Recent Bellingham data (Spokane, Snohomish: real estate, to rent, home)

[jsmill]

At the risk of violating the copy of the Charlotte NC Observer and the Bellingham Herald, there is a story in today's Herald about people who have moved into and out of Whatcom County, Washington. Part of it highlights:

COMING, GOING

Where people came from:
Top 10 counties (2000-05)
King: 5,500 Skagit: 3,553 Snohomish: 3,201 Pierce: 1,202 Island: 798 Spokane: 775 San Diego, Calif.: 746 Los Angeles, Calif.: 727 Maricopa, Ariz.: 565 Kitsap: 551
Where people went
Top 10 counties (2000-05)
King: 4,715 Skagit: 3,982 Snohomish: 3,005 Pierce: 1,110 Maricopa, Ariz.: 656 Thurston: 622 Spokane: 619 Clark: 525 Island: 467 San Diego, Calif.: 430
Source: Internal Revenue Service data compiled by The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer

I am bringing this up because one of comments that I've read here and heard elsewhere by native Washingtonians is that the State is being overrun by Californians (not I, I'm an midwesterner transplanted to the east coast). It is probably true that some of the rise in real estate prices has been driving by in-migration from areas of the country where housing costs more. But that is true of many other areas of the country. I'd like to assure all you native Bellingham residents that "we come in peace." You seem like really nice people and some day I hope to contribute more to your community than I take in your resources.

[chris]

It's my impression that people moving to Washington from California aren't targeting Whatcom county as their first choice to move to.

My best guess is that the east side of King, most of Pierce and Thurston have been the counties that have felt it the most (possibly Snohomish too but I rarely get to that area).

It was one of the single biggest reasons I moved out of Pierce county. I no longer felt like I lived in Washington to some extent).

[greenery]

jsmill -- I posted a longer answer to a very negative post about Bellingham in another thread. That negative post focused on this perception that the town is being overrun by Californians and is the worse for it.

So thank you for providing this information. It's good to have some hard numbers when people are losing their perspective.

For what it's worth: In forums like this I think there is a disproportionate amount of squeaky wheelism. Those who aren't happy for whatever reasons are more likely to speak up; those who are happy here are off doing other things and too busy to post.

[rkcarguy]

Originally Posted by greenery

jsmill -- I posted a longer answer to a very negative post about Bellingham in another thread. That negative post focused on this perception that the town is being overrun by Californians and is the worse for it.

I like to point out that the "coming" aside from people moving around within Wa state is mostly from California and some from Arizona. The numbers work out to over 14%, thats quite a influx if you ask me.

[coltoncity]

It does look like a lot of people are moving to California and Arizona. Im not sure if people are so sick of Californians that they would move there or so near there. Just seems like things have grown up so much and there is a backlash from it now. I remember when my family was planning on moving to Washington many years ago from back east and people just looked at us. Now many many people want to live in Pac NW. Just part of growth...we happen to be near California so we ave Californians. In NM and CO they complain about and dislike Texans for the same reasons. Haughty, throwing money around. I guess its the attitude that comes with the person that really makes the response.

[rkcarguy]

Thats generally what we see here of these people moving here. " I just sold my home in Cali for $800K and now I'm king ding-a-ling here". Driving a big gas hog escalade with latte in one hand cell phone in the other, never signal a turn or lane change. My favorite is when they buy up our commercial real estate and try to rent it out thinking they'll get "california priced" rent. A commerical building across from my storage has been through 3 california owners in the last 3 years who have all lost their a$$ while the building sat empty.

[Linson]

rkcarguy-- are you saying that you own a storage facility, or just rent space in one?