Moving to Washington and need to advice

[angrychair]

Moving to Washington this May and need some advice. My job will be in Olympia and I've narrowed home locations to Olympia, Tumwater or Yelm. So, with respect to schools, city government and crime what do you think?

[napoleon_in_rags]

1. Working for the state, eh?

Last edited Sat Apr 27, 2013, 02:25 AM - Edit history (1)

I went to school there, like Courtney Love:

Look for places on Olympia's west side, or near downtown. Avoid places far out in Lacey. (east side) Or way far out in Tumwater. Yelm is a commute, but if you're looking to buy, it used to have to lower home prices than Oly.

[pscot]

2. Yelm is surrounded by a vast suburban commercial strip

Which will all be buried under mud if Mt. Rainier farts. Look at Tacoma or Lakewood. There's pretty good bus service between Tacoma and Olympia.

[napoleon_in_rags]

3. That's some affordable real estate.

Just looking at that. The best deal is to get in an area that was once criminal, but is on the up and up. I heard that was happening with Hilltop in Tacoma a while ago. However, Lakewood is Lakewood.

[opiate69]

4. Right now, the Lacey area is the spot to be.. or, really unincorporated areas just east of Lacey

Much lower rents/cost of living than in Pierce County. Good schools, lots of businesses at Hawks Prairie, as well as down Martin Way. Lots of really decent little neighborhoods.

[napoleon_in_rags]

5. If you say so.

I just remember beauty of the west side, out by Evergreen.

[opiate69]

6. Well, yeah.. if you can afford that...

when I saw "west side" I was thinking up off Harrison, by the mall... some older neighborhoods there that are kinda nice too.. and definitely seems to be more left-leaning for sure..

[GP6971]

7. If driving to/from olympia from Tacoma

or Lakewood, the traffic is usually pretty heavy around JBLM. Especially on Fridays