Best area in Spokane to raise a family (Seattle, Tacoma: for sale, lease)

[Deena160]

About real-estate: I know the market has cooled here, but the prices don't seem to have dropped terribly. I can see the difference between the sellers and buyers market. People just can't ask blow up their price and expect to get it. Every time I pulled someone's flyer I would think, "No way they're going to get that!" Now they are seeming a bit more reasonable. Prices have seemed to plateau (my house has held pretty steady for 6 months according to Zillow.com), but it looks like sellers are really stepping up to make their homes picture perfect(thank you, HGTV!).
It should be interesting. We've never sold in a buyers market. Our first place sold in two weeks and our second one in just two days, but that was nearly 7 years ago.
About schools: I can't see how Mead would work with my husband's work. Not to mention that the kind of house we want doesn't seem to be as available there. I'm still being drawn to CV, but I can't tell you why.
I haven't heard from any other of the people who said they would get back to me. Hopefully after the new year when the kids are back in school. :~) D

[Deena160]

Merry Christmas, Everyone! We even had snow for nearly two hours. It didn't stick, but it was pretty to watch. :~) D

[MizBarbie]

I grew up in rural eastern Washington, and all of my immediate (and most extended) family live in Spokane. A few observations:

Stepmom works in before & after school program and I've never heard her mention head lice once. She's been with my dad for 20 years.

No one that I know living in Spokane has been a crime victim (and I know a lot of people there).

Cost of living is very reasonable for being able to reap the benefits of a metropolitan area of nearly 200,000. It's cheaper than Yakima where we live now (and there are a lot of better places to have dinner).

The scenery is gorgeous and the activity options abound.

Yes, it still has a small town mentality. Friendliness. Neighbors actually know each other and look out for each other. Some folks consider a "small town mentality" a good thing.

Write to the Chamber of Commerce. Email them. They'll bombard you with info.

Oh - one thing. Don't go if you don't like snow.

[mkeller]

Actually Yakima has HAD more snow this year than Spokane.

[Deena160]

Okay, so far I've figured out that my youngest would do best in Mead; my middle in District 81; and my oldest in Central Valley. no worries. argh. :~/ D

[MizBarbie]

Originally Posted by mkeller

Actually Yakima has HAD more snow this year than Spokane.

You're right! We went to Spokane for Christmas and it snowed a lot - then we came home to Yakima and it snowed more! There are still a few inches on the ground right now. It's freakin' WINTRY. Apparently this is unusual...?

[Deena160]

Well, Spokane's major snow made the news over on "this" side so it must have been a big deal. It annoys me that often unless something happens in Seattle or Tacoma it rarely makes the news. This especially pertains to the East side of the state. :~/ D

[betsyvee]

Hello all,

Thanks for all opinions. I have a few straight forward questions re Spokane. Just to give you a bit of background we currently live in Flagstaff, AZ after living in Boulder CO for 6 years. When I visited Spokane 3 years ago it seemed like a city that was on the brink of change. Fast forward to last spring and I definitely noticed that there were some changes that improved certain aspects the city. For those of you that can positively and objectively look at Spokane, is it in fact changing? Is it true that it is slowly becoming more of a centrist or even progressive town? Would a buddhist practitioner feel out of place there? Are there plans for a Trader Joe's in the future? Lastly is St. George school considered a school only for the privileged? Any thought on the Discovery School? Thank you for any info!

[kena]

I think Spokane has been and is changing for the better. One concrete example would be just to compare Post street between 2nd and Main downtown as it is now with where it was several years ago. There are three large anchors that were not present not that long ago (Davenport, Davenport Tower, and River Park Square) but mixed in are local bars, restaurants and storefronts that were not there just a few years ago. Another example can be seen around 2nd and Washington (an area that until very recently most people would have no reason to do anything other than drive by) is being filled in with cool local shops of all kinds: metro(spokane): STOREFRONT-Uptown 410

I think Spokane is pretty centrist right now. People have a perception that it is conservative (and some old guard types are) but if you look at how Spokane votes (particularly the city proper) it actually elects both R's and D's (for example, Gore won the county in 2000, Bush in 2004 but it was close both times; in the most recent U.S. senate election, Maria Cantwell, the democrat, won Spokane county.

Trader Joe's was set to arrive a few months ago but backed out. Everyone I know is hopefull that they will come sooner rather than later. There is no doubt they are keeping an eye on the market in Spokane.

St. George's is well respected but I believe (though others may have different views) that the price of attendance is a barrier for most people. Then again, I'm not sure of many other high schools that have had Bill Gates speak at their graduation.

[cool.guy]

Originally Posted by washinton native

if you want what's best for your family, pick another city in washington or stay in montana.

find it hard to believe this. just be aware of the bad areas.

http://www.spokanegis.org/crimemap/default.asp