Suggestions for where to live in WV (Elkins, Lewisburg: relocation, real estate)

[littlewolf94]

Hi,
My husband has been offered a job in Marlinton, WV. We presently live in Upstate NY and always have. We have been seriously considering heading to WV. We have an 11 and 13 year old, and are interested in good schools. We don't mind the country, but would like the neccessities nearby. A fitness center is also important. A 20 to 30 minute commute is ok. Any suggestions as to a good place to look for houses. We appreciate anyones help.
Thanks

[snorpus]

If your husband's job is in Marlinton, then your choices are going to be either Marlinton, or the small towns in its vicinity: Edray, Hillsboro, Huntersville, possibly Green Bank.

I don't recall seeing a fitness club there, but there might be. But you've got the Greenbrier River Trail, Watoga State Park, the Monogahela National Forest, etc. for recreation.

There are two grocery stores in Marlinton, but for "big box" stores, you'll be driving to either Elkins or Lewisburg. But Marlinton does have a Rite-Aid, a couple of Dollar stores, several banks... it's the county seat of Pocahontas County.

West Virginia follows the county-unit system for schools. The school system web site is boe.poca.k12.wv.us. Green Bank has both elementary and middle schools, as does Marlinton. There's also an elementary school in Hillsboro. The sole high school in the county is in Dunmore, roughly midway between Green Bank and Marlinton.

[harborlady]

Originally Posted by littlewolf94

Hi,
My husband has been offered a job in Marlinton, WV. We presently live in Upstate NY and always have. We have been seriously considering heading to WV. We have an 11 and 13 year old, and are interested in good schools. We don't mind the country, but would like the neccessities nearby. A fitness center is also important. A 20 to 30 minute commute is ok. Any suggestions as to a good place to look for houses. We appreciate anyones help.
Thanks

I'm a transplant from suffolk cty, but I had family upstate in chatham/kinderhook and was stationed in buffalo/oswego/rochester for about 2 yrs. I've relocated to charleston, and couldn't be happier.
I avoided the northern part of WV because of the snow at the higher elevations, despite it being breathtakingly beautiful, but you know more about snow than WV! lol.
The people here are salt of the earth, helpful to a fault, patient as the day is long, and humility seems to be the hallmark. The same way you can drive 5 minutes out of albany and find yourself rural is the same as WV. I cannot stress this enough: Be very clear about what you want, and local RE agents can find it for you. I was unhappy with the larger RE companys (C-21 and remax were too uppity to return phone calls) but the smaller agencies like gold key and old colony took me quite seriously and really followed through to earn my biz. Kudos to them both. Cash sale with inspection, title search, and closing took a break neck speed of 4 days from accepted bid, and the deed was on my doorstep 3 days after that.

Not sure if marlinton has the same set up with local classifieds the way charleston does, but I was on an auto email settup to do my homework about housing. A WV blogger tipped me off about it, and it came in very handy. See if you can't find their paper online and check out the landscape a bit. Most places I've been in WV has been family friendly. Feel free to DM me if you have more questions about my time here.
Good luck!

[snorpus]

The local paper for Pocahontas County is The Pocahontas Times.

[David Kennedy]

Upstate NY is about as remote as Marlington...easier winters and certainly not flat..but my main point is this, no development is planned for the
Greenbank Quadrangle...darkest place in the USA and will stay that way...not in any airline flight path either...security...security...securtiy.
No Walmarts are planned, period.

[littlewolf94]

Thanks "harborlady" and "snorpus". A lot of good info, very helpful. And you betcha we'll be avoiding the snow!!

[GottaHerdOn]

Originally Posted by littlewolf94

Hi,
My husband has been offered a job in Marlinton, WV. We presently live in Upstate NY and always have. We have been seriously considering heading to WV. We have an 11 and 13 year old, and are interested in good schools. We don't mind the country, but would like the neccessities nearby. A fitness center is also important. A 20 to 30 minute commute is ok. Any suggestions as to a good place to look for houses. We appreciate anyones help.
Thanks

I personally could not live in Marlinton or Pocahontas County for that matter. It is far to rural for my tastes. I enjoy being close to a hospital, doctors, stores, PEOPLE ha ha. I know there is a subway in Marlinton, and their whole county, which is huge in size, has one high school that is a single A school. Your children may be looking at long bus rides.

I again would advise a move to Elkins and commute, or perhaps somewhere between the two. Check out Huttonsville, Valley Bend, East Dailey, they are close enough to Elkins and closer to Marlinton. There are several fitness centers in Elkins as well, including a YMCA. Any questions, just ask

[harborlady]

My search for where to relocate started, of all places, here. Stats about all US cities - real estate, relocation info, house prices, home value estimator, recent sales, maps, race, income, photos, education, crime, weather, houses, and more
Thats where I was able to study where I wanted to be first based on climate, then other categories like pollution, housing costs, crime, and cultural activity. Of course your priorities are your own, so it's hard for anyone to advise.
See what they've got to say about marlinton, and don't count out the smaller towns nearby. They're usually great gems waiting to be discovered.

[snorpus]

GHO,

It's 60 miles, give or take, from Elkins to Marlinton. That's probably 2 gallons of gas each way, so by mid-summer that will be $16 in gas a day. $80 a week. Not to mention crossing Cheat Mountain in the winter.

If LittleWolf settles in Marlinton or Green Bank, the middle school will be only minutes away, and when the kids hit high school, they'll be able to handle the 30 minute bus ride.

[snowshoemtnman]

I agree with everything that Snorpus has told you. Might add that Pocahontas County also has Snowshoe for skiing and all kinds of summer activities, and Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. Also, there are now two work out centers right downtown Marlinton across the street from each other. One is next to the Music Store, and the other is at the rear of the Dirtbean coffee shop and even has an Endless Pool. I am a real estate agent near Snowshoe and highly recommend that you get an agent to represent you in your search. Tell them what you are looking for and they will work hard for you to find it, if they know you are only dealing with them. Good Luck!!! And let me be the first to welcome to Wild Wonderful Pocahontas County.