Northwest Timberland

[Pilot]

Just looked at a 0.9 acre parcel in a rural area listed for $49,500, price reduced recently by $25K. Bank owned. Took a look & I can see why it is "cheap". Steep, probably unstable ground, trashy area. Nothing good to say about it.

That's what $49.5K will get you 25 miles from Portland.

 

[ultrarunner]

Had two home site when I bought and now one "IF" depending on Septic...

Last tax bill for 9.97 acres is $2,300.

Tax bill went up 80% on the adjoining 6 acres with home to $11,000

All my neighbors, except for the one with 3 homes on 2.5 acres, were paid for conservation easements. The big landowner worked out a deal where he received a million dollars and the rights to build 3 more homes... it was very controversial.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Majority is in the newly expanded buffer zone which I believe is 200' now.

The thing that really peeves me is that those buffer zones only apply to rural property. As soon as the stream runs into town, they build right up to the high bank line, if they don't install a culvert and pave right over the top of it. It's like they think the environment doesn't exist inside the city limits.

I'll believe they are serious about stream protection when I see cities pulling their drinking water downstream of their sewer outfall.

 

[jinjimbob]

The thing that really peeves me is that those buffer zones only apply to rural property. As soon as the stream runs into town, they build right up to the high bank line, if they don't install a culvert and pave right over the top of it. It's like they think the environment doesn't exist inside the city limits.

I'll believe they are serious about stream protection when I see cities pulling their drinking water downstream of their sewer outfall.

Yep I see this all the time here in King County, WA. The county is very strict, the cities ok anything.

 

[clemsonfor]

Had two home site when I bought and now one "IF" depending on Septic...

Last tax bill for 9.97 acres is $2,300.

Tax bill went up 80% on the adjoining 6 acres with home to $11,000

All my neighbors, except for the one with 3 homes on 2.5 acres, were paid for conservation easements. The big landowner worked out a deal where he received a million dollars and the rights to build 3 more homes... it was very controversial.

This is crazy!! I beleive i make decent money for my age and especially my location. I also make well over the national average i beleive but those tax bills would be impossible for the average family to pay!!!

My farm and home on it (1300sqft and 130 acres) had a tax bill of about $600. My second property or primary residence in a rural yet in a town of 50 that i live in on 3/4 acre and 3000sqft was $1200.

 

[ultrarunner]

This is crazy!! I beleive i make decent money for my age and especially my location. I also make well over the national average i beleive but those tax bills would be impossible for the average family to pay!!!

My farm and home on it (1300sqft and 130 acres) had a tax bill of about $600. My second property or primary residence in a rural yet in a town of 50 that i live in on 3/4 acre and 3000sqft was $1200.

The Washington Property Tax situation took me by surprise...

I thoroughly researched before I bought and a big part of my decision was I-747 approved by the voters to limit increases... I did a spread sheet and decided I could make it work.

What I didn't count on was I-747 being thrown out after being the law for several years...

Within 18 months of my purchase, my assessment increased 80% from my purchase price.

All I can say is I may be staying in California because at least my Property Tax increase is limited to 2% per year unless 2/3 of the voters approve higher.

 

[Mudfarmer]

The Washington Property Tax situation took me by surprise...

I thoroughly researched before I bought and a big part of my decision was I-747 approved by the voters to limit increases... I did a spread sheet and decided I could make it work.

What I didn't count on was I-747 being thrown out after being the law for several years...

Within 18 months of my purchase, my assessment increased 80% from my purchase price.

All I can say is I may be staying in California because at least my Property Tax increase is limited to 2% per year unless 2/3 of the voters approve higher.

Gotta admit, we multi-generational Washingtonians have done this as long as I (and my ancestors) can remember in order to keep Californians out. Seems to be working. Note we have no Income tax at least.
Mf

 

[ultrarunner]

Gotta admit, we multi-generational Washingtonians have done this as long as I (and my ancestors) can remember in order to keep Californians out. Seems to be working. Note we have no Income tax at least.
Mf

Not too sure if it is working... every time I'm in Lacey, Olympia or Tumwater there seems to by no shortage of out of State tags.

The Income Tax is outstanding for those with income... two of my neighbors are retired WA school teachers and another built his home when he married 60 years ago... all three were very concerned about their ability to pay ever increasing property taxes.

I guess it is just the price to pay for living in God's Country...

 

[Mudfarmer]

"I guess it is just the price to pay for living in God's Country..."

Gotta admit - you're right.
Mf

 

[Pete Judd]

Hey Mud, I sold the 5 ac parcel next door here in south Elma 2 years ago for 90k I paid 18 k 15 years ago and took over 25k in timber off before I sold.

Looks like a good deal in the long run. But if you start breaking it up into 5 ac parcels GHC will back bill you on the taxes 7 years the diff between timberland and res.