Planning A Move to WA, Need Advice (Seattle, Everett: home, employment)

[deutschman]

Hey there ladies and gentleman,

The name is Jeremy, and I need some general help with planning a move up to WA. Mostly on choosing some location to scout out.
My self and a few family members are planning to move up to WA, and eventually buy a few acres. Almost half of my family already lives in WA in Everett, and Olympia.
We would like to find a small piece of land near a decent sized town (for work opportunities and culture). I need some land for a work shop, and we would like to have some chickens, plants, and maybe a pig or two.
Some quick background on us.
I am a carpenter and general handyman. Im good at almost anything I can do with my hands. Iv cooked profesionaly, done a stone masonry apprenticeship in Germany, and worked as a carpenter for years in SF CA. Iv also spent a year at the South West School of Wooden Boat Building in Port Hadlock near Port Townsend WA. I love cars/trucks, welding and fabrication as well. My goal is to get a job or part time job as a carpenter/builder, and eventually start my own business doing fine carpentry and custom building projects out of my own work shop.
My GF of 5 years now is a professional massage therapist, and has also worked in the food industry as a server and cook. Im hoping she moves into opening up a small message therapy business of her own with maybe one other employee. This is why it would be good to be with in driving distance of a town.
My mother will be joining us a bit later. She professionally and medically trained in Germany as a midwife and has been delivering babies for 30+ years at home and in hospitals. No hippy stuff, but real safe professional training I think she will retire ones we are up in WA.

We would like to be along the coast or on one of the Islands. Belingham, Anacortes, Oakharbor, Port Townsend spring to my mind.

Considering these skill sets and what we would like, where are some good places to look for property in WA? I have been given some recommendations by family and friends, but I would like some ideas from third parties.

Thanks for your time and comments!

Cheers!

J

[deutschman]

Getting a forest service job of some kind would be great as well. I love the outdoors.

[StealthRabbit]

stone work is in very big demand, get a reputation with the wealthy and you will never again want for work or finances. I have a friend that does the stone work for National Park lodge restorations. He gets to fly between jobs in his own twin engine plane. He never wen to college...

Forest work is next to impossible to get, Alternatively get a job as wildland firefighter and make a yr salary in 8 weeks (too hot that time of yr to do stonework anyway)

I would look at rural Poulsbo / rural Silverdale for less expensive and great future employment (in the trades) and an excellent quality of life vs. the crowds and traffic on east side of Puget Sound.

bring money

[TrueTimbers]

How many months of money do you have to live off? Things are tough out in Port Townsend, construction crews are busy again, but a lot of low paying jobs. Stiff competition. But worth it if you can afford to get by one less, if that's what you want.

Stealth's suggestion sounds like a good one to explore. More people more opportunities.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

stone work is in very big demand, ...
... look at rural Poulsbo / rural Silverdale for less expensive and great future employment (in the trades) ...

I meant to also include rural Port Orchard as a potential destination.
I feel the stone work focus for the rich and famous is your best bet for sustainable income. There is a ton of competition in craftsman / custom building / woodwork. Framing / sheet rock / landscape is CHEAPLY done by 'exchange students' (illegals from Mexico).

[elkotronics]

Are they still tree thinning for the Forest Service in the Forks area? I actually took part in this while living in Forks in 1983-84. But it's been a few...years. If you could bid a competitive bid for so many hundred acres and cut fairly fast you make a living at that.

[deutschman]

Thanks so much for the suggestions guys! I will take them into account.
Thanks for the tip on the stone work.
I know all about the competition for trades jobs from working hear in the CA Bay Area. The building explosion is HUGE and basically anyone who can swing a hammer or lift trash can get a job. Of cores people only want to pay bottom dollar for workers so that their profit margin is more impressive. But such is life, and that is why I have plans to go into business for my self.
We have about a years worth of money put aside, and the good part is this is a family effort so we have a team of people behind us rather than just the two of us.

Thanks again! Hope you all had a great turkey day.

[CrazyDonkey]

Economies are flat on the west side of the Sound, but land values are lower. There is a building boom in Seattle, but land values in the central Puget Sound (Olympia to Everett) are high.

I'd say north of Everett or south of Olympia.

[Sandy Nelson]

I wish you'd move to the Olympia area. I'm dreaming of building a home made from AAC and am looking for a stone mason. You sound pretty talented and I'm always looking to refer good craftspeople to clients. We have a German Club in Olympia (I'm German) and we'd love to welcome you and your family.