Looking to move to WA. Guidance needed.

unioncreek · #21 01/03/13, 07:25 PM

Snoozy and Naturelover,

You evidently have not been to eastern WA on the Idaho border. There's now sagebrush, it's the highest producing dry land area in the US, if not the world. You need to get out and have a life.

Bobg

Molly Mckee · #22 01/03/13, 07:25 PM

We do have snow, but mostly dry snow. It is altitude dependent, there are 5 ski hills within 2 hours of Spokane in the mountains.

Dusky Beauty · #23 01/03/13, 07:29 PM

Personally I can't stand sagebrush and desert (high desert or otherwise.)
If a person wants the Pac NW go lush or go home!

We are from Oregon and lived on the coast (Coos Bay) and A long while in Salem-- Salem, McMinnville, Corvallis etc. is our favorite part-- prettiest farm country and a good amount of sunshine all summer. Problem is though-- land is a bit spendy but you get what you pay for-- it's rich and temperate summer and winter. A lot of folks living in the rural country towns commute up to 2 hours for decent work.

We've pretty much settled on the fact that we don't care for the politics of Oregon anymore, and as much as we "know" the land we believe we can put our purchasing power to better use-- we have been looking at Missouri extensively instead for some time.

Molly Mckee · #24 01/03/13, 07:32 PM

Today, this about halfway up Mt Spokane.

ntjpm · #25 01/03/13, 08:05 PM

Oh yes you do need to know we have a TON of micro climates. In Washington State we have Ocean beaches, Mountains, Desserts and even a Rain Forest and those are just some of the major ones. We have something that is only in one other place in the world called a Convergence Zone. (storms come off the Ocean split as they go past the Olympic Mts and then when they slam back together on the other side we get some crazy weather)

So when you finally decide on a specific location (or two, or three) give us all a shout out and we can tell you what it will be like. Trying to pin down weather in WA with a 1 general statement just cannot be done.

Also what you want to grow may determine where you need to settle. Western WA is much more fertile and temperate than Eastern, unless you want to grow Apples or start a winery then you are set to go to Eastern WA.

Best of Luck to you and your family,
Tracy in WA

ntjpm · #26 01/03/13, 08:20 PM

Here is a pic of my backyard in August, no sagebrush in sight.

Tracy in WA

jassytoo · #27 01/03/13, 08:31 PM

You might check out St Josephs hospital in Bellingham. Don't know if they have a NICU or not. It's a nice area with some reasonable land if you are willing to drive some.Bellingham is in Whatcom county up near the Canadian border. Skagit county is south of Whatcom, also a really nice place. I'm not going to weigh in on the East versus West thing. We live for the most part in western Wa but also have property in eastern Wa. Love them both for different reasons. Your priority is a job for the Mrs. so that's where you'll have to focus your search. Good luck to you. This is a great place to live.

ChristieAcres · #28 01/03/13, 08:43 PM

I live on the Olympic Peninsula, in Kitsap County, Seabeck, WA, and am a Realtor. I sent you a PM with my contact info, if you would like information about any area in WA.

HoofPick · #29 01/03/13, 08:58 PM

Welcome to the forum!

Have you looked at RMLS.com in your search? All of the listings are for Oregon and Washington. it has quite a few filters that can really help narrow down your search.

ChristieAcres · #30 01/03/13, 09:26 PM

Looking to move to WA. Guidance needed. - Homesteading Questions

Local shot about 12 minutes from my home. I have a lot of pics of the beauty of our area...

naturelover · #31 01/03/13, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unioncreek

Snoozy and Naturelover,

You evidently have not been to eastern WA on the Idaho border. There's now sagebrush, it's the highest producing dry land area in the US, if not the world. You need to get out and have a life.

Bobg

Well, I've driven all over Washington , all of the west coast from Alaska down to southernmost California, through Arizona, all of British Columbia and Alberta - and driven through pretty much most of USA for that matter, but you're right, I need to get out and get a real life so I think I'll do all of the rest of Canada next.

As I mentioned above, the 2 pictures I posted were taken at a rest stop for travellers - that was on Interstate 90 headed east just less than an hour west of Spokane. On that particular holiday we continued eastward on I-90 right through northern Idaho, Montana (Montana is soooooo beautiful!!) and then through Wyoming, Nebraska and then over to Missouri and Arkansas. On the return trip I took a different more southerly route through Washington and through some lovely farming areas southeast of the Cascades where there were lovely huge wheat farms. The closer you get to the Pacific coast the greener, lusher, more fertile and more mountainous the land becomes.

The north west quarter of Washington state is without a doubt the most beautiful, most fertile and most moderate climate in the whole state and Washington and Alaska are the 2 most beautiful states in the USA with Oregon coming a close tie to Washington.

.

ChristieAcres · #32 01/03/13, 10:31 PM

We have a number of hospitals with Pediatric Units on our Peninsula, too.

The most photographed spot in the State of WA is less than 10 minutes from our home!

ChristieAcres · #33 01/03/13, 11:11 PM

If you decide on a State, be sure and check our Real Estate Forum for a Realtor. We are able to not just do searches, like everyone else, but get alerts in real time on price reductions. That is how we can often get our Clients a better deal than if they are looking themselves. In addition, once I know an area, I can do some scouting in that area to list the property my Clients may want if it isn't currently available. You are in a tight price range, so you might want to consider getting a Buyer's Agent.

Cabin Boy · #34 01/03/13, 11:31 PM

Washington is one of the most picturesque states in the US. It's got a little of everything - mountains, desert, coastal rain forests, ocean front - seriously it's a gorgeous state. I was born on the west side of the state but have lived in Spokane since 92. As mentioned earlier - western WA and eastern WA are like two seperate states. East of the Cascades is pretty conservative, west of the Cascades is pretty liberal. But it is a beautiful state with lots to chose from. NE Washington has alot of areas where land can still be had fairly cheap - I don't know as much about the west side but I'm sure if you get away from the cities you can find something there as well.

ChristieAcres · #35 01/03/13, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cabin Boy

Washington is one of the most picturesque states in the US. It's got a little of everything - mountains, desert, coastal rain forests, ocean front - seriously it's a gorgeous state. I was born on the west side of the state but have lived in Spokane since 92. As mentioned earlier - western WA and eastern WA are like two seperate states. East of the Cascades is pretty conservative, west of the Cascades is pretty liberal. But it is a beautiful state with lots to chose from. NE Washington has alot of areas where land can still be had fairly cheap - I don't know as much about the west side but I'm sure if you get away from the cities you can find something there as well.

You would be very surprised what you can find just 30 minutes away from any City on the Peninsula! I have been all over this State and agree, just beautiful, and the most diverse State I have ever seen. Locally, we have access to the Hood Canal, just 5 minutes from our home, so we can party on saltwater fare! That is one of the main reasons we settled here, the access for boating, fishing, crabbing, shrimping, digging clams, harvesting fresh oysters, hiking, riding our motorcycle, and enjoying the local views... For the last ten years, DH and I have been exploring the Olympic Peninsula, and we aren't done, yet...so much to see, exploring and going on adventures together

I have a gardening thread, clearly shows what we can grow in this climate. Just this year, DH and I picked 47#s of Chanterelle Mushrooms. Yes, other places have hotter summers and less rain, but I plan to stay here the rest of my life.

SkagitBrooms · #36 01/04/13, 12:00 AM

Washington is a beautiful state. I've lived here over 50 years and love it still. The mountains, the sea, the desert, all so beautiful. We live in Western WA, and it is expensive, but also easier to find work or run a business. One thing... find a precipitation map and study it. Some of the most beautiful areas get the most rainfall. It can rain hard for 40 days in a row without stopping. In our area -- the wet side of the state-- we get about 45 inches of rain every year. Go toward the Cascades up the river where land is cheaper and you can get up to 90 inches of rain per year. I grew up in a place like that. Finally moved west a little where you get some daylight in winter.

You may want to rent a place at first. Be sure to check the local climate, because it varies a lot. Good luck.

bigb02z28 · #37 01/07/13, 11:16 PM

Thank you for all the replies! Im loving all the pictures!

The wife and I are now even more confused than before even posting! Haha. We are planning a vacation in August to visit both sides of the state and see for ourselves.

We are needing to reevaluate our finances and amount of land we want/need. I'm wanting pigs/chickens and maybe a couple cows. She is wanting fruit trees, and we'll both take whatever veggies we can get.

We're probably a year out at least from moving, but I'm the type that likes to learn/plan as much as possible before the fact.

SkagitBrooms · #38 01/07/13, 11:20 PM

If you come in August, you will love it. That can be the most beautiful time of year. Great weather normally. It's been a little gray here lately, and the days are really short right now. We have daylight from 7 to about 5 pm. Then the days are really long in the summer. Can't wait for that. You should surely enjoy your visit in August!

ChristieAcres · #39 01/08/13, 12:40 AM

If any of you would like to see pictures of the Olympic Peninsula, check out this link:

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...sula&FORM=IGRE

Rain varies from 14" to 150" a year, in different areas and elevations of this Great Olympic Peninsula, so you get a choice of weather preference to live there or drive there! We can drive directly through the rain and be in the snow in minutes, right where we live, in Seabeck WA! Just a few hundred feet makes a difference...

ChristieAcres · #40 01/08/13, 01:12 AM

An example of how diverse even micro-climates can be? We live on the East facing side of a small mountain, with a forest on our property of Cedars, Hemlocks, Alders, and Maples. On the Western side, a short walk, there are mostly Douglas Fir, some Pine, and Madrona. In fact, at the top of the access driveway, leading to ours, there are beautiful Madrona's! The property just above ours, has Madrona's, too. Here are a few pics taken in our forest:

Looking to move to WA. Guidance needed. - Homesteading Questions

You can see Alders here.

Looking to move to WA. Guidance needed. - Homesteading Questions

Here are more Alders, a few Evergreens.

Looking to move to WA. Guidance needed. - Homesteading Questions

A 2nd growth, bordering old growth, Maple.

Looking to move to WA. Guidance needed. - Homesteading Questions

I believe this is a Cedar, a towering 2nd growth, over 130' tall.

The upper part of our property has mostly Alder and Cedar, with just under 2 acres cleared for our Orchard, Backyard, and Garden Areas.