Bellingham, Washington
SperlingViews

Almost perfect retirement town... - 4/27/2008

Just retired to Bellingham and it's almost perfect: university, two nearby great large cities (Vancouver & Seattle 90 minutes away), good hospital and med specialties, great parks, green countryside and big bay, moderate weather, reasonable home prices, and manageable size (60,000 pop). Just one drawback: winters can be a little dark and rainy, but I trust Al Gore's global warming will take care of that problem in a year or so. Pete P.S. Suggest your interactive locater consider "religious fervor". An atheist in Wichita would not be a good match.[more...]

Natural beauty - 3/6/2008

University town located on Puget Sound with sweeping view of San Juan Islands and snow-capped Cascade Mountains, minutes away from one of the world's great international cities Vancouver BC, environmentally aware, politically active, great place to raise a family, outdoor recreation opportunities all year long, not too hot in summer, West Coast property still affordable...but most do not want more people to move here. It's a lovely size for a city, and minutes outside city limits are beautiful farms and forests. Developing over 137 acres of waterfront property donated by Georgia-Pacific which over the next 25 years will transform the downtown and waterfront areas.[more...]

Quality Of Life - 12/17/2007

I have lived in 3 other states. I have traveled the whole US. The quality of life in Bellingham supersedes all the others. There is absolutely no end to a better quality of life up here. Yes it costs more to live here and the housing is higher than other places, but it is a better place to live, work, and play than all the other areas I have been to. My husband and I live much richer lives up here in more ways than one![more...]

Bad Reviews? - 12/12/2007

I was just reading through the comments and I am shocked to see all negative ones about Bellingham. I moved here almost 6 years ago from Ohio and we LOVE it here! The people have always been wonderful and kind, and the climate is great. Sure the cost of living is a bit high, but with Minimum wage so high it is manageable here. I will agree that most of the locals shun growth here, but that is to be expected. We are already at capacity and still growing in leaps and bounds. The main problem with the area are the Canadians that come down and have no clue how to drive here and cause accidents and traffic headaches.[more...]

Housing - 10/29/2007

Home prices continue to skyrocket in the Bellingham area.[more...]

Living expenses astronomical - 10/23/2007

We are recently retired and we had considered moving to Bellingham and Northwest Washington but were stunned by the median cost of housing. And the constant rain was depressing and too much for our grandkids. Also, the gasoline is really costly, especially for our RV. We will now consider the Midwest or the Southeast. Land is cheaper in such places as Texas. The medical care is not great in Bellingham either, something to think about when you are in your late 50s! Good luck![more...]

Cheers and Jeers! - 8/3/2007

I was so disappointed to hear the negative comments regarding Bellingham's population. Have been here 35 years, believe it to be like most towns, has its positives and negatives. Beautiful scenery, great college town, family oriented community, and honestly, mostly friendly and very giving people! Cost of living is a bit high, we feel pretty safe here, and the economy is growing. Secret, if it is a secret, of being accepted in any community is getting involved! As always, there's room for improvement.[more...]

Bellingham, WA - 6/26/2007

One of the most beautiful places on Earth. Mid size college town with great access to lots of outdoor activities. Mountains, hiking, and even the ocean. Just a short drive to Seattle for all of those big city amenities. And if you really want some culture just minutes to a whole other country... Canada![more...]

Driving me out - 6/6/2007

I love living in Bellingham. A common typo of mine is Belongham. Purely accidental, but truth. I endure the wet dreary winters, autumns and springs for the amazing summer. There is beauty everywhere. Water, mountains, outlying pastures, cute downtown, funky neighborhoods. However, the job market is TERRIBLE. It is becoming unaffordable to live here and have any hopes of ever paying off our mortgage, or have a quality of life that does not revolve around the sheer expense of living, commuting and working here. I've lived here 11 years and I love love love it. Considering relocating to another part of the country to avoid waking up in 30 years only to realize I did not have time outside of working my butt off to actually enjoy the quality of life this beautiful, unique town affords. So sad! Californians and big money retirees... go away![more...]

Bellingham Native - 6/3/2007

I'm a born and raised, 6th generation, resident of Bellingham. I've seen a lot of places and Bellingham still ranks near the to, esp during Bellingham summers. The geography is a bay rapped around by a hill or two. These hills have many beautiful view homes, nothing built after 1950, and most built before the Depression. At opposite ends of town are two more ports, one with the Alaskan Ferry Terminal sports a tiny, real, 19th cent town. On the other a bluff with even more victorian mansions. Great place to live, unless you NEED the sun or if you are too ambitious. Bellingham is Northwest at it's core. Until 1950 or so most citizens felt that Western Washington was their country. We received news about New York and Peking with equal disinterest. The world forgot us, and we forgot it. There is a gut disbelief in success. Developments and new stores are viewed with suspicion. They secretly believe that the university there belongs to them, like a lake or something, ("doesn't every town have a college?"). People come here expecting action, and wonder why no one is smart enough to have thought of this before. This attitude wears newcomers out. Yes, they are crazy. Life is slower. They accept the poor as people, but are less sure about the rich. Recently, retirees hoping to "house-up" again, discovered Bellingham. Their friends who inherited the big bucks discovered Port Townsend. The town lacks business, housing is cheap, soo retirees come; some locals feed, the rest complain about the impossible housing situaition. Last point. Most people here aren't here by accident; most chose to come, many work to stay. There are a few special towns around the Sound; Seattle, Tacoma etc, and Bellingham is one of them. [more...]

Rudest people in Washington - 5/14/2007

I live in Pullman, WA and I call Bellingham everyday and visit there frequently for work. I have to tell you guys this town is so pompous, so full of itself, it is the rudest city I have ever been to. Everyone walks around thinking that the world revolves around them. They need to get out and see what the rest of the country thinks about the NW, NW. It is a nice town, too many Cali's have driven the prices up. Maybe the arrogance of Bellingham will be broken when the market correction comes and lots of people loose money. Just wait whatcom county, after 2010, the inevitable crash is coming. Maybe that will cool your jets.[more...]

Beautiful but locals don't want new residents - 5/10/2007

Having lived here for 15 years I can say the natural beauty is incredible. You also have a diverse mix of political persuasions here. In the county most people are very conservative and in the city most are liberal to very liberal. The one thing conservatives and liberals can agree on is that they don't want people moving into their community. Liberals are very anti-growth of any kind. Conservatives fear that they will eventually lose their small town/farming lifestyle. After 15 years we still feel like outsiders and are on the verge of leaving.[more...]

Expensive to Live in Bellingham - 4/12/2007

Way too Expensive to Live in Bellingham, We are looking around. Houses have doubled in price in 4 years and incomes have stayed the same.[more...]

wondering - 4/6/2007

My husband and I are thinking of moving from the pacific north west but not real sure where to go. we want a warmer climate low cost of living small town. we are open at this point. could someone give me feed back about yuma arizon?[more...]

Bellingham, Washington - 1/17/2007

Bellingham has very low expectations so living here is easy. It's easy to get too comfortable here and wake up one day finding that you've stayed too long. You don't burn out in Bellingham, you rust. You can dress like a slob and fit right in. Misfits and alternative lifestyles and means of living are accepted here. Wear a suit and you'll be the odd ball. People here are not materialistic which is refreshing. Bellingham is a retirement/college town so people 25-50 will find it hard to meet people their own age and work on their career. There's very little money floating around. Lots of homeless, beggars, lots of students fighting for the same minimum wage job. Real estate is expensive but rents are cheap. Everyone here seems to be liberal and environmentally conscious but there are no smog inspections for vehicles and the bay here is polluted with mercury. People don't fish or swim in the bay. Long summer days with sunset after 9pm. Lack of sunlight can be a problem in the winter when the sun "sets" at 4pm (you can't see the sun though), rains constantly and everything stays soggy for months.[more...]

More jobs are needed for a balanced community - 6/30/2006

While I consider Bellingham to have the finest quality of life of anywhere I have been, good paying jobs are scarce. A recent influx of well-off retirees and urbanites fleeing Seattle have raised house prices beyond the price that the average working person can afford. Unless the job situation improves, Bellingham is in danger of becoming a boutique community for the affluent, and will lose much of the charm that made it desirable.[more...]