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Old 01-15-2020, 06:36 AM
 
29 posts, read 20,449 times
Reputation: 50

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My wife and I are ready to retire next year and Washington has been on our radar. We love cool rainy weather and have visited the state many times. We are looking for a safe area fairly close to stores with home prices $400,000 or less. We are looking at the Camas area both the house prices have gone way up the last 12 months. Any suggestions would be appreciated. We are planning to visit the area in March.
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Old 01-15-2020, 10:13 AM
 
Location: Rochester, WA
14,483 posts, read 12,107,650 times
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You actually have lots of good places to choose from with that budget. Help us by painting a picture of what you might like. Talk more about "fairly close to stores". For some that might mean one good grocery store in town... for others, that might mean a shopping district with a Costco, a Walmart, or a Mall.

How big a home? New or vintage? Farm house on acreage in the country or craftsman in a cul-de-sac?

Do you like a view, or water or trees or hills or flat? Do you need to be able to get out in winter or can you hunker down during occasional winter storms?
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Old 01-15-2020, 01:38 PM
 
29 posts, read 20,449 times
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Great questions, thanks. My wife definately likes to shop at Walmart and Costco but driving to get there would not be a problem. Walmart over Costco. Mid size home is fine, around 1,700 SF or less would be fine since it is just my wife and I. We are currently living in a townhouse and do not want a shared wall again and want more privacy. Closer to new than vintage and a privacy yard over acreage. View would be nice but not necessary. We also do not mind hunkering down during a winter storm since we will both be retired. I like the idea of Camas becasue of the proximity to both trees and Portland Airport for travel. We have also been all around Kitsap Peninsula and that is appealing. Gig Harbor seems out of our price range but maybe Port Orchard, Poulsbo or parts of Bremerton. We have also looked online around the Olympia area and Tumwater. We loved Sequim but I think the prices have gotten too high based on how far away it is from airports and major medical.
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Old 01-15-2020, 03:14 PM
 
1,515 posts, read 1,525,302 times
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Yes I've been posting about SW Washington every now and then. I like Skamokawa- great park but South Bend , Cathlamet and the rest are also nice. Long Beach is more expensive.
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Old 01-15-2020, 04:24 PM
 
Location: Independent Republic of Ballard
8,071 posts, read 8,365,584 times
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https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/8...83065697_zpid/

$195k, Grayland, 3bd/2ba, 1.4k/sf, private beach easement, fenced back yard, 2-car detached garage.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2...55080741_zpid/

$239k, Copalis Beach, 3bd/2ba, 1.2k/sf, close to beach, covered patio, fire pit, fenced backyard, guest cottage/art studio.

Walmart Supercenter in Aberdeen. Nearest Costco in Tumwater (Olympia).
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Old 01-15-2020, 07:45 PM
 
Location: Vancouver, WA
8,214 posts, read 16,697,627 times
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We live near Camas in eastern Vanvcouver. I would recommend looking at the neighborhoods around that general area for better affordability. The problem with Camas for retirees is that you're payer higher costs in the form of both prices and property taxes for their schools. Yet without school aged kids, you're basically overpaying for services you'll never use.

Take a look at these other communities such as Fishers Landing, Cascade Park East and West, Mill Plain, Hockinson, Salmon Creek, etc... There really are lots of other options to get more bang for your buck nearby. Here are a few:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7...23299967_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2...23251835_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9...0945515_zpid/?

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/8...83419030_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2...58232924_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...82107557_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/9...3288682_zpid/?

Derek

Last edited by MtnSurfer; 01-15-2020 at 07:59 PM..
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Old 01-16-2020, 01:35 AM
 
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,711 posts, read 58,042,598 times
Reputation: 46182
What is your desired type of home and neighborhood? (Age of home and size of lot)

There are plenty of affordable options between Peace Health Hospital and the Costco on 192nd ave. Especially if you are OK with 'smaller' footprint.

There will be some bargains when the market readjusts.

I like places near;
  • Ft Vancouver Historic Park (Crosley Bowl) (Walkable to Marshall Center, Fred Meyer, Transit, Clark College, Library, Downtown Vancouver, Waterfront). If I had to live in town, I would get on the wait list for leases at Vancouver Historic Trust (Officers Row), https://www.historictrustproperties....ntial-leasing/
    and I would put my RE equity to work in a NNN commercial property covering my housing expense wherever I wanted to live. (Tokyo, Tahiti, Toronto...Vancouver (BC or USA)) $400k will provide you with $3,000 to $4,000 / month for your rent!! (+ huge write-downs (depreciation and expenses) for any taxable income) + deductible travel to check up on the place (if you must). A Vancouver friend (age 95) bought a NNN prop in Atlanta 15 yrs ago and has never been to Atlanta. $7,000 / month direct deposit.
  • Propstra Aquatics Center
  • David Douglas Park
  • We lived very near Evergreen Memorial Gardens when we arrived in Vancouver. It was very handy, but now has noise of I-205, (and a rare landing pattern to PDX (~5 days / yr)). Sis lived next to Hearthwood elementary. Several friends live near Fisher Elementary, and many retirees love Vista Del Rio (Handicap accessible MHP) There is also the option of Fairway Village. Being walking distance to Fisher Transit would be pretty nice when older (Shuttle to Portland, / MAX / and Columbia Gorge.)
  • A smaller subdivision with medium priced homes near Costco / Camas is on Jackson Loop
Lots of choices and places to look...

I try to NEVER buy something that is listed FS, I prefer to dig up my own deals BEFORE the vultures arrive.
It is very easy to do here. (beats sitting in the courthouse for weeks at a time) BTDT for many yrs.
https://gis.clark.wa.gov/gishome/?pid=menu
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Old 01-16-2020, 04:56 AM
 
29 posts, read 20,449 times
Reputation: 50
Great information. Thanks. I was thinking the same about Camas. Paying a premium for schools but It also helps resale value if we want to sell one day. Our search is just beginning. We will definitely check out the area outside of Camas.
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Old 01-16-2020, 05:14 AM
 
29 posts, read 20,449 times
Reputation: 50
Thanks StealthRabbit. I never considered buying commercial but my wife has. I will have her look into this. I checked out the properties outside of Camas and the prices are much lower. Will check these areas out in March.
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Old 01-16-2020, 04:48 PM
 
Location: Embarrassing, WA
3,405 posts, read 2,733,126 times
Reputation: 4417
I'd like to point out that I don't believe that you really save anything by retiring to "income tax free" Washington, mainly due to housing costs and property taxes. Not trying to dissuade your potential move here, but a lot of people that have moved here from the Midwest to retire have found it much more expensive than the lower housing costs and state income tax where they came from. That aside, if you "love the cool rainy weather" sounds like we have a match lol
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