want to move WA near Ocean (Vancouver, Olympia: fit in, sale, homes)

[Ryan]

It's geography and economics; the further you move from CA in any direction, the less demand there is and therefore, the less expensive ownership becomes. I'd rather live in WA over OR anyday though, and I predict that someday soon, the WA market will overtake the OR market by leaps and bounds.

[Bumper]

[mod cut]

Ryan, I've heard that flooding is a great problem in Ocean Park and Long Beach areas. Do you know where info on this and other crucial issues (internet availability!!) may be obtained?

[Ryan]

Probably the USGS site.

[deang]

Ok I registered just because of the faulty info about the Aberdeen area. This info looks more like something you'd find on a used car lot about the great deals(Ryan trying to drum up some real estate business?). I grew up in Aberdeen and dread the family visits to the area and often wonder why people go to Ocean Shores at all. Ryan is totally off on the weather. If you like to fly kites then ocean shores is great. Otherwise the highs in spring-summer range from 60-67 (you can check weather.com). I live in Tumwater currently after 10yrs in Seattle and I'm looking to buy a home in the area and am avoiding Aberdeen. There are few decent neighborhoods and finding a house at a reasonable price for a economically depressed area is difficult which is a good excuse for me not to go back. I think you should be more upfront about the real conditions about the Washington coast and in particular Aberdeen. Someone is going to move their on your advice then come hunt you down after they've gone to the beach to experience the awesome 65 degree highs and had to drive through the run down neighborhoods. Heck I had to double check to make sure I was reading this stuff right.

[Sean_Harrington]

Originally Posted by deang

Ok I registered just because of the faulty info about the Aberdeen area. This info looks more like something you'd find on a used car lot about the great deals(Ryan trying to drum up some real estate business?). I grew up in Aberdeen and dread the family visits to the area and often wonder why people go to Ocean Shores at all. Ryan is totally off on the weather. If you like to fly kites then ocean shores is great. Otherwise the highs in spring-summer range from 60-67 (you can check weather.com). I live in Tumwater currently after 10yrs in Seattle and I'm looking to buy a home in the area and am avoiding Aberdeen. There are few decent neighborhoods and finding a house at a reasonable price for a economically depressed area is difficult which is a good excuse for me not to go back. I think you should be more upfront about the real conditions about the Washington coast and in particular Aberdeen. Someone is going to move their on your advice then come hunt you down after they've gone to the beach to experience the awesome 65 degree highs and had to drive through the run down neighborhoods. Heck I had to double check to make sure I was reading this stuff right.

I don't know you, and I don't want to sound like I am being at all rude, but it sounds like you have a real personal problem with the area. Yes, there are some crappy neighborhoods in Aberdeen, but there that's not the whole story.

Ocean shores is gorgeous. I used to spend Summers in West Hampton in NY, and I was very pleased with Ocean Shores.

Maybe it's your family visits that are bringing you down? I didn't grow up there, so I don't have the same baggage.

[Ryan]

Wow, DeanG. I don't know what rubbed you so wrong at 3 in the morning, but I'm personally offended that you question my character. I try hard to provide concise information about an area I live in and love as well as other areas that I actually frequent or have at least visited around WA. I have no motivation here other than helping other folks out.

To clear up any "faulty info" for everybody, Aberdeen hits 90+ routinely during the summer. Our summer starts in April and ends in October, with very little precipitation or clouds and lots of sunshine. There are five recognized hill areas in Aberdeen; left to right, Think of Me Hill, Arnold Hill and the Bench Drive area right behind it, Broadway Hill, and Scammel Hill. The really crappy parts of Aberdeen (south of 101 in north side, north of 101 in south side, and F to Young between E. Market and 2nd) encompass a land area of less than a quarter of the city, and there is no reason to "have to drive through" them.

I've had many people visit and/or/ move to this area based on the information I post on this forum. That's all of the validation I need. I have full confidence in my reputation around here.

[mod cut]

Thanks.

[deang]

Sean and Ryan-You didn't grow up there so you don't have the same amount of experience. You paint a rosy picture on a corrupt canvas. You both have limited views of the weather and the social character of the area. We can debate whether Aberdeen is the next best thing since Mayberry, but I'll focus on some facts and not anecdotal information. These are the annual avg hi-lo and rainfall for April through Oct (Ryan's summer)

Weather.com records:
Apr 57°F 41°F 49°F 6.18 in.
May 61°F 46°F 53°F 3.74 in.
Jun 64°F 50°F 57°F 2.62 in.
Jul 68°F 53°F 61°F 1.48 in.
Aug 69°F 54°F 62°F 1.70 in.
Sep 69°F 50°F 60°F 3.12 in.
Oct 61°F 44°F 53°F 6.98 in.

As the historical record show's it's far from always in the 80's. Also, have you mentioned the record breaking rainfall this November. It rained for like 3 weeks straight! Listen, I have no idea why you promote information that is questionalbe at best but I feel it necessary to supply FACTS before people move there based on faulty information.
I also used google earth to get a rough estimate of the shady areas of town and I think you have it backward...approximately 2/3 of Aberdeen I would caution people to avoid.
What is your agenda? To be some know-it-all to people who are unable to refute you? Are you selling something? I just don't understand how wonderful you say it is when all the facts give reason to doubt. The weather is mediocre at best, extremely high rates of alcoholism and suicide, downtown in need or renovation....just what exactly is so great? A small percentage of wonderful blue sky and green trees are great but what about the rest of the time you spend there...and what about the job market. Latest numbers have 22% living at or below the poverty line. Again, I ask what's great about this place. I guess if you like living on the hill looking down at the working poor then it's "quaint". The facts just don't back up your assessment of the area. Again, it's cheap for a reason. The market decides the price of the area and it's low because it's not as desirable as other areas. Simple economics combined with facts don't support the picture you paint.
I don't live there anymore for a reason. 20yrs was plenty. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean I don't have intimate knowledge of the area. I still have family and friends who live in both the lower quality neighborhoods and on the hill. I enjoy the occasional visit especially when friends are in town. Aberdeen is not all bad but it's not that great either. I know some wonderful people there but it is what it is; a small-town with some nice spots but far far from perfect. Oh and if you think I am an outcast who is out for revenge...think again. I was captain of the football team, student body senator and treasurer and dated a cheerleader. Days long gone but if I think the place is crummy then what do people who actually had really bad experiences think? Move there with your eyes wide open.

[Sean_Harrington]

Originally Posted by deang

Sean and Ryan-You didn't grow up there so you don't have the same amount of experience. You paint a rosy picture on a corrupt canvas. You both have limited views of the weather and the social character of the area. We can debate whether Aberdeen is the next best thing since Mayberry, but I'll focus on some facts and not anecdotal information. These are the annual avg hi-lo and rainfall for April through Oct (Ryan's summer)

Weather.com records:
Apr 57°F 41°F 49°F 6.18 in.
May 61°F 46°F 53°F 3.74 in.
Jun 64°F 50°F 57°F 2.62 in.
Jul 68°F 53°F 61°F 1.48 in.
Aug 69°F 54°F 62°F 1.70 in.
Sep 69°F 50°F 60°F 3.12 in.
Oct 61°F 44°F 53°F 6.98 in.

As the historical record show's it's far from always in the 80's. Also, have you mentioned the record breaking rainfall this November. It rained for like 3 weeks straight! Listen, I have no idea why you promote information that is questionalbe at best but I feel it necessary to supply FACTS before people move there based on faulty information.
I also used google earth to get a rough estimate of the shady areas of town and I think you have it backward...approximately 2/3 of Aberdeen I would caution people to avoid.
What is your agenda? To be some know-it-all to people who are unable to refute you? Are you selling something? I just don't understand how wonderful you say it is when all the facts give reason to doubt. The weather is mediocre at best, extremely high rates of alcoholism and suicide, downtown in need or renovation....just what exactly is so great? A small percentage of wonderful blue sky and green trees are great but what about the rest of the time you spend there...and what about the job market. Latest numbers have 22% living at or below the poverty line. Again, I ask what's great about this place. I guess if you like living on the hill looking down at the working poor then it's "quaint". The facts just don't back up your assessment of the area. Again, it's cheap for a reason. The market decides the price of the area and it's low because it's not as desirable as other areas. Simple economics combined with facts don't support the picture you paint.
I don't live there anymore for a reason. 20yrs was plenty. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean I don't have intimate knowledge of the area. I still have family and friends who live in both the lower quality neighborhoods and on the hill. I enjoy the occasional visit especially when friends are in town. Aberdeen is not all bad but it's not that great either. I know some wonderful people there but it is what it is; a small-town with some nice spots but far far from perfect. Oh and if you think I am an outcast who is out for revenge...think again. I was captain of the football team, student body senator and treasurer and dated a cheerleader. Days long gone but if I think the place is crummy then what do people who actually had really bad experiences think? Move there with your eyes wide open.

OK, you got me. I hate Aberdeen, and the entire Washington coast, Oregon too, probably. I'm putting the house up for sale. Why in God's name would I want to leave sunny Arizona.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by travelling_paws

...I have wondered though, why is property so much cheaper over the state line, in WA? I see very little on the Oregon side of the region that's even close to my price range, right across the state line there's much more affordable property.

OR prices reflect proximity to PDX, and the 'picture perfect - scenic cliffs and shoreline', especially
from Seaside, south to Newport. OR coast can be a great escape only 1-1.5 hrs from home for the urban dwellers of Willamett valley and Portland Metro.

Southern WA coast is not as accessible (via major hiway to PDX) or as scenic (much flatter, but broader beaches) . Northen WA coast is very scenic, but not very accessible, quite a lot of it is tribal. But great driftwood and 'virgin' terrain, similar to BC

[KidBlue]

So I guess moving back to Aberdeen is out of the question! Actually when I visited Aberdeen it was August, 68 degrees, and raining. But everyone said it was 102 just the week before. Not being a beach or ocean person, I liked Montesano and Elma better, but it is nice to know you can still live on the coast and not pay over $1 million for a small condo, even if it isn't La Jolla.

But, I was wondering if you could provide feedback on what it is like to live in Tumwater. I was only able to drive through Tumwater and Olympia and thought they both looked nice, but was wondering what insight someone has who is living there. I'm looking for at least 3 acres (but 5 to 10 would be better) with a small home and trees. Safety is a high priority, but being close to medical care and services would be next on the list. Any advice?

One of the people on the Forum suggested greatschools.net as a good resource (thanks, it was), and it sure was an eye-opener. I had been interested in Shelton, but found that 68% of the students are eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Montesano's stats were better, and the statistics for Olympia were in line with the average for the state.