The things that surprise people most are the weather, how short the drives are, and how different the areas feel from one another. Spokane is drier and sunnier than Seattle, with a real winter. Housing generally costs less than on the coast, but the homes, lots and utilities can work differently from what you are used to.
Spokane sits east of the Cascades, so it gets far less rain and a lot more sun. Summers are hot and dry. Winters are cold with snow that stays. If you are coming from California, plan for snow tires, a snow shovel and a furnace that matters.
Most cross-town drives are 15 to 25 minutes, and the airport is 10 to 15 minutes from downtown. People coming from long commutes notice this first.
A 1910 Craftsman on the South Hill, a newer home in Liberty Lake and five acres on the West Plains are all “Spokane” and feel nothing alike. Choose the area before you choose the house. The map on the Moving here page is a good place to start.
Most of my relocating buyers start by video. I walk homes on camera, tell you what the photos leave out, and build a short list for one efficient visit. Because I am also your mortgage broker, your pre-approval and your search move together, and closing can be handled remotely.
Timing a sale in one state with a purchase in another takes planning. Tell me your dates early and I will map both closings. This article covers the options: Can I buy my next home before I sell this one?
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.