Why is Romney so pricey? (Elkins, Moorefield: real estate, for rent, house prices)

[Griffis]

Hello, All. West Bygod Virginia is one of the states my wife and I have wanted to relocate to for a long time. Finding good jobs to apply for has been difficult. We were hoping to move around Elkins, but again, the job prospects are slim. I expect it's so beautiful there nobody wants to leave.

However, I did come across a job in the Romney area. It may not be open any longer for all I know. But the reaon I didn't apply for it yet is because looking at the local news and looking up realtor sites, it doesn't seem like there is ANYTHING for rent in that county and house prices seem astronomical considering it is fairly rural and far flung from a major city.

(I believe Cumberland, MD is the closest town of real size.)

So, my question is, WHY is this area so costly while many other parts of WV seem much more inexpensive?

Is it because of people from DC and MD and VA moving in and driving up prices? It seems like it would be too far of a commute for most of those people, so is it perhaps wealthier folks from surrounding areas buying a lot of land and property for vacation homes and such?

Also, I have heard people comment on the corrupt tax system in your state (gee, that sounds familiar--like as in every other state in the nation!)

...but if anyone would care to comment on that aspect of your state, I'd be interested to hear it.

Thanks so much (I'm currently in OK, by the way, looking to go to WV or N.E. PA)

[Ash2417]

Romney (Hampshire Co.) where I am from... is pricey most likely because... THERE IS NOTHING THERE!!! Seriously... alright we have a few gas stations...a few little stores...ONE stop light in the county... okay well two one is by the deaf and blind school but it only turns red when someone pushes the button to go across the road. But anyways.. Hampshire Co. has nothing there so that's why everything is so expensive. There are land developers coming into our county and developing all of our land WHICH I BELIEVE IS CRAZY.. The county I once knew doesn't look anything like it did when I was a kid...It is sad and I hate seeing it... Anyways.. I know i rambled and probably didnt answer your question but I just wanted to add my two cents!

[clorenzo17]

I would imagine that housing prices have gone up merely because it is in a few hours drive of Washington. Despite the fact that it is not commuting distance, the few hours drive allows for easy access to vacation homes for those of us in DC. WV is a beautiful place, and I can understand why.

Originally Posted by Ash2417

Romney (Hampshire Co.) where I am from... is pricey most likely because... THERE IS NOTHING THERE!!!

That really doesnt make any sense....housing prices go up becuase its desirable and/or zoning restrictions permit only a certain amount of housing density. The fact that theres "nothing there"has no pertinance whatsoever.

[cathy J.]

Originally Posted by Griffis

Hello, All. West Bygod Virginia is one of the states my wife and I have wanted to relocate to for a long time. Finding good jobs to apply for has been difficult. We were hoping to move around Elkins, but again, the job prospects are slim. I expect it's so beautiful there nobody wants to leave.

However, I did come across a job in the Romney area. It may not be open any longer for all I know. But the reaon I didn't apply for it yet is because looking at the local news and looking up realtor sites, it doesn't seem like there is ANYTHING for rent in that county and house prices seem astronomical considering it is fairly rural and far flung from a major city.

(I believe Cumberland, MD is the closest town of real size.)

So, my question is, WHY is this area so costly while many other parts of WV seem much more inexpensive?

Is it because of people from DC and MD and VA moving in and driving up prices? It seems like it would be too far of a commute for most of those people, so is it perhaps wealthier folks from surrounding areas buying a lot of land and property for vacation homes and such?

Also, I have heard people comment on the corrupt tax system in your state (gee, that sounds familiar--like as in every other state in the nation!)

...but if anyone would care to comment on that aspect of your state, I'd be interested to hear it.

Thanks so much (I'm currently in OK, by the way, looking to go to WV or N.E. PA)

Cumberland may be closer but Romney and Hampshire County as a whole lives and dies by Winchester, Virginia. So many people there commute to Winchester to work and shop since Cumberland is such a depressed area between the lack of jobs and even a lack of retail. Winchester has most of the big box stores while Cumberland a few years back lost their only K-Mart.

Not too long ago I heard that more than half of the employees at Winchester Medical Center were from the Romney area and that figure is even higher at some of the local Winchester plants like Rubbermaid and Kraft plus one of the key reasons why Winchester got that second Wal-Mart was to get those Hampshire County commuters who travel on Route 50. I believe Winchester is the reason why the Romney area is so expensive, well expensive for West Virginia anyway. If Winchester wasn't so close by, the area would be a lot cheaper. So yes..a lot of people in Romney do commute to work and thats ( my opinion ) why the prices there are high but its not because of the DC/Northern Virginia area but mainly due to so many people there commute to Winchester.

A few years back despite the protests from the city of Winchester ( much less so with Frederick County ), Winchester was upgraded to a "metro area". Besides Frederick County, Winchester's metro area includes only one other county..Hampshire !!!
And what is county seat for Hampshire County, WV? Romney !!!

[NOVAmtneer82]

I echo what clorenzo said, as a DC area resident I know there are many people here who buy second homes in the mountains of WV, the Romney/Hampshire County area is probably no exception. Real estate prices near my family vacation cabin outside of Moorefield are getting much higher as well due to an influx of second home buyers.