up and I'm hopeful that we will see more restaurants and shopping areas soon. The elementary school is amazing! My kids are learning from skilled teachers who care a lot about individualizing instruction and meeting standards while finding time to engage my students in interesting projects. I don't yet have kids in the middle or high school, which I've heard need a lot of help. Many people home school or send kids to the private schools in the area but I am hopeful that as more people move to the area, overall improvement will occur at those levels. The county is rural and as such it does not bring in much money for schools. Parent involvement is crucial for student success. The utilities are very expensive as the infrastructure is in need of improvements. Water is community well-based, and many times our water can turn a bit brown after a heavy rain. I average $100/month in water/sewer fees with normal use. As a comparison, my bills in Spotsy used to be about $30-50/month. There is also a lot of sediment in the water. But again, with the amenities of the community including an amazing kid-friendly pool, movie nights at the clubhouse, community garden, amphitheater, walking and biking trails, YMCA, banquet hall, and the countless activities that bring the community together, you really can't beat this neighborhood for overall value. "