Bluefield leads nation in mortgage-free homes (Man: low income, houses, to buy)

[millersangel]

I am sure there is more than one rehab in Bluefield and most of these older homes were built from brick and are structurally sound. You might even find one in an upscale neighborhood like Cumberland Heights.

And there is one major advantage that you have in Bluefield that you don't have in other areas of the state. You can live in WV and work in VA and make more money. Easy commute. In fact, there are actually two Bluefields. Bluefield, WV and Bluefield, VA.

[AliceT]

Originally Posted by millersangel

I am sure there is more than one rehab in Bluefield and most of these older homes were built from brick and are structurally sound.

I'd love to know where you got that information. You should go to Welch, WV and tell that to the mayor there. The buildings in downtown Welch are all brick, many are multilevel brick structures and the flood so damaged them and their foundations that they are unfit to live in and require so much in the way of renovating that the cost is prohibitive. And virtually none can be insured because of the extent of their damage and they are still in a flood zone. Bluefield is in that number.

So please, tell us where you are getting your information.

[millersangel]

Originally Posted by AliceT

I'd love to know where you got that information. You should go to Welch, WV and tell that to the mayor there. The buildings in downtown Welch are all brick, many are multilevel brick structures and the flood so damaged them and their foundations that they are unfit to live in anjd require so much in the way of renovating that the cost is prohibitive. And virtually none can be insured because of the extent of their damage and they are still in a flood zone. Bluefield is in that number.

So please, tell us where you are getting your information.

Whoa. Didn't mean to step on anyone's toes. :)

I'm just going by driving in Bluefield. Which is built on a mountain and a lot of houses are way high enough to not have ever been flooded.

I'm not really sure where the flood plain in Bluefield is located. I've never seen any flooding. Not saying it doesn't happen. You'll have to enlighten me.

I have seen Princeton underwater.

I still say there a lot of great prospects for somone looking for a handyman's special. Those houses were built soundly. The inside may be outdated..small rooms.. but it sounds like the kind of project the OP is looking for.

[AliceT]

Here's a quick lesson: The springs high up on the mountains will overflow their banks during a heavy rain and start traveling down the mountains via the roads. Any area lower than the road quickly flooded - including basements of houses located high on the mountains and in the hollows of said mountains. These are homes that are perched high on the hills,. A casual observation would say they were safe from flooding.

Not when the flood starts at the top of the mountain. and works it's way down.... It happened in 2001 and again, 10 months later. The flooding came down the mountain rather than working it's way up from below.

There is no such thing as high & dry in the mountain regions. The only time that a house can really be considered high and dry is if there is no higher ground in any direction, as in, it is on the top of the mountain. Even then, if the banks of a lake or creek are higher than your house, you still aren't high and dry enough to escape flooding that starts on top of the mountain.

[vec101]

Originally Posted by snorpus

If the Greenbrier River Valley is within the region you're considering, you could look at Red Oak Realty's web site. They list everything from raw land and hunting camps under $30K, up to condos at Snowshoe.

1. Greenbrier River Valley is gorgeous.
2. Some of the condos at Soaring Eagle at Snowshoe are going up for auction on Dec 6. I believe they are brand new condos.
Soaring Eagle Lodge in Snowshoe, West Virginia offers premier mountain top for sale condominiums including studios, one bedrooms, two bedrooms, three bedrooms and four bedroom floor plans; ski in ski out lodging at top of Snowshoe Mountain
Read it in the Chas paper but also has info at Snowshoe Condos | AUCTION - Soaring Eagle Lodge | West Virginia Condos

[AliceT]

Starting at just over a half million bucks, yeah, that'll put a damper on anyone's idea of WV being a haven for those of us on a fixed income. Ouch!

[vec101]

Originally Posted by AliceT

Starting at just over a half million bucks, yeah, that'll put a damper on anyone's idea of WV being a haven for those of us on a fixed income. Ouch!

Calm down Alice.

Don't know what the minimum bid is set at but someone may be able to pick up a bargain.

Where did you come up with half a million for the condo auction? In today's editorial in the Daily Mail said something about housing in Snowshoe area starting at $60,000. Not cheap but auction may be a good investment for rental, etc. Couldn't be any worse than investing in the stock market right now.

[AliceT]

The first link took me to the ski resort site and I looked at floor plans and it should condos that were selling for $539,000+ for a 2 bedroom. Those are with a ski lift at your patio door. A ski lift might get in the way of my chicken coop, I 'spect.

[harborlady]

Originally Posted by harborlady

Goodness I wouldn't be caught dead on I95 between now and sunday. Day after turkey is when middle aged women get in minivans dressed for football and kill each other over $5 toasters.

I kid you folks not.
Surging shoppers kill New York Wal-Mart worker | U.S. | Reuters

[vec101]

Insane. Come on people, is saving $40 really worth taking someone's life? The majority of those people in line can consider themselves murderers.

Since people won't take responsibility and act like decent humans I guess the stores should. If you watched the news yesterday, you couldn't help but see footage of shoppers waiting to get in stores. At some, there were ropes lined along the sidewalk so people filed in the store 2x2 and calmly. In others, the doors opened and it was a stampede. Saw one woman almost get knocked over in the doorway and her stumble caused another woman to stumble - you could see the look of panic on her face and for good reason, the way the crowd was pushing from behind she would have been trampled on if she went down.