Californian Retiring/Relocating to WA coast or OR coast. Which one? (Pacific: transplants, rental)

[sachssci]

Please Help Me Decide: Washington State Coast vs. Oregon Coast for Retirement

I would appreciate your help if you have experience on the coasts of both of these beautiful states.

Yes, I’ve seen some posts that touch on this subject, but I’m going to get very specific in my preferences in the hopes that you might be able to speak to some of them with experience and honed judgment.

This is my situation:

I have lived in California for over 60 years, mostly in urban and suburban areas; now I want to retire to a home on the coast of either Washington State or Oregon. I want the things in the list below. Please help me out, even if you don’t agree with my preferences. We’re all different and valuable, don’t you think?
1. A view of water.
2. I don’t need much more than 50% of the days to have sunshine, but more would be okay.
3. Fast food restaurants available within a 15-to-20-minute drive.
4. Privacy, at least in that the homes are not butting up against each other.
5. Internet access, even if via satellite.
6. Decent medical care facilities within 15-to-20-minute drive.
7. Low crime rate.
8. A peaceful environment.
9. Reasonable housing costs. I’ve read that Washington is cheaper than Oregon, that Oregon is cheaper than Washington, and that they’re virtually identical for similar properties. Do you have actual knowledge of this, please? I know about the tax differences, so you needn’t address them.
10. Less than hurricane-level winds.
11. If possible (not a necessity), an airport, even a small one, with 25 miles.


I would be extremely grateful for a thoughtful, experienced reply.

. . . Steve

[Seacove]

I will let others chime in but I believe if you're looking for 50% or more of sun, you would need Southern Oregon.

[Blindtom]

Easy answer - Oregon.

[Andy]

Not much sun on the coast. You have to go a bit inland to reach your 50%. Toldeo, OR gets more sun than nearby Newport, OR for example. You may have to take road trips in-land to get your sun if you really want a Pacific view.

[sachssci]

Thanks to those of you who have answered so far. Maybe I overstated my need for sun. Let's call it 25% of the time so I don't miss out on somehwere just because the sky isn't clear. I do love overcast days, too.

[Hemlock140]

Do some research on Brookings, Oregon. We're in WA but thinking about Brookings in a few years after staying there a couple of days. Both states coasts are pretty much away from the better medical facilities but you'd be near Crescent City CA and not too far from Grants Pass, and a unique, comfortable climate.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by sachssci

Thanks to those of you who have answered so far. Maybe I overstated my need for sun. Let's call it 25% of the time so I don't miss out on somehwere just because the sky isn't clear. I do love overcast days, too.

If you take away weather, then the areas closest to your criteria would be places within 25 minutes of Astoria-Seaside, Newport-Lincoln City, and Coos Bay.

The Washington coast is mainly flat in the populated coastal areas, so less view properties than the hillier Oregon coast.

[Beenhere4ever]

I'd think the county seat of any coastal county would have medical facilities. Maybe not the most complete. My father bought a tiny piece of land with a shack near Waldport when he retired. Lived pretty much like a hippie for years.

[StealthRabbit]

Oregon has 100% public Access Beach, far different than many states

As you may be well aware.... Beaches = significant probablity of fog / weather changes

Southern OR or No CA would be most livable and scenic. I would consider a HIGH location on a mtn NEXT to the beach. There you can watch the weather from above the fog, and bask in sunshine.

RE: taxes (property)
Always visit the tax assessor BEFORE you choose to look for specific houses. ANYWHERE you choose. I pay $12,000 / yr on a WA house (that used to be $800/yr). and I bought another in a different county and less than a minute away... taxes = $1000/yr (and going UP of course...) CA Prop 13 would keep me HOME if I had advantage of it. After the CA immigrants arrived enmass in the early 90's (after major SF area quake). I calculated the way they rose the property taxes were 30% of my take-home pay... CA immigrants chased me from Colorado in the early 1980s (Due to property taxes on my farm raising 300%).

CA would have done us all a favor if they would have kept the GAINS from personal residences, and ONLY allowed the 'Average home price in other 47 states to leave CA. I have mny friends / family who have lost their farms and ranches and homes in all the western states due to property taxes from artificially inflated prices due to fleeing CA equity. (Largest issue was when you HAD to reinvest gains. Many of my CA co-workers were adding indoor swimming pools, guest houses, brick doghouses ... just to spend their gains. realtors knew it and were happy to take $500k for homes that were worth $250k. Then,,, WE all suffer Property tax increases for life.

On the good side, you can get REALLY cheap rates on NORTHBOUND rental trucks in Jan - March, as CA transplants head BACK like a parade. We have taken advantage of that to haul northbound loads very economical in winter.

[sachssci]

Hi. Thanks to all of you for your assistance. I'm still very intersted in others' opinions on this topic.

StalthRabbit, yours was a most interesting take on things. Thanks for taking the time to respond. The northbound truck comment was really unusual! I may just take advantage of the info!

. . . SMS