Vancouver Neighborhoods + stores? (Seattle, Salmon Creek: lease, low crime, home)

[silvernpink_butterflies]

I am originally from Washington--mostly Seattle. Am 24 and lived there for 13 years, so you could imagine it's what I'm used to and know. My boyfriend, also from Washington, and I moved to Sacramento for a change of scenery (mostly weather....knowing politics and such in CA is rather idiotic...) and am not enjoying it.
Figured we should move back to WA this summer when our lease goes up. We decided on Vancouver because we like that size of a town and it's so close to Portland. Family lives nearby in WA, especially his side.

He's in his early 30s and works from home with a $65K salary and I would be needing a new job. Leaving behind my $24K job and looking for a job similar in salary. (Won't get much more in my field of work.)
We are looking into renting a 2 garage home with 3 rooms (or some sort of extra room that could be an office) and 2+ bath with fenced in yard for our large dog. Space needs to be roughly 1000-1300 SQ ft with a monthly price of the same amount. Can stretch higher, especially once I get a job. I know finding a place like that can be hard on that salary, but we've been doing it for the last couple of years.

We like living by certain places like a grocery store (something on par with Safeway) gas station (on par with Shell) and stores like Target or Fred Meyer.

Of course looking for a nice looking area (not dirty or with fields or undeveloped land around it--which is basically Sacramento in a nutshell) with low crime rate.


So, what are good neighborhoods???

Thanks!

[Julie_Baldino]

Try checking out the 192nd and Fishers Landing areas. Certain neighborhoods are better than others, but most are generally well taken care of and close to a few new shopping centers and grocery stores. You may also look into the Heights area if you want to be closer in and live in an older, more established neighborhood. Salmon Creek is nice too. Good luck!