Monday, March 23, 2009

House Hunting

So you may already know that we are looking to relocate. We have chosen Vancouver (Washington). Many people have asked me why Vancouver? Well when I think about it we don't have a really great reason. The weather is marginally better than the Tacoma area. The Church is super strong. There are I think five stakes in the Vancouver area. One of the schools districts even supports release-time seminary. There is good opportunity to but houses that some with acreage. It is still in an outdoors-man's mecca. By that I mean lots of great hikes, mountains, water falls, river etc... We know people that grew up there and liked it. It is two hours closer to family in Idaho and Salt Lake and I guess California too (though the two hours doesn't make much of a dent in the California trip). We would be closer to the beautiful Oregon beaches! We would be right across the river from Portland. We have never been so it will be fun to explore a new big city. So nothing really serious, just an all around "like" for the area.

Dave is looking at two practices that are available. One in Camas, and the other in Battleground. Depending on the day he feels differently about which would be a better fit. And I don't blame him. What a loaded decision full of consequences. I don't envy him.

In order to help make the decision maybe a bit easier we went to Vancouver last weekend to look at houses and the two areas. We thought, "hey, if we can't find a place we would like to live than that will make it easier to cross a practice off the list." I was not convinced there was anything that I would be happy with in the Camas area, and so we focused our attention there. Dave was leaning at the time towards the Camas practice and so I really felt I needed to find a happy place there.

We saw like 15 houses. It was a whirlwind real estate frenzy. We had the awesomest agent who had everything all lined up. She had this super cool portfolio all made up for us with pages of information about each house. We liked a lot of them. But only loved three. Two in the Camas area and one in Battle Ground. We did visit my blog house. It was everything I had hoped it would be on the outside but the inside broke my heart. It was so poorly planned and OLD!!!! Dave says we could totally make it work with some elbow grease. But even after years of watching HGTV "Hidden Potential" I couldn't muster up a vision of change.

So here are our three favorites!

This one is in Battle Ground. It would be 8 minutes to Dave's work and all the schools are right down the street. The schools are good (they score mostly 8's on Great Schools.com). It is right on a river, nestled in the woods. The garage has huge finished living space upstairs with a kitchen bathroom and laundry. But I love how beautiful it is. And I must admit the play structure alone sales it for me.

Click here for more info

This next house is near the Camas practice. Though officially in Vancouver (the Fisher's Landing area) it is only 12 minutes to Dave's possible office. I have to say it is my very favorite. I would totally be giving up on our dream to have property, but the house is so amazingly perfect that it might be worth it! The schools are the best. It would be in the school district with release time seminary. It is also only like a two minute walk to the Columbia river.

Click here for more info

This last house is actually in Camas but it is so out in the boonies that it would also be about 12 minutes to work for Dave. But it is a really great house with an awesome 5 acres!!!! The schools are still top notch but no release time seminary. I think we would eventually close off the breezeway for more square footage downstairs. But this is a great house.

Click here for more info

Later that evening we met one of the Docs and his wife for dinner. They gave us a tour around town and took us out to eat. We really enjoyed there company. I got to see the practice which was fun too.

19 comments:

Jennifer said...

PS Which one would you vote for????

Kath said...

All of the houses look BEAUTIFUL. How exciting for you. I hope Sarah is feeling better.

Nicole said...

Wow!I wil have to look a lot more closely when eveyone is not screaming at me... First glance, I might like the 1st one the most. I would love any of them, though!

Andrea said...

They all look amazing, but the first one looks unbelievable!! Can we move in with you too? Dentists do well. I'd cook for you. I might even mow the lawn. Please!!!!

Andrea said...

After looking at the additional photos, I would for sure choose house number three. You wouldn't have to do a thing to it. LOVE the kitchen, master, and entry and stairs.

I love the property of the first, but I might be willing to give it up for that house.

Andrea said...

oops, I meant #2, not three, 2222222222222222222222222222

Stephanie Saunders said...

I'd have to go with #2. It's a beautiful home! But I love the "Swimming hole trail" in #1. And the awesome playground spot. Beautiful backyard.

Sarah said...

WOW! WOW! More WOW! Those houses are all GORGEOUS! Release time seminary is amazing. I don't think you can go wrong with any of those three! Good luck with the decision making. PS-We are happy to see there will be plenty of room for when we come stay with you;)

Daniel T said...

PS- Our house is 1,050 sq. ft. and we paid $300K. Think about the value to SF ratio there! Ugh!

Spencer and Audrey said...

You are going to love that area! We lived in Portland for 4 years while Spencer attended dental school and we loved it... it is SO beautiful and there is so much to do! When we first moved there, I felt VERY claustrophobic having come from Arizona's wide open skies. However, now I really miss the trees, vines, ferns, wild berry bushes, clouds, rain... the GREEN!! When we moved away I felt almost bare! We were seriously looking at staying in that area after he graduated, but life obviously took us in another direction.

I'm with you on the land issue... but I do think I like house #2 the best. And if it helps, I TOTALLY understand having to decide on the practice situation and all that goes on after that decision has been made. Good luck with it ALL!

Anonymous said...

Well Jenny,
All are great houses, the outside and land of # 1 is truly amazing. But the inside wasn't a match. but lots might could be done, the other houses were nice.
House # 2 was great you could really tell they put alot of work into it and decorating it.
And you would be happy with any of them. Good luck.
Love Mom

Jamie C. said...

I hate them all-No moving allowed for another year and a half.:)
Okay, but I will vote based on the pictures you posted. I love #2. I really love rambler style homes, and although I'm sure it's two stories, it looks like there is a lot of square footage on the ground floor. THey are all beautiful! And with all that's near by to these areas, maybe sacrificing acreage won't be so bad! Good luck!

Nicole said...

No, you have to do #1. You can't do #2 because it doesn't have land-and if you are wanting to settle down permanently, you wouldn't be happy with that. But the main reason, is that I am moving into the guest room! The streem and the land on #1 is incredible. So they don't have as nice of a front door- in time, you can replace that- but you can NEVER add land- remember in was it Superman- they manufacture diamonds, have children- the one thing people aren't making anymore is LAND. (plus how convenient is the guest room- a bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen- so your houseguests (I am now REALLY planning a trip up there) don't have to pester you to cook for them. Go with 1!!!!!!!!

Sarah said...

My vote is #1. It seems more YOU to me--simple and inviting on the outside, yet still stunning and more than you might have imagined once you get inside. Does that make sense? And if it's land you really want, you can't pass this one up. The kids and animals would LOVE it.

judy said...

I don't think any would fit as well as where you are now. Can't Dave find a dentist in this area about to retire? Who would Kait goto horse camp with? I will have to buy her a store made costume. Who is going to teach me all the home ec stuff I've spent my whole life avoiding? They are beautiful and I know it will be great for your family to have some more room. You know more square footage means more cleaning don't you?

Heather said...

Hard choices! No. 1 has a great yard and place for us to stay :) and it's still really nice inside. (The big rock play structure is awesome but it screams stitches or concussion. It might still be worth it. JUST KIDDING!) No. 2 I LOVE!!! I see what you mean with the outside entertaining. That would be a hard place to pass up. The third home has great views and lots of light. I love light. Good luck with your choices!

April said...

I haven't looked in detail at your choices, but when Tyler and I lived there for a year we lived in Fisher's Landing. I love that part of Vancouver the best. If you are looking at Camas have you looked just past it in Washougal? Just wondering. I also substitute taught in all three districts and would totally choose #2 based on school district. Mt. View is a great high school! Besides, all Tyler's girlfriends went there. GOOD LUCK!

April said...

PS now that I looked briefly, 100% #2 And I saw all the schools and funny thing I have been in all of them. You're tempting me with that house, don't do that! I can't go to Vancouver!!!:)-

Fisher Family said...

I might be a little bias..but I love the Fisher landing one! Beautiful!