Battle Ground (Vancouver, Amboy, Yacolt: crime rate, how much, house)

[MrBartholome]

Short and sweet. Does it snow in the Battleground area? If so, how often, how heavy? Thank You!

[jenuw]

I have never been to Battle G. but have had to some research on it for work before. I won't give an opinion on it since I have not first hand experience with it.

But if you don't want to live in the metro area of Seattle, but want a little larger city than BG with a little more urban feel, I might suggest Olympia/Lacey, Lynnwood/Everett, or pick any mid-sized town at least 20 miles from Seattle and you should be ok. You would have access to Seattle when needed, beaches, mountains, shopping, etc. I don't have too much first hand experience with eastern WA, but I know a lot of people who live there and many seem to be happy with Spokane & Lake Chelan area (although very expensive).

[GIMMER]

Yes, it does snow in Battle Ground. Usually only for a few days a year. Nothing sticks for very long. We had that one snow/ice storm during the late2004 - early 2005 winter, but that was a 4 day vacation for most of us, then it was gone. Roads are usually well taken care of during that type of weather, at least on Lewisville Hwy (503) where I live.

[MrBartholome]

Thank You. Does it snow more in Amboy?

[bane500]

We just moved here a week ago, we spent one yr researching and eliminating places before we bought our house in battle ground. We bought a large house on 5 acres for $600,000. So far everything is great. One of the reasons we moved was to get away from the illegals in los angeles...so far so good!

[Native Northwesterner]

Another Californian driving up our taxes, crowding our freeways, and prejudice to boot.
Just to let you know, we here in the Pacific Northwest don't run away from our problems we solve them.

[cdelena]

Originally Posted by Native Northwesterner

Another Californian driving up our taxes, crowding our freeways, and prejudice to boot.
Just to let you know, we here in the Pacific Northwest don't run away from our problems we solve them.

A little harsh. It is spending that drives up taxes, not collections. And the average citizen does not get to do much about the waves of illegal immigration but complain to politicians and then pay taxes to provide medical care and education for them. Californians, Texans, etc. cannot solve the problem without something from the organization responsible, the federal government. Thankfully the PNW is a good way from the southern border but the problems will arrive and it will not come with property buying, tax paying citizens.

[edyeye]

Ever think of going just a bit further north? Like Bellingham?
Iv'e been here from N.Y. since 1952.
Bellingham: 40.000 folks - every major store - low crime - folks talk to you - great countryside living - 12 miles from Canada border.
Look it up on the web. Edie

[StealthRabbit]

all the desirable places in WA are pretty pricy (housing). Just remember property tax average of $15/thousand, based on 100% FMV so... if you pay $500k (for a house that should cost $200k...(what was meant by Native_northwest...'running up our taxes')) your taxes will be $7500/yr. Keep in mind these are 'Fixed costs', and when you are retired or unemployed they will weigh like an anchor around your neck. Mine went from $800/yr to $8000 in 10 yrs, and now to $11,000 in 3 more yrs, and my place cost less than $100k to build, including land. Clark County has very aggressive assessors (I spend plenty of time in court with them...) Physical re-assessments every 3 years and they tend to over-rate properties rather than my props in Skamania and Klickitat, where they go a bit lighter on increases, waiting to assure the values stay high (when your new neighbor pays $500k for the $200k place next door). In OR you pay prop tax @ ~ 53% of FMV (but 8%+ on income, but terrible state / school finances) in WY you pay on 7%... (no income tax) in ID you get a $75k, "homestead" exemption (not too significant on a $500k place) + income and sales tax.

Battleground has quite a choice in schools, the more conservative bent prefer Hockinson (very disiplined and academic). There is a huge Homeschool contingent all over Clark county, and good private school choices nearby.

Don't buy a house in the trees (dark, mossy, pine needles in gutters + wildfire danger (Yacolt burn = most intense fire in PNW history, 238,000acres in 36 hrs, i.e. 110 acres / minute!!))
check with county extension service if you are concerned about rainfall and temps. (Office in Brush Prairie, 5 mi SO of BG). They have a rainfall and soils map of entire county which varies from 20" to 120" annual in different regions. Soils can be VERY good in parts of Clark County (sandy loam). Creeks, Elevations and wind exposure cause significant variation in local microclimates. The heavy clouds coming from the coast camp out against the Cascades and have to empty their bladders before climbing over. The weather is VERY predictable, when they say rain to come in afternoon, 12:01pm and you may start seeing drops...the exception is the east wind, which has to drain all the high pressure from Eastern WA, OR, ID.. out through the gorge to allow low pressure (moisture) in. Sometimes it can take a week to exhaust the cold air (thus rain clouds have to hang out longer...) Early May is a good time to visit (rhodies / stone fruits are in bloom) a 'must see' is here

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/...&PropertyID=27
view superb hand crafted furniture at The Joinery (near Reed College ~ 5 min from Rhodie Garden) Go wander through the antique shops in Sellwood (5 minutes west)
afterward, get a cheap meal at the ole spagetti factory on Macadam (waterfront)

Bellingham, Lyden is nice too, just different, but being next to BC has major advantage if you like BIG beautiful outdoors (and clean, empty campgrounds). WA is good, but not THAT (BC) good. It is also nice to be near the water (we lived in Gulf Islands for awhile, just west of Vanc BC airport. Lots of eagles, salmon, Rock Cod, bears, cougars and sea lions. Only 10 min from airport via floatplane, or 3 hrs via mutilple ferries / buses; but superb sea kayaking and sailing.

You really need to determine what is highest priority, and where job will be (hopefully you don't need one). With WA property value increases there is no need for a job, just build a new house every two years, and stick $500k tax free in your pocket.

Come visit different areas and see where you fit. Unfortunatley I don't fit on the west side. I'm from a prairie (dry + conservative) agarian background. For the moment I am collecting my Real Estate $$, and am a full time college student (returnee...after 32 yrs in the salt mines...) I'm banking the RE proceeds in hopes of a minor correction, but staying invested in RE on the west side in view and desirable locations, which I feel will always be marketable. With current capital gains rates of 15%, it is a good time to pay taxes on investment properties. The next administration (as well as our mounting bills...) should correct that benefit !

Seattle and Portland have way too much traffic to suit me, and poor mass transit (I got spoiled living in Singapore, fast, cheap and efficient MRT) They do have their own cultures and are very diverse, and have a lot going for them and plenty to do. But... there are adequate areas of rural and even wilderness to choose from.

Good luck, spend some time with the locals and find your spot.

[Native Northwesterner]

It is a little harsh. I'm tired of these people coming from California, complaining about how we live, change our landscape, hire foreign workers, pay them peanuts and then complain when they go to the hospital to use our health care system.

Do you think if these parents, who give their darling high schoolers every little thing they want would make their kids get out and work in the fields in the summer, there would not be such a demand for foreign workers?

We have tried to hire high school kids for our farm in the spring. No interest whatsoever, yet somehow at 16 years old they are able to afford brand new pickup trucks.

Frustrated