Sequim Washington is growing even in this national recession.  How is that possible?  Sequim is a very healthy little economy.  One of the reasons it is a healthy economy is because Sequim has been a retirement community for decades, and the retirees who move here tend to be conservative financially, and have not refinanced their homes to buy toys and get further in debt.  Retirees have payed off their homes or have lived humble lifestyles within their budgets.  This means we don’t have a lot of foreclosures, and there is a solid financial base for all the related service industries (groceries, medical, dental, automotive, restaurants, recreation, etc.).

Sequim Washington Big Box Stores

Sequim Washington Demographics

Perhaps the biggest proof that Sequim Washington has a strong economic base and a promising future comes from all the big box stores that have been moving in and building in Sequim.  You know that before big box stores ever consider buying prime real estate in any community, they do extensive demographic studies.  It is not the neighboring towns on the Olympic Peninsula that are attracting all these big box companies–it is Sequim.

The latest big box stores who love Sequim’s retired population and the future of Sequim Washington include Ross Dress for Less and the Grocery Outlet.  There is a good list of big box stores who love Sequim’s demographics, including Costco, Home Depot, Petco, Starbucks, WalMart, Office Depot, and a number of restaurant chains.

Sequim Washington Real Estate

Why is it important to retirees that the big box stores have been building in Sequim?  Because the demographic studies they perform independently are all saying the same thing–that Sequim is a strong community with a very solid demographic base of financially stable retirees.  These studies show a stable real estate market, even though prices have been discounted in this market.  It is primarily the strength of the future economy and future real estate market that these demographic studies have examined, and the indicators are all good.

This is one of the reasons I have said that buying a home in Sequim Washington is a good move and a good investment.  While most of us would concur that the real estate market may not begin to recover for a couple of years or more, when it does, Sequim will be one of the strongest economies in the country.  That doesn’t mean houses will appreciate rapidly, because they won’t.  The appreciation will be slow, perhaps 3% a year, but of all regional real estate markets, Sequim Washington has a market with a great economic base and solid indicators for future growth.

Of course, another huge factor (which I’m sure is part of the big box studies) is that retirees continue to move to Sequim and buy homes, and have been doing so every single month during the entire recession, and that has picked up dramatically recently.  Sequim Washington is a strong economy and a stable real estate market, which is good news for retirees.

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John Wayne Marina in Sequim, Washington is a special place, but not just for cabin cruisers, sailboats, and kayaks.   It’s also a special place to walk and enjoy the views and ambiance of autumn.   The leaves are changing colors, and there’s a chill in the early morning air.   The afternoons often warm up in the glow of the sun in our Rain Shadow as shown in this photo of John Wayne Marina.   Yes, that’s a couple in love on the beach.   Oh, to be young and in love again!

There are many homes around and above John Wayne Marina, which makes the water view something to behold.   We are blessed here, because water views of this kind are a mere pittance in price compared to much of the California coast and even on the Seattle side.

Read more about Sequim as one of the best places to retire and watch a video taken at the John Wayne Marina in Sequim.

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Sequim “merges culture and nature in the Pacific Northwest,” according to Newsmax magazine.   “Unique to Sequim are the magnificent lavender fields and festivals that delight the senses. Known as the ‘lavender capital of North America,’ Sequim (pronounced skwim) is just two hours north of Seattle, but sits in the ‘rain shadow’ of the Olympic Mountains. As a result, it gets just 16 inches of precipitation annually. Scenic adventures include exploring gorgeous Puget Sound and taking the 30-minute ferry ride to Victoria, Canada. Culture abounds with the Museum and Arts Center’s rotating exhibits and the Olympic Theatre Arts performances.”

No surprise for those of us who live and love it here.

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With the real estate market stalled around the U.S., and with retirees unable to sell their homes in their retirement communities, will we begin to see a push to reduce the age restriction of 55 years old?   With a reduction in the minimum age there would be more potential buyers, and right now that sounds pretty attractive, not only to retirees who need to sell, but also to real estate developers who have built retirement communities but have been unable to sell out the projects.

The Wall Street Journal wrote about this.   “The article focuses on the growing number of vacancies in the so-called active adult communities such as Century Village or Sun City. Typically, these enclaves require buyers to be at least 55 years old, and ban children under 19 as permanent residents. Lowering the age requirement is a way of expanding the market and reducing financial stress on the communities. The fewer the residents, the less money there is for mowing the lawn, cleaning the pools, and paying for the staff at the clubhouse. For people younger than 55, the attraction-along with the swimming pools, and the weight rooms unused by 80 somethings-is the comparatively reasonable prices of the adult communities. For example, in Century Village, Deerfield Beach, Florida, a two-bedroom condo goes for $40,000, quite a bargain even in the reduced state of today’s housing market.”   [Read quote from Psychology Today which looks at this issue from another perspective.]

The Seattle Times published an article February 8, 2009, page E-1, entitled, A Youth Movement, about Century Village East in Deerfield Beach, Florida.   “Proponents of ‘age desegregation’ as it’s known in the industry, say opening the doors to those under 55 is the only way their once idyllic enclaves can stay afloat amid a worsening economic climate.”

Leisure World in Mesa, Arizona, loosened its age requirements, and another, Arizona Traditions, is considering lowering its minimum age to 45.

This is a logical move born out of necessity, so don’t be surprised if you see similar moves in Sequim or Port Angeles.

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Moving to Sequim is not just for retirees, but young families and singles.   Why move to Sequim from California?   That’s not hard to answer.   California was the dream of the west for decades, but not anymore according to many who are escaping.   Hundreds of thousands are leaving the Golden State.

For Mike Reilly, “. . . years of rising taxes, dead-end schools, unchecked illegal immigration and clogged traffic have robbed the Golden State of its allure.   You see wages go down and the cost of living go up,” Reilly said. His property taxes will be $1,300 in Colorado, down from $4,300 on his three-bedroom house in Nipomo, about 80 miles up the coast from Santa Barbara. “The number of people leaving California for another state outstripped the number moving in from another state during the year ending on July 1, 2008. California lost a net total of 144,000 people during that period — more than any other state, according to census estimates. That is about equal to the population of Syracuse, N.Y.”   Barry Hartz, also from California said, “”The saddest thing I saw was the escalation of home prices to the point our kids, when they got married, could not live in the community where they lived and grew up.   Some people call that progress.”   [See Go East Young Man]

Sequim’s low crime, sparse traffic, friendly community, low property taxes and reasonably priced real estate makes it a haven these days.   Of course, the rain shadow helps make this a sunny place to live with more gorgeous water views than almost anywhere you could life in the U.S.

See Best Places to Retire:   Sequim, Washington
Search the entire Sequim MLS for property for sale.

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Sequim, Washington has been repeatedly ranked as one of the best little towns in the United States to retire in. Having raised my own family here, I can testify to the fact that this is a wonderful little community away from all the crime and traffic congestion that drives most of us crazy.

CNN Money Magazine named Sequim as one of the best places to retire.   “Located two hours north of Seattle, Sequim (pronounced skwim) offers a lower cost of living and an easier pace than its burgeoning neighbor to the south. For about $300,000, you can get a three-bedroom house there.”

Sperlings Best Places [Sequim is the best place to live and retire]:   “I moved here from San Bernardino and San Diego, my uncle has lived here for 15 years and always bragged about it. So I checked it out. Best move I ever made. Beautiful, peaceful, deer, eagles, no crime. On the water across from Victoria Canada. Hiking, boating, don’t have to lock our doors at night, only downside is 25 mph speed limit, will drive you nuts. We have Walmart and Costco, Home Depot, and peace and quiet.”

Sequim – Best Places to Retire Video filmed at the John Wayne Marina in Sequim.

Sequim Resources website on Best Places to Retire – Sequim.

Retirement Resources in Sequim – All FREE.

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