Leaving Portland for CDA?

[ap1981]

Originally Posted by Sandpointian

WA is a tax haven. Spokane?

So true !!!! We have this .... love for wanting a home on the lake so I think that's what keeps drawing us to CDA.

[RoadLessTraveled2015]

You are young. Do it before CDA becomes more expensive as more and more people move in.
(I am biased towards mountain towns though.)

[Sandpointian]

Originally Posted by ap1981

So true !!!! We have this .... love for wanting a home on the lake so I think that's what keeps drawing us to CDA.

Not as easy a decision as say six years ago. CDA has become really expensive relative to local wages.

[MTJoe]

I may be late to the party but you mentioned a transfer at the end of 2020 and we're still a bit from that so...
You didn't specify which lake you're looking at but we'll assume CDA. "On the lake" and "20 minutes to downtown CDA" mean you'll be travelling Hwy 95 or Hwy 97. I can't speak for 95 since they made it a 4 lane but I can tell you that travelling 97 in the winter is not going to be anything like travelling it in the summer. It's narrow, winding and heavily shaded in lots of areas. How much time have you two spent driving on icy roads along a lake/hillside that often has no railing?
If you like the WA tax structure there are several small lakes there that may suit your needs. How about along the river? In the summer CDA lake often becomes a choppy mess on the weekends from all the boat traffic although the same may be said about any lake in the area anymore. Pend Oreille doesn't suffer from the same amount of boat traffic but weather can make it like being on the ocean at times. Travel distance increases there though.
Just some things to consider for yourself or others thinking along the same lines.