Pacific NW Retirement real estate purchase

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Pacific NW Retirement real estate purchase

Greg MoranPro Member
Investor · Washington, DC · Member since 2017 · 136 posts · 59 votes

Howdy BP community,

I'm helping my parents navigate a retirement real estate purchase, as they look to flee the scorching summers of Texas (also apparently winter-storm-ravaged at this point). Right now they are considering the Pacific NW area around Portland OR and Vancouver WA. I'd love to hear form local area experts:

  • What should they be looking for?
  • What should they look out for?
  • Areas to consider or avoid?

Their list of requirements is pretty specific and includes a preference for Single-family energy efficient, sustainable, and green built properties near small towns with big personality & culture. B-)

Thanks for any assistance you can provide!

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Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
5y
well look no further the Ivyridgeestatescanby   its all of what your looking for..  even if I do own it.. LOL.. 

however keep in mind no income tax in WA but you have sales tax.. and a tax when you sell real estate that can be pretty high ..

Oregon has income tax but no sales tax and no transfer tax like WA..  

Vancouver is a bedroom community and if your going south to PDX traffic can be horrible..
but if they are not driving during commute hours should be OK.

we get a little weather in Oregon s well.. we had an ice storm also.. not nearly as bad as Texas and summer well this is the best summer weather other than the SF bay area  or prime LA..  My Wife sold real estate in Vancouver for 20 years so she is a good asset as well.

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  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    5y
    well look no further the Ivyridgeestatescanby   its all of what your looking for..  even if I do own it.. LOL.. 

    however keep in mind no income tax in WA but you have sales tax.. and a tax when you sell real estate that can be pretty high ..

    Oregon has income tax but no sales tax and no transfer tax like WA..  

    Vancouver is a bedroom community and if your going south to PDX traffic can be horrible..
    but if they are not driving during commute hours should be OK.

    we get a little weather in Oregon s well.. we had an ice storm also.. not nearly as bad as Texas and summer well this is the best summer weather other than the SF bay area  or prime LA..  My Wife sold real estate in Vancouver for 20 years so she is a good asset as well.

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  • Julee FelsmanPro Member
    Lender · Portland, OR · Member since 2018 · 163 posts · 136 votes
    5y

    @Greg Moran Any idea what their price range is? They'll find a multitude small towns to chose from around the Portland Metro area. 

    A few towns they might want to check out:

    White Salmon, WA / Hood River, OR - These towns are across from one another (and there a bunch of other smaller communities nearby) with so much going for them. 

    Downtown Vancouver, WA - I love the Hough and Arnada neighborhoods for walkability.

    Astoria, OR and the northern OR Coast (Seaside, Warrenton, Gearhart) - winter weather might be a little much for them but Astoria is so charming. (Goonies was filmed there!).

    Central Oregon Coast (Newport, Lincoln City, Neskowin, Pacific City) - again, winters are a little stormy/rainy, but great little (or in the case of Lincoln City, medium-sized) towns. 

    Newberg, Dundee, McMinneville, OR - The Oregon Wine country... small towns with an increasingly Napa/Sonoma vibe.

    Portland Proper - Nearly every neighborhood in Portland is like a little "town". Multnomah Village in SW and St Johns in N PDX are especially "small-town-like", but Alberta, Hawthorne, NE 42nd, Montavilla, Sellwood/moreland, Woodstock, etc... the list goes on. 

    Troutdale, OR - Gateway to the Columbia River Gorge with a lovely little downtown.

    Longview, WA / Kalama, WA  / Ridgefield, WA / Battle Ground, WA - depending on price point there might be some more affordable homes in these areas. (Not to say there aren't some spectacular properties at a higher price point too.)

    Further from Portland:

    Ashland & Medford, OR - Southern Oregon, Ashland is a great little college town with (when it opens back up) the amazing Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

    Bend, Sisters, Tumalo, Prineville, Redmond - Oregon's high desert. Bend's gotten very costly, but lots of smaller towns at a less crazy price. 

    I'm sure others can chime in. Caveat, I'm a lender, not a realtor... but I get around a good bit and finance homes in all of these communities. :)

    Julee

    [email protected]503-799-3711
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  • Carlos Ptriawan
    Member since 2019 · 7k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    5y

    Tilamook, OR.... any coast homes in Oregon is so beautiful.

    2Reply
  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Julee Felsman:

    @Greg Moran Any idea what their price range is? They'll find a multitude small towns to chose from around the Portland Metro area. 

    A few towns they might want to check out:

    White Salmon, WA / Hood River, OR - These towns are across from one another (and there a bunch of other smaller communities nearby) with so much going for them. 

    Downtown Vancouver, WA - I love the Hough and Arnada neighborhoods for walkability.

    Astoria, OR and the northern OR Coast (Seaside, Warrenton, Gearhart) - winter weather might be a little much for them but Astoria is so charming. (Goonies was filmed there!).

    Central Oregon Coast (Newport, Lincoln City, Neskowin, Pacific City) - again, winters are a little stormy/rainy, but great little (or in the case of Lincoln City, medium-sized) towns. 

    Newberg, Dundee, McMinneville, OR - The Oregon Wine country... small towns with an increasingly Napa/Sonoma vibe.

    Portland Proper - Nearly every neighborhood in Portland is like a little "town". Multnomah Village in SW and St Johns in N PDX are especially "small-town-like", but Alberta, Hawthorne, NE 42nd, Montavilla, Sellwood/moreland, Woodstock, etc... the list goes on. 

    Troutdale, OR - Gateway to the Columbia River Gorge with a lovely little downtown.

    Longview, WA / Kalama, WA  / Ridgefield, WA / Battle Ground, WA - depending on price point there might be some more affordable homes in these areas. (Not to say there aren't some spectacular properties at a higher price point too.)

    Further from Portland:

    Ashland & Medford, OR - Southern Oregon, Ashland is a great little college town with (when it opens back up) the amazing Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

    Bend, Sisters, Tumalo, Prineville, Redmond - Oregon's high desert. Bend's gotten very costly, but lots of smaller towns at a less crazy price. 

    I'm sure others can chime in. Caveat, I'm a lender, not a realtor... but I get around a good bit and finance homes in all of these communities. :)

    Julee

    that about covers its but there is one little spot that if they want true small town feel I Cathlamet and Puget island.. you have a ferry to the Oregon side pretty quick drive to Astoria and and the WA coast..  you can buy river front there for about 400 to 600k.. I just missed one last summer..   My wife was raised on Puget Island its a Norwegian settlement.  

    you can get a pretty good deal if you go a little West of Mc McMinnville  Sheridan and Williamina.. I owned a 700 acre tree farm in Willamina old logging town still has a Hampton Mill so not dead.. 

    I built the village at Rand Road in Hood River I really love Hood river but winters are cold and its windy.. I like the Klickitat river on the WA side..  This is big country out here ( well not big to Texas standards but big for most anything else east coast mid west.

    Inner city Portland not so sure  the homeless issues and antifia are real unfortunately and the politicians are out to lunch especially if your coming from a political thought process of Texas.. We are getting numerous buyers moving from inner city Portland to our Canby development. 

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  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Carlos Ptriawan:

    Tilamook, OR.... any coast homes in Oregon is so beautiful.

    Well Tillamook has a lot of cows and Cheese and is on the Bay..  My old partner in the logging business was raised there and they have some of the most awesome fishing on their property on the Trask river.  My self not a fan of the Oregon Coast at all.. too cold .. winter it rains sideways.. the only thing nice about it is you do have more clear days on the Oregon Coast than here in the Valley. and If you want to live in an area that basically never gets below 30 and never gets much higher than 75  then thats the place.

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  • Mary M.
    Rental Property Investor · Portland OR · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    5y

    As a MF owner in Portland I would strongly caution buying in Portland proper just due to the crazy and complicated tenant/LL laws....  Its a great place but man the laws are nuts :) 

    If I were buying in OR I would buy in Eugene. In fact I did own MF there and sometimes wish I hadnt sold! 

    the PNW is awesome so hope they decide to move here :) 

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  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Mary M.:

    As a MF owner in Portland I would strongly caution buying in Portland proper just due to the crazy and complicated tenant/LL laws....  Its a great place but man the laws are nuts :) 

    If I were buying in OR I would buy in Eugene. In fact I did own MF there and sometimes wish I hadnt sold! 

    the PNW is awesome so hope they decide to move here :) 

    city of Portland led by the politicians has ruined a once great city.. I have two more deals to wrap up there then NEVER again.. 

    for Landlords its just a situation where your going to have to be SO careful going forward .. if not your taking on huge risk.. 

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  • Mary M.
    Rental Property Investor · Portland OR · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    5y

    @Jay Hinrichs I am hoping with Chloe Eudaly gone things will settle down and not get more complicated law wise.....  the sad thing is most of the laws will hurt tenants in the long run, and most tenants have no idea any of thes laws exist and get frustrated with how LLs need to respond (for example  the 3 day waiting period when listing a rental - applicants dont like that and I have lost potential tenants who dont want to wait 3 days to apply)

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  • Mary M.
    Rental Property Investor · Portland OR · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    5y

    also, I have only been here 2 years and even I can see the change ....  its sad.....

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  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Mary M.:

    @Jay Hinrichs I am hoping with Chloe Eudaly gone things will settle down and not get more complicated law wise.....  the sad thing is most of the laws will hurt tenants in the long run, and most tenants have no idea any of thes laws exist and get frustrated with how LLs need to respond (for example  the 3 day waiting period when listing a rental - applicants dont like that and I have lost potential tenants who dont want to wait 3 days to apply)

    was she the one running against Major Ted.. if so I read her position paper and she is a wack job of the first order.. totally out of touch with how business works in all forms..  Maybe if we were full on socialist 

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  • Mary M.
    Rental Property Investor · Portland OR · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    5y

    No, Chloe Eudaly is the architect of all the new tenant protection laws.... she was a Commissioner 

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  • Bjorn AhlbladPro Member
    Investor · Shelton, WA · Member since 2017 · 6k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    5y

    Lots of options in the area along Hwy 5 an hour north of Portland halfway to Olympia and even closer to Olympia. The laws are tenant friendly in Oregon and Washington; and solid screening process can go a long way.

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  • Matthew McNeil
    Rental Property Investor · Boise/Portland · Member since 2017 · 709 posts · 742 votes
    5y

    Portland is weird. Used to be a nice place to live, but just look at how often it was in the news last year. The liberals ruined it as they do with everything they touch. Vancouver. I don't think I've ever been to a city (my in-laws live there) that completely lacks any character. Boring!
    Look at Boise. Or, if they can handle the winters then consider Coeur d'Alene.

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  • Shannon Robnett
    Developer · Boise, ID · Member since 2020 · 173 posts · 198 votes
    5y

    @Matthew McNeil Boise is off the charts right now for growth for sure!

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  • Matthew McNeil
    Rental Property Investor · Boise/Portland · Member since 2017 · 709 posts · 742 votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Shannon Robnett:

    @Matthew McNeil Boise is off the charts right now for growth for sure!

    I started investing there 12 years ago. Best decision I ever made. 

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  • Shannon Robnett
    Developer · Boise, ID · Member since 2020 · 173 posts · 198 votes
    5y

    @Matthew McNeil 
    As a 40 year Boise native with 27 years as a second-generation
    Developer/builder and a 4th generation Realtor, my skillset is pretty specific to the development of the Treasure Valley. We are building multi-family and industrial space in cooperation with passive investors through syndication. With this vehicle, we are bringing much-needed
    housing and real estate investment opportunities to the valley.

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  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Mary M.:

    No, Chloe Eudaly is the architect of all the new tenant protection laws.... she was a Commissioner

    Just as bad just like Hardesty wanted to take over the police commission job..  Look what happens when you defund the pollice

    crime is off the charts from historic norms  get rid of the Police anti gun and gang unit .. smart move that one. .now shootings are up 100% or more.. I mean those gang bangers have to be laughing all the way to the next shoot out.. still not Chicago or Detroit or any of the other high crime cities.  But its not Portland.. when I first came here my female Staff would think nothing of going down town at night alone etc.

    Now they wont even go to town at all.. I mean really does not matter your political stance.. the numbers are the numbers.. I have 3 buyers like I said from the north Portland area coming to Canby. Lived there all their lives never thought they would ever move.

    Police are down to only 800 officers  in a town of 800k  they dont police anymore they just react.. Community out reach is fine but its not going to get through to the bad people.  Bad is bad they need to be Policed not go through therapy.. 

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  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Matthew McNeil:

    Portland is weird. Used to be a nice place to live, but just look at how often it was in the news last year. The liberals ruined it as they do with everything they touch. Vancouver. I don't think I've ever been to a city (my in-laws live there) that completely lacks any character. Boring!
    Look at Boise. Or, if they can handle the winters then consider Coeur d'Alene.

    I agree on Vancouver I seriously considered moving across the river for tax purposes a few years ago but just could not pull the trigger.  The new water front development has helped but the downtown is still like some out dated mid western city that has not much going on.

    Because Oregon is right across the river with no sales tax.. its hard to keep shops going in The Couv. people just drive across the river to shop.

    Agree on NE WA although like you mentioned Very cold winters.. short summer but stunning .. 

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  • Sharon Rosendahl
    Investor · Quilcene, WA · Member since 2017 · 230 posts · 169 votes
    5y

    Be aware, much of the great NW is very liberal whereas much of TX is conservative. Generally speaking, the more central to Portland, the more liberal. More farm country/rural areas are a little less so. Having spent a lot of years just outside of McMinnville/Newberg, it is still reasonably balanced. Bend is changing from fairly conservative to liberal. Eugene is very liberal.

    West of the mountains is pretty rainy and may be more of a climate change than they like. East of the mountains has more sun but also is generally colder in the winter. 

    If they don't have a specific place they want to buy (friends or relatives already there) then I would suggest they visit some of the areas people have mentioned and check them out. WA and OR are beautiful places but the culture and weather can vary and they should probably see where they most feel at home.

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  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    5y

    I left out one of my very favorites and that is Wenatchee WA .. this is an awesome area that has not caught on as much as Bend but has about the same attributes as bend but more agriculture with a new wine scene and one of the most spectacular lakes in America.. Lake Chelan.. along with the Columbia river running right through it.  

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  • Mary M.
    Rental Property Investor · Portland OR · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    5y

    it would be nice, on a board that is supposed to be no politics, for folks to stop bashing one side or the other.....  i happen to be a liberal and it really sucks to be bashed almost daily here. There are bad idea on all sides....  

    As for PDX - IMO Covid really escalated whatever is going on here.  And we do need police reform, Eugene has a great option where they have CAHOOTS which responds to mental health/addiction crises so police dont have to ..  Its a wonderful change and has really benefitted the community so it is possible to rethink policing. 

    1Reply
  • Steve Vaughan
    Rental Property Investor · East Wenatchee, WA · Member since 2014 · 10k+ posts · 16k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Jay Hinrichs:

    I left out one of my very favorites and that is Wenatchee WA .. this is an awesome area that has not caught on as much as Bend but has about the same attributes as bend but more agriculture with a new wine scene and one of the most spectacular lakes in America.. Lake Chelan.. along with the Columbia river running right through it.  

     Shhh. LOL  We like being off the radar. 

    @Greg Moran  I'd first consider their tax position when considering WA vs OR.  They are completely opposite as Jay mentions. WA if earn a lot monthly but don't spend as much.  OR if opposite and don't earn much but plan to spend. 

    Then I'd consider how much rain is tolerable vs colder winters.  Many small town PNW communities are similar along the rainy coast IMO.  For a rain shadow that still has a coastal feel, I'd look at Whidbey Island WA personally. I think they get only about half as much rain as Seattle but not far. 

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  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Steve Vaughan:
    Originally posted by @Jay Hinrichs:

    I left out one of my very favorites and that is Wenatchee WA .. this is an awesome area that has not caught on as much as Bend but has about the same attributes as bend but more agriculture with a new wine scene and one of the most spectacular lakes in America.. Lake Chelan.. along with the Columbia river running right through it.  

     Shhh. LOL  We like being off the radar. 

    @Greg Moran  I'd first consider their tax position when considering WA vs OR.  They are completely opposite as Jay mentions. WA if earn a lot monthly but don't spend as much.  OR if opposite and don't earn much but plan to spend. 

    Then I'd consider how much rain is tolerable vs colder winters.  Many small town PNW communities are similar along the rainy coast IMO.  For a rain shadow that still has a coastal feel, I'd look at Whidbey Island WA personally. I think they get only about half as much rain as Seattle but not far.

    Friday harbor is a cool town so is east sound..  helps to have a plane though :)

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  • Larry Fried
    Investor/RE Broker · Eugene, OR · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 968 votes
    5y

    Well Mary mentioned Eugene, and if your parent do look here, and want to be in smaller towns only - I consider Eugene a medium size city - there a number nearby, and also rural areas just outside cities of Eugene and Springfield.  To name a few, Creswell, Cottage Grove, Veneta, Marcola, Brownsville, Junction City. Prices are also a bit lower in those towns than Eugene/Springfield.

    In terms of the sustainability and green building arena, that is something I have a special interest in as green living realtor.  The inventory that fits that bill is very sparse indeed.  Are your parents looking for new build, something that is turnkey?  What is their price range? 

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  • Greg MoranPro Member
    OP
    Investor · Washington, DC · Member since 2017 · 136 posts · 59 votes
    5y
    Originally posted by @Julee Felsman:

    @Greg Moran Any idea what their price range is? They'll find a multitude small towns to chose from around the Portland Metro area. 

    A few towns they might want to check out:

    White Salmon, WA / Hood River, OR - These towns are across from one another (and there a bunch of other smaller communities nearby) with so much going for them. 

    Downtown Vancouver, WA - I love the Hough and Arnada neighborhoods for walkability.

    Astoria, OR and the northern OR Coast (Seaside, Warrenton, Gearhart) - winter weather might be a little much for them but Astoria is so charming. (Goonies was filmed there!).

    Central Oregon Coast (Newport, Lincoln City, Neskowin, Pacific City) - again, winters are a little stormy/rainy, but great little (or in the case of Lincoln City, medium-sized) towns. 

    Newberg, Dundee, McMinneville, OR - The Oregon Wine country... small towns with an increasingly Napa/Sonoma vibe.

    Portland Proper - Nearly every neighborhood in Portland is like a little "town". Multnomah Village in SW and St Johns in N PDX are especially "small-town-like", but Alberta, Hawthorne, NE 42nd, Montavilla, Sellwood/moreland, Woodstock, etc... the list goes on. 

    Troutdale, OR - Gateway to the Columbia River Gorge with a lovely little downtown.

    Longview, WA / Kalama, WA  / Ridgefield, WA / Battle Ground, WA - depending on price point there might be some more affordable homes in these areas. (Not to say there aren't some spectacular properties at a higher price point too.)

    Further from Portland:

    Ashland & Medford, OR - Southern Oregon, Ashland is a great little college town with (when it opens back up) the amazing Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

    Bend, Sisters, Tumalo, Prineville, Redmond - Oregon's high desert. Bend's gotten very costly, but lots of smaller towns at a less crazy price. 

    I'm sure others can chime in. Caveat, I'm a lender, not a realtor... but I get around a good bit and finance homes in all of these communities. :)

    Julee

     Howdy Julee, and wow... thanks for all that detail! Quick answers: They are looking at the whole spectrum, and my intent is to help them understand their budget. They're investigating the ($10k's) unimproved land parcels with various levels of utilities installed, all the way to finished modern "log cabin" style homes in the $100k's-300k's. I think they will eventually end up in the $200-300K range. They definitely want a small town feel, with convenient arts/culture/transportation amenities in the surrounding area.

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