Custer area and northern Wash. by Vancouver border (Bellingham, Ferndale: for sale, low crime)

[stingray427]

I would like to find out more info on the Custer area and just below the Vancouver border in washington. How are these areas? crime rate? Little or no traffic? Lower home prices?
I know it's pretty rural which I would like since I was born and raised in San Francisco.

[Skytripper]

Custer.....is VERY small. Close to Blaine, Birch Bay and Ferndale.....and only about a 25 minute drive into Bellingham down I-5.
Very rural around Custer......lots of farms growing lots of raspberries, etc.
Home prices vary.....but there are MANY for sale in the area.
Crime isn't too bad.....IMO. Just the usual things, esp. at night.....DUI's, dope, etc. but property crime isn't much of a problem in the country......that said......still NOT a good idea to leave doors unlocked. Transients are always around the I-5 area and being so close to the border......you never know who might be fleeing what and for what.

[stingray427]

Originally Posted by Skytripper

Custer.....is VERY small. Close to Blaine, Birch Bay and Ferndale.....and only about a 25 minute drive into Bellingham down I-5.
Very rural around Custer......lots of farms growing lots of raspberries, etc.
Home prices vary.....but there are MANY for sale in the area.
Crime isn't too bad.....IMO. Just the usual things, esp. at night.....DUI's, dope, etc. but property crime isn't much of a problem in the country......that said......still NOT a good idea to leave doors unlocked. Transients are always around the I-5 area and being so close to the border......you never know who might be fleeing what and for what.

Well from the layout of the homes there and land terrain depending on the selling prices I would have no problem setting up fences, surveillance cameras and ADT alarm monitoring. It really depends on what the cost of the homes up there are going for $$$ ?? I just want peace, quiet, no traffic and no crime if that were possible. I'm fron San Francisco, California so you know where I'm comin from and have been there and done it all.

[Leap of Belief]

Take a minute to read the 18 pages of the Good, Bad and Ugly on Bellingham thread. Custer is a part of Whatcom County and that is very close to Bham. Custer can be very windy due to the location when the wind blows out of Canada. Housing prices all over Whatcom County are higher than other rural areas in the state.

[stingray427]

Originally Posted by Leap of Belief

Take a minute to read the 18 pages of the Good, Bad and Ugly on Bellingham thread. Custer is a part of Whatcom County and that is very close to Bham. Custer can be very windy due to the location when the wind blows out of Canada. Housing prices all over Whatcom County are higher than other rural areas in the state.

Thanks for the info I'll check out that 18 page thread. What are the names of the areas of other lower priced rural districts? Prices?

[aussiegal]

[quote=Leap of Belief; Housing prices all over Whatcom County are higher than other rural areas in the state.[/QUOTE]

I was really surprised to read that Whatcom County rural areas are so high priced. I haven't had a chance to do a search on the MLS to see for myself but that was a big surprise to me.

Stingray, I live just south in Skagit county and I can speak with confidence that areas of Skagit County such as Sedro Woolley, and even Concrete which offers incredible scenery and views, low crime rate and light traffic actually do have low prices. Highway 20 or the Cascade Highway which goes through Concrete does have traffic but the highway which goes through to Darrington is fairly light. And very light compared with a freeway.

If you want peace and isolation, then I would say that the Concrete, Marblemount area is definitely worth a look.

[stingray427]

Originally Posted by aussiegal

I was really surprised to read that Whatcom County rural areas are so high priced. I haven't had a chance to do a search on the MLS to see for myself but that was a big surprise to me.

Stingray, I live just south in Skagit county and I can speak with confidence that areas of Skagit County such as Sedro Woolley, and even Concrete which offers incredible scenery and views, low crime rate and light traffic actually do have low prices. Highway 20 or the Cascade Highway which goes through Concrete does have traffic but the highway which goes through to Darrington is fairly light. And very light compared with a freeway.

If you want peace and isolation, then I would say that the Concrete, Marblemount area is definitely worth a look.

THANKS FOR THE INFO BUT WHAT ARE THE PRICES OF THESE HOMES IN THE AREAS YOU RECOMMEND?

[aussiegal]

Originally Posted by stingray427

THANKS FOR THE INFO BUT WHAT ARE THE PRICES OF THESE HOMES IN THE AREAS YOU RECOMMEND?

Stingray, I just had a look. There are currently 80 listings which range in price from $26,000 to $949,450. In between there are some really nice homes. But if you were from the midwest (which I know you're not) you would think that the 2 bedroom/3 bath chalet style home on 1/2 acre, built in 1996 with 2008 sq. ft was hugely expensive at $275,000. Here in Washington we don't think so.

But there are some amazing homes under $200,000 too including a new 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home on 1/4 acre for $169,950. And even a 672 sq. ft 2 bed/1 bath manufactured home, 672 sq ft with great river and mountain views (by the way the Sauk does flood), only this house is high above the river - for $115,000.

It's all in one's perspective. If you look, you can find those views don't come at such a high price. Well, high according to Washington standards. And you have quiet seclusion, fishing, relaxing and just enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. One of the (manufactured home) listings talks about listening to the flow of the creek from the deck. It is a very peaceful area.

I tried to include a photo in this post of the views from one of the homes there but it didn't allow me to. Must be doing something wrong. Anyway, they're quite lovely. And that's Washington for you!

[stingray427]

Originally Posted by aussiegal

Stingray, I just had a look. There are currently 80 listings which range in price from $26,000 to $949,450. In between there are some really nice homes. But if you were from the midwest (which I know you're not) you would think that the 2 bedroom/3 bath chalet style home on 1/2 acre, built in 1996 with 2008 sq. ft was hugely expensive at $275,000. Here in Washington we don't think so.

But there are some amazing homes under $200,000 too including a new 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home on 1/4 acre for $169,950. And even a 672 sq. ft 2 bed/1 bath manufactured home, 672 sq ft with great river and mountain views (by the way the Sauk does flood), only this house is high above the river - for $115,000.

It's all in one's perspective. If you look, you can find those views don't come at such a high price. Well, high according to Washington standards. And you have quiet seclusion, fishing, relaxing and just enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. One of the (manufactured home) listings talks about listening to the flow of the creek from the deck. It is a very peaceful area.

I tried to include a photo in this post of the views from one of the homes there but it didn't allow me to. Must be doing something wrong. Anyway, they're quite lovely. And that's Washington for you!

Thanks a mill.... Would prefer a good area as far as the crime rate goes but what is really scary about washington are those high property taxes you pay. I guess that makes up for no state income tax in Washington.