Recommendations for moving in WA (Seattle, Spokane: sales, real estate, apartment)

[swaaggyy0]

Currently live in Vancouver, WA but the rent is too expensive. I'm looking to move, hopefully staying within Washington.

My max budget is $900 a month for a 2 bedroom apartment/townhouse/condo/duplex. Would love a townhouse but doubt I'd get a decent one for $900 a month.

I'd prefer an area with a low crime rate (if that's even possible). I'm originally from SW Florida (grew up there) so I'm completely lost here in the NW. Hoping to get recommendations of where to move to. Oh, the only real requirement is that there is a Wal-Mart somewhere around, which I figure is practically everywhere.

The only recommendations I've gotten from people that I've talked to is Spokane and some of the smaller cities around Seattle or north of Seattle.

[PartIrish]

Much depends on what kind of work you do, and where those jobs are most plentiful. Based on your post, do you plan to work at a Wal-Mart, or just want one close for shopping?

[Hemlock140]

If Vancouver is too high for you, try the Tri-Cities, Pasco, Richland or Kennewick. Vancouver has gotten popular with retirees, from Seattle area and also other states, especially California, due to no state income tax, and hop across the bridge for major purchases with no sales tax. That is driving up home prices and rent.

[ScottStielow]

Depends on your work. Eastern Washington like mentioned above and the recommendations you have gotten.
Be ready for Snow in the winter and dry hot weather in the Summer.

[PS90]

Yeah, you're going to need to need to give us more info.

Low rent with a Wal-Mart around - could be anywhere from Centralia to Puyallup to Omak to Tri-Cities...

[Diana Holbrook]

I might try around Centralia or Shelton. Perhaps Shelton in particular. Both have a Wal-Mart. Both are more affordable than Vancouver. More affordable than Tumwater, which is where the next closest one is. Centralia/Chehalis has some good and bad areas, you just have to look carefully for areas that seem nicer. If you want to live out of town, you might find a rental in one of the neighboring small towns or rural parts that are quieter than in the city.

[swaaggyy0]

Originally Posted by PS90

Yeah, you're going to need to need to give us more info.

Low rent with a Wal-Mart around - could be anywhere from Centralia to Puyallup to Omak to Tri-Cities...

What else can I tell you? Walmart for work. That's my only needs really. I like snow. I don't want to live in a dump. Finding a nice 2 bedroom certainly is impossible here. Really wanted to live in a townhouse, but they are even more expensive.

[PS90]

Originally Posted by swaaggyy0

What else can I tell you? Walmart for work. That's my only needs really. I like snow. I don't want to live in a dump. Finding a nice 2 bedroom certainly is impossible here. Really wanted to live in a townhouse, but they are even more expensive.

Okay. Still not much to go on...

If you need to live by a Wal-Mart, like snow, and need fairly low rent - that's almost all towns with populations above about 5,000 people in Eastern WA, much of Southwest WA, parts of the Olympic Peninsula, etc.

Basically anywhere that's not close to Portland, Seattle, or any of the inflated real estate bubble areas like Wenatchee or Walla Walla.

Take your pick.

[happygrrrl]

Forks.

[texasdiver]

People from Vancouver are starting to move up to the Longview area to find cheaper housing. There are two Wal-Marts up there. That's about a 45 minute drive from Vancouver so you can go check it out anytime without much effort.