Old Colony Real Estate Market News

Coal mining has been a central part of life in historic Beckley, WV for well over a century, providing employment for local residents and so much more. Kids and adults alike are fascinated by the history of local mines, and the stories passed down through generations. The Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum, located in scenic New River Park, provides the perfect place to experience history first-hand, and see what it was like to live in a mining community in the early 1900s. Our real estate agents love local history, and we've got the details on what to expect when you visit the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum.

Historic Beckley, WV: Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum

Location: New River Park – 513 Ewart Ave., Beckley, WV 25801

Hours: Open Daily from April 1 – November 1, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

• The Central Attraction at New River Park
  New River Park is one of the most popular outdoor gathering places close to Beckley homes for sale, thanks to the presence of the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and Youth Museum. The park includes verdant lawns, picnic areas, beautiful flowers, outdoor art, and plenty of space to play. Throughout the park and underground you'll find recreations of coal mining camps, buildings, and facilities. The Youth Museum, located next to the Exhibition Mine, is the perfect place for young visitors to explore local history, science, and more.

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Nestled along the banks of the Monongahela River just south of the Pennsylvania border, Morgantown, West Virginia is a lively college town with lots to offer. If you're looking to settle somewhere that has loads of downhome hospitality combined with culture, there are many fabulous Morgantown homes for sale available. So take a walk through downtown, check out these things to do, and discover why more and more people are starting to love wild and wonderful West Virginia.  

1. Take a Stroll Along the Wharf District - Clay St., Morgantown
   Located next to the Monongahela River and the Caperton Trail, the Wharf District area is a rapidly growing area that includes tons of restaurants, retails shops, offices, and modern loft apartments. The Morgantown Event Center at Waterfront Place features multi-purpose accommodations for regional, national, and international meetings, trade shows, theatre, music, and other special events. When you're strolling near the waterfront, check out Table 9, one of Morgantown's premier destinations for farm-to-table gastropub cuisine.

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Summertime is a wonderful time of the year in West Virginia. Our real estate agents absolutely love the fresh breeze and warm sun that shines on Putnam County from May until September. With average high temperatures reaching a beautiful 86 degrees and average lows settling at a comfortable mid-'60s, there's no better time of the year to get out and get active around Hurricane!

Hurricane, West Virginia, is a lovely place to live and visit. This small town harbors fantastic outdoor attractions for adults and children alike. From the local arts and culture to the charming shops and eateries throughout downtown's vibrant Main Street, there's plenty to enjoy while browsing Hurricane homes for sale. We suggest you take advantage of the warm weather and bring the kids to one of Hurricane's two great parks to cool down.

1. Sprayground at Hurricane City Park — Teays Valley Road, Hurricane, WV 25526
   Grab the family and head over to the Sprayground at Hurricane City Park for some summer fun! This spectacular splash park has been acknowledged as a Top 50 U.S. Playground by the Early Childhood Education Zone. What we love about the Sprayground is that it's specifically designed for children of all ages, so even the little ones can have an exciting and safe experience. Admission to this state-of-the-art splash pad is free for residents of Putnam County and only $3 for visitors. Kids can splash around while parents enjoy shaded seating areas. There's also a concession stand available for snacks.

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At Old Colony, we understand the stress that moving can bring. It can be even more stressful moving with pets. For many of us, pets are a part of our family and we want to make their transition as smooth and comfortable as possible. Here are a few suggestions for making your pet’s experience better.

Before moving, make sure all information on your pet’s tags is updated. When moving to a new address, it could happen that a pet could get lost or become frightened and run off. It is important to provide the most up to contact information so you can be reached immediately. 

Make sure to find a veterinarian in the area that you are moving to that comes with good recommendations. Also, it is a good idea to get copies of all of your vet records to take with you to your new area of residence. Try to find out if there are any issues/diseases in your new area that could affect your pet. 

Another good idea is to have your pet’s medications and a first aid kit re...

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One of the most important and time saving steps during your quest to find a home is prequalification for your mortgage. By doing this, you have an idea of what you can afford and can narrow the search for a home and you will have already completed some of the steps necessary to close on a home. Normally, lenders don’t charge prequalification and the process is somewhat similar to the actual loan application process itself.

What will you need to get prequalified? A good list of items includes:

• Credit report
• W-2 forms
• Tax returns
• Bank statements
• Recent pay stubs

What is next? There are some steps to prequalification. These include: 

Step 1

It is a smart move to go online to use a mortgage prequalification calculator before talking to a lender. This way you can get some idea of what you can afford. You can plug variable things such as the percentage rate and loan terms.

Step 2

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