Wanting to move to southern WV (Charleston, Fairmont: rent, low crime, hotel)

[threekids]

My husband and I are considering moving to WV. He is self-employeed and draws houseplans, I am a stay at home mom and homeschool our 3 children. We are looking for a rural place with acreage, within 30 min. to a town where we can do our shopping. We both miss the snow (we grew up in the north) and are looking for a cooler place to live with low crime and affordable housing (under $125,000 max., under $100,000 is even better!). I love the old houses that I keep finding on the internet. We need to be near an area (within 45-60 min.) that is growing to support my husband's business. And it doesn't sound like there are too many of those areas. We want the mountains and opportunities to watch wildlife and do hiking, etc... We live in TN and love the friendliness of the south, but I hate the hot, humid summers and it is too crowded, even in the country! I live 20 min. from the nearest grocery store and yet still I can drive 1 mi. and pass 10 houses.
We will be coming there in May and I am wanting to be able to focus ourselves to make good use of the short time we will be there. We have been thinking around the Beckley area or the Charleston area. Yet the Webster Springs or Summersville areas really appeal to me, but I am not sure we could make a living there. My husband seems to like the Hinton area. We don't need an area of night life. We live simply and prefer to spend our time in nature. I have also heard lots of bad things about Ansted in this forum, yet it seems as thought they hold alot of festivals, etc...(of course I got this information from a travel guide on WV).
Thank you for any help you can give me!

[BJC]

Summersville, I LOVE IT!!! In the past two years we have purchased 2 homes there, under 80K for each. Both a 3 bedroom 2 bath homes. One is over 80 years old, the other is about 30 years old. I have pictures I can show you if interested. We could send private email for that, but only if you want to see them. We rent both, as we currently live in northern VA, where you could not purchase anything for under 80K!!!! Summersville is a lovely town, the lake is WONDERFUL, you are close to Beckley, about 30 minutes or less to the south.

You should also check out Fairmont and Bridgeport to the north of S'ville.

[wvajim]

your husband could make a living from the business of building in glade springs (about 35 miles from hinton) or/and white surphur springs/lewisburg area (again about 40-45 miles from hinton) huge housing developement going up in and around the "greenbrier hotel" $millions in costs! glade springs easily upper 6 figures in home costs. land in summers co. still one of the lowest in the whole state and beautiful scenery to go with it. speculate???

[sunflower-4]

hi, im of no help but if you find ant info out could you pass it on to us as well. we are in the same situation that you are. 4 kids(ages 11,7,6,19 mnths), and im starting homeschooling. im a house wife and my husband is self employed. looking for 4 seasons. we are from texas and want to move there hopefully next summer, provided we find the right city. any way if you come across any good info please pass it on.

[tsimmu]

Where are you from originally that you miss snow? Just curious.

[g_massie]

I live in summers county and wvajim is right you can even find river frontage and mtn views with great prices. you will not find a prettier river than the greenbrier or new

[confusedTee]

I am in oak hill..right next to beckley...........been here 2.5 years..the upcoming growth areas i have seen so far are lewisburg, summersville..charleston u couldn't pay me enough to live there.......beckley is so right on top of everything....the roads just can't handle the traffic..the job market is pretty LOW around here...............Anstead is very tiny..good acreage location............neg. about anstead..well heck it's not much that could go on there..........the winters so far have been mild for us..holler if ya want any info...........

[CA****4]

I'd like to see this thread keep going, because I too want to homeschool - and move to WV (eastern part near lewisburg or EP near martinsburg) ----

I would like to know more about contracting jobs and about homeschooling in these areas... What are people opinions on homeschooling? How are homeschoolers viewed?

Thanks everyone

Amanda from NY

[David Kennedy]

My son and daughter-in-law homeschooled for 3 years. The kids ages were 2,4,6 and 8.

Part of the basement was set up as a classroom and several other children from the neighborhood attended class.
About 8 kids in all, with the other parents acting as teachers (as all had Degrees)

It gave the little ones a great start into education, as they could read, write and work simple arithmetic at the ages of 2 and 3.

I think their efforts were very commendable and successful.....but....it was a very difficult workload for everybody. With
personell scheduling and almost like running another business outside the home.

After 3 years they simply burned out and sent the kids back to the public school (where they are doing just as well).

[mertweed]

Originally Posted by threekids

My husband and I are considering moving to WV. He is self-employeed and draws houseplans, I am a stay at home mom and homeschool our 3 children. We are looking for a rural place with acreage, within 30 min. to a town where we can do our shopping. We both miss the snow (we grew up in the north) and are looking for a cooler place to live with low crime and affordable housing (under $125,000 max., under $100,000 is even better!). I love the old houses that I keep finding on the internet. We need to be near an area (within 45-60 min.) that is growing to support my husband's business. And it doesn't sound like there are too many of those areas. We want the mountains and opportunities to watch wildlife and do hiking, etc... We live in TN and love the friendliness of the south, but I hate the hot, humid summers and it is too crowded, even in the country! I live 20 min. from the nearest grocery store and yet still I can drive 1 mi. and pass 10 houses.
We will be coming there in May and I am wanting to be able to focus ourselves to make good use of the short time we will be there. We have been thinking around the Beckley area or the Charleston area. Yet the Webster Springs or Summersville areas really appeal to me, but I am not sure we could make a living there. My husband seems to like the Hinton area. We don't need an area of night life. We live simply and prefer to spend our time in nature. I have also heard lots of bad things about Ansted in this forum, yet it seems as thought they hold alot of festivals, etc...(of course I got this information from a travel guide on WV).
Thank you for any help you can give me!

did you find your move to WV well? I'm moving to WV hopefully next year and I also homeschool. any insight would be incredibly appreciated.