Seattle/Bellingham - which would you choose?
Feb 23rd 2016, 4:42 pm
#16
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 20
Re: Seattle/Bellingham - which would you choose?
Leah_aalin, curious to know how your thinking on this has developed...
Feb 24th 2016, 12:44 am
#17
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 48
Re: Seattle/Bellingham - which would you choose?
Bellingham is definitely felt like it was more sedate than Seattle, but to be honest, coming from where we're leaving, sedate might just feel pretty exciting!
Feb 27th 2016, 1:00 pm
#18
Grumpy Know-it-all
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 8,928
Re: Seattle/Bellingham - which would you choose?
Hi all,
Just putting this out there in the hope that someone else has been in a similar positions, so here goes! I am about to head out to the Pacific NW to scope out potential neighbourhoods for our move IOM to the US. We've been out to Seattle a few times, and we have family there, but oh my are the houses expensive! I know there are jobs there, and we'd have family around to help us out for the 1st few months, but it feels like (with the cost of houses) we'd be in the same position that we're in here where we work just to keep up with the mortgage, and we never get to actually enjoy ourselves.
Then there's Bellingham...we've not been there (yet), but we've been told that its a wonderful town, with plenty to do and see for us and the kids. We'd save at least 100k on property, and the schools looks amazing but - and this is what really worries me - are there jobs? It's a pretty small town in the grand scheme of things, which may fit us better coming from the IOM, but I'm worried that we just won't be able to find work like we could in Seattle.
Just putting this out there in the hope that someone else has been in a similar positions, so here goes! I am about to head out to the Pacific NW to scope out potential neighbourhoods for our move IOM to the US. We've been out to Seattle a few times, and we have family there, but oh my are the houses expensive! I know there are jobs there, and we'd have family around to help us out for the 1st few months, but it feels like (with the cost of houses) we'd be in the same position that we're in here where we work just to keep up with the mortgage, and we never get to actually enjoy ourselves.
Then there's Bellingham...we've not been there (yet), but we've been told that its a wonderful town, with plenty to do and see for us and the kids. We'd save at least 100k on property, and the schools looks amazing but - and this is what really worries me - are there jobs? It's a pretty small town in the grand scheme of things, which may fit us better coming from the IOM, but I'm worried that we just won't be able to find work like we could in Seattle.
Really, the only reason it's a town is because of all the Vancouverites who shop there and as such I was expecting the shops to be really good but they're only slightly better than Great Falls, MT. (And you wouldn't want to move to Great Falls).
It's not a dump in terms of crime or being scary in some way, it's just meh.
And now that the loonie has plunged, I suspect the economy in Bellingham is going downhill rapidly.
The only thing I really liked about it was Fred Meyers. And you can use your InterAC card in the shops no problem, which is only of interest to Canadians.
The greater Seattle area is a major conurbation, no comparison really. It's a big ass city.
Feb 29th 2016, 12:40 am
#19
Wondering if...
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: Clarence, NY
Posts: 1,214
Re: Seattle/Bellingham - which would you choose?
So martin18, I was in Bellingham and Seattle last week and wow...what a difference that stretch of I-5 makes!!! I really liked Bellingham, and was shown around by a very helpful realtor. There's a lot to think about, but I think we may have just made our decision to head your way, rather than to join the crowds jostling for property in Seattle and the surrounding area. Though I found some places I liked near to Seattle (Shoreline/Lynwood), real estate is BRUTAL and I can't help but think that we'd be better off buying in Bellingham (though real estate is pretty hot there too!). Jobs are still a bit of a worry, as obviously just due to scale there are less opportunities than Seattle, but that's the next thing I'm going to have to tackle. No point in applying for anything at this stage as we're still working though visas, and they can take a while...
Bellingham is definitely felt like it was more sedate than Seattle, but to be honest, coming from where we're leaving, sedate might just feel pretty exciting!
Bellingham is definitely felt like it was more sedate than Seattle, but to be honest, coming from where we're leaving, sedate might just feel pretty exciting!
Nov 13th 2016, 3:52 am
#20
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2013
Location: Olympia, WA.
Posts: 28
Re: Seattle/Bellingham - which would you choose?
I've lived in Olympia for over a year and I love it here for many reasons, but I don't know what the job market is like except there's a very high percentage in government jobs (it being the State Capital).
I do know that certain sectors have good opportunities in Marysville owing to the large casino there and a lot of visitors from a large area, including a great many from Canada, as a result.
I do know that certain sectors have good opportunities in Marysville owing to the large casino there and a lot of visitors from a large area, including a great many from Canada, as a result.
