Tell me about WV,MD,V,PA

[Tilly]

Hubby has once again applied for a job, this time in Frederick, MD. We would need to be within an hour of town. We are both from southern Oregon, but Hubby served a church mission in DC south area about twenty years ago. I have never traveled east of Denver! Anyone living there or has lived there, can you tell me pros/cons of the area, taxes, homeschooling laws, etc? Like I said, we can be within an hour of town, so I think that would include some of PA, WV, and V.


Thanks

Tilly

[Conhntr]

Va is pushing 1hr. But md is called "the peoples republic" by virginians. I know their firearm laws are draconian and it is almost impossible to get a carry permit. Im currently in loudoun va (the "tip" of va) but am looking at wv for cheaper land. Take a look at loudoun county real estate prices!

[rean]

Harper's Ferry is a 1/2 hour away from Frederick and beautiful!

[momofseven]

Originally Posted by rean

Harper's Ferry is a 1/2 hour away from Frederick and beautiful!

And expensive!

[rean]

Is it? It's been awhile since I've been there. That's too bad. :0(

[Tilly]

We are currently on 4 1/2 acres, and would prefer more than that, 20 is what we are aiming for, but of course that may not happen. We've got cows, goats,kids, dogs, etc, and can spend up to 250k. We've found lots of properties that would fit us well. The other info is what we are needing help with, esp homeschooling laws.

Thanks as always.....

Tilly

[Navotifarm]

What I can tell you is that they are all north of the MAson-Dixon line. I've lived or owned property in all three states but Pennsylvania although I used to have a lot of court reporting assignments in Pennsylvania so travelled there a lot. I don't understand the gun law draconian post above but I wouldn't think a homeschooling mother with a church husband would have guns as a first priority.
I don't believe you will be able to buy 20 acres with a house for $250,000 anywhere close to Frederick. If you do, it would be as far away from the D.C. Area as you could get. And off the commuter pathways.
You asked a really big question. Somehow each of those states is so different and the people and general feelings are so different, there's almost no basis for comparison. If I were you, I'd want to live in the state I was working in. Vehicle registration, taxes, (maybe gun laws if that's important to you.. Working in one state and living in another can just add to the hassles in your life. And the area around Frederick, last time I saw it, was pretty nice.

[mountainlaurel]

I grew up in Frederick Co but on the Virginia line. You won't get anything but a house with a lot for $250,000

You could try Jefferson Co,WV but it is just as expensive as Washington Co, Md
Loudon Co, Va is even more expensive. Going north to Pa might be your cheapest option.
Lots of folks homeschool here, I don't believe there is much to it. I sent my kids to a private church school so I don't know a whole lot.

Frederick Co property taxes are ridiculous. Washington Co isn't much better and neither is Jefferson Co. It's an expensive area made more so by the people from Montgomery co who left and came to Fredneck Co. You might be pushing your hour limit but you could try Martinsburg, WV which is in Berkley Co. It's some cheaper, I have a brother & sister living there and my parents and a sister in Jefferson Co. But Maryland an NOVA are unreal and I can't wait until I can move to Grant Co for good.

[wvstuck]

We are a homeschooling family in West Virginia. The Homeschooling laws here are fairly relaxed, you have to send a letter to the County School Superintendent two weeks prior to homeschooling, and that's that. You have access to school books and curriculum from the county should you need to borrow anything. Your children can participate in any activities at the local school, such as sports or after school activities (If you desire that).

Taxes in WV are OK... Property Taxes are average in most counties, Sales Tax is 6% for most non-grocery items (The state is slowly removing the tax on food stuff) We are a State with very reasonable gun laws also... The Castle Doctrine is law.

If you have more specific questions feel free to ask.... Oh and Raw Milk sales are illegal :-)

[mountainlaurel]

Originally Posted by Navotifarm

What I can tell you is that they are all north of the MAson-Dixon line. I've lived or owned property in all three states but Pennsylvania although I used to have a lot of court reporting assignments in Pennsylvania so travelled there a lot. I don't understand the gun law draconian post above but I wouldn't think a homeschooling mother with a church husband would have guns as a first priority.
I don't believe you will be able to buy 20 acres with a house for $250,000 anywhere close to Frederick. If you do, it would be as far away from the D.C. Area as you could get. And off the commuter pathways.
You asked a really big question. Somehow each of those states is so different and the people and general feelings are so different, there's almost no basis for comparison. If I were you, I'd want to live in the state I was working in. Vehicle registration, taxes, (maybe gun laws if that's important to you.. Working in one state and living in another can just add to the hassles in your life. And the area around Frederick, last time I saw it, was pretty nice.

The only state above the Mason/Dixon line is Pa. The other three are southern states.
But gun laws are better in WV. But the commute from WV into Maryland up Rt 340 is a nightmare in the afternoons. It's backed up from the VA river bridge all the way back to the Brunswick exit.

Everyone says Pa is cheaper but I have never lived there and don't know anything about it. Maybe your husband could ask the opinions of some of the people he works with?

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by mountainlaurel

The only state above the Mason/Dixon line is Pa. The other three are southern states.
But gun laws are better in WV. But the commute from WV into Maryland up Rt 340 is a nightmare in the afternoons. It's backed up from the VA river bridge all the way back to the Brunswick exit.

Everyone says Pa is cheaper but I have never lived there and don't know anything about it. Maybe your husband could ask the opinions of some of the people he works with?

I was going to comment on the Mason-Dixon line as well, but then I saw you had covered it. Anyone who thinks PA is cheaper has never tried to buy property around Gettysburg. What I was told is the price of real estate is so high over there because it is within commuting distance of Washington DC and Baltimore.

Nomad

[Navotifarm]

Ooops. Oh horrors about my mistake on the mason dixon line. All these years I operated under that error of belief! I thought it was important, too. A vestige of yankee snobbery from more years ago than I can remember.
This might be an equally dumb idea but I have a neighbor who arranged a move through a relocation service that bought his home in California and sold him a home here. He had a new job here but his wife was an invalid. I never met this couple myself so that's hearsay but I was told there are some relocation companies that will buy your home in one state and find you another home they bought in the state you are going to that is commensurate in value and your lifestyle (allowing for differences in real estate values) as near to your job as possible.
Moving all your family and animals will be a real challenge for you so I wish you lots of luck whichever state you choose. And I do apologize about the m-d line misinformation. I stand corrected.
Speaking of Nomad, what about the distress sale Amish house in Pennsylvania? Is it within commuting distance here? Would it be a good buy if still available?

[foxtrapper]

People are people, and the land is the land. None of them change much because of a phantom line defining state separation.

A WVA commute to Frederick in under an hour is not really feasable and very much not reliable. Nor for that matter is a VA commute. You're coming across one bridge, on one road. And when it gets screwed up due to weather or a crash, it stays screwed up, for hours. BTDT, and it ain't fun. Were I you, I'd take WVA out of the picture because of that.

Taxes are fairly equal when fully totalled. VA might get the lead on the highest, and they certainly are working on laws to make it the highest. Maryland looks the highest at first, but there are few petty taxes and fees, PA has loads of petty taxes and fees.

Land prices are cheapest in PA.

Frederick is the hub locally of all activities. And there's a lot there in Frederick. The other semi-local towns are much smaller. Pick and chose what you want with regards to activities.

Driving in Frederick is, well, interesting. The roads were laid out by a mad man with a bowl of spagetti.

Home schooling in MD is quite doable, know many who do it. It's only if you decide you want to teach your kids nothing and not use any curriculum that you're likely to start running into trouble.

Gun ownership is simple enough in all the states for rifles and shotguns. Carrying a handgun in your back pocket is different. MD is a very difficult state with concealed carry. VA is pretty durn easy. PA can't decide.

Government in general is large and rather heavy in MD and VA. They are also easy to find. PA disperses the governments heavy hand to elusive locals and such, making life quite entertaining when it comes to finding the actual law, and how it is being interpreted.

Beware PA townships. Many secret powers lie with them, and the few people that run them. Townships are far larger than you would expect. You only thought you were in the middle of nowhere.

Roads are good in Maryland. Roads in PA were last maintained during WWII. VA is selling off all road equipment and the roads themselves to make up budget shortfalls. I'm only semi-kidding about VA selling that stuff, there is some truth to those words.

No one in any of the three states can drive in the snow.

VA has some god awful traffic fines for their residents. VA loves cameras and traffic cops. MD is rapidly learning to love traffic cameras. PA has podunk cops who fund the little town coffers through out of state licence plates.

The whole area is growing rapidly. It is the outer suburbs of both Baltimore and DC. People are flocking in. Anywhere along I-70 is expensive and being filled with houses. That includes due west to Hagerstown and beyond. Same with 15, though 15 is more commercial buildup. Anything near the Potomic is absurdly expensive. In part because being able to say the word Potomic with regards to your house elevates your social status regionally.

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by Navotifarm

Speaking of Nomad, what about the distress sale Amish house in Pennsylvania? Is it within commuting distance here? Would it be a good buy if still available?

It's about 300 miles, so I'm going to say no on the commute.

Here's a link to properties all over. I have it on Maryland, but you can change it to look at PA, VA or WV.

http://www.landwatch.com/default.asp...pn=0&px=100000

Here's another one. Again set for Maryland, but you can search every state and town in the US.

http://www.realestatebook.com/homes/MD-USA/

Nomad

[bee]

hit I-68 and go west to Cumberland Md..they just built a beautiful state of the art new hospital,,jobs they don't have. Usually quiet small town under 50,000...you should be able to find acreage with home for your price range,
http://www.landsofmaryland.com/maryl...&inv_id=875132 not 20 acres but closer to where you want to be.
http://www.landandfarm.com/propertie...d_14_acres.asp going for auction...??

[Tilly]

Hubby spoke to the supervisor of the position yesterday!! He said it was a good visit. He can home office, and live wherever we want ( if we end up getting the job) We actually are liking the Berkley Springs area in WV. We'll keep you posted, and as always, thank you for the info! The company provides a relocation package, they usually buy the house from you and move all your stuff, but I don't know yet if that is available for this position.

And thanks for the links!!!

Tilly

[Lyra]

PA requires the homeschooling tutor to be PA teacher certified.

[RWBlue01]

Looking at the distance to the other boarders and knowing the traffic in that area.....I think you are stuck in MD.

I think the gun laws in MD are stupid. So basically get what you want before moving there and you will have what you have.

MD is a democratic state for better or worse. Because of this you will not get the politicians trying to swing the state to the other side. (I prefer a state that is 40/40/20. This keeps the politicians more honest.)

I haven't looked at the price of housing in that area, so no comment on that.

I have looked at the ground in that area. Some of it is un-farm-able. Some of it is nice. Walk the land with a shovel before purchasing.

Look at public transportation before you move. I didn't and I wish I had considered it more. I am not sure what that area offers, but public transportation is big in MD, Northern VA, even parts of WV.

[Ohio dreamer]

PA's homeschool laws are one of the strictest in the country....but people there do homeschool. Check HSLDA for a break down of laws http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp

$250,000 isn't going to buy you much if you want to be within an hours drive of Fredrick, MD - defiantly nothing in the 20 ac range....maybe 1 or 2 ac. Consider foreclosures and fixer uppers.

[Ohio dreamer]

Originally Posted by Lyra

PA requires the homeschooling tutor to be PA teacher certified.

That is one of the options, but not the only one.