Moving to WV Questions (Morgantown, Martinsburg: real estate, home, purchasing)

[andreaspercheron]

HI,

Sorry it there is already a thread on this and I'm being repetitive. My fiance and are are seriously considering purchasing a property in WV. He is originally from VA and I'm originally from FL. We currently live in PA and are looking for a home away from home and that we can eventually live at full time.

As far as horses go, are there a lot of people that have horses and if a property has say, 3 acres or 2 even, are the township people going to have a meltdown if you have more than one horse per acre? For example,here in PA the state has such strict guidelines as to what you can and can't do with your own property. Is it like that in WV?

What about jobs, I don't expect my fiance to find his scope of work there (major pharma) but I can work anywhere. I hear nice things about Capon Bridge, any thoughts?

Any information that will help ease the move would be so greatly appreciated!

[snorpus]

I'm confident that 95%+ of the land area of WV has no restrictions on horses (or cattle, pigs, goats, chickens, etc.). Only in the larger cities, or the tract suburban developments, will there be an issue.

The larger problem will be finding horses that are born with two short legs on one side, and two long legs on the other.

[Threerun]

In the OP's other post, they stated they need to be within 20 miles of Front Royal VA. The closest WV property (especially driving wise) is Jefferson County, near Rippon area (which is really nice, flat, pasture and horse country)

West of Front Royal is Wardensville. Takes a little longer to get there, and more mountainous.

I posted a link to the Jefferson County website, where the zoning regs are located. There are restrictions in Jefferson County, I'm not sure what they are. Used to be 1 horse per acre.

And yes- depending on who your neighbors are, they would have a coniption if you have more horses/livestock than allowed.

And Front Royal / Winchester / Charles town and Martinsburg should be good for pharmacy jobs.

[andreaspercheron]

Originally Posted by Threerun

In the OP's other post, they stated they need to be within 20 miles of Front Royal VA. The closest WV property (especially driving wise) is Jefferson County, near Rippon area (which is really nice, flat, pasture and horse country)

West of Front Royal is Wardensville. Takes a little longer to get there, and more mountainous.

I posted a link to the Jefferson County website, where the zoning regs are located. There are restrictions in Jefferson County, I'm not sure what they are. Used to be 1 horse per acre.

And yes- depending on who your neighbors are, they would have a coniption if you have more horses/livestock than allowed.

And Front Royal / Winchester / Charles town and Martinsburg should be good for pharmacy jobs.

Thanks everyone! I had to chuckle when I read this about the neighbors having a conniption about horses. We have the same types here, I guess you find them everywhere, huh?

I'll check my other posting too. We are pretty excited about the prospects, been dying to get out of PA for a long time and back to the country. I wonder how difficult it is to find hay down there? Any one have any ideas??

Thanks again!

[WVUPharm2007]

Live in rural Preston County...have him commute 30 minutes to Morgantown and work for Mylan Pharmaceuticals...

[billscamaros]

I can't speak to the restrictions on land use, but the Charles Town horse race track is in Jefferson County. There are plenty of farms around the area, probably fairly good deals on real estate these days, and there has to be tons of hay to support the race track. I can't imagine finding hay to be a problem. Since the weather is fairly mild year round, with only a few short lasting snowfalls, I would think that hay requirements would be minimal? Also, there are a couple of equine vets in the area. Good luck.

[7th Direction]

I know of at least one feed store in Ranson (Jefferson County).

Considering Charles Town has a major horse race track (Charles Town Races & Slots), I'd hope there would be access to horse feed!!!

Also, I can think of at least two hay farms in Jefferson County along WV 230 and WV 480. I don't know if they sell to individuals, but it is certainly around.

[Threerun]

There is a lot of hay production in Jefferson County, and there is a lot of demand in Jefferson County. My friend in Kearneysville cuts about 50 acres twice a year, and he has no problems selling it.

Best to call the extension office and get a list of suppliers for square bales.

[andreaspercheron]

All of this is really great information! I had NO clue there was a pharma company out there! Thank you! I was VERY excited to see this and passed it right along to my fiance. He'll be excited too!

[Threerun]

Mylan pharma is along way from Front Royal and the Eastern Panhandle, lol.