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5 Reasons Now is a Great Time to Move to Vancouver

June 26, 2018

Are you in the market for a brand new home in a brand new city? If you are looking for a great place for a great value, you should absolutely look for homes in Vancouver, Washington. Vancouver, WA is located on the north bank of the Columbia River, is the largest suburb near Portland, the fourth-largest city in the state of Washington, and should be on the top of your home search list! Here are 5 reasons why now is a great time to move to Vancouver: 1. Strong Value Per Square Foot When speaking with a local home builder, be aware that the median value per home listed for sale in Vancouver is currently $205 per square foot, as reported by real estate site Trulia. Comparatively, the Portland metro area is priced at an estimated $227 per square foot. So, it is really a very competitive market. While homes for sale are very strong in this market, rental properties are also competitive, with an average apartment listing in Vancouver of $1,795 per month. Zillow rates Vancouver as a “healthy” market, giving it a 6.5 out of 10. 2. Range of Properties Per Budget If you do a search for new homes for sale on Trulia or Zillow, you will see that prices for homes from local home builders are listed from the low $200Ks to mid $500Ks. There is really a home for every budget here. Those are just prices for NEW construction homes built by Vancouver, WA local home builders. Vancouver, WA has something for everyone! Whether you are looking at a property from local home builders, something a bit older than just had the kitchen and bathrooms updated or hardwood floors restored, or a complete fixer-upper found at auction, Vancouver has a property for you. Median sales prices are coming in at $337,995, while the median price of homes sold is $311,700. Are you bringing your children along to meet with the local home builders to construct your perfect new home? Well, if you are you looking for a little educational fun for the kids, you are in luck in Vancouver, WA as you can visit the Fort Vancouver National Historical site, or take a tour through a working blacksmith shop, or my personal favorite, let the kids dig for artifacts. Pomeroy Living History Farms is just a short drive from Vancouver. There you can experience what it was like on a 1920s farm. You and your children can try your hand(s) at various farm activities such as grinding grain, feeding the livestock, and even making rope. Or, are you just looking for good, clean fun, a way for you and the kids to cool down on a hot day? Visit the Firstenburg Community Center, complete with a kids’ area, a lazy river, and waterslide! Sure to brighten everyone’s day! 3. Convenience to Neighboring Cities Vancouver, WA is an outdoor paradise! Once here, you may never want to leave. You can find several farmers markets, like the Vancouver Farmers Market, which has over 200 local vendors that participate. To get there, Vancouver is accessible through two interstate highways and three state highways. Traveling north/south you have I-5 and I-205, which can take you to Portland or Seattle; and East/West, SR-500, and SR-503 reach into neighboring towns. SR-501 heads through downtown and along a path that reaches each the Columbia River and Vancouver Lake, ending a few miles north of Vancouver. Looking for breathtaking views? Take a drive up the Columbia River Gorge or visit one of Vancouver’s many Hilltop wineries. In the summer, there are concerts in Esther Short Park or at the Clark County Amphitheater. 4. Tax Incentives I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, the only things that are certain in life are death and taxes. Not so if you live in Vancouver, WA. The first tax benefit is that the state of Washington does not levy individual or corporate income tax. Also, property taxes in the state of Washington are lower than the national average as the average American household spends $2,197 on property taxes for their homes each year*, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, compared to the $1,962* that you would pay in Vancouver, WA. (*Based on the $184,700 median home value in the U.S. as of 2016, the year of the most recent available data.) If you’re looking for your first home or targeting retirement, Vancouver is attractive to anyone looking for a well-priced home now. Also, another tax incentive is local shopping...in Oregon. While Washington sales taxes are above the national median, the proximity to Oregon allows for sales tax-free shopping with ease. Call a local home builder, begin living and working in Vancouver, WA, & shopping in easily accessible Portland. It is Tax Savings win-win! 5. New Housing Developments Not only is Vancouver a great place to live for what they have in terms of amenities, activities, and culture, but also because of the natural beauty of the area. And there are great local builders like New Tradition Homes, that offer you different options. They can either build you a home to suit your needs, on a lot that you choose, or, you can choose from multiple gorgeous developments of new construction that are move-in ready or coming soon, such as the Adam's Glen neighborhood (from the low-mid $400s and coming soon) or the Hockinson Meadows neighborhood (from the low $400s). Once you are living here, you will be just a short drive from beautiful beaches on the Pacific Ocean, Mt. St. Helens, and even Mt. Hood. You can drive north for about two hours and you will find the hustle and bustle of Seattle. If you are looking for something a little more serene, there is camper’s hideaway at Lake Merwin just an hour north of Vancouver. Vancouver is a wonderful place to call home and is a great alternative to living in Portland. Are you ready to make the move? Call New Tradition Homes, your Vancouver local home builder, today!