West Virginia is nicknamed the “mountain state” for good reason. Situated in the Appalachians, the West Virginia real estate market has peeks and valleys as well. West Virginia is somewhat of a misunderstood state when it comes to national recognition. Occasionally shown in a negative light, the state is actually a tremendous location for outdoor enthusiasts. Rock climbing, hiking, fishing, camping and rafting are available in practically every part of the state. Throw in numerous historical sites from the Civil War and West Virginia just might be considered a hidden gem.

West Virginia real estate prices are extremely reasonable throughout the state. The average price of a single family home in Charleston, for instance, is approximately $180,000. The average home price drops to $140,000 for single family homes in Morgantown. It’s pretty hard to find prices this low in the rest of the country, particularly for a town rated the 3rd best in the United States. For the last 12 months, West Virginia real estate has appreciated at a rate of a little over 9 percent. Overall, West Virginia is jumping back onto the national scene because of low real estate prices. Real estate in Morgantown, in particular, may be a very good investment.

When you receive an offer from the home buyer, either the buyer himself will present it to you, or his attorney will. Once you receive the offer, you have a certain amount of time to review the offer. This time is known as the Attorney Review Period. Both you and the buyer are entitled to this review period. While the Attorney Review Period can vary from one state to the next, it usually lasts three days. During these three days, you can cancel or amend the offer received from the buyer. If you choose to amend the offer, the buyer then has three days to cancel or amend the new version of the offer. If, at the end of the review period, you have not specified that you would like to cancel or amend the offer, it then becomes a contract and is legally binding. Even though you are working without a real estate agent, the assistance of a real estate professional, like an attorney, is useful when you reach this stage of the process. In some cases, home offers include clauses that benefit the buyer. A real estate attorney is able to work with you to understand the terms and conditions listed in the offer. When you hire a real estate attorney, that person is responsible for ensuring that the offer you accept is one that is in your best interest. Keep in mind there is more to the offer than the purchase price. The terms and conditions in the contract should be considered. Because of the language used in contracts, you may not completely understand the contract or its implication to the sale of the home. This is the primary reason that a real estate attorney is necessary. The buyer can create a contract leaving loopholes for him to back out in certain situations. For example, some buyers attempt to create a contract that links escrow closing date to the sale of their own home. In these situations, you will not officially sell your home to the buyer until the buyer has sold his own home to someone else, which could take weeks or even months. Because of the complexity of a real estate contract, the negotiation process can be inundated with details with which you are not familiar. For this reason, having a real estate attorney can help close the deal on your West Virginia home for sale.