Saturday, December 2, 2023
Chuck Marunde, J.D., Broker/Owner 360-775-5424


iRealty Virtual Brokers


Broker/Consultant

Washington State

SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Search MLS
    • Sequim MLS
    • Sequim MLS Map Search
    • Port Angeles MLS
    • Port Townsend MLS
    • San Juan Islands MLS
    • All Islands MLS
    • How to Search the Sequim MLS
  • Videos
    • Sequim Videos Q&A
    • Buyer Videos Part 1
    • Buyer Videos Part 2
    • Buyer Videos Part 3
    • Buyer Videos Part 4
    • Living in Sequim Video Channel
    • Flee Fee Listing Video
  • Books
    The Coming Real Estate Crash

    The Coming Real Estate Crash

    The Sequim Real Estate Trilogy

    The Sequim Real Estate Trilogy

    Sequim Real Estate Videos for Buyers: The Ultimate Video Guide for Sequim Washington

    Sequim Real Estate Videos for Buyers: The Ultimate Video Guide for Sequim Washington

    Escaping California to the San Juan Islands

    Escaping California to the San Juan Islands

    Get Healthy

    Get Healthy: Increase Natural Immunities, Cellular Energy, Deep Sleep & Decrease Blood Pressure

    Manage Your Energy

    Manage Your Energy Not Your Time

    Real Estate Brokerage From Bricks and Mortar to High Tech Virtuality

    Real Estate Brokerage From Bricks and Mortar to High Tech Virtuality

    7 Myths of Selling Your Home

    7 Myths of Selling Your Home

    Buying Your Retirement Home

    Buying Your Retirement Home

    The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents

    The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents

    Sequim Real Estate For Buyers: Free eBook Updates Forever

    Sequim Real Estate For Buyers: Free eBook Updates Forever

    24 Secrets of Buying a Country Home

    24 Secrets of Buying a Country Home

    Sequim Real Estate: A Buyer’s Guide

    Sequim Real Estate: A Buyer’s Guide

    Living Off The Grid iin Alaska

    Living Off The Grid in Alaska

    Buying and Selling Real Estate

    Buying and Selling Real Estate

    Trending Tags

      • Sequim Real Estate for Buyers (Free eBook Updates Forever)
      • Sequim Real Estate: A Buyer’s Guide (Paperback)
      • Escaping California to The San Juan Islands
      • Buying & Selling Real Estate in The Rain Shadow
      • Real Estate From Bricks & Mortar to High Tech Virtuality
      • The Seven Myths of Selling Your Home
      • Buying Your Retirement Home
      • The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents
    • Agents
      Marunde Google

      Chuck Marunde on Google

      Flat Fee Listing Broker

      Flat Fee Listing Broker

      Buyers Agent Chuck Marunde

      Buyer’s Agent Chuck Marunde

      Trending Tags

        • Buyers Agent Chuck Marunde
        • Flat Fee Listing Broker
        • Google Profile & Leave Reviews
      Tetralogy
      No Result
      View All Result
      • Login
      • Register
      • Home
      • Search MLS
        • Sequim MLS
        • Sequim MLS Map Search
        • Port Angeles MLS
        • Port Townsend MLS
        • San Juan Islands MLS
        • All Islands MLS
        • How to Search the Sequim MLS
      • Videos
        • Sequim Videos Q&A
        • Buyer Videos Part 1
        • Buyer Videos Part 2
        • Buyer Videos Part 3
        • Buyer Videos Part 4
        • Living in Sequim Video Channel
        • Flee Fee Listing Video
      • Books
        The Coming Real Estate Crash

        The Coming Real Estate Crash

        The Sequim Real Estate Trilogy

        The Sequim Real Estate Trilogy

        Sequim Real Estate Videos for Buyers: The Ultimate Video Guide for Sequim Washington

        Sequim Real Estate Videos for Buyers: The Ultimate Video Guide for Sequim Washington

        Escaping California to the San Juan Islands

        Escaping California to the San Juan Islands

        Get Healthy

        Get Healthy: Increase Natural Immunities, Cellular Energy, Deep Sleep & Decrease Blood Pressure

        Manage Your Energy

        Manage Your Energy Not Your Time

        Real Estate Brokerage From Bricks and Mortar to High Tech Virtuality

        Real Estate Brokerage From Bricks and Mortar to High Tech Virtuality

        7 Myths of Selling Your Home

        7 Myths of Selling Your Home

        Buying Your Retirement Home

        Buying Your Retirement Home

        The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents

        The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents

        Sequim Real Estate For Buyers: Free eBook Updates Forever

        Sequim Real Estate For Buyers: Free eBook Updates Forever

        24 Secrets of Buying a Country Home

        24 Secrets of Buying a Country Home

        Sequim Real Estate: A Buyer’s Guide

        Sequim Real Estate: A Buyer’s Guide

        Living Off The Grid iin Alaska

        Living Off The Grid in Alaska

        Buying and Selling Real Estate

        Buying and Selling Real Estate

        Trending Tags

          • Sequim Real Estate for Buyers (Free eBook Updates Forever)
          • Sequim Real Estate: A Buyer’s Guide (Paperback)
          • Escaping California to The San Juan Islands
          • Buying & Selling Real Estate in The Rain Shadow
          • Real Estate From Bricks & Mortar to High Tech Virtuality
          • The Seven Myths of Selling Your Home
          • Buying Your Retirement Home
          • The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents
        • Agents
          Marunde Google

          Chuck Marunde on Google

          Flat Fee Listing Broker

          Flat Fee Listing Broker

          Buyers Agent Chuck Marunde

          Buyer’s Agent Chuck Marunde

          Trending Tags

            • Buyers Agent Chuck Marunde
            • Flat Fee Listing Broker
            • Google Profile & Leave Reviews
          No Result
          View All Result
          iRealty Virtual Brokers
          No Result
          View All Result
          Home Sequim

          The Cost of Living in Sequim

          Chuck Marunde by Chuck Marunde
          September 22, 2019
          Reading Time: 3 mins read
          0 0
          3

          What is the cost of living in Sequim? Can you live like a King on a retirement income in Sequim, Washington? The answer is yes, but it does take some planning and diligence. There are three major components to the cost of living in the Sequim and Port Angeles area–the cost of housing, the cost of transportation, and the cost of food. Let me share why you can live like a King in Sequim and Port Angeles area.

          Cost of Living

          Live Like a King with Low Cost of Living

          The cost of living in Sequim includes the cost of homes plus property taxes, maintenance, and electricity. Compared to many areas of the country, the price of a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1,800 to 2,200 square foot home on a single level in a nice area is very reasonable. You can buy a very nice home in Sequim for $225,000 to $325,000. Many of my clients compare prices and tell me homes are 50% to 100% more where they are coming from (largely California).

          Home maintenance costs in this area are also low compared to most areas of the country. Our climate is relatively mild, and that means less wear and tear on roofing, siding, and driveways. Sun and rain do wear wooden decks, but many people have been going with Trex decking, which needs very little maintenance. Property taxes are also reasonable and do not keep going up as they have in many parts of the country. For example, a $250,000 home may have annual property taxes of $2,100. All this helps keep the cost of living down by comparison.

          The Cost of Living with Low Electric Bills

          Electricity is our major utility bill, and most people are using electric heat, such as electric forced air with a heat pump, or electric baseboard or electric wall heaters. Because we don’t have extreme temperatures, either cold or hot, our heating bills are very reasonable, and we don’t even need air conditioning in the summers. Most people use electric appliances, including cooktops, ovens, dryers and hot water heaters. A typical total electric bill in the coldest part of winter might be $225. Compared to California, this is a big help in keeping down the cost of living.

          The cost of transportation is what you make it. For 20 years in the Sequim area I have been buying used cars from retirees who buy their vehicles brand new and keep the in perfect condition. Buying a car that is five or so years old with low mileage in show room condition is incredibly affordable. There are a lot of retirees in the Sequim area who sell cars that are like brand new for a fraction of the cost of a new one. Sequim and Port Angeles also has public transportation.

          The cost of food is not high in Sequim, and we do have a Safeway, a QFC, a Costco, a Walmart Super Store, and family owned organic grocery stores. You can buy inexpensive organic products from farmers, and you can do what many people do. They either have a green house for their vegetable garden or they just build raised garden beds. With plenty of sunshine and rich soils, Sequim is the perfect place to have a garden or an orchard. This helps reduce the cost of living. Many retirees also enjoy fishing, and we have plenty of fishing on the Olympic Peninsula and out on the Strait. And there is deer hunting, too. Some with acreage like to raise a few cows for beef. There are many ways to live off the land here.

          And if you want to keep your heating bill down, you can supplement your electric heat with a wood stove, if you are inclined to cut and split wood. Some do this for a while and then convert their fireplace or wood stove to propane. Overall, the cost of living in Sequim is very reasonable, and with some planning you can live like a King in Sequim.

          Last Updated on September 22, 2019 by Chuck Marunde

          Tags: retirementsequim cost of living
          ShareTweet
          Chuck Marunde

          Chuck Marunde

          Chuck grew up in remote Alaska, graduated from the University of Alaska with a degree in Economics and Teacher Certification, and after teaching high school for two years, went to law school at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. He served four years as a Captain and JAG in the USAF at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas. After practicing real estate law for 20 years in Washington, Chuck founded iRealty Virtual Brokers covering Sequim and the beautiful Olympic Peninsula. He is the author of 2,200 real estate articles and a dozen real estate books, and he produced over 100 real estate videos. Chuck combined his love for real estate and technology to create a massive Internet presence, and his articles and videos and books have been viewed by millions. Chuck is a well recognized real estate expert and his counsel is sought by other brokers and practicing attorneys around the country. Buyers from New York to Hawaii and from Florida to Alaska seek him out to retain him as their buyer's agent, and home owners around the State of Washington seek him out because of his new Flat Fee Listing Service. 

          Related Posts

          10 Reasons
          Retire in Sequim

          10 Reasons Not to Move to Sequim

          November 30, 2020
          802
          Best MLS in WA
          Retire in Sequim

          Top 10 Reasons To Retire in Sequim WA

          September 11, 2020
          92
          top 10 reasons
          Retire in Sequim

          Top 10 Reasons to Retire in Sequim WA

          July 31, 2020
          150
          Covid-19
          Sequim

          What Does Covid-19 Rules Require for Viewing Homes in Washington?

          July 7, 2020
          8
          Crazy World
          Sequim

          It’s a Crazy Crazy World Out There

          May 24, 2020
          3
          Sequim

          Sequim WA During the Covid-19 Vacation

          April 28, 2020
          14
          Next Post

          Sequim Winter Weather is Cold

          What is Good Customer Service in Real Estate?

          Comments 3

          1. Chuck Marunde says:
            9 years ago

            John, I’ve found my cars in a variety of ways, but there hasn’t been one best method. Retirees in the Sequim and Port Angeles area tend to run their ads in a few places, like Craigslist and by putting a for sale sign in the window. I found my last car parked on a local road in a field with a for sale sign in the window. Compared to how many shop on the Internet today, finding the best used car is often like searching for a needle in a haystack somewhere in the county. But I always take my time until I find “the one.”

            Reply
          2. John Haney says:
            9 years ago

            Hi Chuck,

            How do you locate the used cars you speak of in this article?

            Thanks.

            John

            Reply
          3. Dan Abbott says:
            9 years ago

            It’s sad how people coming from California with their golden government pensions and big bank accounts (after selling their expensive homes) also bring along grandiose plans for public spending and think that other property owners can bear the weight of outrageous property taxes. This has been the most discouraging aspect of trying to build a business (agritourism and hospitality related) from scratch. After struggling for the past 12 years, to be financially honest, we’d have been better off buying an RV and leaving our money in the bank. It seems that we have become just another ATM for these parasitic government bureaucrats.

            Reply

          Leave a Reply Cancel reply

          Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

          I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

          This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

          "I wish I read this before selling my
          home. I could have saved $50,000." Andy 

          Search 2,200 Articles by Category

          • Trending
          • Comments
          • Latest
          Buyer and Seller

          What if a Buyer and Seller Talk to Each Other?

          August 5, 2022

          The Sequim Blue Hole – A Map of Rainfall

          September 1, 2019
          Prorate Propane

          How to Prorate Propane at Closing

          August 15, 2015
          Dangers of Buying a Fannie Mae Foreclosure Through Homepath

          Dangers of Buying a Fannie Mae Foreclosure Through Homepath

          June 12, 2014
          Buyer and Seller

          What if a Buyer and Seller Talk to Each Other?

          48
          print newspapers

          Print Newspapers Losing Readers to the Internet

          42
          FNMA Killing Transactions by Requiring Private Road Maintenance Agreements

          FNMA Killing Transactions by Requiring Private Road Maintenance Agreements

          31

          What Documents Does a Buyer Need to Buy Real Estate?

          24
          buying a home

          Is Now A Good Time To Buy A Home?

          September 7, 2023
          Bidding for Listings

          Are Listing Brokers Bidding for Listings?

          March 29, 2023
          home title theft

          Is Home Title Fraud Real or is it a Fraud?

          March 27, 2023
          Sequim Real Estate Maps and Docs

          Sequim Real Estate Maps and Documents

          February 6, 2023

          Subscribe to Chuck 
          Marunde's Newsletter

          Popular Stories

          • Buyer and Seller

            What if a Buyer and Seller Talk to Each Other?

            0 shares
            Share 0 Tweet 0
          • The Sequim Blue Hole – A Map of Rainfall

            0 shares
            Share 0 Tweet 0
          • How to Prorate Propane at Closing

            0 shares
            Share 0 Tweet 0
          • Dangers of Buying a Fannie Mae Foreclosure Through Homepath

            0 shares
            Share 0 Tweet 0
          • How to Terminate a Real Estate Contract

            0 shares
            Share 0 Tweet 0

          Leaving Comments   I hope you’ll join our community and leave comments from time to time. Please realize that comments, if approved, will be public, so do not use any personal information you don’t want broadcast to the world, and definitely don’t leave a phone number. Comments are not the place to ask Chuck Marunde for help in finding a home. To do that, call or text Chuck.

          Neither Chuck Marunde nor iRealty Virtual Brokers offers legal advice on this site. Please Read Our Legal Disclaimer

          If you’d like to view how we protect your privacy, see our Privacy Policy.

          iRealty Virtual Brokers

          iRealty Virtual Brokers reaches out to buyers around the United States with thousands of online articles, MLS sites, apps, real estate books, videos, and much more specifically to help buyers find all the answers to their questions. We also now offer a flat fee commission listing service that saves sellers tens of thousands of dollars.

          iRealty Virtual Brokers
          125 Olympic Ranch Ln
          Sequim, Washington 98382
          360-775-5424

          Search the entire NWMLS in Washington State:

          Sequim-Homes.com

          The largest independent real estate blog in the State of Washington with over 2,200 articles totally focused on our client’s best interest, their needs and their curiosity. All free and 100% reliable. I’m here if you need me, 

          © 2006-2022 iRealty Virtual Brokers and Chuck Marunde

          No Result
          View All Result
          • Home
          • Search MLS
            • Sequim MLS
            • Sequim MLS Map Search
            • Port Angeles MLS
            • Port Townsend MLS
            • San Juan Islands MLS
            • All Islands MLS
            • How to Search the Sequim MLS
          • Videos
            • Sequim Videos Q&A
            • Buyer Videos Part 1
            • Buyer Videos Part 2
            • Buyer Videos Part 3
            • Buyer Videos Part 4
            • Living in Sequim Video Channel
            • Flee Fee Listing Video
          • Books
            • Sequim Real Estate for Buyers (Free eBook Updates Forever)
            • Sequim Real Estate: A Buyer’s Guide (Paperback)
            • Escaping California to The San Juan Islands
            • Buying & Selling Real Estate in The Rain Shadow
            • Real Estate From Bricks & Mortar to High Tech Virtuality
            • The Seven Myths of Selling Your Home
            • Buying Your Retirement Home
            • The New World of Marketing for Real Estate Agents
          • Agents
            • Buyers Agent Chuck Marunde
            • Flat Fee Listing Broker
            • Google Profile & Leave Reviews
          • Login
          • Sign Up

          © 2006-2022 iRealty Virtual Brokers and Chuck Marunde

          Welcome Back!

          Login to your account below

          Forgotten Password? Sign Up

          Create New Account!

          Fill the forms bellow to register

          *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
          All fields are required. Log In

          Retrieve your password

          Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

          Log In
          This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.