Mazama, WA (Wenatchee, Mount Vernon, Ellensburg: real estate, houses, lease)

[maiden.jade]

Hi,

First time posting in this forum so please be gentle with me.

I did a search on city-data but could not find the town Mazama. I know it exists since I live in Mount Vernon which is about 100 miles (off my head) west of Mazama. I did a search on some real estate websites and found most houses on sale to be above $250K.

So what's the draw about Mazama? I know there are plenty of rocks for climbing, snow for snowmobiling, etc., but what are the other factors for the high cost properties considering the fact that it's not near any areas with plenty of industries for jobs. In fact, where do people who live there work? What kind of jobs do they do?

I'm asking out of curiosity. I wouldn't mind living there if I could find a job that can pay for the property.

[NCWmark]

Not specific to Mazama, but regarding that area including Twisp & Winthrop. Many times the value of the house is driven up by the fact that the majority of homes in these "out of the way" areas come with a little bit of land with them, instead of the normal postage stamp size parcel. Other factors include surrounded by forest land, near lakes and rivers, etc. Although locals make up well over 50% of the population, this area is a popular home buying destination for people that are retired or are looking for a second home that is "away from it all" and surrounded by the forest and this fact can also drive up home prices.

A very beautiful area!

[scirocco22]

Mazama only has a population of several hundred at the most. It's rather isolated in the winter because of the closure of the North Cascades highway. Like you say, it is a nice place for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter but you'll have to take highway 2 over Stevens Pass to get over there because of the closure of highway 20.

You may have to go into the Okanogan/Omak area or even Wenatchee to find a job, however.

[rjcjmom]

Cle Elum is like that - a resident there told me a couple of years ago that lots of people live there but that anybody that worked mostly drove over to Ellensburg. Which is problematic when they close 1-90 in the winter. Also, that is the nearest location for a hospital for them.

[scirocco22]

Originally Posted by rjcjmom

Cle Elum is like that - a resident there told me a couple of years ago that lots of people live there but that anybody that worked mostly drove over to Ellensburg. Which is problematic when they close 1-90 in the winter. Also, that is the nearest location for a hospital for them.

True, rjcjmom. Cle Elum does depend on Ellensburg for a lot of their support which includes jobs.

However, Mazama is quite a bit smaller and much more isolated than Cle Elum. Cle Elum is located along the interstate and I-90 is a priority roadway to keep open during the winter.

Mazama, on the other hand, is located on SR-20 which is closed entirely during the winter. This cuts Mazama off from the west all winter. Even during the times when SR-20 is open to through traffic, the traffic flow is not that great.

[rjcjmom]

True, true . . .