Looking to move to Northwest

[AndyV]

Originally Posted by GreenPT

My wife and I are looking for possible places to move to in the future, our wish list is:

- Near ski resorts
-Near lake for water skiing
-Moderate housing prices
-Low Crime
-Good schools
-Hiking,rock climbing, etc...
-poulation 50,000+ or near a larger city
-sunny but not desert

We are considering Washington, Oregeon, and Idaho. We are not very familiar with these areas but plan to visit this summer. Any suggetions that you may have would be appreciated.

Thanks

I really like this description and I read the answers with interest HOWEVER I don't want to give up year round sunshine; what part of Idaho has all of the above and is more sunny than not? And isn't too far from Ski Resorts, Water Skiing and the rest.

Thanks,


AndyV

[twinprism]

If above average sunshine is a requirement, I'd say your search should be limited to Southern Idaho. Major cites are Boise area, Twin Falls, Pocatello, and Idaho Falls.

Of these, I think Pocatello fits the best, it is drier than Boise, but closer to ski resorts, etc. and more moderate housing prices. I found some data on days of sunshine up through 2002, but it only has Boise and Pocatello in Idaho, tied at 64% sunshine.

Sunshine- Average Percent (%) Possible (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ol/climate/online/ccd/avgsun.html - broken link)
Spokane, WA (close to N. Idaho came in on this at 54%)

The city data pages actually have some data on sunshine, Here's Pocatello
//pics2.city-data.com/w6/sun4970.png (broken link)
Pocatello, Idaho (ID) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders

most of southern idaho looks similar, but you can compare from here.
Idaho Bigger Cities (over 6000 residents)
Click on the cities and scroll down.

Klamath Falls, Oregon also boast a number of days of sunshine, but southern and eastern Oregon is also a drier climate, similar to southern Idaho.

[Dangerous Dave]

Originally Posted by Sage of Sagle

Just wait...prices are falling in CDA. Kootenai County is in decline in the market now...it's gone beyond just extended days-on-market to lowered average prices now...so be patient and check around CDA, Post Falls, and Hayden.

I think the cause of it was the real estate market booming with a low amount of houses for sale. Now that the market has slowed, and supply has more than caught up with demand (especially in Post Falls), you're seeing the decline in price.

I'm actually moving to Wyoming, but CDA would have been my first choice. I have friends in the area, but I had difficulty finding a job there. But health care industry folks can go anywhere.... if I were a nurse or doctor, I'd have my butt parked in CDA.