Relocating... Looking for Advice on City, Area? (Bellingham, Port Townsend: real estate, low crime)

[Misty Panda]

Hello,

Hopefully someone can share some advice. We are looking for a new place for this point in our lives. Seems everyone is moving everywhere these days. We aren't set on any particular city or region, just floating the idea out.

Things we love and look for, tech centers (lots of tech geeks), very diverse people, real mom & pop shops everywhere, unusual restaurants, very low crime, excellent school system, excellent cost of living standard, a young-minded populous.

We would choose a quaint locally owned organic grocery over a supermarket, a real hometown hardware store over Home Depot or OSH, a m&p general store or wacky thrift store over Costco or Walmart. We want a place with "real" values not "showy" values. A city with a physically active outdoors scene would be very important, running, biking (good bike lanes), volleyball in the park or beach, many unusual places to take walks.

We aren't really interested in new developments, cookie-cutter tracts, McMansions, stripmalls, etc. We're looking for an older home (Bungalow or possibly Victorian) that would be outside of the downtown or historic districts, maybe even something a bit out in the countryside surrounded by other similar homes or open spaces and farmland.

Now that property values are dropping across the country things are looking more promising for buying something nice and getting good value. We aren't interested in overpaying, but we don't mind spending a very good amount.

Thank you and we look forward to your response.

[mayfair]

I can't think of a place with everything on your list, but many places in WA have some of them. If you prioritize your list it will help with suggestions!

[Macrina]

Look into Bellingham, WA....you would find quite a few of your requirements satisfied there, IMHO

[Misty Panda]

Hey Macrina,

Good call! We've never heard of Bellingham before. After reading a bit it about it, sounds like it might fit most everything on our list.

Do you live there? We'll have more questions. Thanks

[Macrina]

I'd written this response on another thread, but will copy it to you here:

I live south of Bellingham, and go up there to shop sometimes. IMHO it's a great place and very beautiful terrain. I don't know about the real estate part, though.

And just to warn you there are some malcontents on C-D who are very negative about Bellingham! In my considered opinion, they are "skewed in their views" (hey, I should trademark that.....) There are also others ~ give them some time to see your post ~ who have positive things to say.

In fact I noticed that the "negative on Bellingham" thread has popped up again, and you may already be reading in it. I'm not the only one on C-D that thinks the negativism is unwarrented.

Just last Saturday I went up to the Old Fairhaven area of southern Bellingham to do some shopping.
You can probably find info on Google, or perhaps already did. Anyway it's a nice part of Bellingham, IMHO.

[xboxmas]

Maybe Port Townsend?

[Misty Panda]

Ok Macrina,

Thanks for the heads up on the neg comments. Why do so many people post neg comments on certain areas? People don't want newcomers or are things really bad there? Ok xboxmas, we'll check it out too. Thanks

[Macrina]

Not sure, Misty, what the motivation is. As far as I know, things there are not bad, but perhaps going through the reactions of quite a bit of growth over the last few years. This is what happens Everywhere, once an area gets promoted as "In the top 50 (or ten) areas of the whole US in which to live. People read that, and decide they want in on it, too.

I'm sure there's no one easy answer for all this. I Do know that Bellingham is beautiful and very scenic, has higher education, the arts, etc. Oh yes, and climate, if you like changeabiltiy and 'coolth' ! Personally, I love it.

[Misty Panda]

Sounds like my kind of place. Is it really rainy all the time? That's one thing I probably wouldn't like. Is the population expanding like crazy?

[Macrina]

LOL...just got back to see your post. No, it's not rainy all the time, though there is a rainy season. Have you looked on the demographics pages on C-D for Bellingham yet? Lots of info there. It's far enough north that you'd have snow several times in the winter, and icy - slick roads, etc. But it doesn't last (usually) past a few days at a time.

The population Is expanding ~ sorry, I don't have figures for this, but again this can be found on the other section of C-D.

The terrain is hilly with lots of trees, both deciduous and evergreen. Bellingham is about 50 miles from the Canadian border, and is partly on the water. Mount Baker is to the east and south; do a google search ~ it's beautiful and stays snow-capped year round.

Give it some time, I'm hoping some others who are more knowledgable will show up here and post what they know.