My business is relocation! In this market and your financial situation, I would urge you to make the offer contingent upon your home selling. Of course find a Realtor...why not? I am the only thing good that is FREE. I represent only you not the seller. Interested contact Michael Keller, Windermere-South Regal of Spokane, WA 509-216-1356 Pro-Realtor with Trulia.com

Hi Leslie,
I am a lifelong resident of Spokane and I have raised 5 kids on the South Hill, and know and love the area.
I would be happy to search the MLS and e-mail you homes offering a lease-purchase that would suit your needs.
I would also be happy to mail you a relocation package, as I specialize in Relocation to the Spokane area!
BethAnn

The Manito Park area is lovely and very old and well established. I lived near Cannon Hill Park for 20 years and we walked every day. I walked to work at Sacajawea and always enjoyed it, especially walking through the boulevard and Manito gardens. You would love living in this area. The only drawback: lots of other people also want to live in this area, so you do pay for the location. Sacajawea Middle School has a reputation as being a great school. I know most of the teachers there and would want them to teach my children. Wilson and Hutton are 2 great elementaries that feed into Sac. I always tell my parents that at the elementary schools it is most important to have a great teacher, as great teachers can be found in poor schools, and poor teachers can be found in great schools. Get to know the parents in the area and ask questions about the teachers. When you go to register, don't let the administration keep you out of any programs you believe your children qualify for. You have rights, so be strong.
Finally, if you can fix up homes, there are absolutely grand homes that beg to be brought back to their former glory. It will take diligent searching to find the right place so you may want to start early. We showed a fabulous mansion-like home recently that had already been refurbished for only $599K. It is sold now. Take a look: 242 E Manito Place. Right across from the park and absolutely beautiful! Those are the jewels that become available when you deligently look.
You're asking great questions. Let me know if you want more information.

Thanks for all of the helpful advice. My children are entering 5th and 8th graders, so I am concerned about middle and high schools. I have only visited Spokane once, but was drawn to the lifestyle around Manito Park. I love the idea of walking out my front door and having a beautiful park nearby. I also like a semi urban lifestyle, with shops nearby and approachable neighbors (unlike some suburban areas). We like older homes with character, and ideally, our kids could be close enough to school to be able to walk (can kids walk to school safely in Spokane?) My husband owns investment properties and has a number of rental units, and we have renovated many old homes, so we're not afraid of a fixer. We just want a nice safe neighborhood with a mixture of families and professionals, that has an urban feel. Is South Hill/Manito the place? Thanks for your replies!

School District 81 does allow transfers if there is room, but you need to provide transportation.

As a parent, I wouldn't take a chance on living in the Perry District & hoping Hutton has enough room. Agents are restricted about what they can say about schools/neighborhoods, but I'm not an agent. I would not send my elementary age children to Grant (Perry District) or to Roosevelt (lower South Hill.) Jefferson & Hamblen Elementary Schools are further up on the South Hill (closer than Mullan or Moran Prairie,) and are pretty decent schools. The neighborhoods there, as Virginia Kral pointed out, have mostly ranch style homes (there are exceptions, of course.) Last I checked, children who attend Mullan Road Elementary get to choose Sacajawea or Chase Middle School and also get to pick between Lewis & Clark or Ferris.

While Grandview/Thorpe/Latah Valley are off the South Hill, there are some very nice established neighborhoods out there. These areas have the feeling of being out of town, yet they are all close to downtown & amenities. Just make sure to have the neighborhood carefully looked over -- some areas are not as nice, but some areas are very nice. And some have been partially gentrified, which has come to a standstill recently.

If you do move to this area, you will probably hear about the Mead School District. A word of warning if you have elementary age children: some of the better elementary schools there are full. This means that you can be smack dab in the middle of the elementary school's boundary area and your children still will not be able to attend that school. Instead, they are bused to a school like Evergreen or Shiloh HIlls.

Good luck with whatever happens!

Hi again Leslie,
I taught science at Sacajawea Middle School for nearly 20 years and know well the schools that are on the south hill. How old are your children? Spokane district 81 allow transfers between schools if there is room. Some schools have great strength (Ferris HS, for instance, has an outstanding music program) and students transfer to find the best programs for their interests.
There are other great elementary schools on the upper south hill.

The lower south hill has wonderful older homes on generally smaller lots. As you go further south the lots and homes get bigger (generally) and newer with more ranchers. Commute to downtown is easy so many professionals live on the south hill.

Even though other communities OFF the hill feed into some of the best elementary schools ON the hill, the experience of living is not the same. Wherever you live, you will love living in Spokane!

Elementary schools to look for on the South Hill:
Wilson, hands down. Top-scoring school; small; in a great neighborhood.
Hutton - for a runner-up if you want to stay near Manito Park area. If you are willing to go further
south on the South Hill, Mullan Road and Moran Prairie are very good schools as well (larger
lots generally, as well.

I've included a link to a state website that allows you to compare schools.

Besides Manito, Cliff, Cannon, & Rockwood are other South Hill neighborhoods you should consider.

Some neighborhoods in Grandview & in Latah Valley are in the Wilson/Hutton boundaries. Don't miss those areas - there are some very nice pocket neighborhoods out there.

Oh, here is another useful link. It shows you the elementary school boundaries for Spokane schools.
http://www.spokaneschools.org/BoundaryMaps/

Thanks for the very helpful responses! It's very difficult knowing what the best area of town is, which schools are good, etc., when you are moving from 3000 miles away. Especially in this current real estate market. I'm hoping to know within a week or so if Spokane will be the site of my relocation, so I really appreciate the good suggestions and addresses of potential properties.

Here are some homes that have been up forever in the South Hill area (at least a year.) Two are close to Manito. These are the first three I could remember off the top of my head.

408 W 26th - one house over from Bernard (busy), but in Wilson Elementary school boundary. Contact: Charlotte Wolverton - Phone: (509) 747-7653. Close to Manito (about 3 blocks.) Owner is selling home for $20k less than they bought it for. Has been up for well over a year.

2328 S PARK Dr Spokane - straight across from Manito Park - vacant . Downside - in Roosevelt Elementary & oil heat; Contact: Hollie Smith - (509) 990-8198 -- been up for around a year. Looks like an estate sale, not sure.

1411 E 19TH Avenue Spokane - dumpy - terrible attempt at a flip, but owner is an agent and she has this house up well over a year (possibly 1.5 years?) I believe she has offered owner-financing in her past listings of this house, so she must be desperate. If it is not currently rented, it could be a temporary stop while you waited for your home to sell -- it is in Hutton school boundary. Contact: Stacey Underwood - (509) 370-2451.

Dear Leslie,

There are several web sites that you can visit to look for homes for lease with purchase options. Here are just a few: http://www.baker-associates.com
Wrents.com http://www.m-tmanagement.com
Your best option is to work with a realtor who will check out options that fit your requirements. A realtor can also check out the neighborhood, take more pictures and get more information about properties you might consider.

Sincerely,
Denise Reinders

Oh I am envious - I lived on South Hill right across form Manito park in my last trimester of college (I spent it in Spokane rather than Pullman) - I loved those six months so much! I personally would just rent a temporary place and then hire an agent and look around at houses that are for sale. That gives you a chance to really decide where you want to live - South Hill is so wonderful and Downtown Spokane has changed so much since I lived there. I do know a couple great agents there if you need help. I am really excited for you!

Hi Leslie,
The very best option for you might be to do a lease purchase. There are several options: 1. put your home on the market if you have not already done so. 2. Many owners who have property listed for sale who would consider renting. 3. Many of those same owners would also consider a lease purchase. This would require a sizable, non-refundable earnest money payment up front that would go towards your purchase.4. lease with option to purchase is the poorest choice from the seller's perspective. It does not give the seller any assurance, just the possibility that you might purchase the property.
So, the best choice for you might be to identify a property you love and see how the seller will be willing to work with you.
My husband David and I work for Tomlinson South Real Estate. We are the largest office on the south hill and Tomlinson is the largest company in Spokane. We have a large network of agents who are actively looking for available properties and properties coming on the market. I would be happy to let you know about available properties on the south hill if you tell me how to contact you. You can read about us at http://www.thekrals.com.
If there is more information you would like, please don't hesitate to contact us. Virginiak@tb.com