Much press has been devoted to the housing market and it’s seemingly bottomless free fall. Truth of the matter is, if you are financially able and considering buying a home, this market is ideal.  Let’s explore three reasons why.   Interest Rates Mortgage rates have plummeted to lows not seen in over 50 years.  A Freddie Mac survey reports that a 15 year fixed mortgage is now 3.14%. If you were to obtain a mortgage for $150,000 four years ago, the payment would have been $1277.16. That same mortgage today would save you $231.16 a month. Over the life of the loan, the savings would total $41,608.80!   Affordability Scan the Charleston WV real estate listings for sale and you will notice that there are numerous homes of good quality that are surprisingly affordable for someone of even a m... 02/09/2012

UNDER CONTRACT: Investment Property in Charleston, WV SOLD: May 30, 2012 Vacant after several years, this home situated on the corner of Joseph Street in downtown Charleston, WV, has finally found a new owner. Featuring a beautiful stone fireplace, lovely tin ceiling in the kitchen and a stunning wood ceiling in the living room, this home is also conveniently located two blocks from the Town Center Mall and Charleston Civic Center Arena.  Dale Samples, REALTOR serving the Teays Valley, Cross Lanes, and Charleston area found a new buyer in a little over 90 days.   01/27/2012

Charleston WV first time home buyers program with down payment assistance. Low to moderate income families can experience the joys of owning their own home with a down payment assistance program administered through the Mayor's Office of Economic Development (MOECD) with funds received from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).   After meeting the necessary credit score and completing the mandatory homeownership course, qualifying residents receive up to 30% of the purchase price for closing costs and down payment assistance. If you stay in the home for up to 10 years, you can see the entire 30% loan forgiven. The home must also meet minimum standards. Charleston, WV homes that do not meet the standards can be repaired by the seller for the loan to proceed. Annual in... 01/17/2012

Mortgage Rates continue their downward slide making Charleston, WV homes even more affordable. The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Rate Survey reported that the 30 year fixed rate dipped from 4.10% down to 4.0%. On the 15 year fixed rate mortgage, after barely moving the last few weeks, dropped to 3.31%. Charleston, WV mortgage rates are expected to remain low for awhile. If you are in the market for a home, these low rates make a mortgage cheaper than we have seen in decades! I am a REALTOR serving the Charleston, WV market. If you need help with your home buying or selling process, I would be glad to help. Call or text me at (304) 741 4705! --------------------------------------------------------------- The rates quoted are an average of the rates locked in. Your individual rate may vary... 11/03/2011

If you are selling your Charleston, WV home the market looks to be in your favor. During this month, 44 homes sold within the city limits of Charleston. This is a 13.5% increase over October 2010. This was quite an eclectic month. Some of the homes in Charleston sold, included one fixer upper that was 84% off the asking price for a final of $3,000. No that was not a typo! On the other end, a $678,000 home sold for $650,000 after 143 days on the market. Overall, October was a good month for Charleston, WV homes. The average days on the market for homes that closed escrow in October was 110 and the sale price was 87% off the listing price. Contact me today to see what I have in my bag of tricks to get your Charleston, WV home in the sold column! CALL / TEXT (304) 741 4705   Image: Witthay... 10/31/2011

Leaves are not the only thing falling this October. Interest rates continue to slide downward. The low mortgage rates equal a great time to buy a Charleston WV home.  According to a recent Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey, a 30 year fixed rate mortgage is 3.94%, while a 15 year mortgage is 3.26%.   What does this mean for someone looking to buy a home in the Charleston WV area? You could save enough money to pay for a nice college for the children, or stash away a good amount for retirement.    According to a recent market report from the Kanawha Valley Board of Realtors, the average price for a home in Charleston, WV is $144,200.   If you were to purchase this home 3 or 4 years ago when the mortgage rates were 3% higher, the monthly payment would be $1237.19 for principal and intere... 10/07/2011

The Sixth Annual Charleston WV Rod Run & Doo Wop returns to the capital city this weekend. Running from Wednesday October 5 to Sunday October 9, 2011, the Charleston WV Rod Run & Doo Wop offers a step back in time when hundreds of cars from the 40's, 50's, 60', 70's and on up to modern show cars will line the Kanawha Boulevard. There will be many exciting events such as a burnout contest, concerts, and even a ladies car maintenance seminar at the Charleston House Hotel. Visit theRod Run official home page for a full detailed schedule. The weatherman said we are going to have clear sky, warm weather and dipping humidity. Enjoy a stroll on the Kanawha Boulevard before old man winter rolls into town! Pictured at left is my former car, a 1979 Chevrolet Camaro Z28. I unfortunately never got ... 10/07/2011

Are you receiving a ton of credit card offers at your Charleston, WV home? A trip to the mailbox yields two or three pre-approved credit card offers, sometimes from the same company, daily. Did you know that ID theives can pilfer these from your mailbox and wreak havoc on your credit? There is a simple website you can visit that will stop all of these crazy offers from coming to your Charleston, WV home! You can opt out for five years, or permanently. You can also opt back in, if you decide later on that you like receiving the offers. Visit www.optoutprescreen.com and click the link at the bottom of the page. To opt out permanently you will have to mail in a form with your signature. Once they receive the request from you, the three main credit bureaus, Experian, Transunion and Equifax ... 09/28/2011

VideoAd by Mixpo Forgive me for not running around in the Rain this week.  My grandfather, D-John(which is short for Daddy John) passed away after a long illness with Alzheimer's.  My grandmother asked for me to be the family spokesperson at the funeral! Wow! What an honor.  My grandfather was an incredible human being - someone I admired dearly.  Here is the eulogy I delivered - If I have a chance I'm going to upload the video that played while we were at the funeral.  My beloved grandfather, John F. Santrock, was a man of many talents, and his sphere of influence reached far and wide, as can be verified by the number of people here today. How could you not like John Santrock? If he had an enemy, I never knew it. When one reads his obituary, the question to be asked is, "How did he do... 09/13/2008

Today I took my family to the Capitol Grounds in Charleston. I went because it’s one of my favorite places and I hadn’t been there in so long. But I saw something that I just didn’t expect to see. I’d never been in the War Memorial. It’s a beautiful tribute – four curved walls make a circle that surrounds you with the names of West Virginians who died to keep us safe. There are SO MANY NAMES. My daughters couldn’t believe there were so many. I ran my hands along them, feeling their names under my fingers. I remembered that I’d heard somewhere West Virginia usually has more soldiers per catipa that most states. Some would say it’s because we’re poor and the military offers a way out. I think that we also feel a strong obligation to help wherever we can. We take care of each other when w... 10/20/2007

The Sternwheel Regatta is how West Virginia says good-bye to summer. Tens of thousands of us (and our closest friends) get together in our lovely capitol city of Charleston to party alongside the beautiful Kanawha River. The Sternwheelers are a big draw, and you'll see plenty of action out on the water, but the party on the levee is what it's all about.We have something for everyone, so come every night or pick your favorites! Thursday August 30th is Oldies Night, featuring Starship with Mickey Thomas.Friday August 31st is Rock Night, and Fuel will headline. Saturday night, September 1st we go Country with The Wreckers. The Gin Blossoms, one of my favorites, will take the stage Sunday, September 2nd. If all that FREE music wasn't enough for you, we'll also have rides on the Sternwheeler... 07/11/2007