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Old 03-16-2013, 10:53 PM
 
Location: Santa Monica
36,853 posts, read 17,547,764 times
Reputation: 14459

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My buddy got a job on Whidbey Island and was looking at apts in Oak Harbor. Neither one of us is too familiar with the area. Is there a reason why the apts are so cheap? Talking $400 to $550 for studios and one beds. Crime seems ok and we checked the BBB on a few of these companies and that came up solid. Is it due to the noise from the base? More crime than on paper? None of the ads say military only. Go to Craigslist, click on the island, type in "Oak Harbor" and price range of $400 to $550. You'll see it for yourself.

Are we missing something? The rest of Whidbey's prices seem to jive with what we had in mind. Why is Oak Harbor so cheap?
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Old 03-17-2013, 02:47 AM
 
118 posts, read 209,476 times
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I grew up on the island and the reason everything is so cheap is because there are no jobs there unless you're in the navy or work for a military contractor so most people live in the plentiful trailer parks.
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Old 03-17-2013, 08:31 AM
Status: "Retired now!" (set 2 hours ago)
 
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
45,119 posts, read 82,518,824 times
Reputation: 58822
The median income is about half of Seattle there. If you want to pay more, Coupeville and south
are more expensive areas of Whidbey though still no jobs. I think the proximity to the NAS does affect home and rental prices, though I would love to live at Cornet Bay if I was retired.
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Old 03-17-2013, 10:17 AM
 
Location: Santa Monica
36,853 posts, read 17,547,764 times
Reputation: 14459
Thanks!

Well, since he got a job (yes military related) it looks like he overcame the reason why prices are so low. Huge break for him.

Also, read about a growing meth problem on the island esp OH. How bad? I know it's all relative.
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Old 03-17-2013, 03:47 PM
Status: "Retired now!" (set 2 hours ago)
 
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
45,119 posts, read 82,518,824 times
Reputation: 58822
The more secluded small towns seem to have more grow/manufacture/sell operations than the cities and bigger suburbs, lately. Oak Harbor has had problems even with businesses being shut down due to unhealthy conditions from people doing meth, such as a motel. Except for the more affluent eastside suburbs where people do a little weed and kids steal parents prescriptions, that's pretty hard to escape. From the news, it definitely seems worse in Oak Harbor for some reason.

Oak Harbor police seize estimated $40K in illegal drugs - Whidbey News-Times
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Old 03-17-2013, 04:47 PM
 
Location: Santa Monica
36,853 posts, read 17,547,764 times
Reputation: 14459
Yeah, we stumbled upon those stories. That's why I asked.

So are there any parts of town to avoid? I understand some parts are nicer than others. According to a crime map I found the west to northwest side seem to have the most crime. Again though, it's all relative.

Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

Last edited by Yac; 03-22-2013 at 07:46 AM..
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Old 03-18-2013, 05:59 PM
 
118 posts, read 209,476 times
Reputation: 163
If drugs bother you it might be worth thinking long and hard about oak harbor/whidbey island in general, drug use is fairly prevalent. On the other hand whidbey is very much a live and let live kind of place so if you don't go around bothering others they wont bother you.
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Old 03-18-2013, 06:40 PM
 
118 posts, read 209,476 times
Reputation: 163
urban dictionary has some pretty accurate definitions of Oak Harbor Urban Dictionary: oak harbor
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Old 03-18-2013, 07:54 PM
Status: "Retired now!" (set 2 hours ago)
 
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
45,119 posts, read 82,518,824 times
Reputation: 58822
Quote:
Originally Posted by ak-rev View Post
urban dictionary has some pretty accurate definitions of Oak Harbor Urban Dictionary: oak harbor
Urban Dictionary? Real reliable source. If you are a bored teen. Try the City-Data reviews. Probably not 100% accurate but at least they use facts and not some kid's opinions.


https://www.city-data.com/city/Oak-Ha...ashington.html
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Old 03-18-2013, 08:33 PM
 
118 posts, read 209,476 times
Reputation: 163
They are funny and sometimes its ok to laugh, which is why i posted the link. remember to smile once in a while
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