While national medians flirt with $400k, Huntington’s median sold price hovers around $115,000—unchanged since 2019 because supply and demand stay balanced. Marshall University enrollment (11,000 students) and the regional medical hubs (Cabell Huntington & St. Mary’s) provide steady employment, insulating the city from boom-bust cycles seen in vacation towns.

Inventory moves quickly in the $80k-$160k band, averaging only 28 days on market, but higher-end river condos above $275k linger, giving buyers negotiation room. Because values appreciate modestly—2.8% CAGR over the last decade—Huntington is a cash-flow, not speculation, market. Investors target 3-bed SFHs near campus that rent for $950-$1,100, yielding 9-11% gross.

Key insight: Huntington’s housing stock is older—65% built before 1970—so NMHL’s FHA 203(k) and WV renovation loans are essential tools for turning a $75k foreclosure on Madison Avenue into a $120k showcase without draining your savings.

• FHA Plus (580 min score): 3.5% down, 100% gift funds allowed, ideal for first-time buyers in Southside or Guyandotte.
• USDA Rural Home: Zero down for properties outside the 25705-zip built-up line—covers Milton, Ona, and parts of Barboursville. Income cap for a 1-person household is $103,650, well above local averages.
• Bank Statement Premier: Use 12- or 24-month deposit averages, qualify up to $1.5 M without tax returns. Popular among freight brokers, telehealth coders, and coal-consultants turned energy-start-ups.
• Hero Advantage: 0.25% rate reduction for teachers at Huntington High, nurses at Cabell, and all active Air Guard; saves about $28/mo on a $150k loan.
• VA High-Balance: 100% financing to $726,200 with no MI—even in higher-price pockets like Heritage Station lofts.

Every program comes with NMHL’s Close-On-Time Guarantee: If we miss the contracted closing date without a valid extension, we credit you $2,500 toward closing costs.

Cabell County’s effective tax rate of 0.55% ranks 7th-lowest in the nation. A typical $115k home assessed at $69k incurs $380 in annual taxes; even a $200k colonial barely tops $650. Homestead exemption knocks another $5,000 off assessed value for residents 65+ or permanently disabled, trimming another $28 off the bill.

Insurance is equally tame—$650-$750 yearly for a $120k frame house, thanks to low crime and distance from hurricane zones. Flood is only required in FEMA zones along the Ohio River; most of Huntington’s core neighborhoods sit above the 100-year plain. Budget 0.75% of purchase price yearly for combined taxes and insurance, or roughly $75/mo on the median home—leaving room in the DTI for higher loan amounts.

Ritter Park (25701): Leafy streets, century-old Tudors, and the 68-acre namesake park. Median sale $175k, but fixer-uppers appear at $120k. Walkability score 78, Halloween parade, farmers market—popular with young professors and medical residents.

Southside (25703): Five-minute walk to Marshall’s campus and the new $50M engineering complex. Expect 2-4-bed rentals, $95k-$140k buy-in, and guaranteed August turnover. Street parking premium on game days.

Westmoreland (25705): 1950s brick ranches, level driveways, and stellar Christmas-light rivalry. Typical sale $105k-$145k, HOA-free, 10-minute commute to both hospitals—first-time buyer sweet spot.

Barboursville (25504): Technically a village, but only 12 minutes to downtown on I-64. Big-box retail, 14-screen cinema, and $180-$220k new builds. Higher price buys you WV sideline school district, a top-500 statewide rating that props up resale values.

Downtown/ Heritage Station (25701): Loft conversions above 1920s storefronts. Prices $165k-$250k; Walk Score 89. WV Redevelopment Grant offers 10-year tax abatement on qualified rehabs—pair with NMHL’s 203(k) and live virtually tax-free for a decade.

• WV First Front Door: Up to $10,000 forgivable after five years. Household income must be ≤80% AMI—$60,900 for one, $87,000 for a family of four. Works with FHA, VA, or conventional at 4.5% fixed.
• City of Huntington HOME Program: $7,500 deferred-payment second mortgage, 0% interest, due only on sale or refinance. Can layer with First Front Door for combined $17,500.
• Cabell County School Staff Grant: $5,000 for full-time teachers, janitors, or bus drivers buying within county lines. Provided by the Board of Education and funded via ARPA.
• NeighborhoodLIFT Huntington: Wells Fargo partners annually; past events offered $15,000 grants—join NMHL’s wait-list for the next round.

All grants require completion of a HUD-certified 8-hour class (free at Mountwest Community College). NMHL registers you automatically during pre-approval so your funds are reserved before you shop.

Whether you’re eyeing a $89k starter near Harveytown Elementary or a $225k riverfront condo, the path is identical: upload your docs to NMHL’s WV QuickApp, schedule a 15-minute Zoom with a Huntington loan officer, and receive a same-day pre-approval letter strong enough to compete with cash investors.

Already denied by a local bank? Bring us the denial letter—chances are we can flip it into an approval using our expanded credit models. Self-employed since January? We’ll use your last 12 months of bank statements. Credit score 570? Let’s run FHA Rapid-ReScore and push you past 580 within two weeks.

Click the big orange ‘Apply Now’ button or call 304-555-LOAN to speak with Jennifer, Mike, or Carl—each born and raised in the Tri-State and each closing 120+ Huntington loans a year. We’ll answer tonight, review your file tomorrow, and get you house-hunting this weekend. Because in the city where the river meets the rails, homeownership should still be part of the American Dream—and NMHL is here to keep it that way.