Wenatchee--is there anything negative about it??

[509]

Couple of comments on previous posts:

Gang activity in the schools. It is not a big issue from the adults point of view. It is a big issue from the kids going to school. Yes, on an urban scale Wenatchee's gang problems are minor. On a small town scale, they are unacceptable. It is a real split between the Mexican kids and the white kids, but culture, aspirations, economics play a more important role than ethnic background.

Racism. Wenatchee is probably the least racist area I have lived in the country and that includes the SF Bay Area. There is anti-illegal sentiment but it is directed towards the Federal government and their policies. The attitude is hate the sin, but help the sinner. The community has bent over backwards to accomodate the illegals. And it has helped. The area has done much, much better than any other community that has become 30% Mexican in less 15 years. Rapid cultural change is always difficult to deal with, but your not going to find a town that has addressed the issue better than Wenatchee.

I'm sorry about your kids, but many kids are just downright mean when it comes these issues. I grew up as an immigrant kid, with parent that did not speak English. It always is difficult for the kids since your trapped between two cultures.....neither of which you clearly identify with.

Economic development. Wenatchee just does not have flat ground for large industrial development. It does have a very high tech infrastructure that is not available even in urban areas. Someday, that will be recognized and you will see growth in those areas. It is just starting.

Downsides: Cloudy weather in winter. So plan on taking winter vacations. Highest appreciation in home prices in the United States for the past couple of years. I suspect that will continue and my personal prediction is that in five years home prices in Wenatchee will be higher than in Seattle. People will always pay premium for a quality environment.

[MEfree30]

Originally Posted by 509

Couple of comments on previous posts:

Gang activity in the schools. It is not a big issue from the adults point of view. It is a big issue from the kids going to school. Yes, on an urban scale Wenatchee's gang problems are minor. On a small town scale, they are unacceptable. It is a real split between the Mexican kids and the white kids, but culture, aspirations, economics play a more important role than ethnic background.

Racism. Wenatchee is probably the least racist area I have lived in the country and that includes the SF Bay Area. There is anti-illegal sentiment but it is directed towards the Federal government and their policies. The attitude is hate the sin, but help the sinner. The community has bent over backwards to accomodate the illegals. And it has helped. The area has done much, much better than any other community that has become 30% Mexican in less 15 years. Rapid cultural change is always difficult to deal with, but your not going to find a town that has addressed the issue better than Wenatchee.

I'm sorry about your kids, but many kids are just downright mean when it comes these issues. I grew up as an immigrant kid, with parent that did not speak English. It always is difficult for the kids since your trapped between two cultures.....neither of which you clearly identify with.

Economic development. Wenatchee just does not have flat ground for large industrial development. It does have a very high tech infrastructure that is not available even in urban areas. Someday, that will be recognized and you will see growth in those areas. It is just starting.

Downsides: Cloudy weather in winter. So plan on taking winter vacations. Highest appreciation in home prices in the United States for the past couple of years. I suspect that will continue and my personal prediction is that in five years home prices in Wenatchee will be higher than in Seattle. People will always pay premium for a quality environment.

Thanks for some solid info and your perspective on things, but I wouldn't bet too much on Wenatchee home prices passing Seattle anytime soon.

[sean98125]

Originally Posted by MEfree30

Thanks for some solid info and your perspective on things, but I wouldn't bet too much on Wenatchee home prices passing Seattle anytime soon.

That's for sure. According to a report that you can read at Global Insight // Highlight, Wenatchee home prices are overvalued by 40%. Wenatchee is the fourth most over-valued real estate market in the nation right now.

You can read more about the study at Seattle due for crash?

Description of what the 40% number means from the blog:

"The study determines "statistically normal house values" by looking at prices, interest rates, incomes, population density and historical pricing. It considers anything above 15 percent of its value overvaled and anything above 35 percent severe, presenting 'a risk of substantial price declines (10 percent, or greater) going forward.'

I wouldn't be buying in Wenatchee just yet. You'll probably save money waiting a year.

[509]

It is 40% overvalued if you use the job matrix to set housing prices.

However, Wenatchee's real estate market is not driven by jobs anymore.

The primary buyer is moving over from Puget Sound for retirement or a business owner that wants takes advantage of the high tech infrastructure in the valley. Lots of small professional businesses being run out of the home here in the valley. Most do not even have any business connections to the valley except the home base.

Those groups are not very price responsive.

Also supply is going to continue to decrease. Development ground is at a premium.

We have lived here over 25 years and it is amazing how little prices have gone down in downturns and how short the downturns are. However, the one advantage to downturns is you can get a shot at premium property.

We bought all three of our properties in down markets. We were able to buy them the first day on the market. One of them had three back-up offers within two days and it was fairly priced. In fact, the appraisal came in for less than what we paid for it, but when your putting down 80% the bank did not care!!

If you find an exceptional property I would buy it rather than waiting for prices to retreat.

[Eddie_29]

This is what most (internet savvy) people discover when they investigating Wenatchee as a place to live.

HistoryLink Essay: Wenatchee Witch Hunt: Child Sex Abuse Trials In Douglas and Chelan Counties

The Innocence project northwest took it on and all (or nearly all) of the convictions were overturned.

Check it out, and draw your own conclusions.