Live market readings · refreshed on loadAlameda County · CAMedian List$1.1M-5.7%|Atlanta · GAMedian List$456K+4.1%|Broward County · FLMedian List$432K-2.8%|Clark County · NVMedian List$469K+5.4%|Cook County · ILMedian List$389K+5.1%|Cuyahoga County · OHMedian List$234K+11.0%|Davidson County · TNMedian List$481K+0.1%|District of Columbia · DCMedian List$684K-0.7%|Duval County · FLMedian List$297K-2.3%|Fairfax County · VAMedian List$749K-0.8%|Fort Bend County · TXMedian List$370K-2.6%|Franklin County · OHMedian List$320K+3.2%|Hennepin County · MNMedian List$387K+1.8%|Hillsborough County · FLMedian List$400K-0.2%|Jackson County · MOMedian List$275K+7.0%|King County · WAMedian List$847K-4.3%|Los Angeles · CAMedian List$1.1M-1.4%|Marion County · INMedian List$259K+0.6%|Mecklenburg County · NCMedian List$469K+0.8%|Miami · FLMedian List$650K+2.3%|Milwaukee County · WIMedian List$275K+5.9%|Multnomah County · ORMedian List$518K-1.2%|New York County · NYMedian List$1.2M-5.5%|Orange County · CAMedian List$1.3M+2.5%|Orange County · Orlando · FLMedian List$449K+2.7%|Palm Beach County · FLMedian List$513K+8.6%|Philadelphia County · PAMedian List$300K+4.1%|Phoenix · AZMedian List$460K+1.7%|Queens County · NYMedian List$795K+1.9%|Riverside County · CAMedian List$623K+3.0%|Salt Lake County · UTMedian List$550K+1.9%|San Diego County · CAMedian List$999K+5.2%|San Francisco County · CAMedian List$1.7M+15.6%|Santa Clara County · CAMedian List$1.9M-0.6%|Shelby County · TNMedian List$259K-2.4%|St. Louis City · MOMedian List$312K+3.6%|Suffolk County · MAMedian List$810K+1.0%|Wake County · NCMedian List$458K-6.4%|Wayne County · MIMedian List$224K+4.3%|Williamson County · TXMedian List$431K-2.1%|Live market readings · refreshed on loadAlameda County · CAMedian List$1.1M-5.7%|Atlanta · GAMedian List$456K+4.1%|Broward County · FLMedian List$432K-2.8%|Clark County · NVMedian List$469K+5.4%|Cook County · ILMedian List$389K+5.1%|Cuyahoga County · OHMedian List$234K+11.0%|Davidson County · TNMedian List$481K+0.1%|District of Columbia · DCMedian List$684K-0.7%|Duval County · FLMedian List$297K-2.3%|Fairfax County · VAMedian List$749K-0.8%|Fort Bend County · TXMedian List$370K-2.6%|Franklin County · OHMedian List$320K+3.2%|Hennepin County · MNMedian List$387K+1.8%|Hillsborough County · FLMedian List$400K-0.2%|Jackson County · MOMedian List$275K+7.0%|King County · WAMedian List$847K-4.3%|Los Angeles · CAMedian List$1.1M-1.4%|Marion County · INMedian List$259K+0.6%|Mecklenburg County · NCMedian List$469K+0.8%|Miami · FLMedian List$650K+2.3%|Milwaukee County · WIMedian List$275K+5.9%|Multnomah County · ORMedian List$518K-1.2%|New York County · NYMedian List$1.2M-5.5%|Orange County · CAMedian List$1.3M+2.5%|Orange County · Orlando · FLMedian List$449K+2.7%|Palm Beach County · FLMedian List$513K+8.6%|Philadelphia County · PAMedian List$300K+4.1%|Phoenix · AZMedian List$460K+1.7%|Queens County · NYMedian List$795K+1.9%|Riverside County · CAMedian List$623K+3.0%|Salt Lake County · UTMedian List$550K+1.9%|San Diego County · CAMedian List$999K+5.2%|San Francisco County · CAMedian List$1.7M+15.6%|Santa Clara County · CAMedian List$1.9M-0.6%|Shelby County · TNMedian List$259K-2.4%|St. Louis City · MOMedian List$312K+3.6%|Suffolk County · MAMedian List$810K+1.0%|Wake County · NCMedian List$458K-6.4%|Wayne County · MIMedian List$224K+4.3%|Williamson County · TXMedian List$431K-2.1%|
Property-class scope
ARED ScoreMarket grade · state
as of Sep 11, 2026
B+
+30 / ±100
positive
−1000+100
Reason codes · heaviest factors
PM
Price momentum
+4.5% YoY median
+100
IS
Inventory & supply
4 months of supply
+50
SL
Sale-to-list ratio
97% sale-to-list
+50
MS
Market sentiment
cautiously optimistic
-50

Provisional grade — derived from this report's measured data points; the county detector suite has not measured this geography yet. The measured ARED Score replaces it on the suite's next run.

State intel report · monthly refresh cycle
Track this state

West Virginia

refreshed Sep 11, 2026, 3:45 PMnext refresh due Sep 26, 2026
Market sentiment: cautiously optimistic

West Virginia's residential housing market demonstrates steady resilience with modest year-over-year price growth and an expanding listing inventory that moves the state closer to balance. A statewide median sale price around $266,553 and typical home values under $180,000 keep entry barriers among the lowest in the eastern United States. High mortgage rates continue to lengthen days on market, yet demand remains buoyant in commuter-friendly eastern and north-central submarkets.

Market & county intel reports · West Virginia
Minor markets

None — no population center in this class.

Latest readings
Median sale price
$266,553
Divergent · 53.6% from published 2024 series — validation case open, publishes pending verdict
Median price / sq ft
$154
Median days on market
56
Active listings
5,801
Listings with price cuts
17.4%
Median price change YoY
+4.5%
Closed sales (monthly)
1,177
Months of supply
4
Sale-to-list ratio
97%
Median asking rent
$1,050/mo
Population
1,770,071
Median household income
$55,216
Avg effective property tax rate
0.59%
State Market ScoreZIP-SCORE-1.3 · 4/4 sections graded
74
Composite · average of graded sections
Computed only from this report's published readings — sections without data are excluded, never estimated.
85
Growth/100

Median prices moved up 6.9% year over year.

86
Liquidity/100

Homes spend a median of 37 days on market with 1.6 months of supply — a fast-moving market.

50
Momentum/100

0% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 47.02% of asking — demand is holding steady.

76
Safety & stability/100

8 foreclosure-ledger notices — 0.0 per 10,000 residents · unemployment 4.2% · poverty 16.8% — a stable, low-distress profile.

Immigration & foreign-bornU.S. Census Bureau ACS · state granular
Foreign-born share
1.8%
Foreign-born residents
32,329
Naturalized (of foreign-born)
54.6%
Non-citizens (of population)
0.8%
Entered 2010 or later (of foreign-born)
38.4%
World region of birth (foreign-born)
Asia
36.3%
Americas
35.8%
Europe
19.4%
Africa
7.7%
Oceania
0.8%

ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this state — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident. Federal enforcement activity is presented only at the state tier as regional context — never imputed onto any county, city, ZIP, neighborhood or parcel beneath it.

Deterministic roll-up
55 of 55 counties contributed
Median sale price
$201,437
Median price / sq ft
$3,446
Median days on market
36.52
Active listings
243,940
Listings with price cuts
0.25%
Median price change YoY
+6.93%
Closed sales (monthly)
4,019
Months of supply
1.61
Sale-to-list ratio
47.02%
Median asking rent
$550/mo
Population
1,700,295
Median household income
$54,010
Distress filings (ledger)
8

Deterministic aggregate of 55 researched counties — sales_count-weighted (population fallback); per point, children lacking the value or its weight are excluded. Tax rates, sentiment and context notes are tier-native and never roll.

Median home value · ten-year trajectory & projection

West Virginia — researched statewide history with a deterministic 1 / 3 / 5-year projection

2015201620172018201920202021202220232024202520272029$80,000$120,000$160,000$200,000$240,000

Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.0%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.

State spotlight · the factual leaderscomputed only from researched reports' published readings
Hottest city
Bridgeport
heat 92/100
median $369,000
+31.7% YoY
28 days on market
0% of listings cut
Hottest county
Jackson County
heat 86/100
median $284,148
+114.5% YoY
21 days on market
0% of listings cut
Most discounted
Monongalia County
82% of listings cut price
median $376,000
+3% YoY
92 days on market
82% of listings cut
Fastest mover
Harrison County
13 median days on market
median $150,126
+1.8% YoY
13 days on market
0% of listings cut
Distress spotlight
Jefferson County
7 verified ledger filing(s)
1.1 filings per 10,000 residents
county-record verified foreclosure postings
What's hot · what's notheat 0-100 · price direction, pace, negotiation strength, discount pressure
Hot · rising demand

highest heat scores

1Bridgeportmarket+31.7% YoY92
2Jackson Countycounty+114.5% YoY86
3Mason Countycounty+6.1% YoY84
4Hampshire Countycounty+24.3% YoY82
5Mineral Countycounty+0.8% YoY78
Not · cooling demand

lowest heat scores

1Gilmer Countycounty-47.8% YoY25
2Wetzel Countycounty-17.7% YoY27
3Cabell Countycounty-16.1% YoY34
4Nicholas Countycounty-59.1% YoY35
5McDowell Countycounty-17.1% YoY37
Amenities & attractions4 retained amenities · 3 developments on the horizon

The amenity base that shapes daily life and property demand in this state — what residents actually live with, and what the pipeline is adding.

Inside this state
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
National Park

Spanning over 70,000 acres, it features the iconic New River Gorge Bridge, world-renowned whitewater rafting, and over 1,400 rock climbing routes that serve as the crown jewel of the state's outdoor tourism economy.

Snowshoe Mountain Resort
Ski & Mountain Resort

Premier four-season alpine destination in the Allegheny Mountains offering extensive downhill skiing, mountain biking parks, and resort village lodging that attracts visitors across the Mid-Atlantic.

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Historic District & Park

Situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, this historic 19th-century town and Appalachian Trail midpoint offers rich Civil War history and scenic river bluffs.

Hatfield-McCoy Trails
Trail System

An interconnected system of over 1,000 miles of off-highway vehicle trails across southern West Virginia that anchors an entire multi-county ecotourism and motorsport economy.

On the horizon · announced & under construction
Nucor Sheet MillAdvanced Manufacturing / IndustrialUnder ConstructionA $3.1 billion state-of-the-art sheet steel mill facility in Mason County representing one of the largest single capital investments in West Virginia history, expected to support approximately 800 full-time jobs.
Form Energy Battery Manufacturing PlantClean Energy / ManufacturingUnder ConstructionA $760 million iron-air long-duration battery manufacturing factory located at the former Weirton Steel site in the Northern Panhandle, expected to generate around 750 high-tech jobs.
Berkeley County Data Center CampusTechnology / Data CenterAnnouncedA planned multi-billion dollar data center campus in the Eastern Panhandle, leveraging proximity to Northern Virginia fiber routes, high-voltage transmission lines, and the state's High Impact Data Center Program incentives.
Area context
Crime & safety

West Virginia's violent crime rate sits slightly below the national baseline, while property crime rates generally match or trail regional averages across central Appalachia. However, localized urban nodes such as parts of Charleston, Huntington, and Beckley experience elevated property offense rates heavily tied to long-standing socioeconomic strain and substance misuse.

Schools & education

Public school quality exhibits wide geographic disparity, with top-performing districts situated in prosperous corridors like Monongalia County (Morgantown) and the Eastern Panhandle (Jefferson and Berkeley Counties). Statewide academic assessment performance typically trails national averages due to systemic rural funding constraints and teacher shortages.

Environmental & hazard

Inland riverine and flash flooding represents the predominant natural hazard, exacerbated by steep Appalachian topography, narrow hollows, and historic settlement patterns along waterways. Severe windstorms and winter weather periodically disrupt infrastructure, while residential wildfire risk is modest and localized to mountainous forests.

Growth & development

Economic momentum is heavily bifurcated, led by high-profile clean energy manufacturing and advanced industrial projects such as Nucor Steel in Mason County and Form Energy in Weirton. The Eastern Panhandle thrives on spillover from the Washington D.C. metro corridor, including major data center announcements, while traditional resource-dependent southern counties experience ongoing population drag.

Taxation

Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. Federal (United States (federal)) — Federal General Tax Lien Encumbrance: Under IRC § 6321, a statutory lien arises automatically as of the date of assessment and attaches to all real property owned or acquired by the taxpayer. Upon the IRS filing a Notice of Federal Tax Lien (NFTL) in local county land records under IRC § 6323, it perfects priority against subsequent pur Federal (United States (federal)) — Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) Tax Withholding: Imposes an absolute statutory obligation on the transferee/buyer to withhold gross tax from the total amount realized (purchase price) upon disposition and remit it to the IRS within 20 days using Forms 8288 and 8288-A. Rate structure and formula: Base statutory withholding rate is 15% of the gross

Recreation & amenities

West Virginia offers premier outdoor recreation centered on the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, world-class whitewater rafting on the Gauley River, and four-season mountain resorts like Snowshoe. Extensive state parks, rail trails, and the Hatfield-McCoy ATV Trail network provide substantial ecotourism draw throughout the state.

Rental market

Rental demand is strongest around university hubs like Morgantown and Huntington, alongside commuter-heavy submarkets in the Eastern Panhandle. Statewide median gross rents remain among the most affordable in the nation, though rural areas face supply shortages of modern, updated rental units.

Economy & employers

West Virginia's economy is undergoing a transition from historic coal extraction toward diversified natural gas energy production, advanced industrial manufacturing, and regional healthcare services. While overall GDP growth has historically trailed national rates, landmark investments in battery manufacturing, aerospace, and metallurgy provide solid localized momentum.

Transportation & infrastructure

Interstate corridors I-64, I-77, I-79, and I-81 form the backbone of freight and passenger mobility, with I-81 through the Eastern Panhandle carrying dense commercial freight traffic. Public transit is limited outside of municipal bus networks in major cities and the PRT system in Morgantown, while commuter rail is available via MARC service in Jefferson and Berkeley counties.

Development pipeline

Statewide development strategy prioritizes brownfield redevelopment and site-certification programs to expand shovel-ready industrial parcels along major river and interstate corridors.

Special districts

Special tax assessments in West Virginia are generally limited compared to states with widespread MUDs, though municipalities and counties utilize Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts and Public Improvement Districts (PIDs) to finance targeted commercial and public infrastructure developments.

Insurance & hazard market

Homeowners insurance premiums in West Virginia sit below national averages, though properties located in designated floodways face steep National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private flood policy rate hikes following repeated Appalachian storm events.

Migration & population flows

IRS and Census data reflect modest net domestic in-migration to targeted zones such as the Eastern Panhandle and North-Central regions, offsetting gradual net out-migration and negative natural population change in legacy coal-mining counties.

Foreclosure doctrine

West Virginia is primarily a non-judicial foreclosure state operating under deeds of trust. The trustee provides notice of default and sale according to deed terms and statutory posting/publication standards, typically without statutory post-sale rights of redemption for the borrower.

Disclosure doctrine

West Virginia seller disclosure doctrine adheres to common-law real property principles, requiring sellers to disclose known latent material defects that an ordinary inspection would not uncover. The West Virginia Real Estate Commission provides a standard property condition disclosure form commonly utilized in residential transactions.

Discovery profileACS 2019-2023 5-year estimates
Census profile · West Virginia
Population
1,770,071
Median age
42.8 yrs
Owner-occupancy
74.3%
Median home value
$154,800
Median gross rent
$852
Median household income
$55,216
Median year built
1976
Vacancy rate
14.8%
Renter share
25.7%
Owner cost burden
19.5%
Renter cost burden
43.8%
Population change
-0.4%
Net migration
2,400
Work-from-home share
7.4%
Mean commute
26.2 min
Bachelor's or higher
24.1%
Unemployment
4.2%
Poverty rate
16.8%
Avg household size
2.4
White alone (non-Hispanic)
89.8%
Black or African American alone
3.7%
Hispanic or Latino
2.1%
Two or more races
3.1%
Asian alone
0.8%
Other
0.5%

Data retrieved via U.S. Census Bureau ACS tables for the state of West Virginia.

Major employers & industries
WVU MedicineHealthcareLargest private employer in the state with over 20,000 healthcare and administrative personnel statewide.
Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) / Vandalia HealthHealthcareMajor hospital network employing over 12,000 workers across central and southern West Virginia.
State of West VirginiaGovernment & Higher EducationIncludes state government agencies and public universities such as West Virginia University and Marshall University.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing West VirginiaAutomotive ManufacturingProduces engines and transmissions in Buffalo, WV, employing approximately 2,000 advanced manufacturing specialists.
Latest refresh summary

West Virginia's residential housing market demonstrates steady resilience with modest year-over-year price growth and an expanding listing inventory that moves the state closer to balance. A statewide median sale price around $266,553 and typical home values under $180,000 keep entry barriers among the lowest in the eastern United States. High mortgage rates continue to lengthen days on market, yet demand remains buoyant in commuter-friendly eastern and north-central submarkets.

Sources · 7 cited
Market signals — layered trendsWest Virginia · 8 charts · one line per tier in the chain

Forecasts are for speculation only and should not be used as a deciding factor in any transaction. Projections trend strictly from calculable historical values — the platform cannot predict market movements, market sentiment, or the market itself.

Assessed-value momentum — YoY
county-assessed values · 5-yr historical · 1-yr forecast at the trailing 3-read mean · no-roll-up tiers: own refresh series
Awaiting measured historycharts once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate

Awaiting measured history — this chart renders once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate (a one-point series is not a trend).

Assessed value — dollar levels
raw district CAD assessed levels · 5-yr historical · 1-yr forecast · property mix varies with coverage
Awaiting measured historycharts once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate

Awaiting measured history — this chart renders once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate (a one-point series is not a trend).

Assessed value — indexed trajectory
YoY-chained index · base 100 at each line's first charted year · 5-yr historical · 1-yr forecast
Awaiting measured historycharts once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate

Awaiting measured history — this chart renders once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate (a one-point series is not a trend).

Comp sales — month over month
nearby comp sales vs the assessed anchor · 5-yr window · 1-yr projection
Awaiting measured historycharts once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate

Awaiting measured history — this chart renders once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate (a one-point series is not a trend).

Active inventory — month over month
5-yr window · 1-yr projection
Awaiting measured historycharts once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate

Awaiting measured history — this chart renders once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate (a one-point series is not a trend).

Liquidity velocity — days on market
5-yr window · 1-yr projection
Awaiting measured historycharts once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate

Awaiting measured history — this chart renders once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate (a one-point series is not a trend).

Price-cut share
5-yr window · 1-yr projection
Awaiting measured historycharts once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate

Awaiting measured history — this chart renders once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate (a one-point series is not a trend).

Foreclosure presence
5-yr window · 1-yr projection
Awaiting measured historycharts once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate

Awaiting measured history — this chart renders once enough refresh-cycle reads accumulate (a one-point series is not a trend).

Standard trend model — solid = measured history · dashed = projection anchored at each line's last measured point, following that series' trailing pace (CAGR capped ±12%/yr) or trailing mean · projections are estimates, not measured reads · every charted series runs the standard 5-year historical window with a 1-year forecast, trimmed from the full retained ledger — the forecast always extends into the future year (a lagging ledger bridges to it) and stops there on purpose: authoritative, not wizardry · every price line is county-assessed value from the district CAD — the tier's same-parcel assessment roll-up on the momentum tile, the assessed trajectory in raw dollar levels and as a YoY-chained index (base 100), and the month-over-month pace from nearby comparable sales pooled from the research track; a tier without comps yet keeps its pace story with the assessed trend. Inventory, liquidity, price-cut and foreclosure lines run on the platform's own measured series.

Foreclosure ledgerWest Virginia · open the full ledger
Recorded notices
0
Statutory trustee notices in scope
Upcoming sales
0
No dated sale in the current set
Distress weight
0.0
per 10,000 residents
Weight band
LOW WEIGHT

No recorded foreclosure notices for West Virginia yet. Counties ingest on the scheduled rotation — absence here reads as no recorded notices, not as verified zero distress.

Jurisdictional burden contextinherited governance · most-local first
Federal · United States (federal)
FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) Mandatory Flood Insurance PurchaseHazard & insuranceConditional

applies when — The parcel is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as identified by FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps and the loan is secured by a federally regulated or backed lending institution.

Requires the property owner to maintain flood insurance coverage for the duration of the loan. Failure to maintain coverage allows the lender to force-place insurance at the borrower's expense.

Governed by the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (FDPA) and the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968.

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Foreclosure and Eviction RestraintsForeclosure doctrineConditional

applies when — Parcel encumbered by a mortgage or occupied by a residential tenant where the mortgagor or lessee entered active-duty military service.

Stays non-judicial foreclosure proceedings, property seizure, and eviction for parcels owned or leased by qualifying servicemembers. Foreclosure or distress sales initiated during military service or within one year after service are strictly invalid and void unless conducted pursuant to a valid court order or an express written waiver executed during or after military service.

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-189; 50 U.S.C. § 3953 and 50 U.S.C. § 3955), originally enacted as the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940; amended by the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act.

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Superfund LiensTaxationConditional

applies when — Parcel where the federal government (EPA) has incurred response costs for cleanup or remediation of hazardous substance releases, and the parcel owner was provided written notice of potential liability.

Establishes a statutory federal lien upon the parcel running in favor of the United States for all unrecovered cleanup costs, damages, and statutory interest incurred by the EPA. Rate and formula: Direct Dollar-for-Dollar Reimbursement (Lien Amount = Incurred Response Costs + Administrative Costs + Statutory Interest under 42 U.S.C. § 9607(a)). Exemptions: Bona Fide Prospective Purchasers (BFPP) and Innocent Landowners under the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act are exempt from personal liability if they perform All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI Phase I ESA) prior to purchase and comply with ongoing continuing obligations, though a 'windfall lien' may still attach to the parcel up to the unearned increase in fair market value attributable to the response action.

CERCLA of 1980, Section 107(l) (42 U.S.C. § 9607(l)) and Section 107(r) (Windfall Liens), as amended by SARA (1986) and the Brownfields Revitalization Act of 2002.

Endangered Species Act Section 9 Parcel Take ProhibitionsLand use & zoningConditional

applies when — Parcel contains designated critical habitat or supports listed threatened or endangered animal species under the Endangered Species Act.

Makes it unlawful to 'take' listed species (including significant habitat modification or degradation that impairs breeding, feeding, or sheltering). Precludes parcel clearing, tree removal, earthmoving, or construction unless the property owner prepares an approved Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and secures an Incidental Take Permit under Section 10(a) or receives Section 7 interagency consultation clearance.

Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1538-1539; 50 CFR Parts 17 and 222.

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 ComplianceLand use & zoningConditional

applies when — Parcel contains a historic property listed on, or eligible for listing on, the National Register of Historic Places, subject to an undertaking involving federal permits, licenses, funding, or loan guarantees (e.g., HUD, USDA, or USACE approvals).

Mandates federal agencies to evaluate the effect of the proposed residential undertaking on historic properties and consult with State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPO) and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPO). Restricts structural alterations, ground disturbance, demolition, or aesthetic elevations that cause adverse effects, often requiring formal Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) and mitigation measures.

National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, recodified at 54 U.S.C. § 306108; implementing regulations at 36 CFR Part 800.

Clean Water Act Section 404 Wetland and Waters RegulationLand use & zoningConditional

applies when — Parcel contains delineated 'waters of the United States' (WOTUS), including jurisdictional wetlands, streams, or navigable waterways.

Prohibits the discharge of dredged or fill material into jurisdictional waters on the parcel without an individual or nationwide permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Restricts residential site grading, bulkheading, retention pond construction, or development footprints, and may require expensive compensatory mitigation or off-site wetland credits to disturb designated acreage.

Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Clean Water Act), 33 U.S.C. § 1344; joint regulations at 33 CFR Parts 320-332 and 40 CFR Part 230.

VA Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs) for Loan GuarantyBuilding & codesConditional

applies when — Parcel securing a residential loan guaranteed under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home Loan program.

Imposes mandatory VA Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs) ensuring the residential dwelling is safe, structurally sound, and sanitary. Mandates specific parcel covenants, including permanent year-round vehicular access, dedicated continuous utilities, separation from environmental/industrial hazards (such as high-voltage lines or pipeline easements), and certified termite/wood-destroying insect clearance in designated infestation zones.

Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944; 38 U.S.C. Chapter 37; 38 CFR Part 36; VA Pamphlet 26-7 (Lenders Handbook), Chapter 12.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Minimum Property Standards & Loan CeilingsBuilding & codesConditional

applies when — Parcel securing a residential purchase or refinance financed through an FHA-insured Title II mortgage.

Binds the parcel to HUD's Minimum Property Standards (MPS) covering basic safety, soundness, and security (e.g., structural integrity, adequate heating, safe potable water, clear drainage, lead-free surfaces). Imposes parcel-level statutory loan limits capping the insurable mortgage amount by county/MSA (ranging from the national 'floor' to the national 'ceiling' based on median county home prices). Non-compliant property deficiencies must be cured as a condition precedent to endorsement.

National Housing Act of 1934; 12 U.S.C. § 1709; 24 CFR Part 200, Subpart S; HUD Handbook 4000.1 (Single Family Housing Policy Handbook), adjusted annually by HUD Mortgagee Letters.

Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) WithholdingTaxationConditional

applies when — Disposition of a United States Real Property Interest (USRPI) where the transferor (seller) is a foreign person (non-resident alien individual, foreign corporation, foreign partnership, trust, or estate).

Imposes an affirmative withholding tax obligation on the transferee (buyer) to withhold and remit tax on the gross amount realized (gross sales price). The statutory base withholding rate is 15% of the total purchase price (Formula: Tax = Amount Realized × 15%). Exemptions and reductions: (1) 0% withholding applies if the amount realized is $300,000 or less AND the buyer certifies personal residence occupancy for at least 50% of days used over each of the first two 12-month periods; (2) reduced withholding rate of 10% applies if the amount realized exceeds $300,000 but does not exceed $1,000,000 and the buyer meets the personal residence requirement (Formula: Tax = Amount Realized × 10%); (3) withholding can be reduced or eliminated if an IRS Withholding Certificate (Form 8288-B) is obtained or if the seller furnishes a Non-Foreign Status Certification.

Internal Revenue Code Section 1445 (26 U.S.C. § 1445), originally enacted under FIRPTA of 1980; standard rate increased from 10% to 15% under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015, effective February 16, 2016.

Federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Disclosure (Title X)Disclosure & transactionConditional

applies when — Residential 'target housing' constructed prior to 1978 offered for sale or lease (excluding zero-bedroom dwellings, housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities unless a child under 6 resides there, and certified lead-free properties).

Requires sellers and landlords to disclose known lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards, provide all available evaluation reports/records, provide the EPA-approved informational pamphlet 'Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home', and grant prospective buyers a 10-day inspection period (subject to mutual written waiver). Parties must execute a formal disclosure attachment; failure exposes non-compliant parties to statutory civil penalties and treble damages.

Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (Title X of Pub. L. 102-550; 42 U.S.C. § 4852d); joint HUD/EPA regulations at 24 CFR Part 35, Subpart A and 40 CFR Part 745, Subpart F.

Fair Housing Act Parcel Design, Construction, and Accessibility StandardsBuilding & codesConditional

applies when — The parcel contains covered multifamily residential dwellings designed and constructed for first occupancy after March 13, 1991 (defined as all dwelling units in buildings with 4 or more units with an elevator, or ground floor dwelling units in buildings with 4 or more units without an elevator).

Imposes mandatory physical structural criteria on the parcel improvements: (1) accessible building entrance on an accessible route, (2) accessible public and common use areas, (3) usable doors for wheelchairs, (4) accessible routes into and through each dwelling unit, (5) light switches, electrical outlets, and environmental controls in accessible locations, (6) reinforced bathroom walls for grab bar installation, and (7) usable kitchens and bathrooms permitting wheelchair maneuvering. Non-conforming improvements require mandatory structural retrofits and subject developers/owners to federal civil actions.

Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 3604(f)(3)(C)); HUD regulations at 24 CFR 100.205.

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Mortgage Foreclosure MoratoriumForeclosure doctrineConditional

applies when — The parcel secures a residential mortgage originated before the property owner entered active military service, where the debt is enforced during or within one year after active military service.

Restricts lender foreclosure rights by nullifying any non-judicial foreclosure, sale, or seizure of the residential parcel without a court order or valid written waiver executed by the servicemember during or after active duty. Courts are empowered to stay foreclosure proceedings or adjust loan payments. Foreclosing without a court order constitutes a federal criminal misdemeanor and exposes the lender to civil damages.

50 U.S.C. 3953; codified originally as the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940, modernized under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-189).

Federal General Tax Lien EncumbranceTaxationConditional

applies when — The residential parcel is owned by a person or entity that has neglected or refused to pay any assessed federal tax liability (income, gift, estate, or payroll tax) after formal demand.

Under IRC § 6321, a statutory lien arises automatically as of the date of assessment and attaches to all real property owned or acquired by the taxpayer. Upon the IRS filing a Notice of Federal Tax Lien (NFTL) in local county land records under IRC § 6323, it perfects priority against subsequent purchasers, mortgagees, and judgment lien creditors. Rate and computation: The lien secures 100% of the underlying unpaid tax assessment, plus compounding interest under IRC § 6621 (the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points) and statutory late-payment penalties under IRC § 6651 (0.5% per month, up to a maximum cap of 25%). No parcel-level homestead exemption exists under federal law against an IRC § 7403 judicial foreclosure or tax collection lien.

Internal Revenue Code (IRC) §§ 6321, 6322, 6323.

EPA Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) RuleBuilding & codesConditional

applies when — The parcel is improved with target residential housing built before 1978 undergoing renovation, repair, or painting activities for compensation that disturb more than 6 sq. ft. of interior painted surface or 20 sq. ft. of exterior painted surface.

Legally prohibits uncertified contractors from performing qualifying physical alterations on the home. Contractors must be EPA-certified and adhere to specific lead-safe containment, containment plastic barriers, HEPA vacuuming, and cleaning verification protocols. Imposes strict recordkeeping burdens and exposes property alterations to federal administrative stop-work orders and civil fines for uncontained lead dust contamination.

Promulgated under TSCA § 402(c)(3) (15 U.S.C. 2682); codified at 40 CFR Part 745, Subpart E; fully effective April 22, 2010.

Clean Water Act Section 404 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) PermittingLand use & zoningConditional

applies when — The parcel contains wetlands, streams, or waterways that meet the definition of 'Waters of the United States' (WOTUS) as delineated under the Clean Water Act.

Prohibits the discharge of dredged or fill material into jurisdictional wetlands or waters without a permit issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Restricts residential site grading, driveway installation, structural foundation expansion, or shoreline bulkheading; unauthorized fill mandates compulsory site restoration and subjects parcel owners to civil penalties exceeding $50,000 per day under 33 U.S.C. 1319.

Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act), 33 U.S.C. 1344; current delineation criteria governed in accordance with Sackett v. EPA (2023) and conforming federal rulemaking (40 CFR Part 120 / 33 CFR Part 328).

Federal Historic Preservation Review Encumbrance (Section 106)Land use & zoningConditional

applies when — The residential parcel is listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, or lies within an eligible historic district, and involves an action subject to federal agency funding, permitting, licensing, or mortgage assistance (e.g., HUD/FHA, VA, USDA, or USACE permits).

Federal agencies must assess adverse effects on historic resources prior to approving loans, grants, or permits. Parcel alterations, demolitions, or rehabilitation programs that receive federal assistance are subjected to binding Section 106 consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and must adhere to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, restricting unapproved structural modifications or exterior elevation changes.

National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (54 U.S.C. 306108, formerly 16 U.S.C. 470f); regulations codified at 36 CFR Part 800.

FHA / HUD Single-Family Property Standards and County Loan LimitsLending & financingConditional

applies when — The parcel is being purchased or refinanced using FHA-insured Title II financing under the National Housing Act.

Restricts financing eligibility based on parcel and structural criteria: (1) County Loan Limits cap the maximum insurable mortgage balance per parcel based on local median housing costs (ranging from a federal statutory floor of 65% of the national conforming limit up to a statutory ceiling of 150%). (2) Imposes mandatory HUD Minimum Property Standards (MPS; HUD Handbook 4000.1 / 24 CFR Part 200) requiring mandatory appraisal repair escrows or seller cures for deficiencies regarding structural soundness, safety, soil stability, drainage, well/septic separation buffers, and lead paint encapsulation before loan endorsement.

National Housing Act of 1934, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1709); annual loan limit updates promulgated under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA).

Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) Tax WithholdingTaxationConditional

applies when — The parcel constitutes a U.S. Real Property Interest (USRPI) transferred or disposed of by a 'foreign person' (non-resident alien individual, foreign corporation, foreign partnership, or foreign trust/estate).

Imposes an absolute statutory obligation on the transferee/buyer to withhold gross tax from the total amount realized (purchase price) upon disposition and remit it to the IRS within 20 days using Forms 8288 and 8288-A. Rate structure and formula: Base statutory withholding rate is 15% of the gross sales price. Residential personal residence exemption computation: (1) If the gross sales price does not exceed $300,000 AND the buyer (or family member) intends to use the parcel as a personal residence for at least 50% of days used during each of the first two 12-month periods, the withholding rate is 0%. (2) If the gross sales price exceeds $300,000 but does not exceed $1,000,000 and meets the same personal residence test, the withholding rate is reduced to 10% of the gross sales price. (3) For all sales exceeding $1,000,000, or where the buyer does not satisfy the personal residence requir

Internal Revenue Code (IRC) § 1445; enacted via the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, with standard rate increased from 10% to 15% pursuant to the PATH Act of 2015.

Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (Title X) DisclosureDisclosure & transactionConditional

applies when — The parcel is improved with 'target housing,' defined as any residential dwelling constructed prior to 1978, except housing for the elderly or persons with disabilities (unless a child under age 6 resides or is expected to reside there) or 0-bedroom dwellings.

Before a purchaser or lessee becomes obligated under any contract to buy or lease, the seller or landlord must: (1) provide an EPA-approved lead hazard information pamphlet ('Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home'), (2) disclose any known lead-based paint or hazards and provide all available records/evaluations, (3) attach a federal Lead Warning Statement and disclosure certification to the contract, and (4) afford buyers a mandatory 10-day mutual inspection period (waivable in writing) to conduct a risk assessment. Failure to comply exposes violators to civil liability, statutory treble damages, and administrative penalties up to statutory maximums per violation.

Enacted under Title X of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 4852d), implemented jointly by EPA and HUD at 40 CFR Part 745 / 24 CFR Part 35.

FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area — NFIP Mandatory Purchase RequirementHazard & insuranceConditional

applies when — Parcel contains improved real estate or a manufactured home situated within a FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA, such as Zones A or V / 100-year floodplain) in an NFIP-participating community, where financing is secured via a federally regulated, supervised, or insured lender (including GSEs, FHA, VA, USDA).

Mandates borrower to purchase and maintain flood insurance coverage (via NFIP or qualifying private flood insurance policy) for the term of the mortgage up to the lesser of the outstanding principal loan balance, the maximum NFIP statutory limit ($250,000 for residential 1-4 units), or the insurable value of the property. Lenders must escrow flood insurance premiums unless specific small-lender exceptions apply.

Established under the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. § 4012a) and National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, amended by the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012; private flood insurance acceptance regulations updated at 24 CFR Part 203 (FHA, 2022).

Governance registry — every jurisdiction re-researches on a rolling 90-day cycle. Property reports compose these inherited burdens into a per-parcel ledger with conditional determinations. Informational only — not legal advice.