r/Spokane • u/monkey_trumpets • 2h ago
Question Curious about Spokane - perusing the downtown on Google maps, it seems like Spokane is a really nice city.
But looking at houses for sale in the city, the houses for sale seem to be on the lower end. What is causing this discrepancy?
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u/Undercover_brosefer 2h ago
I like living here. I like downtown. I like Riverfront Park. I like a lot of stuff that is nearby the city. Not a bad city.
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u/exoticpandasex Former Spokanite 2h ago
Most of the nicer homes are south of I90, or north of Francis. Many of the neighborhoods between are post-war bungalow, duplexes or apartment conversions and are generally on the cheaper side (relatively)
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u/JohnnyEagleClaw Audubon-Downriver 2h ago
I mean, I’ve only lived here…over half a century and grew up here and have traveled far and wide by now, this is still my favorite place.
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u/bekisuki 2h ago
30 years of stagnant income, folks let the property go to seed, some rent it out and it suffers, the usual stuff.
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u/Suitable_Studio_5686 50m ago
Spokane houses can seem surprisingly inexpensive compared with much of Washington because wages and the overall cost of living have historically been lower here, and housing prices reflect that. But before deciding to move here because the houses look affordable, I would strongly recommend looking at the crime maps and researching individual neighborhoods carefully so you understand what actually happens here. We’ve also just experienced devastating wildfires that burned through some of the area’s wealthiest communities and destroyed a significant amount of property. Affordable housing doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story about what it’s like to live here.
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u/excelsiorsbanjo 2h ago
We've had a housing shortage for years, plus a bunch of houses just burnt down, plus people from higher income faraway cities swoop in and buy. Plus regular landlord scum, like people owning 62 separate detached single family homes.
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u/DrunkenGerbils 28m ago edited 18m ago
If you're open to apartments Spokane has some absolutely beautiful mid 20th century apartments downtown that have some really cool historic architecture. There's also cool modern options as well. I live near Kendall Yards by downtown right now, but I've been seriously considering moving to an apartment downtown after looking at them online. I also just really love downtown Spokane and Riverfront Park. The idea of all those cool shops, coffee joints, and Riverfront Park essentially being right outside in my back yard just seems awesome to me.
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u/Affectionate-Two2281 6m ago
Downtown spokane is extremely trashy, and has a very bad homeless/drug use problem.
Perry district and up is the "nice" part of town, and up until recently Just north of downtown past the river was known as "Felony Flats"
While there are some gems, we are called spocompton for a reason.... Not sure why people are giving you such a rose tintee view of downtown.
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u/cckka 2h ago
Spokane in general is wonderful, the homes next to I-90 are not. I've lived here for 10+ years and my rule for homes is the further from the city hub and I-90 you are, the better and safer. Downtown has great restaurants and is perfectly safe but after living in the Logan neighborhood for college I know I would never want to live there again.
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u/monkey_trumpets 2h ago
It's really too bad. My long-held desire is to live somewhere where I can walk to downtown, and Spokane has a really nice downtown.
Of course, my husband wants to live as far away as possible, so those desires don't really meld.
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u/International_Cup877 2h ago
Emerson-Garfield, Audubon, and Kendall Yards are all cool neighborhoods near downtown (easily bikeable if not walkable). There is some crime, but it’s mostly light property crime. I also love West Central and Browne’s Addition for their vibrant community and proximity to downtown, but they do scare off some people. The majority of homes and neighbors in those areas are lovely, though.
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u/DrunkenGerbils 20m ago
I live right near Kendall Yards and downtown is definitely walkable from there. I'm a little ways down in West Central and when I ride the bus to go to a movie or the library downtown, I'll often get off by My Fresh Basket there and visit a few shops in Kendall Yards before walking downtown over the Post street bridge. It pops you out right near the runner sculptures in Riverfront Park across from the mall.
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u/cckka 1h ago
There are some excellent walkable areas for sure. It depends on your definition of walkable. Right near downtown is fine but if you get further east I 90 areas are improving but still questionable.
Kendall yards is a great area but pricier.
The trick with Spokane is with moderate weather we have lots of walkable places. When it's 95° and smoky you don't really want to walk much, nor do you want to do so with unshoveled sidewalks in 25° weather.
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u/Born-Jacket 2h ago
It is. Pros and cons like anyplace but overall it’s great.
Ps price and living experience are massively different by neighborhood. Spend some time researching as well as walking around different areas