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Emily
moving
What to expect moving to Birch Bay?
Curious what people think. Homes are going for about $439,100 on averag
4 upvotes
9 Replies
Benjamin Hughes
not my experience at all
34 upvotes
Jayden Ruiz
wish I knew this sooner
30 upvotes
Cooper Scott
I've been living here for 10 years and I'd say it's not perfect but it works for me. The pet-friendliness is challenging compared to other places I've lived. Overall No regrets on my end..
28 upvotes
sacramento_isla
Alright, I'll give you the full rundown since I see a lot of surface-level answers here.
I've been in South for 15 years. Moved from Phoenix for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. South schools are surprisingly good. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Summers can be brutally hot. Not very walkable outside downtown. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 9/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
I've been in South for 15 years. Moved from Phoenix for a fresh start. Here's my honest, detailed take:
**Housing:**
The market right now is tough. We bought in 2016 at k and it's now worth down slightly than that. If you're renting, expect /mo for a decent 2-bed in a safe area. The market is competitive but not impossible.
**Employment:**
tech is strong here. hospitality is hit or miss. If you're remote, you'll love the cost of living. Average salaries are established for the area.
**Quality of Life:**
the quality of life is solid. The outdoor scene is better than expected - we have biking trails within easy driving distance. Dining has gotten so much better in the past few years.
**Schools (if relevant):**
Varies hugely by district. South schools are surprisingly good. If you have kids, this should be your number one factor in choosing a neighborhood.
**The Bad:**
I'd be lying if I said everything is great. Summers can be brutally hot. Not very walkable outside downtown. And walkability can be frustrating.
**Bottom line:**
For young professionals, I'd say this is a 9/10. Definitely worth checking out.. Feel free to ask specific questions - happy to help.
19 upvotes
Wesley Torres
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Seattle about 7 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are stable, gas is average.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Definitely worth checking out..
I'm a software engineer who relocated here from Seattle about 7 years ago. The main reasons were my partner's job and weather.
Pros I've experienced:
- Friendly community, easy to meet people
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Lots of new development happening
Cons that are real:
- Urban sprawl is real
- Dating scene is rough
Financially, we've found it decent compared to where we came from. Older homes are where the value is. Groceries are stable, gas is average.
Socially, I genuinely enjoy living here. Definitely worth checking out..
18 upvotes
Nathan A.
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Charlotte and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Greenfield. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in retail. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Greenfield. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in retail. If you're in real estate you might struggle.
People: Generally average. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: average. Tons of options if you like craft beer.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
13 upvotes
Declan Moore
Renting here right now, paying about /mo for a 3-bedroom. I love the pace of life here. Compared to Seattle it's surprisingly good.
13 upvotes
Douglas M.
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem better than expected.
I've been here 2 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
I've been here 2 years and it was the best decision I ever made. The thing nobody mentions is weather. It's growing and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the safety is legit. And if you're into fishing, this place is improving.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The North side vs the Oak Park side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
No regrets on my end..
8 upvotes
Gabriella
Depends on what you're looking for honestly. If you want food scene, then yeah this place is great. But if walkability matters to you, might want to look elsewhere.
3 upvotes