Nice Neighborhoods in Camas (Vancouver, Washougal: 2009, skatepark, construction loan)

[hml1976]

Hi all, looks like we may be heading to the Vancouver area for my husband's job. He spent some time looking at neighborhoods last week in Camas and couldn't find anything that he really loved. It may be that we're coming from outside Nashville and its just really different out there.

Any way could someone recommend any nice subdivisions/areas of Camas and/or Fisher's Landing? We are looking to buy between 425K-500K and want the best schools for our two kids, a private backyard and clean, safe neighborhood.

Thanks!

[StealthRabbit]

Did you check the areas surrounding Lacamas Lake, (both east and west side?) There are also some nice homes / lots near the old HS and around the cemetery.

It is the least 'suburbia' besides going into the country ~ 1-2 miles

??
what is his commute requirements?
do you want to be in a neighborhood or countryside? (sounds like you want to be in town)

Granted the 'rural feel' of Nashville is difficult to get with the builder / planner focus on high density. I'd look up 'Ostenson Canyon Road', and some ridge perimeter homes, as they are a bit more isolated, but still 'in-town'.

There are some screaming bargains on upscale spec homes in Camas area, so... you might want to consider 'underbuying' with the intent to move-on when you find your paradise. I would probably stay in Camas rather than Washougal for school / neighborhood quality.

[hml1976]

Thanks! Husband will be working in Vancouver Fisher's Landing area so anywhere in Camas looks ok to me. I'm honestly not sure if we want to be in town or not because I haven't been out there yet but I will check out Lacamas Lake area and the road you mentioned. Thanks again!

[Caffreys]

Originally Posted by janb

Did you check the areas surrounding Lacamas Lake, (both east and west side?) There are also some nice homes / lots near the old HS and around the cemetery.

It is the least 'suburbia' besides going into the country ~ 1-2 miles

??
what is his commute requirements?
do you want to be in a neighborhood or countryside? (sounds like you want to be in town)

Granted the 'rural feel' of Nashville is difficult to get with the builder / planner focus on high density. I'd look up 'Ostenson Canyon Road', and some ridge perimeter homes, as they are a bit more isolated, but still 'in-town'.

There are some screaming bargains on upscale spec homes in Camas area, so... you might want to consider 'underbuying' with the intent to move-on when you find your paradise. I would probably stay in Camas rather than Washougal for school / neighborhood quality.

How much of an underbuy are we talking about. We are looking in the same price range. I see a lot of homes that been on teh market a few months and still have not come down in price. Do you prefer Camas over Fisher's Landing.
Is Fisher's Landing Elementary a better school than Prune Hill Elementary?
These are the best schools in their district, right?
Thank you.

[Topaz]

My understanding (based on conversations with lots of local parents) is that Fisher's Landing is an exceptional elementary school but at the middle school and high school level, the Camas School District has the edge. Fisher's Landing is in the Evergreen School District.

Some nice neighborhoods in Camas in your price range are Deer Creek, Parker Estates, and Holly Hills. One thing to know is that school boundaries will probably change somewhat after the new elementary school (Grass Valley Elementary) is built. And be sure to call the school district to confirm whatever the MLS says the school will be for a particular house. My friend bought a house and then learned that the MLS was wrong because the realtor didn't double check. She wanted one school and ended up with another.

[diggitydot]

Originally Posted by Topaz

My understanding (based on conversations with lots of local parents) is that Fisher's Landing is an exceptional elementary school but at the middle school and high school level, the Camas School District has the edge. Fisher's Landing is in the Evergreen School District.

This is exceedingly accurate information. Not that there's really anything "wrong" with the middle and high schools in the Evergreen SD, it's just that it's an enormous district so kids are more likely to slip through cracks. With Camas, it's a significantly smaller district and with excellent resources that make this situation far less likely to happen.

Also, while Fisher's Landing is a suburb of a larger city (and feels every bit like a suburb), Camas has more of a real, honest-to-goodness "community" feeling to it. The downtown area has lots of festivals throughout the year, the parks and recs programs are VERY active with lots of things for kids to do, there's a very cool skate park near the border with Washougal, the Jack, Will & Rob Center (Teaching and Learning: Jack, Will and Rob Center), a beautifully remodeled library, an art gallery, and was voted one of the top 100 Places to Live in the US by CNN/Money Magazine. MONEY Magazine: Best places to live 2007: Camas, WA snapshot

I really love the Camas area. Fisher's Landing is a decent second, but Camas has my heart. Along with being a great little town, it has quite a number of truly wonderful people.

[Caffreys]

Originally Posted by diggitydot

This is exceedingly accurate information. Not that there's really anything "wrong" with the middle and high schools in the Evergreen SD, it's just that it's an enormous district so kids are more likely to slip through cracks. With Camas, it's a significantly smaller district and with excellent resources that make this situation far less likely to happen.

Also, while Fisher's Landing is a suburb of a larger city (and feels every bit like a suburb), Camas has more of a real, honest-to-goodness "community" feeling to it. The downtown area has lots of festivals throughout the year, the parks and recs programs are VERY active with lots of things for kids to do, there's a very cool skate park near the border with Washougal, the Jack, Will & Rob Center (Teaching and Learning: Jack, Will and Rob Center), a beautifully remodeled library, an art gallery, and was voted one of the top 100 Places to Live in the US by CNN/Money Magazine. MONEY Magazine: Best places to live 2007: Camas, WA snapshot

I really love the Camas area. Fisher's Landing is a decent second, but Camas has my heart. Along with being a great little town, it has quite a number of truly wonderful people.

I am bais against skate parks. What happened to teh good old days when kids played basketball, football, soccer, and baseball together in the parks with friends. I believe skate park brings punks, smoking, bad language, and kids wearing their pants down to their knees. I honestly don't think it's a good environment for yound children as it's a great place to develop bad habits. I seen it first hand for myself at many different skate parks. Just my two cents.

[diggitydot]

Originally Posted by Caffreys

I am bais against skate parks. What happened to teh good old days when kids played basketball, football, soccer, and baseball together in the parks with friends. I believe skate park brings punks, smoking, bad language, and kids wearing their pants down to their knees. I honestly don't think it's a good environment for yound children as it's a great place to develop bad habits. I seen it first hand for myself at many different skate parks. Just my two cents.

There's still lots of basketball, football, soccer and baseball in the parks in Camas/Washougal. You'd have to visit the skate park to see what it's like and see if it's an appropriate place for your children. (Personally, I wouldn't let any of my kids hang out at one unsupervised because that's not the type of parent I am. They don't hang out anywhere unsupervised.) But not all skate parks are the same, by any stretch. I've seen some gorgeous ones with lots of different people of all ages having a great time, and some that were a little skeevy. Let's face it, there are some great kids and some not-so-great kids. Some skate, some don't.

Yes, kids wear clothes that adults hate. I think that's natural. I'm not overly fond of my daughter's love of skulls at the moment. But in the grand scheme of her life, I'll deal with it. She's a great kid with excellent grades who is kind and loving. If she elects to wear something with a skull on 4 of the 7 days in a week, I'll deal. Nothing is inappropriate, short, low-cut, vulgar, or profane...I just don't like it.

But if you're truly worried about the skate park being a bad influence, be assured that it is in an area near the Washougal River between another park and the bowling alley. There are no houses on that side of NE 3rd Ave and those across it are not easy to get to. The homes are up on a hill and the kids would have to cross a VERY busy street with only one cross walk to even get towards them.

Personally, I'd rather have a skate park in town that offers kids who aren't into other sports a place to hang out where they can be watched by other parents or checked-in on by local police (if these kids are the trouble-making type). I'd be more comfortable knowing where they are than simply hoping they weren't in my neighborhood.

[Caffreys]

What happen to the old school days when parents were strict and decided if their attire was approiate to wear in public. I don't believe in letting kids express themselves in a negative matter. Kids now in days wear the pants in many house holds, really sad...

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Caffreys

How much of an underbuy are we talking about. We are looking in the same price range. I see a lot of homes that been on teh market a few months and still have not come down in price. Do you prefer Camas over Fisher's Landing.
Is Fisher's Landing Elementary a better school than Prune Hill Elementary?
These are the best schools in their district, right?
Thank you.

The folks we just helped move into their new NW Camas home got it for 20% under the asking price from a very high quality builder who was sitting on several vacant spec homes. It isn't EZ nor fun to make payments on a few construction loans... BTDT, and also got to watch the sheriff come and take the keys to a few my folks had.... That wasn't a pretty sight to a kid...

Do buy an existing home, you don't want to get into the Camas Impact fees and permitting hassle. (My last Camas property closes in January - I hope..., it is a nice place, but I'm not into 'the-new-Camas', and it was an opportune time to sell and get favorable capital gains, 2009 could get ugly)

Originally Posted by Caffreys

Do you prefer Camas over Fisher's Landing.

Like Diggy said... you might want to consider the choices, after elementary. (my kids didn't have a choice..see below )

Originally Posted by Caffreys

Skatepark ???

I prefer to send my kids to Dairy-Farm Boarding school...(plenty available in OR and WA and ID). They learn to use whole lot different type of board, and seldom are 'bored'... up at 4:30 AM - off to school at 7:30, unless they are so unlucky as to get home schooled (as mine did ), then from 3:30PM - 7:30 more milking, then showers, dinner, homework, 4-H forms...usually to bed by 11, as 4:30 comes pretty early. But then this is only 7 days / week, 52 weeks / yr - it's a great attitude adjustment, and the kids usually don't stick around much after HS