Questions about Spokane (Olympia, South Hill, Veradale: skateboarding, landscaping, high school)

[coldswan]

I guess I see that it is all relative. In Texas you can buy a beautiful home for $200,000 and then pay five or six thousand dollars in property taxes (wow!) And then they send their kids to private schools. Here in Anchorage,Alaska we live in a home we purchased for $279,900 and paid $3600 in property tax last year. I am also looking at homes up to $275,000 in Spokane and the average listing has shown taxes more like 2000 to 2500 a year. Spokane doesn't seem all that bad to me. Considering that we are told that our taxes go to schools and Spokane has some highly rated schools in the GreatSchools.net ratings (top 100 in over 1000 schools in the state) I feel that my money is well spent. I asked Wendy about why certain properties have higher tax than others and she thought maybe that was the owners rate based on a back tax catch up (make any sense?) Anyway, I hope this helps a little, you could always check into this when you get closer to finding the right property.

[mes3fils]

Originally Posted by coldswan

I guess I see that it is all relative. In Texas you can buy a beautiful home for $200,000 and then pay five or six thousand dollars in property taxes (wow!) And then they send their kids to private schools. Here in Anchorage,Alaska we live in a home we purchased for $279,900 and paid $3600 in property tax last year. I am also looking at homes up to $275,000 in Spokane and the average listing has shown taxes more like 2000 to 2500 a year. Spokane doesn't seem all that bad to me. Considering that we are told that our taxes go to schools and Spokane has some highly rated schools in the GreatSchools.net ratings (top 100 in over 1000 schools in the state) I feel that my money is well spent. I asked Wendy about why certain properties have higher tax than others and she thought maybe that was the owners rate based on a back tax catch up (make any sense?) Anyway, I hope this helps a little, you could always check into this when you get closer to finding the right property.

Hi,
Thanks. First, what do you mean by the bolded phrase? I don't understand that.

Second, In saying 'it's all relative', doesn't make sense to me either. As, I am seeing quite higher priced homes coming up in Spokane. For the size we need, atleast 3(pref 4) beds/2baths, and with some yard.....I am seeing prices upwards now close to $300k but starting at $279-ish for what we want. We want a newer (after 1998) home with atleast .20ac for a yard and atleast 2cg w/basement. I get email listings from 4 different realtors now, and am definitely seeing prices upwards getting closer to $300k.

So, that said, adding then a property tax of $3500 and up on top of that type home price, and I can maybe surmise that moving to Spokane is not as affordable as we once thought.

I think I'd rather move somewhere that our home is 'what we want' and in the low $200's like you mentioned re:your Texas example....and then a higher tax amt would be ok/more affordable as our loan amt would then be $70-100k less!

Does that make sense?

I don't know maybe I am hallucinating!

Anyway, with what I have found by watching the listings and monitoring tax prices, Spokane=high/er home prices (as compared to our second choice) and high property taxes! I wish atleast ONE of the two were lower! Maybe there's an explanation that someone can post with, to negate the concern?

Thirdly, it all depends on how the 'market' is when we move. On how much we get for our current home and then maybe the Spokane prices would be completely ok. Still have a bit of time to pass first.

What is Wendy's 'take' on this question? I wonder where she is?

Thanks again, coldswan.

[WendyK]

I think most of your questions can be answered by reading the front page of our county assessor's website. www.spokanecounty.org/assessor/ where there's a flow chart that shows how values are figured and how taxes are assessed. This past year has been the most dramatic change in property values for homeowners and there are still some adjustments being made. For the most part, tax assessed values are still less than current market value, although homeowners are screaming about how much their assessed values have increased. In neighborhoods where there have been a lot of recent sales and re-sales, values seem higher than areas of older homes where there is not as much resale activity. The actual taxes are based on the county's budget, so even though the property value increased, the taxes won't increase more than the allowed budget. If you visit the county website, it's explained a little better.

[Ash12]

What about outlying areas prices and taxes...say within a 30-40 drive to Spokane? Would weather prohibit this?

[WendyK]

Originally Posted by Ash12

What about outlying areas prices and taxes...say within a 30-40 drive to Spokane? Would weather prohibit this?

I think you were asking about 30-40 miles outside of Spokane, which in most cases would put you into another county - Pend Oreille county has low taxes, some parts of Stevens county are lower than Spokane county, Lincoln & Whitman counties are most likely lower taxes than Spokane, too. But if you have to drive into Spokane daily, you will surely be spending a lot more on gas annually -- I think you'd have to weigh it all out and see what's most economical. At least property taxes are deductible on taxes. Weather would not prohibit driving 30-40 miles - you'd just need to allow extra time on very snowy days.

[Ron House]

My wife and I are considering retirement to Washington and trhe choice is eitehr Tri Cities area or Spokane area. Our needs are those typical of 60 year old retirees.we will be visiting the Tri Cities area and Spokane this april. After reading the Spokane area posts I am more confused than I am on the Tri Vity area posts.We prefer a rural environment, want to keep the property around $250K at most and are like most transplanted Californians just want a slower less crowded retirement. What say you as to which metro area is better. BTW Post Falls and CDA sure look tempting.
Thanks

[Stonecoldharbours]

I have read that the public schools are good? Which district would be the best to raise a child in? I am thinking of starting at the school district to narrow down housing choices...

[aupz23]

Hello everyone...I noticed that there are many, many comments on Spokane but didn't feel like going through all of them

Anyway, I'm thinking about applying to the graduate health administration program at WSU? Can anyone tell if this program is highly regarded nationally and internationally? do they send students to many good internships throughout the country besides just being in Spokane? I'm just curious about it and really interested. Anyone can PM as well if you like!

-- Kendra

[WendyK]

Originally Posted by PghPaNative

I have read that the public schools are good? Which district would be the best to raise a child in? I am thinking of starting at the school district to narrow down housing choices...

There are so many schools & districts around here and for the most part, all are good in their own ways. I think it depends on what you want most for your child/children and what ages/grades they're in. I've had my 3 kids in 3 different school districts (Dist. 81, Mead & Nine Mile Falls) since we moved here in 1998 and have been pleased with all of them. Dist. 81 is the main Spokane Public Schools district that covers a large area with about 50schools.
I think you should figure out where you'll be working and see what school districts and neighborhoods are closest, unless you don't mind driving longer to work.
I have links to all the school district websites if anyone wants info send me a PM and I'll email it back to you.

[melia_nicole]

Can someone tell me why CDA has only 146 days of sun when Spokane boasts 260? Isn't it only a 30 minute drive to CDA? I want to move there from Seattle but if it is really that big of a difference then I'll definitely stick with Spokane.