Over the Past Year, the National Median Home Price Increased by Less than Six Percent While the Principal-and-Interest Mortgage Payment Increased over Sixteen Percent.

CoreLogic predicts the median sales price will “rise 2.7 percent in real, or inflation-adjusted, terms” between September 2018 and September 2019. This suggests a monthly mortgage payment increase from $912 in September 2018 to $994 by September 2019 (an 8.9 percent year-over-year gain or, nominally, an 11.3 percent rise).

Homebuyers are likely to see more of their incomes devoted to mortgage payments.

What will this mean for West Virginia’s home prices and economy 2019?

Ed Gaunch is Elected as the New State Commerce Secretary and One Main Goal is to Help Existing Businesses in WV Flourish.

Gaunch noted that he has no intention of ignoring new businesses, but aims to put an emphasis on these existing industries by asking questions surrounding, “How can we help you?” For example, “How can we help you expand?” and “How can we help you be more healthy and hire more West Virginians?”

Gaunch’s former expertise positions him perfectly to shift focus and oversee seven state agencies. The challenge is right up his alley.

“As it relates to the health and welfare of workers, substance abuse, roads, broadband, workforce participation rate and educational outcomes,” he said, “these impact what we are trying to do. We need to help those departments and make sure we are in sync with them, rowing in the same direction.”

Gaunch announces, “I’m the strategic person who looks at all of these agencies, makes sure they’re in sync, and makes sure they all have a common goal and mission. The goal is to attract business to our state.”

West Virginia’s Health Care Industry is on the Rise and Bringing Job Opportunities With It.

Since the recession of 2008, many WV industries have not seen as much of a positive recovery as we would like. Healthcare, on the other hand, is one of the few that have continued to flourish. Aside from a few slow spots, this sector has contributed to robust job growth in the last decade.

With the decline in the coal industry of our state, healthcare is facing pressure to continue this steady increase. High demands stem from variables such as WV being an aging and growing population as well as the naturally higher costs that come with advances in medicine and medical technologies.

Officials note that focusing on individual wellness and lowering costs will be a key to keeping this industry alive and booming. There is no lack of optimism with many state economists that this is exactly what the next few years will bring.

Music Education Comes to Berkeley Springs Primary!

Music Workshop, a free, supplemental music education program, is being implemented by Berkeley Springs Primary School. The program is designed to either provide music education in schools where instruction has been cut, or as an add-on enhancement to current music programming. Berkeley Springs joins students in 49 other states enjoying this free program. Data on music education shows that it is an integral and important part of a student’s educational experience and Berkeley Springs is the first in the state to adopt the program. Congratulations and enjoy the music!

Your West Virginia Local Expert

West Virginia will continue to grow and benefit from our strong communities. Contact us today for all your panhandle real estate needs!

Source: wvmetronews.com

Another House is Completed Through WV Rise Flood Relief

West Virginia RISE has now officially completed 21 houses! The active project list has added more homes to be worked on has reached a number of 427 where 166 of these cases require total reconstruction, 159 require rehabilitation of some sort, and 102 need unit replacement.

At this rate, approximately $311,114 is used monthly to help regain proper functionality and we are proud to continue to use our money effectively.

HUD has listed hotlines for those in need of home repair assistance: 304-220-2570 and for anyone needing to report fraud regarding Home Reconstruction at 1-866-WVWATCH (1-866-989-2824).

General Patrick Morrisey Creates New Opportunities for the Elderly

The plan is to open up a collaboration between his office and the Bi-County Nutrition Program that will allow the elderly to receive food deliveries straight to their home in Harrison and Doddridge Counties.

In recent years, WV communities have noticed how lives have been affected by seniors’ vulnerability and are taking efforts to keep them from becoming victims. On top of food, they will be provided information on dangers such as targeting scams, abuse, and exploitation. Our community will always continue to strive to keep all members of society feeling safe and welcome.

West Virginia’s OLWEUS Program has effectively been reducing bullying in the school districts for seven years.

This year’s program kick-off took place in War Memorial Park with all students from pre-K through high school, district staff, family, and community members in attendance.

The goals of this program include bully prevention, school climate improvement, and peer to peer relationships. Students are taught to “consider their words and actions, and what to do if they or someone else is being bullied.” Annual anonymous survey results show the decline in bullying from cyber to verbal and everything in between.

There are many ways bullying can be reported, including this online site, www.berkeleycountyschools.org. Spread this link along to members of our school district to continue the declining rate in bullying statistics.

West Virginians Urged to Help Protect the Environment.

A public poll was sent to residents asking whether communities should protect the environment at all costs or if we have gone too far with our efforts to sustain it. Results show improvement since 2014 with the same question asked at the same location. 67% of all 55 counties in WV responded we should do whatever it takes this year.

This is a significant increase compared to 2014’s results of 51%. This year, 84% of Democrats support “doing whatever it takes” while 52% of Republicans voted so.

A related question on the survey asks if stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the expenditure, or if they cost too many jobs and hurt our economy. This question resulted in 50% both ways, representing an increase to the prior year which indicated a 60% siding with “stricter environmental laws hurt the economy.”

These questions continue to affect communities all over and are one immediate way to get an overview of the public’s vision for our regulations. Five major natural gas projects are in effect across West Virginia, including the Affordable Clean Power Plan, a Rockwell Industrial Plant, and the Mountain Valley Pipeline and Atlantic Coast Pipeline.

Our efforts will continue to achieve the greatest amount of good that represents our state’s willingness for improvement.

We’re doing great, West Virginia! Let’s keep it up.

A New Tech Start-up, Divvy Homes, Transforms the Way We Buy Houses in West Virginia.

Here’s how it works: Divvy Homes will buy a home you want (within its prerequisites) and allow you to pay a small percentage for a down payment to the Divvy Company. You can then choose to lease the house from Divvy, buy within three years and allow ~20% of your rent to go to Divvy’s Equity Credits. Once the three years are up, you will own 10% of your property, which is enough to qualify for a mortgage and buy Divvy out.

Learn more here: A New Twist on Rent-to-Own Housing

John O’Neal and Greg Puckett Are Determined and Optimistic about Economic Growth

There is a discussion about expanding economic development numbers by shifting some things around in the future. On top of this, tourism is on the rise as well as coal severance.

Find out more: Local County Officials Optimistic

Natural Gas Called ‘Best Hope’ for West Virginia at Summer Meeting of Independent Oil and Gas Association.

Vice President of the Independent Oil and Gas Association has concern for the future gas prices come 2020 and 2021. To help solve this, an organization led by regulatory affairs for Northeast Natural Energy will lead over 500 members through the creation of largely gas producer-oriented operations.

Learn more about the situation here: Natural Gas Best Hope

The Schools of Berkeley County Have Saved $3.1 million in Utility Expenses from their Total Makeover in Energy Systems.

Electric consumption has dropped 37% and Berkeley County Schools have earned the seventh-highest Energy-Star rated schools in the state.

The makeover includes seven geothermal installations, boiler and chiller replacements, over 23,000 LED light installations, thermal envelope improvements, computer power management, and district-wide, web-accessible HVAC controls.

Learn more here: Berkeley Co. Schools Saves #3.1M in Energy Costs

The United Health Care Community Care Program granted Thankful Valley Farms $10,000 for Being One of the Most Beneficial Local Businesses for the Health and Wellness of Greater Charleston.

The award has been running for over three years now and the program continues to raise more awareness. The finalists included Sherri Taylor’s Thankful Farms and Hatchery, Pollen8 Inc.; United Way of Central West Virginia; VoixRx; and A More Excellent Way Life Center Church.

The project submissions are based on community impact, creativity, and feasibility for the purpose of empowering and recognizing West Virginia’s innovative small businesses.

The plan is to continue this program in the future for many years to come as the turnout continues to surprise.

The West Virginia Department of Transportation Discusses Opportunity for Improvement with its Roads to Prosperity Project near Princeton.

Some plans are as follows:

• Connecting the Christine West Bridge (A.K.A. The Bridge To Nowhere) to Route 123 (A.K.A. Airport Road) during Spring 2019,
• Paving Secondary Roads: Interstate 77 Project, new bridge possibilities at Low Water Road and Route 19,
• Work is in progress to connect the town to another water source.

Thank you to the Governor, the representatives, the secretary and all involved for taking citizen’s needs into consideration!

The Kanawha County Public Library is expanding and renovating.

Thank you to the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation and a generous anonymous donation for helping your local libraries!

The project is looking at about $6 million left to reach the goal of $27 million raised. Construction is to begin early next year and last anywhere from 18-24 months.

There’s a new name in the running for West Virginia’s House of Delegates

Until now, Phil Diserio was running unopposed for the seat of an independent to represent Brooke County. Welcome, Trevor Barnhart.

See why he is running and learn more about him here, https://wtov9.com/news/local/theres-a-new-name-in-the-running-for-west-virginias-house-of-delegates

West Virginia has seen a population decrease since 2007 of about 18,000 residents. This is a .1% population decrease each year.

It is one of the two fastest declining states in the nation right now. This shrinkage may affect finances for its state residents.

However, officials are looking at this as a growth opportunity and optimism is surrounding our communities. This change in the population may make room for residents interested in starting a business, raising a family in a less densely populated region, recoup and enjoy our natural resources, and revitalize West Virginia.

Wood County teachers are going through ALICE Training (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate).

Parkersburg High School Principal Kenny DeMoss says “The training, the practice of the drills, you know, hearing the live rounds out in the building is huge. I think it just helps prepare us for something that we hope never happens.”

To learn more about this training course, click here: http://www.thenewscenter.tv/content/news/Wood-County-schools-use-walk-out-make-up-days-for-active-shooter-training-485698141.html

The fiscal year 2019 budget has Lewis County employees seeing a possible 3% salary increase going into effect with the First of July.

This past March brought Lewis County Commission an $8.58 million budget approval allowing for many fiscal adjustments.

Projections for Lewis County include $8,580,791 in revenue and about the same in expenses. This 3% salary raise does not include law enforcement personnel nor Lewis-Gilmer 911 employees.

Doddridge County Courthouse is going through major renovations.

The building that was built in 1902 has had leaking roofs, crumbling foundations, and other safety concerns.

Because it has been in need of work for a long time, officials have been putting away money for a few years. A $1,065,000 bid has been accepted over the summer and the County Commissioner is ready to get to work.

The windows are currently being reinstalled, the stained glass is being fixed, and new sprinklers will be paid for with help from a $1000,000 grant from the WV Courthouse Facilities Improvement Authority.

The U.S. Supreme Court may be enforcing a sales tax on online purchases such as Amazon and E-Bay.

The hoped-for effect is to put these companies on “more equal footing with local retailers whose customers have to pay state sales tax”.

After years of study, online sales and local sales equalization have been a goal. Although Gov. Jim Justice says he isn’t too fond of the idea, he acknowledges that it is an issue for the legislature.

• Over 70 non-profits in the Mid-Ohio Valley benefit from the West Virginian Central Federal Credit Union (WVCFCU) donation of $125,000

The CEO of WVCFCU says, “The community does so much for us…in turn, we should return the favor and support them.”

Here is a list of all the recipients:

SW Resources, Gloria Husk C/O We Have Your Six MOV, Apraxia Kids, Lubeck Community Cupboard, Maternity House, Friendship Kitchen, U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs (Wood County VA), Old Man Rivers, Humane Society of Parkersburg, Family Crisis and Intervention Center, Children’s Home Society of WV, Faithlink, The Gabriel Project of WV, Battle Against Cystic Fibrosis, House to Home, Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley, Veteran’s Museum of the Mid-Ohio Valley, Special Veteran’s Project Committee, Stuff the Bus, Good Samaritan, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Club, Consumer Credit Counseling, Boys and Girls Club of Pleasants County, Pleasants County Humane Society -Yes Open, Belmont City Volunteer Fire Dept.,

Educators Rising West Virginia, Ritchie County Humane Society, Packs of Plenty in CO Regeneration Inc., Children’s Home Society – Ritchie County, Ritchie County 4-H, Pennsboro Food Pantry, Ellenboro Food Pantry, Harrisville Food Pantry, Ellenboro VFD, Harrisville VFD, Cairo VFD, Pennsboro VFD, Smithville VFD, Camp Barbe Assoc, Hope Shop, Wirt County Senior Citizens, Boy Scout Troop 30, Girl Scouts, Wirt County FFA, Wirt County 4-H, Wirt Missional Group, American Legion Post 55, Family Resource Network, Elizabeth and Wirt County VFD, Brother’s Keeper, Epworth Church Food Bank, Calvary Church Food Bank, No Hunger Food Bank, BoMar Club, Inc., Ripley Main Street,

Operation Jackson County Veterans, Gospel Mission Food Pantry, Marietta Humane Society, Boys and Girls Club of Washington County Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation, MOV Gift to Life, Betsey Mills Club, Buckeye Bob/Chris Custer Fund, Ely Chapman Education Foundation, O’Neill Senior Center, Oriana House, The Salvation Army of Marietta, BrAva, 86th Belpre Homecoming – Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce, Washington County Home, Children’s Hunger Alliance, Barlow VFD, Beverly VFD, Dunham VFD, Salem VFD, Wesley VFD, L-A VFD, Watertown VFD, Newport VFD, Fearing VFD