Any of you in the Vancouver WA area?

[skeptic]

Unless there is an unexpected change in my job, I will be moving to the Vancouver WA area this summer. I don't know the area at all, so if anyone has some guidance on where to move or where to avoid that would be great.

We want something just out of town, 2+ acres of trees, and must have high speed internet (work requirement). The top places that keep popping up in our home search are in Washougal and Battleground.

Thoughts or suggestions?

 

[ABNTROOP]

I'm up here. Ridgefield is another good area, same for la center. Both just north. Battleground is M'eh. Has some great spots but traffic is heavy for an area never built for it.

 

[skeptic]

How is Washougal? I'll be working on the East side of Vancouver, Camas and Washougal seem conveniently close.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

AVOID ABNTROOP AT ALL COSTS
(kidding).

other than that - Vancouver is a nice Portland suburb. They have one of the best MX tracks in the area - but do watch for watering trucks.

the question is "what do you want"
land is cheap, relatively, so you can have a pretty nice place in the country without too terrible of a commute. With that said, you do NOT want to cross Vancouver in your commute. If you work on the west side, don't live on the east side - go further west, etc. Also, don't live in Oregon. We don't have income tax in Washington, but if you work in Washington and live in Oregon, you have to pay income tax to Oregon.

 

[ABNTROOP]

Lol! Yep, agreed with SBG. If you're working on the E. Side stay that way. Washougals nice. There's some nice property out that way if you have the $$.

 

[skeptic]

Yes, I know about the differences in taxes as I'm originally from Oregon. If it wasn't for that I'd probably be looking SE of Portland, Mollala or maybe even Silverton (long drive, but I have family and friends in Salem/Keizer).

As far as what I want (and I'm not rich), I'm looking at 2+ forested acres with high speed Internet and a house that doesn't suck too bad. Some kind of water, like a creek or something, is a huge plus. The house doesn't have to be huge or great, as long as it's a good floor plan and can be remodelled into something nice or is so cheap I can afford to put a stick-built or modular (NOT manufactured/mobile) home on it. Essentially buying it for the land with all utilities already on the property. Problem is, I don't really know what something like that would cost.

I really hate throwing out actual budget numbers, it's kinda like discussing how much people make, a bit taboo to me. However, since it sounds like some of you know the area and have a good grasp on property values I'm looking in the up to $300k range, maybe a little higher if the place is really great. Here is an example (the best I've been able to find "on paper"). The house doesn't look very good (WTF is going on with the kitchen?), but the property looks fantastic for my budget. Comcast even shows it as within their Internet service area.

 

[skeptic]

I just thought of something, I'm not required to become a pot-head if I move there am I? :whaa:

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I just thought of something, I'm not required to become a pot-head if I move there am I? :whaa:

They're pretty laid back about that - as long as you bring Doritos.

 

[ABNTROOP]

Yeah, I'd say that you can find something that fits your want list at that price range. Might take some hunting though as Californian money has wandered that direction over the last few years driving real estate prices up. Try looking further NE Vancouver up into brush prairie.