Moving to Spokane.... (Liberty Lake, Sprague: new home, price, shopping centers)

[mstefan]

I am a 40 year old divorced female and am thinking about moving to Spokane. I was just offered a great job in Spokane and need to make a decision quickly. I would be moving from Dallas TX. Are there opportunities to meet people my age?

In looking at homes - I like the Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake areas. Any thoughts on these areas? Any suggestions?

thanks!!

[Deena160]

Spokane Valley is major urban sprawl--small businesses along the main roads and shopping centers here and there. It's still working on being a real city (wasn't that long since it was incorporated) and I think there are great plans to turn Sprague Avenue into a proper main street, but that'll be years in the making. There's a decent mall on the other side of the freeway.
In our exploring of the area, we found that the nicest parts were probably south of 16th and west of 27. East of 27 wasn't too bad, but they were smaller homes with smaller yards (at least in our price range of about $200-250K). Between the freeway and Sprague is kind of semi-industrial feeling and run down.
The different developments greatly differ from each other--one minute you're driving through really nice homes and then you cross an intersection and they're not so nice. There are some lovely newer developments out in Greenacres(more expensive), but the area between there and the freeway exit was kind of ratty. Most of the new homes are on postage stamp lots.
Haven't really explored Liberty Lake, but from what others have said it's a small community feel. :~) D

[kena]

As Deena says, Spokane Valley covers a wide range of areas, everything from light industrial to very nice hillside homes with expansive views. Liberty Lake will have more of a community feel because it is smaller and more well defined in terms of geography. It will also likely bit a bit more expensive but you have access to the lake, golf, natural areas, etc. If you're working downtown it is a pretty easy commute on I-90 though it can be a bit slow at times. My guess is that coming from Dallas it will feel like a walk in the park.

As far as meeting others I think you'd be okay. Spokane is certainly smaller than a major metro area like Dallas so I wouldn't expect the same level of opportunities but it isn't a tiny little town either. Good luck with your decision.