Vancouver Washington - Looking for Info (Salmon Creek, Camas: sex offenders, crime rate, new house)

[Holly]

Hi,

My husband might be joining the police dept. in vancouver and i was wondering what are good neighborhoods to live in? What about housing prices? I am looking for a 2 or 3 bedroom house with 2 baths with some property to it. I know I won't get much land but at least a small yard. Can't really tell what neighborhoods are nice on realtor.com.

Does it really rain all the time?

What is the public transportation like there?

Thanks for the help

[Sunshinne]

Hi Holly,
I won't be much help, as I am looking for info too for a possible move. We are in Arizona currently. I have done some research on the Camas area and the schools are supposed to be great. What does concern me about the whole Vancouver, Wa area are the amount of registered sex offenders. There seems to be a ton based on the number per people living in the areas of Vancouver, Camas, and Washougal.
Sunshinne

[Caffreys]

Holly,
checkout windermere.com and johnlscott.com...
THis is a lot better than realtor.com since
they are local realtors with more pics and
maps. Good luck on your move. Camas
and Fisherslanding are great as well as the
Evergreen school area.

[Designmom]

Originally Posted by Holly

Hi,

My husband might be joining the police dept. in vancouver and i was wondering what are good neighborhoods to live in? What about housing prices? I am looking for a 2 or 3 bedroom house with 2 baths with some property to it. I know I won't get much land but at least a small yard. Can't really tell what neighborhoods are nice on realtor.com.

Does it really rain all the time?

What is the public transportation like there?

Thanks for the help

My family lives in East Vancouver. I love it here! My daughter is in 2nd grade, and I have had good experiences so far in the past three school years. We are actually selling our three bedroom, but just to move to a larger house. I love Camas, but housing is a little spendy. Property taxes are high, but the schools are good. I guess it's cheaper than private school! :-) We will probably end up in East Vancouver with a new house. Good luck with your move.

[Designmom]

There is a lot of rain, but that is why it is called The Evergreen State. It bothers some people a lot. I don't mind. We do have a nice long summer with great weather.

Hmmm, public transportation, I am not a fan. I guess it is pretty good, but I like to drive myself. Portland has the Max, which is pretty efficient.

[stingray427]

I'm 35 miles north east of San Francisco. Traffic congestion and cost of living is outrageous here.
Was interested in the area perhaps 15 to 20 miles from the Vancouver border in north part of Washington. The last time I was here was in 1992 and I liked it. I know it has probably changed but I would like to find out the name of this neighborhood that I remember as being very rural lots of trees and perhaps blocks away from your closest neighbor. Is must be in Whatcom County in the Custer area? I don't know and I wonder what are the home prices there and how is the crime rate and traffic now?

[JayHomes]

I know a number of cops in the Vancouver area. They have a very good department and your husband will be very happy. It is very tough to get a job with Vancouver Police Deportment. If he gets it he will love it. Here is the 411 on the Vancouver area. One good way to start is look at schools. Columbian River 9 out of 10 and Skyview 8/10 are rated very high. That is the area off of I-5 a few miles North of the Columbia River. That area is called Hazel Dell and Salmon Creek. Mountain View High school 9/10 is very good. That is Cascade park area, just east of I-205 on the South side of town. Way east of Vancouver is also very nice also. Beside these areas most of Vancouver is pretty good. The area to avoid is down town, way to hit and miss area. Also just east and west of down town is very rough. We are currently in a very strong buyers market. You can buy a littler fixer upper ranch for around $200,000 that needs a little work. If you want to buy a small ranch in Salmon Creek or some areas of Hazel Dell you are looking in around $230,000- $250,000. You can get into the $300,000 pretty easily for a medium sized house. In the $400,000 and up is really nice. Most first time homeowner that want a nice area are around $250,000 or so. You can find a home in a decent area for around $230,000. Take care and best wishes in your home search.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by stingray427

I'm 35 miles north east of San Francisco. Traffic congestion and cost of living is outrageous here.
Was interested in the area perhaps 15 to 20 miles from the Vancouver border in north part of Washington.

that would be "the other Vancouver"... BC not WA

[stingray427]

Originally Posted by JayHomes

I know a number of cops in the Vancouver area. They have a very good department and your husband will be very happy. It is very tough to get a job with Vancouver Police Deportment. If he gets it he will love it. Here is the 411 on the Vancouver area. One good way to start is look at schools. Columbian River 9 out of 10 and Skyview 8/10 are rated very high. That is the area off of I-5 a few miles North of the Columbia River. That area is called Hazel Dell and Salmon Creek. Mountain View High school 9/10 is very good. That is Cascade park area, just east of I-205 on the South side of town. Way east of Vancouver is also very nice also. Beside these areas most of Vancouver is pretty good. The area to avoid is down town, way to hit and miss area. Also just east and west of down town is very rough. We are currently in a very strong buyers market. You can buy a littler fixer upper ranch for around $200,000 that needs a little work. If you want to buy a small ranch in Salmon Creek or some areas of Hazel Dell you are looking in around $230,000- $250,000. You can get into the $300,000 pretty easily for a medium sized house. In the $400,000 and up is really nice. Most first time homeowner that want a nice area are around $250,000 or so. You can find a home in a decent area for around $230,000. Take care and best wishes in your home search.

What are the property taxes on these homes?

[RiftReaper]

Vancouver's crime score droped a lot for 2006. down to 331.6 thats right next to the country's average