Considering a move to the northwest, possibly midwest... (Boise, Pocatello: rent, new home)

[Kablooieshy]

More Californians looking to move away . Please help us make the best decision for our family. We have two small boys, the oldest is currently in Pre-K. Our circumstances allow us to relocate to virtually any "large" city in the US, so we just need to find the best fit for us. I grew up in the northwest (northern Oregon) and I like the scenery and climate (not so much the rain though). My husband and I have also lived in Tulsa Ok and would consider moving back to that area, though we would much prefer the northwest. This is what we are interested in:

*Owning our own home! Suburban LA is ridiculously expensive. We can't even afford rent out here and are living off of family. We want independence!
* Family friendly. We are a young family with young kids and want a safe, healthy environment with good schools and lots of open spaces to play.
* 4 seasons. Nothing too extreme. We're used to 75 degrees all year long so super heat/humidity or freezing temps would be quite a shock! But the same day after day gets real old real quick.

That is what is most important to us. Our budget for a home is around $175K. We have been mulling this over for about a year and are determined to make the move now while our kids are young. Some places we are considering:

* Boise or Pocatello Id
* Bend Or (maybe too expensive for us though)
* Missoula Mt
* Spokane Wa
* Edmond Ok or Olathe Ks (these are good moves as far as my husbands career path is concerned, but not the top priorities for us, unless someone can convince us otherwise).

We'd consider other areas too, these are just the ones we are most familiar with. We appreciate any and all opinions, suggestions and advice!!

[cleosmom]

I understand you wanting to move away from the economy of CA, you mentioned "large" city is desirable. Boise at 300,000 might qualify, however Pocatello would be far from calling a large city.

[Miborn]

Originally Posted by Kablooieshy

More Californians looking to move away . Please help us make the best decision for our family. We have two small boys, the oldest is currently in Pre-K. Our circumstances allow us to relocate to virtually any "large" city in the US, so we just need to find the best fit for us. I grew up in the northwest (northern Oregon) and I like the scenery and climate (not so much the rain though). My husband and I have also lived in Tulsa Ok and would consider moving back to that area, though we would much prefer the northwest. This is what we are interested in:

*Owning our own home! Suburban LA is ridiculously expensive. We can't even afford rent out here and are living off of family. We want independence!
* Family friendly. We are a young family with young kids and want a safe, healthy environment with good schools and lots of open spaces to play.
* 4 seasons. Nothing too extreme. We're used to 75 degrees all year long so super heat/humidity or freezing temps would be quite a shock! But the same day after day gets real old real quick.

That is what is most important to us. Our budget for a home is around $175K. We have been mulling this over for about a year and are determined to make the move now while our kids are young. Some places we are considering:

* Boise or Pocatello Id
* Bend Or (maybe too expensive for us though)
* Missoula Mt
* Spokane Wa
* Edmond Ok or Olathe Ks (these are good moves as far as my husbands career path is concerned, but not the top priorities for us, unless someone can convince us otherwise).

We'd consider other areas too, these are just the ones we are most familiar with. We appreciate any and all opinions, suggestions and advice!!

Boise has high heat in the summer and is cold in the winter we get our share of rain and snow(soso) also. summer days 90's to low 100's not uncommon at all. Not allot of snow but can be biting cold.

Poky biting cold and snow when we lived there also do not plow the rds. Why? Summers have been hot but normally not as 100's like Boise.

Missoula. Tons of snow and really cold. moderate summers.

Not sure about Bend.

Spokane. Winter weather for sure and not sure about summers.

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by Miborn

Boise has high heat in the summer and is cold in the winter we get our share of rain and snow(soso) also. summer days 90's to low 100's not uncommon at all. Not allot of snow but can be biting cold.

Poky biting cold and snow when we lived there also do not plow the rds. Why? Summers have been hot but normally not as 100's like Boise.

Missoula. Tons of snow and really cold. moderate summers.

Not sure about Bend.

Spokane. Winter weather for sure and not sure about summers.

Spokane can certainly get on the warm side in the summer considering they too are desert. Bend gets snow as well.

[izzy]

I'm curious what part of CA. We are central CA and get up to 113 in the summer for weeks at a time. Then cool down to the high 90s. Fall right now is about 85 degrees with cooler evenings. Winter we are between high 20's-60's depending on the time of day. So where in CA do you get the mild temps. you're talking about. LA or San Diego area maybe?

Izzy

[Kablooieshy]

Yup we live in the LA suburbs by the beach. It is beautiful and sunny all year round. Just like anywhere, it has its pros and cons, and right now its cons outweigh its pros for us, lol.

My husband works for a nation wide company and can transfer to any city with one of their offices. They have one in Boise and one in Pocatello. I visited Pocatello once as a teenager and of course all I remember about it is going to a mall, lol. I really wouldn't mind a smaller city, as long as there is an office nearby that my husband can transfer to. I am a SAHM and we live off of his income, which does not work in our neck of the woods but would in most other places.

By extreme temperatures I mean consistently below freezing in the winters or in the hundreds with high humidity in the summers. A little snow won't bother us, and I am prepared to face the fact that I might have to endure more than the one day of rain we are used to, lol. Thats why I am interested in the northwest as opposed to say, the northeast with crazy blizzards and such.

I appreciate the info. Any thoughts on how family friendly these areas are? What are the people like?

Thanks!

[Miborn]

Originally Posted by Kablooieshy

Yup we live in the LA suburbs by the beach. It is beautiful and sunny all year round. Just like anywhere, it has its pros and cons, and right now its cons outweigh its pros for us, lol.

My husband works for a nation wide company and can transfer to any city with one of their offices. They have one in Boise and one in Pocatello. I visited Pocatello once as a teenager and of course all I remember about it is going to a mall, lol. I really wouldn't mind a smaller city, as long as there is an office nearby that my husband can transfer to. I am a SAHM and we live off of his income, which does not work in our neck of the woods but would in most other places.

By extreme temperatures I mean consistently below freezing in the winters or in the hundreds with high humidity in the summers. A little snow won't bother us, and I am prepared to face the fact that I might have to endure more than the one day of rain we are used to, lol. Thats why I am interested in the northwest as opposed to say, the northeast with crazy blizzards and such.

I appreciate the info. Any thoughts on how family friendly these areas are? What are the people like?

Thanks!

Oh everything freezes in Idaho in the winter and stays frozen until spring.

[Anchorless]

My uncle actually bought property in Edmond, Ok. He loves it out there, and has been trying to convince us all to go out there.

Eh, I think I'll stay in Boise.

[huntman58]

The North West is wonderful country but costly to live in for the most part I know from what I have seen in a trip this last summer and also from living there years ago the Ozarks are still a nice place. Springfield Missouri is still a big city with a small town feel and they are nice to out of staters some thing I can not say about all of the northwest especially if you have calif plates. and I also have seen is some like Boise Idaho to fast of growth with out the infrastructure to support it and an attitude of some that make you feel very unwelcome I found some of the same when I moved to Idaho over ten years ago and the same again when I went t back to move my son from there to live with me here. we looked at Bend area but too costly for homes and land were in Missouri we can get 40 or more acres wooded and open mixed with a 3 /2 for under 150 grand and no not some shack ether but a fairly new home with all the benefits of a large city less then 30 minuets away but then again the Midwest is normally a nice family and slower pace of life area so that would be my chouse.

[Jellybean4]

Read your letter, thought you might like this. It's a beautiful place to live and lots of places to explore. Not expensive to live, close to a bigger city...but not too close.
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