Charles Town, Harpers Ferry and Shepherdstown West Virginia real estate listings, home buying, selling and relocation information

WV GOV WEBSITE Website devoted to West Virginia and all its regions offers an Eastern Panhandle section.

JEFFERSON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Charles Town-based Chamber offers an A-Z directory of services and other online information.

BERKELEY COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Martinsburg Chamber boasts more than 800 members. Member directory and more.

MORGAN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Berkeley Springs organization offers comprehensive list of businesses and services for the region.

EASTERN PANHANDLE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION Local organization offers support and services to over 320 Panhandle-based members.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S BUSINESS ASSOCIATION Eastern Panhandle-based organization promotes and connects professional women in the area since 1994.

EASTERN PANHANDLE TRANSIT AUTHORITY 'Pan Tran' site offers routes, schedules and services for bus travel in the region. The Land Trust of the Eastern Panhandle is dedicated to protecting the region's natural beauty.

LAND TRUST OF THE EASTERN PANHANDLE Volunteer board from Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan counties concerned with protecting the area's land and nature interests.

EASTERN PANHANDLE CLEAN AIR CONNECTION Education and outreach to preserve air quality in the region.

CRAIGSLIST MARTINSBURG Online community bulletin board with a multitude of categories: for sale, jobs, housing & more.

WONDERFUL WEST VIRGINIA MAGAZINE Photo-rich monthly focuses on history, leisure and tourism in the Mountain State.

Homeowner's Resources

Careful planning is key to a successful renovation. Owning a home these days is all about HOME IMPROVEMENT. HOME DEPOT and LOWES are a good place to start. Both offer a multitude of products, design ideas, and price points. Both also offer free weekly seminars on subjects from tiling and drywall installation to how to execute a professional paintjob. On the subject of DIY, HGTV, the DIY NETWORK and DO IT YOURSELF.COM are founts of practical info for executing almost any home improvement project around. Remodeling a kitchen or bath? The NKBANational Kitchens and Baths Association--offers contacts, advice, and an online remodeling guide.

KITCHENS AND BATHS
...For Faucets & Fixtures, here's the Big Five:
AMERICAN STANDARD Great homes start with a great kitchen
KOHLER
PRICE-PFISTER
DELTA
MOEN

TILE
FLORIDA TILE Natural stone, slate, mosaic or glass, plus porcelain and ceramics.
DALTILE Full selection of varieties plus online Design Tools calculate square footage and design your own look.
MARAZZI, Tile with a European feel. Online Layout Pattern shows how to combine different sizes of tile to create timeless designs.

CABINETS
KRAFTMAID , THOMASVILLE CABINETRY and CROWN POINT CABINETRY offer traditional and contemporary designs with non-stratospheric pricing.

APPLIANCES
GE Three brands--GE, Monogram, & Profile--offer full array of design styles.
SUB ZERO The Connaisseur's Icebox. Vintage modern styling and built-in design makes this brand the Cadillac of Refrigeration.
VIKING Professional quality appliances with cutting edge style.
ELMIRA STOVE WORKS Vintage stoveworks offers nostalgic designs coupled with the technology of today.

DOORS WINDOWS AND FLOORS
MARVIN WINDOWS AND DOORS Top quality & design.
ANDERSEN Mass market windows available nationwide.
ARMSTRONG Innovative alternative flooring materials as well as traditional tile and laminate.
LUMBER LIQUIDATORS Wide choice of discount flooring from bamboo and oak to walnut and pine.

Home is where the HARDWARE is
SCHLAGE, BALDWIN and KWIKSET offer a wide variety of styles on knobs, locksets and door hardware.
HOUSE OF ANTIQUE HARDWARE features reproductions that mimic the real thing.

WINDOW TREATMENTS
HUNTER DOUGLAS Louvers, shades, blinds, shutters and more.
SMITH + NOBLE High-style window treatments at down-to-earth prices.
COUNTRY CURTAINS Classic curtains for the traditional home.

PAINT A finished home always has a professional-looking paint job. Tip: Any dealer will mix paint in the shade you want--just ask! For ideas, techniques and the latest colors:
BENJAMIN MOORE Every color under the sun since 1883 now features  'Pottery Barn' shades.
BEHR Rated #1 Paint by Consumer Reports several years running, this mid-priced Home Depot paint offers excellent value for the money.
SHERWIN WILLIAMS Since 1866. Check out their Concepts in Color visualizer tool.

HOUSE MAGAZINES are a great source of inspiration and practical advice. Here's five to start:
THIS OLD HOUSE  Launched by the HGTV show, this monthly focuses on the restoration of vintage homes and the challenges they impose.
METROPOLITAN HOME Dazzling homes with a chic urban feel by top architects and decorators.
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS  Traditional decors and beautiful gardens grace the pages of this home-style monthly.
COTTAGE LIVING Small homes are the focus of this magazine that places charm and innovation at the forefront of design philosophy.
DOMINO  Hip and trendy decor suggestions geared to a dynamic spirit.

Cosmetic Improvements >Cosmetic Flaws

Many buyers make home buying decisions based primarily upon emotional reactions to the homes we show them. A freshly-painted house with clean windows and waxed floors will sell for top dollar, while a nearby home which needs a lot of cosmetic attention may languish on the market, even with a much lower asking price.

If you find yourself in the position of comparing two such houses, put your imagination to work. If the only difference is paint, cleaning, and carpeting (or getting unsightly furniture moved out), remember that these are fairly low ticket items that you would probably choose to do even if the house is in good shape. If you focus your attention on the location and the condition of the structure and the major systems, you may be able to get a "not-very-rough" diamond at a great price. If cosmetic problems make you nervous about the home, the structural inspection can answer most of your questions.

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Q	What is a "jumbo mortgage"?
A	The term "jumbo mortgage" currently refers to a mortgage loan in excess of $359,650, although the threshold amount may change as the market fluctuates.
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