What to know before you move to the Spokane area, from someone who lives here, lends here and sells here.
Spokane is the second-largest city in Washington and the hub of the Inland Northwest. Lakes, mountains and rivers are close enough that you can ski, paddle and hike in the same weekend, and you still get a walkable downtown, universities, major hospitals and an airport. It has four real seasons and a cost of living that compares well with the west side of the state.
Where you land shapes your whole day. Here is what each area is like.
Tree-lined streets, Manito Park, coffee shops and older homes with character.
Newer homes on the river gorge with restaurants, a seasonal night market and the Centennial Trail at the door.
A wide range of homes north of downtown, many with larger yards.
Its own city east of Spokane, with shopping, river parks, quick I-90 access and many price points.
A planned community on the east edge with the lake, trails, parks and newer homes.
North-county orchards and larger lots, with the city close by.
Newer construction and open space, next to Fairchild AFB.
Small-town main streets, Eastern Washington University, lakes and acreage.
Rural parcels, shops and barns, and room for animals.
Condos and lofts steps from Riverfront Park, the falls and the arts district.
For more detail, see the neighborhood guides and map, including Cheney and Eagle Ridge.
The area is served by several school districts, including Spokane Public Schools (District 81), Central Valley, Mead, Cheney, West Valley, East Valley, Deer Park and Nine Mile Falls. Boundaries can change from one block to the next, so I confirm the assigned schools for any home before you fall in love with it. Spokane Public Schools has an address lookup that shows the schools for any address in the district.
Housing and everyday costs here are generally lower than in Seattle and much of the West Coast, which is a big reason people relocate from the west side and from California. You will find older bungalows, condos, new construction and rural acreage. Washington has no state tax on wages.
Want real numbers? Prices and rates move every week. Ask me for a current market snapshot and a payment estimate for the price range you are considering, or start with the calculators.
Spokane is the medical hub of the Inland Northwest.
Riverfront Park and the falls, the gardens at Manito Park, skiing at Mt. Spokane, u-pick farms on Green Bluff, and lake days all summer. The big annual events are Bloomsday in spring, Hoopfest in summer, and Pig Out in the Park, the Lilac Festival and the Spokane County Interstate Fair.
The economy is anchored by healthcare, education, aerospace and defense, and distribution. Large employers include Providence and MultiCare, Fairchild Air Force Base, Amazon, the universities, and the school districts.
Fairchild Air Force Base sits just west of town. The West Plains (Airway Heights, Medical Lake and Cheney) puts you close to base. I work with VA loans regularly and can walk you through the timeline, the documents and the areas that keep the drive short.
I am both your REALTOR® and your mortgage broker, so your home search and your financing are one plan with one person.
Financing through me is available but never required to buy a home with me.
Tell me what you are looking for and I will line up homes, run the payment on each one and answer the questions a listing can’t.