Which part of the state has the most manufacturing type of jobs? (Seattle: apartment, to rent)

[MiaMia411]

I am looking to take a trip out to WA hopefully next year sometime but i was wondering which part of the state would you recommend visiting and looking around at that has some good manufacturing type of jobs? I have lived in NJ, TX, and now CT but looking to possibly move to WA. My wife and i are very outdoors type of people so we love the mountains, lakes, rivers, beaches, hiking, biking, camping, gun range, etc.

I would love to live in a nice decent area, looking for low property taxes. Don't mind driving up to 30 minutes to and from work. Don't want to be lost in the woods without any type of stores but don't like over crowded towns either. Looking for a nice quiet place to call home with decent schools and some local stores.

I was a business owner for many years in the pizzeria/Italian industry but put that behind me for now and started a new career. We are looking to work to live and not live to work, want a nice and easy going life. I also have a budget of around 225k for a house pref 3 bed 2 bath no bigger then 1700 sqft, open to townhouse or condo too if there isnt crazy HOA fees.


Thanks for any feedback

[Seacove]

Sounds like maybe Spokane?

[MiaMia411]

Spokane ? Oh man that looks to be in the middle of nowhere lol. I was thinking maybe Vancouver ? I can be close to Oregon as well but you guys know best on here.

[Seacove]

Originally Posted by MiaMia411

Spokane ? Oh man that looks to be in the middle of nowhere lol. I was thinking maybe Vancouver ? I can be close to Oregon as well but you guys know best on here.

You want both manufacturing jobs and a house for $225K.

[MiaMia411]

Originally Posted by Seacove

You want both manufacturing jobs and a house for $225K.

Yeah, a house from 1200-1700 sqft ? I dont have to be smack dab in Vancouver , can be outside a little bit. I was looking at some listings on zillow but who knows if thats up to date etc. I am pretty skilled and can fix up a house as well.

[509]

I recently looked up the counties with the largest manufacturing jobs.

I believe they were KING, Snohomish, Spokane, Pierce, Skagit and Grant.

Of all those Grant could have housing at 200,000 dollars. However, if you thought Spokane was out in the middle of somewhere Grant County would, in your eyes, put you on the edge of the known world.

Anyway, all the data is here: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/databook/pdf/databook.pdf

The county specific data starts on page 173 of the data book.

[Seacove]

Originally Posted by 509

I recently looked up the counties with the largest manufacturing jobs.

I believe they were KING, Snohomish, Spokane, Pierce, Skagit and Grant.

Of all those Grant could have housing at 200,000 dollars. However, if you thought Spokane was out in the middle of somewhere Grant County would, in your eyes, put you on the edge of the known world.

Anyway, all the data is here: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/databook/pdf/databook.pdf

The county specific data starts on page 173 of the data book.

You definitely don't move to the Seattle metro to "work to live" with low property taxes and a $200K house. Grant might could work though, they would have cheaper houses.

[CrazyDonkey]

WA is completely different from NJ, TX, or CT....

If just the two of you, why a house? Better to rent, a one-bedroom apartment, until you've both got jobs, then start thinking about a house. Be forewarned, however, where the jobs are, you might not be able to afford the houses, and where the houses you can afford are, there might not be the jobs.

[Hemlock140]

There is some f that in the Kent/Auburn area, not too far from Seattle and lower home prices. The up-and-coming industrial city is Moses Lake, but that's father away from anything than Spokane.

[StealthRabbit]

there is a broad spectrum of Manf jobs... what is your skill / wage requirements?

Vancouver may work for you, BUT... you might find yourself working in Portland (and paying 9% income tax) till you find a manf job in Vancouver. Best paying manf gig around SWWA is Boeing (Gresham) or Precision Cast parts (clackamas).

Might look into Everett, WA and Marysville (you can live a bit out in the woods, but housing costs will probably put you into a modular or mobile home on acreage.) Best bet is to buy a TRASHED mobile home on acreage and make quick work of it with a dozer / excavator. Replace it with a shop with a VERY nice apartment inside and away from the view of tax assessor. (and very FAST / cheap to build). and plenty of room for 'hobbies' and storing used building supplies for your 'stealth' house.

28 yrs of Manf night shift served my single income family well. and it gave me EVERY day OFF!. (to homeschool, farm, and build houses (as homeschool learning projects)

btw:, as mentioned...
...most manufacturing type of jobs? KING, Snohomish, Spokane, Pierce, Skagit and Grant.

Vancouver is worth a look.. I have tenants who work at these WA manf'rs; Columbia Machine, Vanport, Christensen, Oregon Iron Works (port of Vancouver factory), Linear, Karcher; SEH; Georgia Pacific; US Digital; Silver Star Cabinets (North Bonneville and Washougal plants) & Thompson Metal Fab. Underwriter Labs is a good local job, as was Sharp (been downsizing in Camas).. HP and Tektronics left about 3,000 unemployed manf workers in Vancouver operations. Most got absorbed and were able to stay in the region.