Raven

We've been researching this very thing. It seems our home value has increased 65k each year for the past two and one half years. That seems dreamlike.....so, we started checking it out.

Here is one thing we've learned and maybe it only applies to our area; but, we are within an hour's commute of Seattle and my small city is now considered a bedroom commute community for those who can no longer or don't want to pay the prices commanded for Seattle real estate.

In both directions, an hour north and an hour south, the housing market is exploding...not like a bubble bursting, but people are considering the commute as part of the price they have to pay to get a house that is both affordable and large and modern, etc.....bigger bang for your buck, the further out you move.

Plus, look at the land. Many communities are now permitting house separation to be four feet or less from foundation to foundation. Hard to believe, but true. So, it's entirely possible to buy a 3200 sq.ft. house on 5000 sq. feet of land....plant one bush and your landscaping is done.
Yet, people are paying for it because they want a badass huge house.

In our area, Walmart is moving in...we seem to be following the pattern occurring in Riverside County, CA.....my friend lives there....she said, as soon as Walmart moved in, her values went up. And, Walmart doesn't come in, unless there is a population to support it.

So, visit your county and find out who is coming to town, as far as commercial properties are concerned. That should help, too. We are learning that Walmart is usually followed by Target and Lowe's...which means we are now a bedroom community for Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia.......

While we might level off, I can't see values decreasing......I'm sure we will level off....65k a year is outstanding.

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