UberPhLuBB, the answer to your questions is dependent on the reasons you are leaving the Peoples Republic of California. I might also ask about where in the PRK but generalities will work. First off if you have a “moderate” home in any major metropolitan area, you should have a significant amount of equity, and can expect to pay cash for a similar if not larger home. Second consideration is employment, unless you’re retiring with this move you will need to consider a metro area, Seattle, Vancouver, or Portland. Yes there is a list of smaller ones but as previously mentioned, there is a boatload of prejudice against “cash rich Californians” on both sides of the river.
I’m curious to know about the silly gun laws in WA, and the liberalization going on in Oregon. Which and what? Washington has good points for CCW and general ownership; there is also a move underway to enact an AWB at the state level. Oregon has CCW; liberal open carry laws, state level 2nd AM protection, and class III without problems in most areas. The Portland metro area also has a list of psycho anti-gun politicians working to prohibit everything.
Forget about taxes as an issue, the sales tax in WA in all it’s forms minus an income tax will equal the higher property taxes plus income tax minus a sales tax in OR for the average resident. A list of other “little” taxes will round out the numbers but you can expect to pay about the same in “user fees” or “taxes” in either state. There is also a risk of prosecution for WA residents buying anything of significant price in OR to avoid the taxes.
My story? We decided to move out of the PRK years ago. My wife’s family had moved into a berg south of Grants Pass and we wanted to join them. After a couple of visits, the economic reality dictated Portland or Vancouver. We had a small condo and listed in the face of a dying market, it sold and escrow closed a mere two weeks before the bubble burst. Free and clear? Not hardly. We both had relatively good jobs and just walked away from them, no employment waiting for us.
We found a small townhouse to rent and found work at a lower skill level, then a house to rent and spent a couple of years advancing in the job market. Employment still wouldn’t allow a reinvestment at the same sales level so we wound up paying “penalties” for not paying capital gains promptly, I understand the laws have changed so look at them to be sure of your situation. We bought a small house and now have a quite a bit of equity thanks to the influx of cash rich Californians moving into the Portland Metro Area and inflating the property values. (Sorry, I could help it.)
As a shooting addict, I experienced withdrawal in an extreme form. Not knowing anyone with my affliction or anywhere to go was very difficult for me, not having the disposable income to spend helped. Can you believe there wasn’t a store within forty miles of the rented homes to compare with any gun store I left behind, and this was in a “major” metro area, times have sure changed! I once bought a new Colt 1991a1, four years later it was still NIB. I still have to drive twenty miles to get to what I consider a gun store.
Where to move? Come to the Willamette Valley anywhere West of Portland, every home that sells makes my place worth another hundred bucks, they can’t build them fast enough for me. True, weather can be problematic. It does rain a good deal here; consider stainless guns, I need to buy some as all mine are blue. Snow and Ice? We just exaggerate the stories on the news to scare the Newbies.
(Dad calls at least twice a year to see if we’re alive.)
Several gun clubs in the area, hunting is convenient, and employment is relatively abundant for those with skills. You can expect lower wages along with lower property values and cost of living. Indoor ranges are few and far between, mostly in the City of Portland, but the woods are wide open. Let me know when you get here, I’ll be glad to give you the grand tour.
BTW...if you need a job when you get here, the closer to Portland the better.
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