Moving to Tri-cities (Seattle, Yakima, Kennewick: extended stay, rent, how much)

[southcalhell]

Brutal, where did you move from? I am just trying to get a reference. It sounds like you are describing a slum area, definitely a place I wouldn't want to move. The job is good, but not that good. I guess I will have to see it for myself. Are there any nice areas that would be a good place to move? Are the houses along the rivers in bad areas too? Not sounding good...

[Brutal Attack]

I came from Idaho, but I've lived in many towns in Idaho and Washington that ran the gamut from really small (250 people) to like 100,000 plus (Boise). Tri-Cities is by far the worst place I've been. I haven't been there enough to give you specific details about the neighborhoods but I do know that it seems pretty run down with a higher proportion of slums and trailer parks than average. I'm sure there are some nice neighborhoods. I've seen some fairly nice apartment complexes. But overall, I definitely wouldn't' want to live there. If the job is good I would look at some other smaller surrounding towns. I don't like this whole area though, it's ugly, it's flat, it's a desert and there are alot of mexicans. Some people here seem to like it but it seems to me it's those that haven't been other places.

You might look at Walla Walla it's quite a bit better.

[southcalhell]

thanks for the constructive comment, Ill look at the surrounding towns, that was where I was going to look anyway, I want to have about 5 acres in the country somewhere. thanks

[silverfox]

Sorry Brutal,

I think you are overfocussed on the wrong areas to live.
Sure there are the areas that you describe, but we just came from looking at the West side of Kennewick and found it to be mostly new and quite nice. Many New and quality commercial buildings with all the retailers like Macy's Lowes, Pennys, Home Depot, Costco etc. Also a lot of good roads in the area. We heard that West Richland was also O.K. but didn't have time to check it out. There is lots of land in the area and many new expensive homes being built if you look in the right places. We also found that you can get a nice New 3 bedroom 1900 sq.ft home for $200,000 or less. Try that in Walla Walla. A new turn-key home for $100 to $115 per square ft.????
What a bargain in todays realestate markets.
You really need to visit the whole area as we recently did to get a total feel.
I hope you like the Sun and lots of hot days cause thats whats awaiting you in most of Eastern Washington.

Good Luck on your search,

Silverfox

[Brutal Attack]

Originally Posted by silverfox

Sorry Brutal,

I think you are overfocussed on the wrong areas to live.
Sure there are the areas that you describe, but we just came from looking at the West side of Kennewick and found it to be mostly new and quite nice. Many New and quality commercial buildings with all the retailers like Macy's Lowes, Pennys, Home Depot, Costco etc. Also a lot of good roads in the area. We heard that West Richland was also O.K. but didn't have time to check it out. There is lots of land in the area and many new expensive homes being built if you look in the right places. We also found that you can get a nice New 3 bedroom 1900 sq.ft home for $200,000 or less. Try that in Walla Walla. A new turn-key home for $100 to $115 per square ft.????
What a bargain in todays realestate markets.
You really need to visit the whole area as we recently did to get a total feel.
I hope you like the Sun and lots of hot days cause thats whats awaiting you in most of Eastern Washington.

Good Luck on your search,

Silverfox

People will move anywhere that it's cheap to build. They aren't making any more land so of course you're going to build where it's cheap and then sell the home at a 15% profit. Why do you think it's so cheap? Because it isn't a desirable place to live. I can get a really nice new home for $120,000 in Connell. But it's Connell and not many people are going to want to live there hence the reason it's so cheap. That is the reason why the same house on the Puget Sound is $400,000. It is a desirable place.

"I hope you like Sun and lots of hot days" translates into "I hope you like dust storms, triple digit temps, three inches of rain a year, and nothing but sage...no trees."

I'm not trying to be a jerk I'm just saying what I think.

[silverfox]

Brutal,

I certainly don't think your a Jerk for saying what you believe in or how you feel.
Do you currently live or work in the Tri-Cities area ?
Have you looked around the west side of Kennewick lately near the shopping locations?

I am just stating what we saw when we were there a few weeks ago and I did not detect anything that would lead me to experience your description of that particular location. Whats wrong with paying a more realistic price for a home if it fits your needs. I've lived in Seattle and if you want something to complain about it's the fact that most regular folks can no longer afford a home there.....never mind about the trees and rain and gray days etc.

I understand exactly where you are comming from and I agree that in much of the outer and even some of the close in central areas, they are just what you say they are, but I can show you similar situations in many of the towns we traveled thru in our recent 2000 mile trip thru Washingtom, Idaho, and Oregon. We also found lots of Mexican people in every location we visited.

We found a nice Kennewick location, rite in close with some new homes, and lots, and very nice people....most of whom were professionals. We spent some time talking with many from that area and found none of them had any regrets for locating where they had.
The weather conditions may challenge some folks and thats up to each person to decide how they feel about that issue.
Heck.....it's a Dessert area. Snakes..Spiders..sage brush..hot sun ..wind..etc.
If you don't like that enviroment then move on.

I'm all for living in a desirable place as long as I can afford it, and that holds true of many people that are looking around for a place to retire.
It's really hard to find a place that has everthing just the way you want it.

No Hard feelings Brut,

Silverfox

[Brutal Attack]

Originally Posted by silverfox

Brutal,

I certainly don't think your a Jerk for saying what you believe in or how you feel.
Do you currently live or work in the Tri-Cities area ?
Have you looked around the west side of Kennewick lately near the shopping locations?

I am just stating what we saw when we were there a few weeks ago and I did not detect anything that would lead me to experience your description of that particular location. Whats wrong with paying a more realistic price for a home if it fits your needs. I've lived in Seattle and if you want something to complain about it's the fact that most regular folks can no longer afford a home there.....never mind about the trees and rain and gray days etc.

I understand exactly where you are comming from and I agree that in much of the outer and even some of the close in central areas, they are just what you say they are, but I can show you similar situations in many of the towns we traveled thru in our recent 2000 mile trip thru Washingtom, Idaho, and Oregon. We also found lots of Mexican people in every location we visited.

We found a nice Kennewick location, rite in close with some new homes, and lots, and very nice people....most of whom were professionals. We spent some time talking with many from that area and found none of them had any regrets for locating where they had.
The weather conditions may challenge some folks and thats up to each person to decide how they feel about that issue.
Heck.....it's a Dessert area. Snakes..Spiders..sage brush..hot sun ..wind..etc.
If you don't like that enviroment then move on.

I'm all for living in a desirable place as long as I can afford it, and that holds true of many people that are looking around for a place to retire.
It's really hard to find a place that has everthing just the way you want it.

No Hard feelings Brut,

Silverfox

I live and work about 20 min outside of the tri-cities. I've been in downtown Kennewick and around there but I didn't go any further west than that.

If you read back through my posts, I stated that I couldn't tell him everything that was there. I could only tell him what I saw. I also stated in previous posts that I am sure there are some nice neighborhoods, however, I didn't see any.

I'm sure your neighborhood is great, however, some of us are less concerned with the immediate 10 blocks surrounding our homes and more concerned with the area as a whole. On the whole, the area is alot more rundown than other towns I've been to of the same size. Sure those other towns all had bad areas but on the average they were clean and safe etc. You'd have to kinda look around to see the bad areas. Well, with the Tri-Cities you have to look pretty hard to see the good areas is what I'm understanding. I just want to make sure the gentleman understands what I'm saying.

When property values are low that tells you these things about the area:

1. It's remote
2. There is high crime
3. There is poor opportunity for jobs or recreation
4. taxes are high
5. neighbors/towns/municipal organizations are sub-par
6. Some undesirable event or site is nearby (nuke reactor, sewer plant, slaughterhouse etc)

or any combination of those factors.

Am I saying that any place with cheap housing is not worth living in? No. But you can draw some general conclusions about an area as a whole. Obviously some people find it acceptable to live in these areas otherwise they would be vacant. It's just not my cup of tea no matter how cheap it is, and it really isn't that cheap compared to towns of the same size in Idaho. It's not really much cheaper at all.

[silverfox]

Brutal,

I follow what you are saying and have no problem with your feelings. I had feelings about every town and city that we traveled thru, and some were better than others. Crime has become a bigger issue nowdays with all the drugs and gangs.

Also have you considered the tax concequences of living in the different areas.
You are still working but many retirees have to consider taxes as they lay out their plans going forward. That means that the price of their housing is not the only expense to consider.
For example if and when you reach 70 1/2 years old you will be forced to start withdrawing money from your Conventional IRA and 401K accts.
If you live in Oregon or Idaho you can add the state tax to that taxable event. In Oregon that is currently 9% for most people. Thats one reason I still like Washington with no State income taxes and no sales tax on most food.

Since you have been in so many areas,l I would be interested in where you would live if you had no barriers or restrictions to deal with and had a maximum of $250,000 to invest in a turn key home.

Silverfox

[southcalhell]

I guess that I'm going to have to check the place out for myself, duh. As for the con's to the area, the Nuclear Reactor is a plus, considering that is where I'm trying to get a job. Seeing that I'm moving from the San Diego area, I don't think hispanic people are going to bother me, I find that they are mostly hard working individuals. I talked to a person who moved from the southern california area, lives in Benton City, and thinks that the tri city area is the best kept secret in the Pacific Northwest, I guess everyone has there own opinion. Personally I'm looking for a place about 5 acres in the country, near a Nuclear Reactor (so I can work), near my family (Boise, Portland and Salem), and doesn't cost a royal fortune. It fits all my catagories, so really the choice is already made, should I get the job offer. I can't stand the congestion, air pollution and cost of southern califronia and its only going to get worse. Thanks for all your comments.

[Brutal Attack]

Originally Posted by silverfox

Brutal,
Since you have been in so many areas,l I would be interested in where you would live if you had no barriers or restrictions to deal with and had a maximum of $250,000 to invest in a turn key home.

Silverfox

I agree there are substantial tax benefits to living in WA but when you add up the increased cost of living in WA, ID still wins out. For crying out loud, it cost me over $2.00 for half a gallon of milk, I pay $2.00 for a gallon in Idaho. Plus gas is almost $.20 more in WA. It's totally not worth it IMO.

If I could go anywhere for a $250,000 I would go to Boise. Property values there are skyrocketing and my brother just sold his brand new house for over $30,000 profit and built another one to do it all again.

Boise is the best kept secret in the West. It has none of the drawbacks that I associate with the Tri-Cities and more benefits in terms of geographic location, cost of living, quality of towns and programs, culture, diversity the list goes on.