07/28/2026
Almost everyday we hear from someone wanting to move out of Washington. They have had it with taxes, traffic, the cost of living, and all the craziness. Sadly, due to work or other circumstances, they have to wait.
We escaped in 2021. Our only regret is wishing we had done it sooner. Having our real estate licenses in both WA and ID, we have helped many families escape since then (and not all to ID).
While your escape may be a year or two or more away, there are things you can do NOW to prepare.
1) PURGE YOUR STUFF: Moving across state lines is VERY EXPENSIVE! We tell clients moving from other states to only move belongings that are irreplaceable, sentimental, valuable, or are too expensive to replace. Look at everything you have now and ask, “is it worth paying someone a lot of money to pack it, load it, and move it from point A to point B?” Every square inch in a pod, trailer, or truck has a dollar figure to it. Take advantage of this time and begin donating, selling, and tossing stuff.
2) FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD: This is not restricted to buying a home. Crunch the numbers on what you can afford to pay for mortgage/rent, monthly bills, taxes, etc based on your future income. Talk to your accountant, financial person, and mortgage lender to get an estimated picture of your future finances.
3) DEEP DIVE ON WHERE YOU MIGHT WANT TO MOVE: We know we are speaking to the choir with this group. But people often get caught up looking at homes in other places, without doing a deep dive on the city and state they are thinking of moving to. That is a mistake! We are currently working with roughly two dozen households considering Idaho as their new home state. Our mantra with clients is, “FIGURE OUT WHERE YOU WANT TO DO LIFE?” We give them our Treasure Valley Relocation Guide (get it free at https://bit.ly/TreasureValleyReloGuide2026 ) that gives tons of info on the various towns surrounding the area. Picking the wrong place to call home is one of the biggest regrets homeowners have. (Another great resource is to join the Escape Washington State Facebook group.)
4) RECHECK YOUR TIMELINE: Life events, work, or a myriad of other “things” can seemingly dictate your timetable to make a move. Sometimes your timeline is more in your head than it is a hard reality. Can you take early retirement? Can you work remotely? Can you move an aging parent with you? Talk to those that can give you answers that may move up your Escape from Washington timeline.
5) TALK WITH A REAL ESTATE AGENT ASAP: If you own a home or property in WA, find an agent in your area that is currently selling something similar to what you own. We have our fingers on the pulse of both the Puget Sound and SW Idaho housing markets, and there is something very different happening in WA right now. A local agent can share what is currently happening in your market, and keep you informed on major shifts that happen as you wait for your escape. If you need help finding an agent, reach out to us. We can help find one for you.
Take advantage of the time while you are waiting. When the time does come to make a move, there is a lot more stuff to do.
We are here to help and answer any questions you have. Also, check out https://bit.ly/smartrightmove for more info.
