Retiring and buying $450k house possible? (Vancouver, Battle Ground: sales, real estate market, renters)

[Koshka2]

I am trying to figure out if buying in the Vancouver area is feasible for us. I have read many of the threads here and researched elsewhere and I am just not sure. We do not want to spend more than $450k. We would be looking for a single family detached house at least 3 bedrooms. No townhomes, condos, multiplexes. I absolutely do not want anything more than 30 years old and would prefer something less than 15. A tiny lot is absolutely fine (preferable even) and the house can be small as long as it has the bedrooms. DH and I are retired so there are no commute issues or school concerns.

Things that are important to us:

1. Single family detached with at least 3 bedrooms. No condos, townhomes or multiplexes.

2. No more than 30 years old and preferably less than 15. Older houses have more upkeep which we don't want.

3. Tiny lot is fine, even preferable. We wouldn't reject a larger lot but that is a negative.

4. After looking online we have reluctantly decided we would accept a 2 story house. We would prefer 1 story but we see those are very few in meeting our criteria.

5. Safety is paramount. We will use a garage for our car, of course and lock doors, etc. But I do want to avoid violent crime and the risk of burglary to our house. We are home often and when we aren't we have cats and I wouldn't us to be subjected to burglary when we are home and I wouldn't want the risk to our cats if we aren't home.

6. Within 10 minutes of at least one grocery store. Within 30 minutes of a decent hospital. In general, the closer to amenities the better.

7. We would prefer to live in an area that is not deep red politically. We live in such an area now (Texas) and we don't want that again. It doesn't have to be a deep blue area. Relatively evenly split is fine but I don't think I would want to move to Battle Ground (from what my research has indicated).

I have endlessly looked at listings online and do find houses that meet our criteria and budget. Some of them are new builds and others are not. Many of the super "nice" areas I see discussed here are outside of our budget. We live now in one of those kinds of areas but we really are wanting to downsize and spend less money on housing. While we want to live in a safe area we no longer feel like we have to live in the super high end and don't want to pay for that.

I look at some of the online house listings and they look nice but I wonder if the neighborhoods are sketchy. Here are some examples of what I mean:

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...?ex=2939973025

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...?ex=2939101536

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...2_M27530-60985

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...1_M94926-99173

https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...?ex=2941906986

So are any of these OK neighborhoods? Or, are they all bad? What I mean by OK is a neighborhood that is safe and houses are likely to retain their value and is not a declining neighborhood. It does not have to be high end but I want houses that are well kept.

Living in a small town is not an option. First, I like living near the big city if not right in it (we live in the DFW area now). Also, since we are older even though we are in good health I want to live close to good health care and hospitals and where amenities are nearby in the event we ever get to a point where driving is difficult for us.

[cyberous]

I think your request is reasonable however the Fed needs to fight inflation and is on a mission to increase rates dramatically to do so. Rates area already over 5%, where they were under 3 just months ago. This will and is already doing two things. First making the cost of home purchase greater, in turn bringing down housing prices. With that, if you’re a cash buyer I’d wait, I’m already seeing home prices fall, and inventories growing although still pretty low. Just know if you buy now you will probably see a decrease in asset value as we are going into a global recession. If your selling and buying you will be fine assuming you build equity in your prior home.

Your locations all look good. Coming from downtown (West Side) and moving to Brush Prairie (below Battle Ground, East Side) there is a difference in culture but it’s not a big as you think. I’m in middle of the road politically and realize we are all pawns regardless if your red or blue, extremes on both side make me palm my forehead. So far I’ve meet seven of my neighbors and that’s impressive when living on two acres, they are actually a diverse group to my surprise, so keep an open mind.

Things to be aware of on the east side, is 117ave/503 is a freeway and people drive like fuel is free, and not at all time highs, seriously, typically driving 20mp over the speed limits. Also, traffic gets really bad during rush hour so expect that. Secondly, stop signs and yellow lights seem to only be suggestions around here as opposed to downtown’s “no you go, no you go, no you go lol” It is noticeably windier, colder and wetter on the east side.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Koshka2]

Thanks. We probably will be buying fairly soon. We live in a real estate market more insane than yours and houses are selling very quickly with virtually nothing on the market. So we are taking advantage of now to sell. We have a lot of equity will be mostly cash but likely not entirely. Probably will take a $100k mortgage (we likely won't need all of that but anything lower is hard to obtain and has a higher rate). So, once we well our existing house we will need to move and buy ASAP (probably doing a short term window until we find something).

We may not buy in those exact areas in the link. They are just where there were new homes that were in my price range and so I wondered. We may buy a resale depending on what is on the market. Still I was curious if those new home areas were safe and OK areas to live.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Koshka2

...
Things that are important to us:

1. Single family detached with at least 3 bedrooms. No condos, townhomes or multiplexes.

2. No more than 30 years old and preferably less than 15. Older houses have more upkeep which we don't want.

3. Tiny lot is fine, even preferable. We wouldn't reject a larger lot but that is a negative.

4. After looking online we have reluctantly decided we would accept a 2 story house. We would prefer 1 story but we see those are very few in meeting our criteria.

... Also, since we are older even though we are in good health I want to live close to good health care and hospitals and where amenities are nearby in the event we ever get to a point where driving is difficult for us.

personally, (as a retiree) I would stick with your 1 story desire (Maybe add a few bucks to do so, more bucks and get a view!~)_

like this
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...23253575_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...23253605_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3...23291220_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...23253842_zpid/
or a tad older
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...23289484_zpid/
or having someone else pay my payments
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3...23237699_zpid/

but I would be more inclined to get something less expensive (MHP) and later buy where / what I want at a (more) reasonable price
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...23338022_zpid/
Vista Del Rio is a very nice 55+ MHP with 100% accessible M homes, very easy to resell if you find your spot elsewhere.
https://www.senior-retirement-living...ommunity=26614

This is more my preferred area (If I had / chose to live in town)
(Walking dist to Ft Vanc, library, swimming, transit, downtown, river...)
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2...23236498_zpid/
Thus, I would rent! (50 yrs of home ownership has been plenty for me), sold 4 of my Tex props and 2 of my WA props recently.
https://www.historictrustproperties....ntial-leasing/

We'll probably end up living overseas during much of retirement, but there are nice regions in and near Vancouver, and plenty with single story homes.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Koshka2

...
Things that are important to us:

1. Single family detached with at least 3 bedrooms. No condos, townhomes or multiplexes.

2. No more than 30 years old and preferably less than 15. Older houses have more upkeep which we don't want.

3. Tiny lot is fine, even preferable. We wouldn't reject a larger lot but that is a negative.

4. After looking online we have reluctantly decided we would accept a 2 story house. We would prefer 1 story but we see those are very few in meeting our criteria.

... Also, since we are older even though we are in good health I want to live close to good health care and hospitals and where amenities are nearby in the event we ever get to a point where driving is difficult for us.

personally, (as a retiree) I would stick with your 1 story desire (Maybe add a few bucks to do so, more bucks and get a view!~)_

like this
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...23253575_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...23253605_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3...23291220_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...23253842_zpid/
or a tad older
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...23289484_zpid/
or having someone else pay my payments
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3...23237699_zpid/

but I would be more inclined to get something less expensive and later buy where / what I want at a (more) reasonable price (MHP)
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...23338022_zpid/

This is more my preferred area (If I had / chose to live in town)
(Walking dist to Ft Vanc, library, swimming, transit, downtown, river...)
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2...23236498_zpid/
Thus, I would rent! (50 yrs of home ownership has been plenty for me), sold 4 of my Tex props and 2 of my WA props recently.
https://www.historictrustproperties....ntial-leasing/

BTW: I just got some excellent renters from Coppell who are building their retirement home in Hill Country. People are even fleeing the nice areas (and cashing in on high prices)

[MechAndy]

I would reconsider that 2 story idea as well.
My mom has a friend that had to live in her living room for a while and it killed that nice house situation.

[Koshka2]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

personally, (as a retiree) I would stick with your 1 story desire (Maybe add a few bucks to do so, more bucks and get a view!~)_

Thanks for the ideas. I do prefer the 1 story but it isn't an absolute requirement.

I am pretty firm on the $450k, maybe $475. We'll see. The thing is that if I take a mortgage I don't want it to be more than $100k. I am wanting to reduce the amount of our expenses that are tied up in a house.

like this

The newer ones are nice but mostly well above our budget.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3...23237699_zpid/

but I would be more inclined to get something less expensive and later buy where / what I want at a (more) reasonable price (MHP)
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...23338022_zpid/

I could see that having some attraction for many people. For me, one problem is that it is in an over 55 community which I have zero interest in. But for something temporary I could see doing something like that. DH though absolutely hates moving with a passion and vows this one will be the last one....

Originally Posted by MechAndy

I would reconsider that 2 story idea as well.
My mom has a friend that had to live in her living room for a while and it killed that nice house situation.

We will try hard to find a good one story. But, there are just not a lot of them around in the age and price range of house we are interested in. If we were to get a 2 story, though, we would plan to eventually get a stair lift. I have a friend who owns a 2 story and her mother lives with her. The stair lift works great.

[StealthRabbit]

The MOST important thing in selecting a home in this region (IMHO), is LARGE and plentiful south facing windows, and NOT surrounded by towering trees. (Moss, needles, mold, falling 40,000# house crushers).

For senior interests... https://www.cityofvancouver.us/messenger

We care for a lot of seniors. Chair lifts are fine, but can be complex / risk of falling / and they are really expensive and tough to repair.

[Hemlock140]

My sister-in-law in Gig Harbor, WA recently had a stair lift installed, and it was not cheap, but it's actually kind of fun, I had to try it. The best part of Vancouver is being able to cross over to Portland for major purchases and not have to pay any sales tax. We're going to Portland tomorrow to buy our summer annuals and vegetable plants at the Portland Nursery, probably well over $100. Not enough tax savings to pay for the gas, but we will also be visiting relatives there.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

.... We're going to Portland tomorrow to buy our summer annuals and vegetable plants at the Portland Nursery, probably well over $100. Not enough tax savings to pay for the gas, but we will also be visiting relatives there.

Bring a bigger truck and more money!

We (Master Gardeners, in my TX location) just had our plant sale last week. Sold 100% in 17 minutes (over 1000 plants). I just finished up 30 more rain barrels today, as the 30 I had built prior to the sale sold 2x, so we had a wait list.

Upcoming plant sales for Vancouver area (Looks like BG schools has one tomorrow )
https://events.columbian.com/events/...me-and-garden/