West Virginia Towns Enjoy Washington D.C. Spillover
by Blanche Evans
Realtors in the West Virginia towns of Charles Town, Harper's Ferry and Martinsburg enjoy natural beauty, rich histories and fairly close proximity to Washington, D.C. Charles Town "Charles Town is the seat of government for Jefferson County, a thriving and growing community that is also historically significant," says Realtor Mary Herson. "Founded by Charles Washington, brother to the First President, much of the area's history has been preserved. A predominantly agricultural community, Jefferson County, with Charles Town as its base, is growing at a rapid pace due to its beautiful vistas and close proximity to Washington D.C." Herson says, "Charles Town and the immediate outskirts of Jefferson County have undergone significant population growth in the last five years as suburban Washingtonians move to more affordable and less populated areas. Due to this rapid change and concern over disappearing farm land, new home construction has not kept pace with demand, causing a rapid rise in prices. Though prices are still affordable, a homebuyer in or near Charles Town needs a Realtor who can keep them updated with the most recent changes in the market." Harper's Ferry Agrees Realtor Suelan Brownsmith, "As is the case with most of Jefferson County and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, our proximity to Washington DC and the rapidly accelerating market in DC's surrounding suburbs, such as Farfax and Loudon County in Virginia or Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties in Maryland, has resulted in rapidly increasing prices for a couple of years now. The average price for a single family home in Jefferson county has increased from $230,554 in April 2004 to $305,591 in April, 2005; that's an increase of over 32 percent over a year ago. For information on recent sales trends or for a market analysis on your current home. The good news is that when compared to those areas mentioned above, homes in our area still represent good value to home buyers." Martinsburg "Berkeley County is one of the fastest growing counties in West Virginia," says Realtor Teksin Duman. "A highly-developed transportation network links Berkeley County to the entire nation. Two major interstate highways -- I-81, which runs north/south, and I-70, which runs east/west, are the cornerstones of a highway system and trucking route. It's a place where small-town communities thrive in harmony with a vibrant economy." About the market, Duman says, "2005 seems to be another seller-dominated market in Berkeley County and Martinsburg." |
