Moving to north east part of state

[C17loadclear]

Hey Guys,

Not sure if this is the best place to post this but my wife and I will be moving in a few years and we are looking at the Kettle Falls/Northport area.    We already have visited and love the area.  Her family is on the west side but I cant talk her into moving back due to the rain.  Does anyone have any suggestions or comments on that area.  We will not know anyone when we move and that has been a concern of mine.  I know how you guys like pictures so I will include a pic of the Elk that I got hunting with my brother in law last year.  It was my first time hunting Elk and I am hooked!!

[Skillet]

Welcome to the state - I (mis)spent a lot of my youth up in that area, and still do when I get the chance.  Love the area, but never lived up there, though.  It does have a bit of a reputation for being a bit stand-offish to outsiders, but you already have some street cred with the elk kill!     Assuming you don't have any "Obama 2012" stickers on a newer Subaru you should be fine 

[250savage]

  Welcome

[baldopepper]

My wife and I bought property in the Hunters area about 14 years ago and recently put a home on it. (worked up from travel trailer, to cabin to actual home) We love the area and have found the "locals" to be friendly and welcoming.  We don't live there year around, but do spend a great deal of time there.  We've seen a lot of "wetsiders" come and go for a variety of reasons.  Many come and spend time in the summer when there a lots of activities and the weather is great and find out the winters can be quite different.  Many forget that you don't have Nordstroms, Starbucks, hospitals,  etc. just down the road and you have to plan to be a little more self sufficient. I don't know if you plan on living right in one of the towns or if your looking to get out and away more.  Some that move out find that you have a lot more critters to contend with (different types of bugs, a few snakes, coyotes that can keep you awake all night etc) Basically what I'm saying is you really need to go into it with your eyes open-my wife and I love the peace and solitude and hate having to come back to the  "big city"-but many who move over there find the adjustment very difficult.  There are lots of places on the market over there (Craigs list is loaded).  I'd suggest going over and looking around in the dead of winter at least once so you'll get a good idea of how different winter is over there as compared to the west side-the whole area over there is nice in my opinion so just a matter of finding a place you love. Good luck in your search and welcome to the site!!

[buckfvr]

1. No easements
2. No community wells
3. Any place you may be interested in, go see during spring thaw.  That is the time to see a place at its worst.
4. Check well log.
5. Avoid riff raff type neighbors, especially those with alot of barking dogs and junk.

Theres more to be concerned with, but that is a starting point.  That being said, Kettle is a great area and there are alot of decent options in the area in all directions.  Keep in mind distances from town ( Colville ) are in house addresses.  If a home in say Northport is like 3209 yada yada road.....it is essentially 32 miles from Colville.  Driving times in winter can be a white knuckle hour or better. 

Good folks are friendly, dont worry about not knowing anyone.  They will find you. Lots to do, just not same stuff as I-5 corridore. 

Good luck............

[C17loadclear]

Thanks for all the info..Keep it coming!!  Right now we are on 10 acres and love living in the country.  Although I did learn that "remote" is different up there than most places. I think we actually could see the end of the earth at some of the properties we looked at.   We are looking at buying a minimum of 20 acres and hopefully being next to national forest.

Great comment on going during the winter and spring thaw as we had planned a winter trip but didnt think about the spring thaw.

I had heard some negative things about the Onion Creek area.  Is this an area that I should be concerned about?

Thanks again!!

[baldopepper]

I'm not very familiar with Onion Creek, but, as anywhere, there are some areas you want to avoid.  Many of the very isolated residents are isolated because they don't care to be around people and they make that very clear.  Ask around a bit and the locals can pretty much let you the know what areas to avoid.  Keep in mind that many of those larger parcels that are quite a ways off the main road are snowed in for much of the winter unless you do your own plowing.  18-24" of snow overnight is not uncommon over there, and that spring thaw can turn dirt roads in to nearly impassable piles of mud. As mentioned above, water is a big thing over there-if you're buying raw ground you must check well logs-lots of dry holes over there.
Don't get me wrong, the good things far outweigh the bad things over there IF you have the right attitude.  Many westsiders go over there with an attitude that everyone over there is an undereducated red neck and  that couldn't be further from the truth. Lots of good people and great places to live!!

[buckfvr]

I dont think I would specifically point out a small area as an "avoid " area, but you should certainly pay attention to the surroundings and those that inhabit it.

It can be said there are undesireables in virtually every area of the n.e., but not in such alarming numbers that you would avoid an area all together.  Thats why I suggest no easements, and put emphasis on neighbors, or those of close proximity.

SO I guess it would be more about avoiding person types than areas..........people who may be deemed undesireable by one, may be a person or family of no consequence to another.

[C17loadclear]

Great adivce!!  I knew about the well issue over there as our agent that showed us the land had said it can cost 5k to 15k to dig a well depending where you are.  I am seeing that spring thaw issue so I will keep that in mind.

We are live and let live kind of people so hopefully we will fit right in.

[baldopepper]

5k to 15k would be on the cheap end over there.  You'd be wise to figure more in the 25k range and another 5k for the pump installation.  Might be able to go cheaper but not wise to budget on the cheap end on anything over there. If you have to bring in power that's not cheap either.  (we're in about 35K at our place for power and water)

[KFhunter]

Thanks for all the info..Keep it coming!!  Right now we are on 10 acres and love living in the country.  Although I did learn that "remote" is different up there than most places. I think we actually could see the end of the earth at some of the properties we looked at.   We are looking at buying a minimum of 20 acres and hopefully being next to national forest.

Great comment on going during the winter and spring thaw as we had planned a winter trip but didnt think about the spring thaw.

I had heard some negative things about the Onion Creek area.  Is this an area that I should be concerned about?

Thanks again!!

end of the earth?

that's the difference between you and I  -  this area is too crowded for my tastes   

[KFhunter]

C17loadclear
are you a loadmaster on the C17?

[C17loadclear]

Retired Loadmaster.  Flew C141 for 15 years and then moved over to the C17 for the last 7.

[SevenD]

Retired Loadmaster.  Flew C141 for 15 years and then moved over to the C17 for the last 7.

Bringing the T-Tail Mafia to the East Side eh! 

Welcome from a former herk load, good luck with the property search.

[MacAttack]

Don't know if you have seen this website. But I like it since I am wanting to buy land in that area as well (well more of a dream right now). http://www.landwatch.com/