About Putnam County, WV

Homes for sale in Putnam County, West Virginia see a 7% increase in final sales price for November 2011. The communities of Teays Valley, Hurricane and Winfield reaped a median increase of $13,900 in the month of November versus the same period in 2010.

The median price for a 3 bedroom home in Teays Valley, West Virginia sold for $208,900. Thirty-seven homes completed escrow during this month, a gain of three over 2010.

Putnam County consists of three major communities, Teays Valley, Hurricane & Winfield, as well as many smaller ones. The area is largely unincorporated and is the second-fastest growing region in West Virginia.

While once a sleepy farm county, the area has experienced an explosion of growth as a result many Teays Valley houses for sale are new construction. The majority of homes are less than 15 - 20 years old, compared to the Charleston area where they are nearing 80 years or more.

Dale Samples is a REALTOR serving the Charleston, Teays valley, Cross Lanes, West Virginia market. If you are looking to buy or sell a home, contact me today! You can call/text (304) 741-4705. Search Charleston / Teays Valley WV Houses & Real Estate Listings For Sale

Image: Flickr user jimmywayne.

The last of the warm autumn days have left and winter is about upon us. If you haven't already, now is the time to prepare your Teays Valley home for the winter season.

I have listed some simple steps you may want to do, before the snow and cold weather sets in, to help protect your largest assest.

• Cover or take inside any patio furniture. Now is a good time to oil the nuts and bolts to prevent rust and insure easy removal if the need should arise.
• While you have the WD-40 out, you should go ahead and oil door hinges and mailbox doors. Doing it at a regular time each year will help you to remember as well as prevent rust.
• Drain water out of birdbaths, fountains, and pools. If you have removed any plants from their pots, remember to turn them upside down if they do not have a drain. Water that has collected could freeze and bust your flower pots.
• It may not quite be cold enough to turn the heat on, but it is better to check that everything is in working order than to be sitting in the cold on a subzero day.
• Stock up on salt for your driveway and sidewalk. Weather can be wacky in Teays Valley/Charleston area, but you will have it when needed, and if not, it doesn't expire so it won't go to waste.
• Take advantage of all the leave-less trees and trim branches away from your house.
• Lastly, check your fire alarms and carbon monixde dectector. Replace the batteries if you haven't already done that in the last 12 months. The cost of a battery is not worth your life.

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Dale Samples is a REALTOR serving the Charleston, Teays valley, Cross Lanes, West Virginia market. If you are looking to buy or sell a home, contact me today! You can call/text (304) 741-4705. Search Charleston / Teays Valley WV Houses & Real Estate Listings For Sale

Image: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Mortgage rates for Teays Valley homes are at their lowest in years. According to the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the 30 year fixed rate is 3.99% and the 15 year fixed rate is 3.30%.

What does this mean for you if you are interested in buying a Teays Valley house for sale? You can now buy more house for the same amount of money.

For example, a house costing $250,000 would have a monthly payment of $1762.75 on a 15 year fixed rate. That same house just a few years ago when rates were double what they are now, would have cost $2150.38. That is a difference of $387.63 per month.

Spending that extra $387.63 a month, you could now purchase a Teays Valley house for sale listed at $305,000. That is a $55,000 difference.

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Search the MLS for Teays Valley, WV houses & real estate listings for sale.

About the Author: My name is Dale Samples and I am a REALTOR serving the Kanawha Valley. You can Call/Text me: (304) 741-4705.

Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Small Business Administration's 504 Loan Program provides small companies in development areas with guarantees for loans for major fixed assets such as land and buildings for economic development. The purpose of 504 loans is to improve the economy of a locality or to assist businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans, rural businesses, and other designated types of businesses. The 504 loans are set up to work with Certified Development Companies - nonprofit corporations set up for community development. Generally the project assets are used as collateral.

A typical 504 loan structure might look like this, according to the SBA:

Typically, a 504 project includes a loan secured with a senior lien from a private-sector lender covering up to 50 percent of the project cost, a loan secured with a junior lien from the CDC (backed by a 100 percent SBA-guaranteed debenture) covering up to 40 percent of the cost, and a contribution of at least 10 percent equity from the small business being helped.

Are you considering commercial property? Consider a 504 Loan.

The Small business administration has a program (504 loans) that can allow business owners to borrow up to 90% of the cost of commercial real estate. This can include the cost of renovations as well. A small business owner can partner with other businesses or purchase the property on their own. It is necessary to use at least 50% of the property for your business, but it is possible to lease the remaining portion to other businesses.

You will want to check into the details. It is possible to borrow several million dollars if necessary or much less depending on your needs and qualifications. Your business must be for profit, cannot have tangible assets greater than $8.5 million, cannot have net profits for the last two years exceeding $3 million. The business will also be required to either create jobs or meet a social policy requirement.

The SBA 504 loan can also be used for equipment purchases.

The SBA 504 Loan Program: Helping Small Businesses Think Big

A long-term, fixed-rate solution

The U.S. Small Business Administration established the 504 loan to help businesses purchase equipment and commercial real estate while retaining working capital.

The SBA 504 loan puts financing within reach for small businesses through low down payments and long-term, low, fixed interest rates. And it reduces the risk to lenders through a shared financing structure.

Eligible 504 loan uses

Land and building purchases

New construction or renovation

Heavy machinery or equipment purchases

Soft costs (e.g., appraisals, title searches, attorney's fees, etc.)

The SBA 504 loan boosts business expansion and supports economic development in communities nationwide.

Most Recent SBA 504 Rates

A black tie event will be held to assist in fund raising for the new Putnam County Animal Relief Center. The date will be Saturday Jan 24 at 7:00 PM. It will be held at the Sleepy Hollow Golf Club ballroom.

Funds raised will go to the building of a new shelter and are reported to be desperately needed.

Additional donations may be sent to:

Putnam Animal Relief Center Fund
c/o First State Bank
1101 Hospital Drive, Suite 102
Hurricane, WV 25526

Please look in your heart to be a corporate sponsor or contributor for this worthy cause. To help the helpless is one of our greatest duties as stewards.

Original story posted by Sarah Cooper @ www.theputnamscoop.com