Chelan area (Seattle, Wenatchee, Cle Elum: real estate, rent, vacation home)

[pw72]

Is it livable on a middle income? Has the town been taken over by the W. Washington rich? I know it is great in the summer, but what about the rest of the year?

[Hemlock140]

Not at all. It's a combination of tourists, vacation homes, and farm workers. In fact at the grocery stores and Walmart there you will find a high percentage of Spanish speaking customers (population is 24.2% Hispanic). The median family income is only $40,000, compare that to $64k in Seattle, and over $100k in most eastside suburbs.

[pw72]

Thanks. I see this area as a summer resort area, but I'm sure there are those who work year round there. I also see the area continueing to be a sought-after resort area as Seattle continues to expand. So perhaps real estate there may grow...but nobody has a crystal ball. Looking at google maps, I see a Safeway in Chelan, but not a Wal-Mart. Maybe I missed it.

[Hemlock140]

It's really too far away to be a convenient weekend resort from Seattle, and gets awfully hot in summer (102 today). Our neighbor has a home there, but also other relatives use it and they rent it out using VRBO. Most people we know with 2nd homes have places on the Olympic Penninsula, or Cle Elum. Walmart Supercenter is at 108 Apple Blossom Dr, Chelan, WA 98816.

[PS90]

Originally Posted by pw72

Is it livable on a middle income? Has the town been taken over by the W. Washington rich? I know it is great in the summer, but what about the rest of the year?

Most of the locals who live there and aren't in the tourism industry would say the exact opposite. Most of my horse clients who live there hate the summertime, because of the influx of coasties and traffic. It's actually quite nice there the rest of the year - fairly mild winters (by Eastern WA standards) and it's a veritable ghost town.

And yes, Chelan has a Wal-Mart. It's about 2 miles east of the town center.

[PS90]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

It's really too far away to be a convenient weekend resort from Seattle, and gets awfully hot in summer (102 today). Our neighbor has a home there, but also other relatives use it and they rent it out using VRBO. Most people we know with 2nd homes have places on the Olympic Penninsula, or Cle Elum. Walmart Supercenter is at 108 Apple Blossom Dr, Chelan, WA 98816.

I'm not sure I agree with you. I can't remember the figure exactly, but the last count was something like 60% of all the houses in Chelan were owned by Seattlites. And, having lived in Wenatchee, I've seen firsthand the wave of coasties heading up Hwy 97 on a Friday afternoon.