So how is life in Custer in Whatcom County by Canadian border? (Vancouver: real estate, cheap home)

[nowhereman427]

[Sockeye66]

Originally Posted by nowhereman427

May want to move this to the general WA thread. Whatcom is at the Canadian border, Vancouver at the Columbia River/Oregon border.

[StealthRabbit]

Wrong Vancouver... it happens. We have had international visitors end up 6 hrs drive away from where they expected to be. Even a USA (HI) based SIL pulled that stunt. (on a very snowy Christmas)

[jerzdevil]

Originally Posted by nowhereman427

It'a quiet and calm, near beautiful water including semiahmoo, birch bay, cherry point and the pier area in blaine. Summertime its more busy and lively. Custer itself is a rural area with nothing but it's surrounded by these places and near I-5. Some of the best real estate deals are in Custer. Old country singer loretta lynn starter her career at a bar in Custer.

[rkcarguy]

Custer is a TINY town close to the BC border and Bellingham, WA. The town was the epicenter of an oil train derailment and fire on Dec 22nd, 2020, as the BNSF main line runs right through the center of it and also has a "wye" serving two refineries. I suspect due to this, there is some people "getting out" and some real estate "deals" to be had (depending on who's looking at it).

The area was VERY LUCKY that it was crude oil in the 6 tankers headed into the refinery and not propane that was outbound. Otherwise there would have been a massive explosion (or series of them) that would have obliterated the entire town (it's only about 3 square blocks).

Original post and pictures here:
https://www.city-data.com/forum/washi...ellingham.html

[nowhereman427]

Originally Posted by jerzdevil

It'a quiet and calm, near beautiful water including semiahmoo, birch bay, cherry point and the pier area in blaine. Summertime its more busy and lively. Custer itself is a rural area with nothing but it's surrounded by these places and near I-5. Some of the best real estate deals are in Custer. Old country singer loretta lynn starter her career at a bar in Custer.

Yes appears to be very rural. That's why my search for single family homes built between 2010 - 2021 nothing comes up. Maybe I need to search Birch Bay or Bellingham?

[jerzdevil]

There were deals in Custer before the train derailment which was only 2 months ago. It's a good place if you want land and a cheap home or a big home site to build a custom home. Birch bay and bellingham are overpriced in my opinion. I would buy in Birch bay before bellingham though, because the water feels more like a real beach and it's less liberal, more safe and down to earth area. People live there to feel like they're on vacation 365 days a year. If you don't like wearing your mask while exercising, Bellingham probably isn't for you. If you're considering Custer you should consider Ferndale. There are deals that come up in Ferndale and it has a main street area just big enough to not leave town every week, if you're a homebody.

[nowhereman427]

Originally Posted by jerzdevil

There were deals in Custer before the train derailment which was only 2 months ago. It's a good place if you want land and a cheap home or a big home site to build a custom home. Birch bay and bellingham are overpriced in my opinion. I would buy in Birch bay before bellingham though, because the water feels more like a real beach and it's less liberal, more safe and down to earth area. People live there to feel like they're on vacation 365 days a year. If you don't like wearing your mask while exercising, Bellingham probably isn't for you. If you're considering Custer you should consider Ferndale. There are deals that come up in Ferndale and it has a main street area just big enough to not leave town every week, if you're a homebody.

Is Birch Bay the last place in Washington State before you enter Canada? I forgot the name of the town that is.
I won't get any hits in real estate websites hits as the specifications I listed are 3 bd. 2 bath, 2+ attached car garage 2,500+ 1/2 to 1 acre of land, 2010 to 2021. I would probably end up in a subdivision with neighbors within spitting distance living on top of each other with no privacy.

I need privacy, quiet and little to no traffic. If it were at all possible 1/2 miles between neighbors would be ideal.

[StealthRabbit]

There are plenty of places with space on the 'Other Side' of WA, (Blaine to Sumas) opposite side 6 hrs away from Vancouver, WA... (This forum)

Look at Ferndale / Lynden for more listings with rural potential.

But... as always. Find your deals BEFORE they get listed or marketed, as there will be no DEALS once something is advertised to the public.

Just gotta dig and WA GIS has all the info you need to do it during Covid.

Now's the time. I make my offers between now and property tax date (30 April)

February is about right to score the best deal.

[jerzdevil]

Originally Posted by nowhereman427

Is Birch Bay the last place in Washington State before you enter Canada? I forgot the name of the town that is.
I won't get any hits in real estate websites hits as the specifications I listed are 3 bd. 2 bath, 2+ attached car garage 2,500+ 1/2 to 1 acre of land, 2010 to 2021. I would probably end up in a subdivision with neighbors within spitting distance living on top of each other with no privacy.

I need privacy, quiet and little to no traffic. If it were at all possible 1/2 miles between neighbors would be ideal.

Blaine and Lynden border Canada, both are decent towns. Many old homes don't have 2 bathrooms, maybe 1.5 bathrooms. 2,500+ is also big and the 2 car garage is again not something found everywhere. Garages are a suburban thing you find in developments. The weather up here is surprisingly mild apart from rain.

Most properties also don't have 1/2 an acre, maybe 1/4th acre or 8,000 sq ft. If you want a half mile between neighbors you should look at anywhere between Deming and Sumas (right on the Canada border). Prices are also reasonable there. It's close to Mt Baker, Canada, and within an hour of Bellingham and the waterfront areas of whatcom county. The Nooksack river is good for recreation.