Info for Relocation to Bremerton/Islands? (Seattle, Oak Harbor: apartment, condo, home)

[ElphinKnight]

Hello all,
My fiance' and I are looking in the PNW for places to move from Michigan. We want something a little slower paced (right now we're in a busy city with a metro pop of 335,000), and love the ocean. She has relatives in Friday Harbor and has spent time there, but I doubt we can afford to move there due to high housing costs and few jobs. I do work over the Internet, so I would need good high-speed access, but I also may need some part-time work when I first arrive and my wife will need work in the health care field.

Where else in the islands or "the peninsulas" might be a good place? Bremerton seems to be booming and Poulsbo looks like a nice area. Oak Harbor seems somewhat promising but I am concerned about jet noise. What would anyone here suggest? What information can you tell us about Bremerton/Kitsap and the economy there? Thank you for anything you can provide!

[AzDreamer]

You might want to see if you can get a list of hospitals, the jobs for your wife would be in those areas. I like Anacortes, but it's going to be expensive like everywhere else in Western Washington.

[brightcopperkettles]

See my responses in other areas for more information.

I live (and was born in) in Kitsap County so am very familiar with the area. I also work for the largest hospital West of Seattle, which is Harrison Medical Center, so if you need a link to its job board, let me know. I can tell you that Harrison is currently recruiting IT folks, as we are getting ready to move forward with the EMR (electronic medical record). Harrison is currently hiring more IT folk and specialized healthcare folk.

As far as the economy here, we're doing very well. Folks from Seattle continue to move to our side of the water and commute simply because they can actually own a home instead of just being able to afford a condo or an apartment. See my response to your posts in other areas for more recommendations about where to buy.

Hope this helped you.

P.S. My husband and I are thinking about selling our home this summer: New in 2001, 3BR, 2BA, on 4.4 forested acres, 5 minutes to Hood Canal, in Seabeck. If we make a decision in that regard, I will post in the appropriate place on this site at a later date.

[ElphinKnight]

Thank you brightcopperkettles. Your information here and elsewhere are very helpful! I only had posted a separate thread because I thought it would just get lost under the other post.

[brightcopperkettles]

Glad I was able to help you..