Where in Vancouver for families?? (Salmon Creek, Minnehaha: real estate market, house, neighborhood)

[pepsiRN]

After falling in love with the Pacific NW during a recent trip, my husband and I have decided to uproot our family from the dry, boring wasteland of Southern Idaho to the beautiful Vancouver/Portland area. We are hoping to move next summer-ish (all hinging on the real estate market, gotta sell our house before we can go....YIKES!). I have done extensive research on the area and so far am really impressed with Vancouver, esp. w/the lower housing costs compared to Portland, as well as the no income tax thing in WA. We are planning on spending a week in the late winter/early spring to check out first hand the neightborhoods and schools, but really, where to focus?? I'd like to have a job close to home, I am an RN looking to work in a hospital in Vancouver (any insights to those?); husband is a auto mechanic w/8+ yrs experience, we have 2 young children ages 8 and 1; we are looking for a neighborhood that isn't clear out of range of restaraunts, entertainment, etc. (We already live in the boonies, don't want to do it again.) Oh, also I'd like to stay farther away from the Gorge area due to the winds, we have lived in a windy area for years and we are sick of it!! I am open to all opinions....please help! PS we know about the weather and we are looking forward to it!

[MtnFlyer]

Since you mentioned income taxes I'll mention the state's B&O tax. You said your husband is an auto mechanic but didn't say if he is self-employed. If so make sure you research the tax as it's a bear of an income tax on self employed individuals. The tax you pay is actually based on the GROSS sales, not net income.


Good luck. I'll be watcing this thread closely as I'm very intrigued by Vancouver and what it has to offer.

[sykesfamily]

I was going to suggest Fishers landing or camas...but since you don't want the gorge winds then the east side is probably not where you want to be. So I would say the west side of town there are nice areas between the minnehaha area and hazel dell/salmon creek area. You will be close to shopping and restaurants as well. Good luck and you will love it here. We are moving out of the area and we will miss it here!

[cdelena]

Look in Salmon Creek... I think it meets all your requirements.

[StealthRabbit]

Pleasant Valley area (North central ~ 109th St and 50th Ave), or Glenwood (slightly to east) would position you in a nice central area, but away from commercial zone. Weather and soils are great, there is a variety of available housing options. I like north Minnehaha area. (we lived next to Hazel Dell park for many yrs, it was really nice and close to stuff, but you could hear the freeway)

I have friends that work at Legacy, SW medical, Kaiser, and for Vancouver Clinic. Legacy is currently preferred, tho slightly. There are many options. Many folks really like working for Adventist Medical in NE Portland, it is an EZ commute (especially for swing shift) and they say it is worth the drive and taxes.

Your husband might check into these auto repair shops for jobs, rate ranges.
Gaynor's, Ron's Automotive, or justrightautoDOTcom
There are also the big dealers near mall, and a few in Hazel Dell. There are some truck repair places in Ridgefield.

[pepsiRN]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Mtnflyer, my husband isn't self employed, so we don't have to worry about those taxes, thank goodness! And I've been wondering about the Minnehaha/Hazel Dell/Salmon Creek areas, online they have seemed like what we might want but it's much better to hear that from people who have experienced the area; that is probably where we are going to focus our search in the upcoming months.
Janb I'm going to check out your suggestions on the hospitals and auto shops. I have really wanted to stay in Vancouver, but I just may check out Adventist Medical.

I am looking forward to hearing from any and all about Vancouver!