Finally, a place where affordable really means affordable, a place with one-quarter Seattle's median house price - Tieton, WA. Since we're already looking at how artistic Seattle expats are choosing to settle in places like this, we figured we'd take a look and find out what's available just in case you'd like to join them. We expanded the range a bit to add some variety (and because there's only so many houses available in the town itself). No condos, though!
Artists need studios, so let's start with a studio, a 0 bedroom, 1 bath cabin in the woods. It's a great location and price, $82,500, if you find you have to be an ex-pat from Tieton after being an ex-pat from Seattle. The cabin is 624 square feet and was built in 1946. Check to see if that really isn't just a wood stove, but a wood-fired stove, oven, and heat source. There's plenty of wood around because the property is 0.46 acres, enough room for large projects, or a studio to go with your studio cabin. A bonus: views of the Naches River.
Here's something much more conventional, a ranch-style house surrounded by ranches. The 1,560 square foot one story has 3 bedrooms and 1 bath for $188,800. It was built in 1977, but has the very modern touch of solar panels on the roof. That's a natural choice considering that nature provides less than 9 inches of rain per year. Dry skies may be a welcome respite for someone with too much moss between their toes. The property is 0.28 acres and fenced. You get a lawn and garden. Your neighbors are livestock who have their own way of tending their weeds.
Finally, a house in Tieton proper, a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1,684 square foot one story that was built in 2013. That should be modern and conventional enough for most. It and the 9,583 square foot lot are listed at $194,900, which also provides conventional utilities, no need for wells or septic systems. Buy a conventional house and your creativity isn't diverted away from your art.
Montana isn't the only place with big skies. This 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2,400 square foot house comes with 4 acres for $225,000. Acreage is nice, and this land comes with irrigation. Decide whether you want livestock, crops, or maybe just a great expanse of no interruptions. Inside, there are amenities like a butler's pantry. Outside, check out the artistry in the topiary. Someone has spent a lot of time tending that shrubbery.
The fifth of our five and still we haven't breached a quarter-million dollars, $249,995. Round up the offer to make the paperwork easier. They're offering a lot for that price. The listing makes the 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2,446 square foot house seem to be an after-thought; but maybe that's because there's so much more going on. They have a lawn, which evidently had to be stated; but the property also includes 3 acres and irrigation. For privacy, there's a remote-controlled gate. For relaxation, there's a creek and a path that follows it. For your garden, there's a greenhouse - and that irrigation, again. Then, for your big projects, there's a 32 foot x 16 foot shop. After all of that, open the gate and welcome folks in to the 36 foot x 29 foot party barn that includes a kitchen, bath, and loft.
· 27870 State Rte # 419, Naches [Zillow]
· 9191 S Naches Rd, Naches [Zillow]
· 1102 Canal Ave, Tieton [Zillow]
· 1880 Franklin Rd, Tieton [Zillow]
· 280 Tyler Rd, Naches [Zillow]
· Seattle growth is creating expats for good reasons [CS]