Questions about Sequim and Region (Seattle, Bainbridge Island: transplants, real estate, foreclosure)

[lz64]

My partner and I have fallen in love with the Olympic Peninsula and would like to move somewhere between Port Angeles and Port Ludlow in the next 2 or 3 years.

I particularly like Sequim, with its natural diversity, open space, and rural beauty. We are, however, afraid it will turn into an "Anytown USA" with the rich Californians moving in who often like to fill it with ugly chain stores for their convenience. We love, and are open to, the whole area between Port Angeles & Port Ludlow.

Schools are not an issue, as we don't/won't be having any kids. We are middle aged and looking for a quiet area to settle and, eventually, semi-retire. So, here are my questions:

1. Building has slowed in Sequim, but when the economy gets stronger, do you think it will grow into a town filled with chain stores, shopping malls and strip malls?

2. Does the current local govt in Sequim care about the character of the town, or just how much money they can bring in?

3. What can you tell me about the Port Ludlow/Port Hadlock/Paradise areas? Is the weather as good there as Sequim & Port Townsend, etc? Is the commute easy enough to Bainbridge Island? Is there any kind of a town center for this area, or do people simply go to Port Townsend? (We stayed in Sequim and didn't have time to check this area out properly.)

4. In any of the areas I mentioned above, how difficult or easy is it to buy a used mobile home and put it on some acreage. We would love to have 4-5 acres, nothing fancy, but privacy and quiet is important to us. What are the local regulations? Are the building & connections fees astronomical?

5. This may seem like a stupid question, but can one just buy a mobile home and move it from its mobile home park to put on one's property?

Thank you for any help you can offer!

[sean98125]

1. Sequim is already filled with chain stores and the strip malls are already built or being built. It isn't the small, rural town it used to be. 2. My mom lives there and is active in politics, and she thinks that the city government is more concerned with growth than with character. 3. The weather in the Port Ludlow area isn't as nice as it is in Sequim. The commute to Bainbridge is pretty straightforward and simple. 4. In the areas you mentioned, you should be able to find a property that meets your needs. Sequim's water regulations are a little tighter than most due to the relative scarcity of water there.

[ldc]

Hi LZ64

I just joined and love all the information going back and forth.

I hope my feedback helps some... I don't live in Sequim, but I visit the Peninsula occasionally. Although the planning seems to be typical of most towns, it will take a long time before it takes shape. And there are those who are trying to make it aesthetically pleasing--not just for their enjoyment, but to bring in tourists. There's a lot of space to fill and, as in any town, there will probably be pockets of good and bad. The people there are great--it's very homey. I think this makes up for any bad planning that may happen.

The only real downside to Sequim and Port Angeles is the crime rate . They're small towns, but according to the statistics on city-data, they are above the US average in crime. But no one I talk to there seems to feel the effects of this.

Why don't you try Port Townsend? It's beautiful there, with all the old buildings and boutiques. They seem to really care about keeping the personality of the town in tact.

I don't visit south of PT to give you an opinion on that area. Anyone else?

[lz64]

Originally Posted by sean98125

1. Sequim is already filled with chain stores and the strip malls are already built or being built. It isn't the small, rural town it used to be. 2. My mom lives there and is active in politics, and she thinks that the city government is more concerned with growth than with character. 3. The weather in the Port Ludlow area isn't as nice as it is in Sequim. The commute to Bainbridge is pretty straightforward and simple. 4. In the areas you mentioned, you should be able to find a property that meets your needs. Sequim's water regulations are a little tighter than most due to the relative scarcity of water there.

Thanks, Sean. Your experience is very helpful, and unfortunately, reflects what we initially thought. It's good to get the inside scoop of the local government. I never would have thought that the area would have scarcity of water, being so close to the mountains and the nearby places that do get a lot of rain. Thanks for the scoop!

[lz64]

Originally Posted by ldc

Hi LZ64

I just joined and love all the information going back and forth.

I hope my feedback helps some... I don't live in Sequim, but I visit the Peninsula occasionally. Although the planning seems to be typical of most towns, it will take a long time before it takes shape. And there are those who are trying to make it aesthetically pleasing--not just for their enjoyment, but to bring in tourists. There's a lot of space to fill and, as in any town, there will probably be pockets of good and bad. The people there are great--it's very homey. I think this makes up for any bad planning that may happen.

The only real downside to Sequim and Port Angeles is the crime rate . They're small towns, but according to the statistics on city-data, they are above the US average in crime. But no one I talk to there seems to feel the effects of this.

Why don't you try Port Townsend? It's beautiful there, with all the old buildings and boutiques. They seem to really care about keeping the personality of the town in tact.

I don't visit south of PT to give you an opinion on that area. Anyone else?

Thanks for the info on the crime rate. I never would have thought it...

[swsha4]

I'm looking for a cheap but nice motel or cabin etc. to stay for a few days. We also have a small toy poodle that will be with us. We are looking in the area to see if we would like to move there from Seattle and we thought to get a place to stay in Sequim and then look all over from Port Townsend to Port Angeles. We can't afford to spend too much. Any suggestions?

[yakker]

I particularly like Sequim, with its natural diversity, open space, and rural beauty. We are, however, afraid it will turn into an "Anytown USA" with the rich Californians moving in who often like to fill it with ugly chain stores for their convenience. We love, and are open to, the whole area between Port Angeles & Port Ludlow.

My wife and I just got back from a trip that included 5 days on the Olympic Peninsula with a day in Sequim. We loved Happy Valley and the hills over looking town, Even though we're from California, somehow Walmart, Costco, and the strip malls beat us there. Imagine that.

Go ahead and hate me for being Californian; after all, I am the pariah of the world, and it's always gratifying to be accused of being the source of all of it's problems.

On a positive note, All the people we met in Washington were friendly and welcoming. I guess it's only the transplants that arrive with an attitude.

[lz64]

We will be California expatriates also, yakker, but not the rich ones who will drive real estate up. Those are the ones who came to our little town and made it impossible for the locals to stay by outbidding each other for houses. I feel a bit guilty for feeling satisfaction when I heard of a million dollar condo (yes, you read right) going into foreclosure yesterday. I'm just sorry that most of the people being hurt by the housing fiasco are middle and lower income folks.

I hate that CA has turned into a chain store haven and am saddened that other local governments don't learn by looking at poor models. A good model is to put all the chain stores in one neighborhood, away from the local flavor, like many outlet stores.

Unfortunately local governments are usually a haphazard group of people, none of whom have any clue as to long range planning. Greed and egos rule these entities and result in the creation of ugly and inefficient neighborhoods.

Yes, Washington folks are very welcoming and warm. They also have a reputation for being intelligent and reasonable. I just hope they don't get run out of their paradise by the less conscious rich California retirees.

swsha4: you may want to start another post for your question. We don't have any suggestions for you, as we stayed at a friend's place.

[wanttoretire]

I am once again reviewing the Olympic Peninsula for relocation and just have a couple of questions today regarding the weather in that area. I noticed on the internet that Port Townsend gets windy everyday. Is this true? Also what is the wind like in Sequim and Port Angeles during each of the seasons? Is it windy there every day also and how strong are the winds?
During the summer months is it chilly where you have to where a jacket all the time?
Thank you in advance for any information you can provide.

[Oceangirl]

Hi there folks,

I actually live in Sequim, been here for 3 years my parents were here for 10. They are past now.
I will offer positives and negatives of living here.
The positives of the town is it is small, really small. Everyone begins to get to know everyone else. 70% of the folks here are 60 + in age. There are schools for kids but not many kids here. There are boutiques here of clothing and jewelry, garden furniture, chachkas, The Blue Whole art gallery, very nice, several banks, a small library, bike shop and services like that. The sun does shine a lot but expect a lot of gray or overcast days as well. Sequim is dry. Doesn't rain a lot due to the mountains blocking all the clouds. There is hiking and water beaches with lots of rocks to walk on. There is the Olympic Animal Farm to visit each summer season.
Mobile homes, or manufactured homes are not discouraged but you must buy land, and an acre goes for around $125 and higher depending on if you have mountain view. Most of Sequim is mountain view. The city center is small in boundary so if you buy out side of the city your taxes are lower than in town but you have no voice in what happens in town. The new mayor is my classmate and we shall see how things change.
Sequim is more expensive than you would think. Bil Gates owns land here, Kris Kristofferson, Jane Fonda and Lindsay Wagner. The actors have discovered us!!It is very beautiful here and quiet. Most crime is drug related. Meth is a problem in PA.

You ask about winds, they can last 2 to 4 days and are strong. Tops of trees break off a lot on our 5 acre property. If you buy land with trees you will be protected from the wind but you should have your trees checked every year to cull the dead or dying ones as they have a habit of falling over onto your driveway. Always have a chainsaw and snowshovel ready in winter. Last year we had 5 trees fall over our newly asphalted driveway. It snows here too. Depending on how many feet you are up from the flats of Sequim will determine your snow pack. We were told 3 to 6 inches every year, but not us, we are just up enough that we get 18 to 24 inches every year and we have to shovel our 800 foot driveway to the road. We are planning on moving as we cannot continue to do this any longer. It takes us nearly 2 days to shovel out. Snow can come once or 4 times per year. Just depends.
Summers are usually in the high 60's but nights can get cold quick. You have mountains and marine air. And don't put your house out of the sun because you will get moss on your roof and it cost us $425 to have our roof demossed and the gutters cleaned of all the tree debris. This a yearly cost.
Water is a problem more and more. The only water that Sequim proper gets is from the mountains and if it doesn't snow enough you have a drought. The grass is often brown here where it is not irrigated. They hold an irrigation festival because water is so precious here. We have a well. If you are out of town you will most likely be on a well and have septic. Some are better than others. We nearly had a tree hit our well pump last year.Whew!
Don't expect to be able to buy anything you want easily. You will have to travel either to Silverdale, Port Townsend or Port Angeles for many things. We do however have a huge WalMart, Home Depot, PetCo, Starbucks everywhere, mega Costco , WalDrug and Riteaide, Staples, Office Depot, all at the west end of main street, and a Target is coming they tell us we wish they would bring a Borders in. Reading is a nice hobby in winer here. There are other areas the city planners are attempting to bring some kind of mall to if they can attract investors. There are always and constantly retirement homes being built on the fields now and they are priced in the mid 200's to 400's. Most are cul de sac style. There are a few gated communities here if you like that. You can see mountains and water most days. There are a large amount of MONSTER homes being built now. Farmers are selling out near the city and it is losing it's rural feel a bit. The streets are too narrow and the traffic gets tough in tourist season downtown especially with the new roundabouts.The town shuts down at 6 pm and there are maybe 2 small restaurants open and McDonalds past that time. Summer is king here with long days so things are open later then.
There is a swim center and gymnasium called Sarc you can join for your excercising for only $365 per year per person. There is a family rate of some kind.
There is a casino to play games and slots and eat in. It is small, smokey and lots of drinking goes on since there is not many other entertainments. But there is small live Theater here. And some summer bands and movies in the park.
There is no hospital in Sequim but there are a couple of medical centers and elderly housing. There seems to be a shortage of nurses at this time.
Our taxes shot up so fast in the first two years my husband had to leave retirement and go to work again to pay to keep up. We are going to downsize and move to a cheaper town somewhere else. We are the educated friendly middle class that is being driven out. We cry uncle!
If you live in Port Townsend there is a problem of getting into and out of the town in high tourist season, it is bumper to bumper. The ferries are now unreliable and so far none of us knows what they plan to put back into service for Whidbey Island. Port Townsend gets winds too, usually on the NW side. It has more activities like boating and such, and really cute quaint little shops and the best art supply store in the area, and a great old Army base now a park called Fort Worden that has a lot of world class music that plays there. There are real sandy beaches there and you can walk them more easily. There is a paper mill and the housing there is cheapest, but you have to deal with the smell.The people are more into alternative everything and feels a bit hippie or counterculture. It does have a good small hosptial.It gets more rain there too.
Port Angeles is another mill and shipping town and it is most populated and largest of the 3. There is a small limited community college, small airport, and a hosptial, if you have serious illness you will be flown to Seattle off this peninsula. The ferries go to Victoria B.C which is a gorgeous British style city. There are more shops there but mostly common things like shoes, antiques, a couple very small bookshops, a couple of theaters, schools, etc.The Gateway to the Olympic Mountains is there and the hikes on Hurricane Ridge are breathtaking on sunny days. Winters it is often roads closed due to avalanches on them. P.A gets snow too and some winds mostly by the airport. It has nice little bitty beaches here and there. If you go west 1/2 hour you come to a little lodge and cottages called Crescent Lake. Very Fjord like and boxed in around the lake. The restaurant is world class with Elk and Venison on the menu. The bar is nice and intimate and the fireplace is the talking area there. Good hiking up to Merrymere falls, but steep be prepared if you have walking problems.
P.A has more younger people and more troubles with drugs and petty crimes.
All 3 of these towns and between them is growing like nuts. Fairly soon we expect that P.A and Sequim will run into each other as they are selling all the lands along Highway 1 between them for commercial use.
Out here the gas is higher, the food is more expensive.
But it is very quite, nice, pretty, you get to see mountains, the Striat, and fields until they are sold. Most people here are friendly and easy going. Yes Californians are not well liked, there is a common bumper sticker here that says "We don't care how you did it in California". So there is that to contend with if you come in from CA. Just don't mention it.
The clubs to join here are mostly dancing, camera clubs, computer, gardening, Rock and gem, senior centers, sailing, fishing, and a few others.
Hopefully this gives you a small idea of what to expect. It is drop dead gorgeous but you will give up some amenities to have it. Very small towns.
Good house hunting!