A little farm, land... (Seattle, Tacoma: taxes, live in, price)

[lumiwa]

Hi!

We are decided to move in Oregon or Washington and I like Washington more.
What we are loooking for is a smaller town not so far from job "area" - Portland or Vancouver or ???.
We like to have a little land for gardening and maybe some sheep and goats, two or three behaves, not expensive.
We are liberal, I am from one European country and my wife is African-American and we don't like live in some not so "friendly" town.
Is it possbile to find something in the Clark county, please?

Thank you for each recomendation.

[Ira500]

How about somewhere like Stevenson or Carson, Washington?
It's gorgeous country, Beacon Rock park is nearby as is the Cascade Locks...Carson has hot mineral springs. The windsurfing capitol, Hood River, Oregon is about 20 miles east of there..
I guess it's not in Clark County, but Stevenson is about 40 minutes ish east of Portland, and has the room for people with goats, is friendly, pretty small but has good places to eat.

[lumiwa]

Originally Posted by Ira500

How about somewhere like Stevenson or Carson, Washington?
It's gorgeous country, Beacon Rock park is nearby as is the Cascade Locks...Carson has hot mineral springs. The windsurfing capitol, Hood River, Oregon is about 20 miles east of there..
I guess it's not in Clark County, but Stevenson is about 40 minutes ish east of Portland, and has the room for people with goats, is friendly, pretty small but has good places to eat.

It looks like a nice place but Portland is a little to far...
How expensive is Olympia area?
Thanks in advance.

[Ira500]

How expensive is Olympia area?

Far less expensive than Seattle, but more expensive than Tacoma...And Olympia is, for the most part, a very nice place.

[JayZ750]

Originally Posted by lumiwa

It looks like a nice place but Portland is a little to far...
How expensive is Olympia area?
Thanks in advance.

Per Google maps directions (maps.google.com), Stevenson is 50 minutes from Portland, while Olympia is 60 minutes from Seattle...I've never driven either, just pointing out Stevenson is actually closer to Portland than Olympia is to a big job center.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by JayZ750

Per Google maps directions (maps.google.com), Stevenson is 50 minutes from Portland, while Olympia is 60 minutes from Seattle...I've never driven either, just pointing out Stevenson is actually closer to Portland than Olympia is to a big job center.

Accurate, but should be modified by traffic patterns, which between Olympia and Seattle quite often tend to make the trip longer and an order of magnitude more frustrating.

[hamellr]

Do some research before you move, Goats and Sheep are not welcomed in every town, even some of the rural towns. A lot of small towns passed foolishly passed ordinances against such during the boom of the 50's and the advent of the Super Highway.

[nwcountrygal]

In Olympia I doubt you can have goats but minutes outside Olympia is rural. The town in itself is a good town not to be confused with rural. Property has come down in price drasitcally from 2 years ago but I would think you would be spending $250,000 for any type of property with some kinda home. I would not consider it "close" to Portland. At least 1 1/2 hours good driving.

[lumiwa]

Originally Posted by nwcountrygal

In Olympia I doubt you can have goats but minutes outside Olympia is rural. The town in itself is a good town not to be confused with rural. Property has come down in price drasitcally from 2 years ago but I would think you would be spending $250,000 for any type of property with some kinda home. I would not consider it "close" to Portland. At least 1 1/2 hours good driving.

It is too far. I hope that we will find a place in the Clark County.

[StealthRabbit]

In terms of Clark County; La Center, Brush Prairie, Battleground, Green Mountain, Yacolt (rainy and far), would be good choices. Ridgefield is nice too, but land values tend to be pretty high.
My favorite spot for gardening and semi rural is an area known as Glenwood, (North Central ~ 119th st and north to 179th, between SR500 and 50th ave). The county extension service is nearby, and they are a great resource. http://clark.wsu.edu/


I would personally look at Woodland since it is NOT in Clark County and has decent growing season and ez access to Vancouver and Longview. I can't say enough bad about Clark County and its spending and politics and taxes, but your mileage may vary (I hope). I don't recommend Stevenson for your desires (weather is a bit rough and rainy + freezing rain is very hard on perennial crops, soils tough to garden, overgrown forests restrict plant light and airflow (very important for fruit production on we_t side) and local people might be a bit judgmental), but it is worth a look. Lots of nice people, good 4-H program, and a GREAT county fair.