Any affordable but safe towns along the coast (Seattle, Vancouver: real estate, rentals)

[bonisme]

Hi there, I'm brand new to posting here, but have been reading everyone's comments a lot. I've been looking for months and months for something I can afford. I started my search months ago for a place in Crescent City, Ca. I just can't do those outrageous prices. Then looked for months up the Oregon coast. Thought I found something in Coos Bay....read this forum....bad things about Coos Bay....went to see for myself....good grief the forum hit it right on the nose. That town is horrible! NOTHING like I was expecting for a Oregon coastal town. No my price range has me looking in Washinton.
Anyway I thought this would be the best place to get some straight answers. I would like a place close to the ocean that doesn't get very cold. I don't mind a rainy season or some overcast days just not all year long. A town that's safe and cute. I'm trying to find a fixerupper. I have a little house I fixed up in Texas thinking I would retire there. Unfortunately I was diagnosed with M.S. Well Texas heat and my condition DO NOT mix. A few minutes outside and I can't walk or see very well.
Sorry this is long and drawn out....but I've been looking for months (on Zillow) and all these towns are running through my head. I noticed that all the weather and crime "averages" all over the Internet can be very misleading. So I thought I'd ask the one place where it seems like I'd get the straight up honest truth.
Thanks so much

[profnot]

Point Roberts, WA. There are no jobs here so you would have to be retired. Real estate prices are low. Weather is better than Vancouver, Canada.
Very safe, virtually no crime.

[Ruth4Truth]

"Cute"? Port Townsend comes to mind, but you'd have to move fast. Prices have been rising since an unusually large influx of climate refugees from the SW (the drought) and the NE (the unusually harsh winters recently) flooded into the place. They can't build new housing fast enough; some of those people have been in temporary housing since last summer. Olympia has some nice neighborhoods. Port Townsend, Port Angeles and Sequim are in the Olympic Mountains' "rain shadow", so they're not as rainy as Seattle and Bellingham, but there's still a fair amount of overcast weather. Summers and early fall are glorious, though. On the other hand, I don't know if there's adequate medical care in the area for you. I don't know what you would require. For some emergencies, people are evacuated to Seattle, and for some specialists, they also have to take a ferry to Seattle. There may be more specialists available on the Kitsap Peninsula, I don't know, but RE is more expensive there.

Don't go all the way to the Pacific Coast, the rain forest. Forks? No way. Very conservative out there, and did I mention that it's a rain forest?

[pdxMIKEpdx]

If you thought Coos Bay was bad, pass up Aberdeen.

[CrazyDonkey]

Affordable these days means living with some level of crime (mostly property) and drugs.

Right on the coast, Ocean Shores would be the cheapest. Not my favorite (its nickname is "Open Sores" for a reason). Still, you're a short walk from the beach or a short drive from less crowded beaches further north (Copalis Beach, Pacific Beach, and Moclips). My favorites are the Westport area and Moclips - the first has lots to do and see, and is close to town; the second has little to do, other than beachcombing and clamdigging, and is more remote (the Quinaults have also closed their beaches to outsiders, again, so you can no longer buy your way onto them with a donation).

Rent:

827 Minard Ave NW UNIT 202, Ocean Shores, WA 98569 | Zillow

511 S Central, Westport, WA 98595 | Zillow

Buy:

212 S Oar Loop SW, Ocean Shores, WA 98569 | MLS #927534 | Zillow

66 Elma St, Copalis Beach, WA | MLS #930008 | Zillow

52 Robin Ln, Pacific Beach, WA | MLS #933791 | Zillow

2069 S View Ridge Dr, Westport, WA 98595 | MLS #927923 | Zillow

852 Cranberry Rd, Grayland, WA 98547 | MLS #789011 | Zillow

4751 State Route 109, Moclips, WA 98562 | MLS #928973 | Zillow

[bonisme]

Wow!! Thanks so much guys for all your input. I should have asked a long time ago! That helps me narrow it down a lot so I'm not so overwhelmed.
Man the home prices are going up so fast! It's kind of scary because wages aren't keeping up with it. I don't know how a normal family is supposed to afford to buy anything! That's why Zillow is 90% for closures. ( in my price range anyway)
Now it seems like californians are leaving here in droves. Driving prices up like crazy in Oregon and Washington now they're going down to Texas. I hope I can grab a little fixer upper in Washington before it's too late. Eeehh! I guess that makes me one of those Californians!? 

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by bonisme

Wow!! Thanks so much guys for all your input. I should have asked a long time ago! That helps me narrow it down a lot so I'm not so overwhelmed.
Man the home prices are going up so fast! It's kind of scary because wages aren't keeping up with it. I don't know how a normal family is supposed to afford to buy anything! That's why Zillow is 90% for closures. ( in my price range anyway)
Now it seems like californians are leaving here in droves. Driving prices up like crazy in Oregon and Washington now they're going down to Texas. I hope I can grab a little fixer upper in Washington before it's too late. Eeehh! I guess that makes me one of those Californians!? 

Let us know where you settle in. The problem is that some of the small towns that are most affordable aren't anyplace one would want to live. So be careful. Check in with people here, during your selection process, for feedback.

[CrazyDonkey]

The coast can be quite wet and dreary over the winter (80+ inches of rain), but beautiful in the summer. Aberdeen/Hoquiam have issues with crime (mostly property), drugs, homelessness, unemployment, etc. Partly why real estate prices and rentals in that area are relative bargains. Medical care can be sketchy - closest top-flight hospital is in Olympia. Definitely visit first.

Note: You can drive on many of the beaches, which can improve accessibility.

[laurabf]

Hello!

I just posted about getting feedback on the San Juan Islands. I have been looking at coastal towns too. I really like Port Townsend, but the prices are getting so high.

I may have missed this somewhere, but, will you need to work at all? This could deeply impact the locations that will work for you. My husband and I were looking in other states too due to price (great lakes area- I need water!) For us, I am starting to expand out price range because if I can get the San Juan life, as long as I'm not forced onto a top ramen budget, then we can slightly adjust our ideals. It also depends on if a budget means 100K or more like 250K? Both can be considered a budget.

Have you considered renting for a bit in an area you like? Some of these small towns its hard to find the deals because they might only be in the paper or listed with local agents and are picked up quickly by other locals. Also it could help you decide just where you want to be. For example if you look up Port Townsend threads on here there are areas people advise to avoid- it might be nice to live there first to know exactly what you want.

I hope you find a great place.

[bonisme]

Ok how about these 3 towns. Cosmopolis, Raymond, Grayland? I kind of have a feeling Raymond is maybe a seedy town. The other 2 maybe they're nice? Someone mentioned Port Angelis too? I'm just afraid of extreme temps or constant 24 -7 rain. But where Port A is there's the mountains or current protecting it!? from all that?
I know logically I should go down to Texas and finish my updates on my little house, sell it move all my stuff up to Washington be able to buy a little bit better place and be done. I truly think all that will cause such a flair up that it will be the end of me. So I'm doing things illogically and what I want to do for once and going with my gut. Life is too short! Maybe I should rent but I hate throwing money away.