Planning a move from NC to Bellingham (Seattle, Vancouver: real estate, rent)

[kynight]

I'm 31 recently married to a woman from Surrey, BC. We want to live closer to BC, but not outside of the US. I have always lived on the east coast, NC for past 5 years. Near Charlotte here it feels like a healthy growing area economically. The winter is bearable and climate is nice apart from 2 months of humidity and heat.

I have many reasons to stay in NC, but culturally we want a family in the Bellingham area. I told her rednecks are found all over the US, even in Bellingham, she married one. I travel a lot for work and would like her to be near family, so that is the big reason we are looking at Bellingham, near her family in BC.

I see the type of house we want costs around 300k-350k, hopefully the housing market crashes soon. We want a house with a small managable lawn, sidewalks, even under a HOA is fine. We want low crime away from the potheads or panhandlers. Will rent for a year before buying. I have driven to this area twice but never explored it. I work online a lot.

Can someone recommend a neighborhood for a new family to raise a kid, where we can live in forever?

[CrazyDonkey]

Consider Blaine, Birch Bay, and Ferndale, which will put you closer to Surrey. Further east, consider Sumas, Nooksack, and Deming, with entry to BC through Abbotsford.

[Ruth4Truth]

If you can't afford the houses, look at townhomes. You can't make plans hoping the RE market will crash for you.

[Pahn]

Blaine will put you anywhere from seconds to minutes from Canada. Pricing is definitely more affordable than Bellingham.

Your commute to the airport will be lengthy if you fly out of Seattle. Bellingham will be shorter, for sure, but far more expensive. You may not care, if work is paying for it.

I've been hoping for a real estate crash in B'ham too, but it weathered the last one more or less unscathed, so don't count on it. There are lots of wealthy Canadians and former Californians buying up housing. Or so it seems, anyway. There's very little inventory, and it moves quickly.

[Blindtom]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

Consider Blaine, Birch Bay, and Ferndale, which will put you closer to Surrey. Further east, consider Sumas, Nooksack, and Deming, with entry to BC through Abbotsford.

Or Lynden.

[kynight]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

Consider Blaine, Birch Bay, and Ferndale, which will put you closer to Surrey. Further east, consider Sumas, Nooksack, and Deming, with entry to BC through Abbotsford.

Thanks. I hardly noticed them on the map until just now. I've used 2 of those border entries.

[kynight]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

If you can't afford the houses, look at townhomes. You can't make plans hoping the RE market will crash for you.

We want more privacy than a townhome. We can afford even more but considering what that would buy in NC I don't want to overpay if possible.

[kynight]

Originally Posted by Pahn

Blaine will put you anywhere from seconds to minutes from Canada. Pricing is definitely more affordable than Bellingham.

Your commute to the airport will be lengthy if you fly out of Seattle. Bellingham will be shorter, for sure, but far more expensive. You may not care, if work is paying for it.

I've been hoping for a real estate crash in B'ham too, but it weathered the last one more or less unscathed, so don't count on it. There are lots of wealthy Canadians and former Californians buying up housing. Or so it seems, anyway. There's very little inventory, and it moves quickly.

Vancouver airport is closer. I didn't know Bellingham is more expensive than Blaine, Blaine seemed pretty. Yes I believe that, it's more a part of the Vancouver metro area than Seattle, prices are through the roof. I wonder if land is low enough to just build a home for that price.

[kynight]

Originally Posted by Blindtom

Or Lynden.

Do they all share the same school system?

[Lupulin]

If I were you, I'd look into Ferndale, which is just 10-15 minutes north of Bellingham (and closer to the border). Home prices are a bit more reasonable there, and you'd have better access to all that Bellingham has to offer than the other towns mentioned (some of which don't have much at all).

Before moving to Lynden, do some research on it. It's like an ultra religious, pleasantville kinda' place that reminds me of some Mormon towns in Utah. Of course, if you're ultra religious, very conservative, etc., then maybe it would be perfect for you. I've heard it has some strict codes/laws, almost as if the entire town is under an HOA. Lynden only recently got a decent taproom (I think it used to have antiquated restrictions on bars ... or at least bars being open past certain times). Another metric of comparison: Bellingham now has 13 breweries; Lynden has 0. That said, it's a cute town to visit, with an awesome bakery downtown.

The Vancouver airport (YVR) is a fantastic airport. I use it whenever I can, especially for direct flights to Europe, and even for flights (back) to the U.S. The Bellingham airport (BLI) is also nice and easy, but flights are limited. SeaTac is a huge hassle from Bellingham (unpredictable traffic, high parking costs). Unless a ticket is hundreds cheaper, I'll fly out of YVR or do a Bham flight with a connection through Seattle or Portland.

Since you'll be going up to Surrey often, definitely get some NEXUS cards for you, your wife, and anyone else traveling with you. It's the difference between waiting at the border for a few minutes and waiting for 20-120 minutes -- each way (not to mention, fewer questions from the agents). You can also use it to bypass the long security lines at YVR, plus it gives you Global Entry so customs is a breeze. More than worth the $50 per 5 years.