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Martinsburg, WV Real Estate News

By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
My Girlfriend was recently searching for a used car on craigslist. She found what she thought was a great, to good to be true deal, and she was right. When she inquired about the car, that had been advertised locally, she was told that the car was actually in florida. The guy selling the car was stationed in Florida getting ready to be sent to Afghanastan and really needed to get rid of the car. He said he was willing to send the car free of charge to West Virginia, as soon as she sent the money. Just to see his response we replied and said that my father was in Florida and would come pick the car up and drive it back in lieu of flying back. His response was that the car was in some magical ship yard that he had no access to unless he was shipping it across country. After asking around ...
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By Aaron Poling, Working to get YOU the BEST Deal!
(Long & Foster)
I have been a member of Active Rain for a few months, and have enjoyed everything about it. I have been blogging on a basic membership but i have just decided to take it up a notch. I am starting a Outside Blog, and this is number one. So wish me luck and if there is anyone out there with advice, please please Help!
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  Step One:Clean, paint, repair, and generally spruce up your house so that it is ready for people to picture themselves living there. The clutter is put away, and the true charm of your house is revealed. Step Two:Obtain a professional inspection, preferably from an inspector that belongs to the American Society of Home Inspectors. There may be other reports that are common to your area, such as energy efficiency. Such a report will give buyers greater confidence, and can cut down a lot of negotiating time, especially if you have addressed any issues the report identifies. Step Three:The next step is arguably the most daunting - choosing a realtor. The key here is to interview at least three realtors, so that you can see who in the area is the most realistic and who offers the best pla...
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By Debbie Small, REALTOR
(Long & Foster Realtors)
Press Release: Housing Forum will be held Monday The first of many anticipated public housing forums will be held tomorrow, November 24, between 6 and 8pm at The Living Room in Martinsburg. The evening's event is sponsored by Marc Savitt, owner of The Mortgage Center. The guest speakers for the evening include David Hartley of the Eastern Panhandle Homebuilders Association, Stacy Lawing affiliated with Keller Williams Realty and yours truly. The focus will be on the micro market of the Eastern Panhandle and our current economic state during these uncertain times. Is our housing market as bad as the national media portrays it? Come find out for yourself from local experts who really have a pulse on the local market. When: Monday, November 24, 6-8pm Where: 50 Monroe St, Martinsburg WV Cos...
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By Debbie Small, REALTOR
(Long & Foster Realtors)
Welcome to DeFluri's Fine Chocolates, the sweetest place in town where truffles just melt in your mouth. Brenda and Charlie Casabona are veteran chocolatiers and wizards of the finest confections you've never even dreamed of. There is a basket filled with over the top chocolate "Twinkies" that are a big hit and yet they offer the old favorite standby English lemon drops. If you crave it, they have it! The Casabona's chocolate factory is located in the heart of Martinsburg's historic district in the 50's era building that once housed the McCroy's Five & Dime Store. They have lovingly restored the premises preserving the quant conveyed features within including the soda-fountain lunch counter, tin ceiling tiles, and are currently expanding the store front facade. Every piece of chocolate ...
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By Debbie Small, REALTOR
(Long & Foster Realtors)
I was caught on TV as a spectator during the field hearing held in Martinsburg West Virginia at the chambers of the Berkeley County Commission. The event was widely covered by local media and well attended with standing room only. Just on the heels of the Housing Rescue Bill, U.S. Representatives Maxine Waters, Financial Services Subcommittee Chair (D-CA) and Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), held a Congressional Field Hearing on June 29 to address affordable housing issues in West Virginia and the current challenges in the Eastern Panhandle. The two hour hearing was conducted in capital hill fashion with a red light timer signaling when a panel speaker's allotted time had ended. Isn't it funny how they always go over? The panel discussions began with Roy Bernardi, Deputy Secre...
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By Debbie Small, REALTOR
(Long & Foster Realtors)
Yesterday was a busy day in our nation's capital. The Senate overwhelmingly passed a housing bill that will offer up to $300 billion in loans for troubled homeowners and establish a government rescue plan for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In an effort to offset the rising rate of foreclosures, The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 was passed by the House of Representatives. This bill would avail up to a $7,500 tax credit for first time home buyers through June 2009. Hopefully the Senate will quickly act upon this bill and President Bush will pass it into law to further stimulate the stagnating housing market.
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By Debbie Small, REALTOR
(Long & Foster Realtors)
We have been very lucky this year in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia regarding rain fall but the past two years remain clear in my mind. We were in a definate drought and it was very evident at The Woods Resort golf course as the greens burned to brown and water restrictions were posted for residents. Here's a nifty tip I'd like to share with you to conserve water while watering your garden. Running a sprinkler for two hours can use up to 500 gallons of water. To figure out the right amount to water, put an empty tuna can on your lawn. When it's full, you've watered about the right amount. So the next time you make some tuna salad, don't throw that can away so fast.Source: www.eartheasy.com
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By Debbie Small, REALTOR
(Long & Foster Realtors)
Important news for our veterans! On June 17, 2008, the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act was enacted, granting special benefits to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. The most significant of the benefits provided for in the act is the exemption of veterans and their spouses from the first‐time home buyer requirement under the West Virginia Housing Development Fund's mortgage bond program. This program currently allows for a 30‐year, fixed interest mortgage at 5.79%. The first‐time home buyer exemption applies to any qualified veteran who has been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable in the past 25 years. The exemption also applies to the spouses of these veterans. Per the new law guidelines, the exemption from the first‐time home buyer requirement ...
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By Debbie Small, REALTOR
(Long & Foster Realtors)
With the souring cost of energy taking a toll on businesses and individuals alike, many businesses are considering a four day work week. The Berkeley County Tax Assessor's office located in Martinsburg West Virginia may be just such a trend setter. According to Assessor Preston Gooden, employees will begin 10 hour workdays in the near future as his office is currently working on restructuring the schedule. Gooden said his employees will make the schedule change so they'll only have to drive to work four days a week, relieving them from an extra day of using fuel to drive to work. They seem very enthusiastic about the change and are looking forward to their commuting savings along with the three day weekends. This will not affect the public's assess since the offices will remain open Mon...
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By Butch Cazin, best pick for real estate
(Butch Cazin Team/Long & Foster Realtors)
Holiday Season is not keeping buyers to view and/or grab real estate best buy in the area. I showed a colonial home built in 2003 with 4Br/2 1/2 ba for $170 last Sunday. The house was listed for three days and that day it had three offers. Checking the MLS it looks like a number of listings are getting a contract.
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By Angela Joy Pacheco
(Keller Williams)
Just got back from Mega Agent Camp in Austin, Texas. Eight of us from the Keller Williams WV offices went. Wow! What a great experience. I went last year and the energy was just as fantastic this year. Mega Camp is for agents who annually close $6 million or more. This year there were about 5,000 attendees.The focus was definitely geared towards lead generating in a down market. Most of the agents I spoke to are experiencing the bottom of the shifting market, as we are in the Eastern Panhandle of WV. I had an awesome experience.....I got to meet Gary Keller in person. He is such a nice man. Truly a visionary. Blogging seems to be bigger than ever. In-fact we listened to a presentation from the founder of TheRealEstateTomato.com which is a blogging site. Very interesting stuff!Now I'm ba...
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