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I am a single black professional mother of two girls (one in high school, one elem.) relocating from Columbus, OH to West Virginia. I am looking for a place to live within a reasonable commute of the eastern panhandle of WV. as that is the district I will be managing for work.
It is very important for me to live in an area with excellent school districts, some diversity, culture and things for me and my girls to do. I love great food and shopping.
I am from Lexington, KY and a city similar to that vibe would be great. Willing to spend up to $1200 a month on rent until I buy. I like newer condos or homes.
There isn't much of a Lexington/Columbus vibe in the Eastern Panhandle. The area is on the outer suburban fringe of Washington DC/Baltimore (70 miles away) so it is a mix of semi-rural and bedroom community. There are many scenic historic smaller towns like Shepherdstown (my favorite), Charles Town, and Harpers Ferry, followed by the much larger Martinsburg. The area is undergoing incredible population growth as people seek out cheaper housing within commuting range to the Northern VA tech corridor, Maryland and DC, therefore housing prices will be higher than what you are used to in Columbus.
I live in Arlington VA right outside DC (grew up in WV) and pay $1400 a month for a one bedroom apartment. Living anywhere in the DC area will be very expensive, although the Panhandle is known for being much cheaper than close in areas, MOST (not all), new SFHs will be starting in the mid 200Ks, especially if they are in close proximity to the DC commuter train stations.
If you want great shopping the Eastern Panhandle is mostly limited to chain big box stores, however there is a great outlet mall in Hagerstown MD that is about 15 min away and Leesburg Corner Outlets in Northern VA is about 45 minutes away (although both are very nice, Lburg is the best IMO). Dulles Town Center mall in Ashburn VA is also about 50 minutes away and you have Tysons Corner mall (actually 2 huge malls side by side) which is about an hour away depending on lovely suburban DC traffic.
The DC area is one of the most culturally diverse areas in the nation, far more than anything in Ohio or Kentucky. I'm not kidding, you will be amazed when you go to one of the big malls or shopping areas here, even far into the suburbs and hear dozens of different languages being spoken. Although there is some diversity in the EP, namely Latino and African American, it hasn't come close to the levels of the suburban areas say about forty minutes closer to DC.
One GREAT cultural part of the panhandle though is Shepherdstown. The town is home to the liberal arts Shepherd University which offers many great art shows and performances. The main street of Sheptown (they call it German St.) has many great white table cloth restaurants, funky boutiques, several art galleries, a couple bars and one awesome coffee house. If a place called Kazu is still there, check it out they have great thai food. I think Shepherdstown is by far my favorite place to visit in the Panhandle.
If you are into history, the area is full of it. Antietam battlefield is right across the border in MD, all of the buildings on Main St in Shepherstown are from the 1800s, and Harpers Ferry (big civil war town) is always a very nice place to go on tours, the ghost tour is a personal fave of mine lol. There are some great vineyards about 20-30 mins away in Loudoun County VA.
Personally, if you are moving from Columbus then I would personally check into the Charles Town area. It is closest to DC/Baltimore (about 60 miles to either), commuter rail access is in Harpers Ferry or Duffields which are about five minutes from town. Charles Town and Ranson are also home to a rapidly developing commerical corridor so you won't have to drive far. Shepherdstown is great too but it is probably by far the most expensive town to live in the Panhandle, however there are some developments on the outskirts that are reasonably priced.
I know that was probably more than you asked for or wanted to know but I love the Panhandle. It's a fairly easy (albeit congested) drive into DC and Baltimore, practically in the mountains, close proximity to the Eastern shore of MD, etc. Good luck!
Thanks jfronz and Katie. I will need a 3 bedroom and something with a basement or room for an office as I will be working from home. I have been looking at townhomes since many have three bedrroms with finished basement for my office. I also like newer homes or developments.
Does anyone have any thoughts on Frederick, MD? I dont want more than 45 minute commute to the eastern panhandle as my job will have me driving all over the eastern panhandle probably covering all 8 counties of the panhandle. Right now I am looking at Martinsburg, WV, Frederick, MD and now Shepardstown and Ranson from the advice of jfronz.
Any affordable great cities in VA with a commute under 45 minutes that have a bigger city feel with great schools and things to do?
If you are going to be working in the Panhandle then I would say try to stay there. The rent or if you buy will be cheaper. I am in Falling Waters and have decent shopping in Hagerstown MD or I can go into Martinsburg. We moved here from Anne Arundel County, MD and don't have any complaints with the schools. My daughter goes to Hedgesville High and my son goes to Potomack Intermediate. Also I heard Musselman school district is suppose to be good, that is on the other side of Martinsburg like Inwood and Bunker Hill.
I am a single black professional mother of two girls (one in high school, one elem.) relocating from Columbus, OH to West Virginia. I am looking for a place to live within a reasonable commute of the eastern panhandle of WV. as that is the district I will be managing for work.
It is very important for me to live in an area with excellent school districts, some diversity, culture and things for me and my girls to do. I love great food and shopping.
I am from Lexington, KY and a city similar to that vibe would be great. Willing to spend up to $1200 a month on rent until I buy. I like newer condos or homes.
Thanks for your help !
Check out Elm Tree Townhouses in Martinsburg to rent before you buy.
Good location and good owner
Thanks georgia, took a look at Elm Tree but they will not work as they are only three bdrs. no basement or 4th room for a home office. I did see a 3BDR with a basement at fairways at stonebridge subdivision which backs to golf course which sounds really nice.
Thanks georgia, took a look at Elm Tree but they will not work as they are only three bdrs. no basement or 4th room for a home office. I did see a 3BDR with a basement at fairways at stonebridge subdivision which backs to golf course which sounds really nice.
They have a pool there that your kids would enjoy also. I believe they have tennis courts too.
Frederick MD isn't bad at all, it has a lively downtown area with some nice restaurants and there is plenty of shopping. However it is about 20-25 mins closer to Washington DC than the EP which will make housing considerably more expensive. You definitely won't be able to afford as much house for your money there and Frederick is where the REALLY bad traffic starts.
The only communities in Northern VA with a bigger city feel are those that are much closer to DC and MUCH more expensive than what your current monthly budget will allow. Usually once you get about 30-35 miles from DC the rent prices jump MASSIVELY, one bedroom apartments will usually start at about $800-900 per month ($1000+ when you get inside-the-beltway). Leesburg is a nice city, it has a very historic downtown and then a very new and rapidly growing outer fringe. Leesburg is about 25 miles from Charles Town and about 35-40 miles from DC, that entire portion of the metro area is growing insanely fast (EP times 100), traffic is also horrible in the area. Leesburg will be very costly, with a newer run of the mill SFH averaging in the upper $300Ks to low $400Ks.
Western Loudoun County (this includes the area between Leesburg and the Eastern Panhandle) is "horse country" and is typically zoned for one home per every 3-20 acres which means the only thing that will be built is a huge 5,000 square foot or larger home with prices BEGINNING in the low $800Ks.
Last edited by NOVAmtneer82; 04-06-2008 at 07:06 PM..
jfronz, I have taken a look at a few things, probably going to bump my max rent to $1650. Any thought on Hagerstown, MD as I see Frederick is a longer commute to the EP but they do have some nice new developments but I want a shorter drive time.
Do you know anything about the taxes in MD? I have heard someone mention it. Your info has been great!
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