can we afford a nice area in Washington? (Seattle, Federal Way: real estate, apartment)

[countrykaren]

Hubbie and I are nearing retirement, and will have an income (between pensions and SS) of about $80- $85K. Hubbie still works, and depending for how long it takes for us to move, it could be a little more $$.


Our housing budget would be less than $200K. We want a very small house- even 3-4 rooms is OK, but in a nice town and nice area.


Some places that look nice would be: Poulsbo, Leavenworth, Long Beach, Sequim, or Chelan. I am aware these towns are all over the place and some seem very isolated, especially in the Cascades. We would like to be near restaurants, shopping, medical care, etc, but you'll get the idea of what we would like in terms of looks and walkability. I think Seattle would be out.


Last time I was in Washington was in 1969 (Federal Way), and moved out when my parents moved (I was 15). I loved Washington and always thought I'd go back, but life and divorce, then life and work got in the way.


Now I'm hoping that before I die, we can now AFFORD to get back there. I'd even take a double/ triple wide in a nice area.


We have dogs- 6 at present- but we don't expect all to live too much longer. I'm not wishing them dead, but they are between 10 yrs and 15 yrs. Only 2 are young and will be around for yrs yet.


Any ideas? All info is welcome. Thanks.

[PS90]

Originally Posted by countrykaren

Hubbie and I are nearing retirement, and will have an income (between pensions and SS) of about $80- $85K. Hubbie still works, and depending for how long it takes for us to move, it could be a little more $$.


Our housing budget would be less than $200K. We want a very small house- even 3-4 rooms is OK, but in a nice town and nice area.


Some places that look nice would be: Poulsbo, Leavenworth, Long Beach, Sequim, or Chelan. I am aware these towns are all over the place and some seem very isolated, especially in the Cascades. We would like to be near restaurants, shopping, medical care, etc, but you'll get the idea of what we would like in terms of looks and walkability. I think Seattle would be out.


Last time I was in Washington was in 1969 (Federal Way), and moved out when my parents moved (I was 15). I loved Washington and always thought I'd go back, but life and divorce, then life and work got in the way.


Now I'm hoping that before I die, we can now AFFORD to get back there. I'd even take a double/ triple wide in a nice area.


We have dogs- 6 at present- but we don't expect all to live too much longer. I'm not wishing them dead, but they are between 10 yrs and 15 yrs. Only 2 are young and will be around for yrs yet.


Any ideas? All info is welcome. Thanks.

I may sound like the Devil's Advocate here, but here goes -

Question:

1) When you say "3-4 rooms", do you mean 3-4 bedrooms or 3-4 total rooms? Maybe it's just me, but a 3-4 bedroom house certainly does't qualify as a "very small house", unless those rooms are minuscule.

Opinion (so take it for what it's worth):

First, I can't really speak for the towns in Western Washington, but Leavenworth and Chelan (and the Wenatchee area near them) has probably the highest real estate prices in Eastern Washington, and are higher than many places in Western Washington. I would doubt that you will be able to get a "nice" house in either of those places for under $200K. A house, maybe, but probably not a nice one.

Second point, and again it's my opinion, because everything is relative - but Leavenworth and Chelan are also probably two of the LEAST isolated places in Eastern Washington, based on the number of Western Washington tourists that visit those places on a regular basis. I don't know if that's what you're looking for or not, but both of those towns are mostly tourist traps that have evolved to lure the big-city white-collar employee looking to flee the Seattle drizzle for a few days. That does mean, however, that they have a few very nice hotels, restaurants, etc, if that's worth it to you.

I think Sequim's real estate is fairly expensive as well. Don't know about Poulsbo or Long Beach. Maybe someone else can help you out.

[Diana Holbrook]

The place that has the most chance of fitting in your budget, of those on the list, might be the wider Long Beach area... Not that there's anything wrong with that!

Here's a quick search of the Long Beach area.

Search Long Beach WA Under $200K


In Aberdeen/Hoquiam and the surrounding areas of Grays Harbor County to the north, you can find a nice mf home or older beach house in those price ranges... and near the ocean. I bring up Aberdeen, because it might offer the same benefits as Long Beach, with a little better access to a larger town, hospital, and infrastructure.

[countrykaren]

Originally Posted by PS90

I may sound like the Devil's Advocate here, but here goes -

Question:

1) When you say "3-4 rooms", do you mean 3-4 bedrooms or 3-4 total rooms? Maybe it's just me, but a 3-4 bedroom house certainly does't qualify as a "very small house", unless those rooms are minuscule.

Opinion (so take it for what it's worth):

First, I can't really speak for the towns in Western Washington, but Leavenworth and Chelan (and the Wenatchee area near them) has probably the highest real estate prices in Eastern Washington, and are higher than many places in Western Washington. I would doubt that you will be able to get a "nice" house in either of those places for under $200K. A house, maybe, but probably not a nice one.

Second point, and again it's my opinion, because everything is relative - but Leavenworth and Chelan are also probably two of the LEAST isolated places in Eastern Washington, based on the number of Western Washington tourists that visit those places on a regular basis. I don't know if that's what you're looking for or not, but both of those towns are mostly tourist traps that have evolved to lure the big-city white-collar employee looking to flee the Seattle drizzle for a few days. That does mean, however, that they have a few very nice hotels, restaurants, etc, if that's worth it to you.

I think Sequim's real estate is fairly expensive as well. Don't know about Poulsbo or Long Beach. Maybe someone else can help you out.

Three or 4 rooms means just that- kitchen, living room, 1 or 2 bedrooms. I hadn't checked out cost of living yet- just starting to get ideas from others. But I like the LOOKS of those towns to give ppl an idea of what we are looking for.


We want a town that we can get medical care without traveling 60 miles to find a doctor or hospital. We will need restaurants, shopping ( at least a Walmart), a hardware store (like a true value- lowes would be nice), a good supermarket, hopefully a health food store- or at least 1 close by, etc.


Any ideas? Or is this a pipe dream?

[Diana Holbrook]

FWIW, among your others.... Leavenworth is a kitschy tourist town.... I don't think it's cheap to live there... or anywhere where dressing in Bavarian costume every day is encouraged and Bavarian architecture is required.

Poulsbo and Chelan.... also tourist towns, a little less kitschy.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by Diana Holbrook

The place that has the most chance of fitting in your budget, of those on the list, might be the wider Long Beach area... Not that there's anything wrong with that!

Here's a quick search of the Long Beach area.

Search Long Beach WA Under $200K


In Aberdeen/Hoquiam and the surrounding areas of Grays Harbor County to the north, you can find a nice mf home or older beach house in those price ranges... and near the ocean. I bring up Aberdeen, because it might offer the same benefits as Long Beach, with a little better access to a larger town, hospital, and infrastructure.

Sequin would be possible but difficult for that price, Port Angeles is more affordable. Poulsbo is going to be well over that amount. Consider also Mt. Vernon and LaConner.

[Dendrite]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

Sequin would be possible but difficult for that price

Agree with "possible" Hemlock but the "less than $200K" price point in Sequim will likely be represented by small 1,000ish sq. ft. homes that are either manufactured or in need of at least a moderate degree of updating or TLC.

Access to health care providers in Sequim who are accepting new patients can be challenging. Certain specialty medical services and tertiary care still require a trip to Seattle and surrounds (which is outside the 60 mile limit preferred by the OP).

Shopping? Plenty of big box stores here in Sequim. Not my personal fav type of store but that option exists...

OP: not sure where you're living now but if you choose a western WA locale, be sure that you don't mind fair amounts of gray drizzle winter weather.

Last, the OP has not been to WA state in nearly 50 years. Things have changed a bit in WA since she was last here. So I think a road trip would be in order for them to explore first hand all of the aforementioned possible retirement locations.

Happy hunting!

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

Poulsbo is a quaint little town on the water, a little touristy but not bad. There are medical offices, a hospital, & a huge shopping area in nearby Silverdale. Also, going to Seattle is doable. Silverdale is probably more affordable...we know people who bought there in your price range.

I've visited Chelan in the summer, it's desert-like & HOT, & yes, touristy. Have visited Leavenworth, very touristy, never understood the hype. The woods around it are nice, but pricey.

Don't know about real estate in Long Beach except it's limited, & very touristy. Ocean Shores would be cheaper, but not close to medical care or shopping.

Sequim is over-priced but PA is right next to it & a little cheaper & at least the tourists are gone by fall. True, there aren't enough decent docs to go around, but Silverdale is about 60 miles away & it's possible to get to Seattle for specialists.

I don't know about Aberdeen...it has some beautiful old houses for cheap & is close to the beaches but the town has a very depressed economy & all that goes with that

[StealthRabbit]

Since you might RV for. Few yrs...find a $40k view acreage, Build a shop with RV hookups & apartment. Since you are not sure of 'home' / locale... I would only do this in areas that would be a reasonable commute and ez to resell. Best to get to know a few areas and a few annual weather cycles before investing in building / living there. Thus... I would probably recommend doing the shop, near family or somewhere you know someone will wacth after your Stuff.

[countrykaren]

Thanks everyone. sounds like a road trip in the future.