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PNW Homes Group

Communities & Relocation Guide

Find Your Place in Western Washington

Local guides to Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Thurston County, Pierce County, Hood Canal and Southwest Washington.

Washington isn't one lifestyle.

Within an hour or so, you can go from a downtown neighborhood to five acres in the country, from a golf-course community to a waterfront home, from a historic small town to a newer neighborhood close to shopping, schools and JBLM.

That's why choosing where you live can be just as important as choosing the house itself.

I'm Ron "Captain Ron" Rougeaux, Managing Broker and owner of PNW Homes Group. I've spent more than 15 years working in Washington real estate and have been involved in 550+ transactions involving homes, land, waterfront and investment properties.

I created these community guides for people who want to understand what it's actually like to live here—especially buyers relocating from another state.

Explore the communities below. Learn about the lifestyle, housing, waterfront, parks, trails, recreation, commuting and things locals actually do. Then, when you find an area that feels like home, call me.

I'll show you the community—not just the houses.

36 communities

Washington State Capitol aerial view in summer, Olympia area

Thurston County

Olympia

Washington's capital city where Puget Sound, local culture, trails and Northwest living come together.

Explore Olympia
Saint Martin's University, Lacey area

Thurston County

Lacey

Lakes, parks, newer neighborhoods and easy access to Olympia and JBLM make Lacey one of South Sound's most versatile places to live.

Explore Lacey
Tumwater Falls on the Deschutes River

Thurston County

Tumwater

Historic Northwest character, Tumwater Falls, established neighborhoods and incredible access to I-5.

Explore Tumwater
West Bay of Budd Inlet, Olympia

Thurston County

West Olympia

Wooded neighborhoods, convenient shopping and quick access to downtown with a distinctly Northwest feel.

Explore West Olympia
Priest Point Park, East Olympia area

Thurston County

East Olympia

More room, more trees and a country feel while staying close to Olympia and Lacey.

Explore East Olympia
Steps of Legislative Building, Washington State Capitol, Olympia, Washington, South Capitol area

Thurston County

South Capitol

Historic homes, tree-lined streets and one of Olympia's most recognizable residential neighborhoods.

Explore South Capitol
Boston Harbor and Marina, Boston Harbor, Washington

Thurston County

Boston Harbor

Puget Sound waterfront, marinas, forest and quiet coastal living just outside Olympia.

Explore Boston Harbor
Tolmie State Park (Washington), Johnson Point area

Thurston County

Johnson Point

A peninsula lifestyle surrounded by Puget Sound with waterfront homes, acreage and peaceful Northwest scenery.

Explore Johnson Point
Former feed store - Mud Bay at Kaiser in Olympia, Cooper Point area

Thurston County

Cooper Point

Wooded properties, waterfront opportunities and privacy minutes from West Olympia.

Explore Cooper Point
Southern Puget Prairie, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, WA, Hawks Prairie area

Thurston County

Hawks Prairie

One of the area's major growth corridors with newer homes, golf, shopping and quick JBLM access.

Explore Hawks Prairie
Long Lake Park, Lacey, Washington

Thurston County

Long Lake

Lakefront living in the middle of Lacey—boating, swimming and waterfront homes without leaving town.

Explore Long Lake
A view up Pattinson Lake, Washington USA, Pattison Lake area

Thurston County

Pattison Lake

A smaller Lacey-area lake community offering water, nature and convenient access to city amenities.

Explore Pattison Lake
Two hikers in Capitol State Forest, Black Lake area

Thurston County

Black Lake

Olympia-area lake living with a more rural, wooded personality.

Explore Black Lake
Yelm City Park

Thurston County

Yelm

Growing small-town living with Mount Rainier country at your doorstep and JBLM within reach.

Explore Yelm
Historic railroad trestle, Rainier

Thurston County

Rainier

Small-town Washington surrounded by forests, acreage and big Mount Rainier views.

Explore Rainier
Tenino farmers market

Thurston County

Tenino

Historic stone, small-town character and rural South Thurston County living.

Explore Tenino
Mima Mounds, Rochester area

Thurston County

Rochester

Country properties, farmland and room to breathe with I-5 access nearby.

Explore Rochester
Grand Mound town sign

Thurston County

Grand Mound

Convenient I-5 location connecting Olympia and Centralia with rural living all around it.

Explore Grand Mound
Mt Rainier & Foss Waterway Tacoma

Pierce County

Tacoma

Waterfront, historic neighborhoods, city energy and some of the South Sound's most distinctive homes.

Explore Tacoma
Stadium High School at night, North Tacoma area

Pierce County

North Tacoma

Classic architecture, waterfront parks, neighborhood restaurants and some of Tacoma's most iconic streets.

Explore North Tacoma
Chambers Bay Golf Course, University Place area

Pierce County

University Place

Puget Sound scenery, parks and the internationally known Chambers Bay landscape.

Explore University Place
Aerial view of Steilacoom

Pierce County

Steilacoom

One of Washington's oldest towns—a walkable Puget Sound community with incredible water and mountain views.

Explore Steilacoom
Thornewood Castle, Lakewood

Pierce County

Lakewood

Lakes, established neighborhoods, parks and outstanding access to JBLM and Tacoma.

Explore Lakewood
DuPont "Station"

Pierce County

DuPont

Planned neighborhoods, trails and exceptionally convenient access to JBLM and I-5.

Explore DuPont
86th Annual Meeker Days Festival (Puyallup, Washington)

Pierce County

Puyallup

A thriving valley community combining historic downtown character with shopping, neighborhoods and Mount Rainier views.

Explore Puyallup
Craftsman home in Sumner

Pierce County

Sumner

Classic Main Street charm and a small-town atmosphere in the heart of the Puyallup Valley.

Explore Sumner
Cascade foothills from Bonney Lake

Pierce County

Bonney Lake

Growing neighborhoods, outdoor recreation and spectacular Mount Rainier country.

Explore Bonney Lake
Skansie Net Shed Front View, Gig Harbor area

Pierce County

Gig Harbor

Maritime Northwest living with a postcard harbor, boating culture and Puget Sound scenery.

Explore Gig Harbor
Highclimber Stadium, Shelton area

Mason County / Hood Canal

Shelton

The gateway to Mason County—affordable Northwest living surrounded by forests, waterways and Olympic Peninsula adventure.

Explore Shelton
Allyn on Case Inlet with the Olympic Mountains

Mason County / Hood Canal

Allyn

A tiny waterfront community on Case Inlet where boating, shellfish and Puget Sound life take center stage.

Explore Allyn
Grapeview

Mason County / Hood Canal

Grapeview

Quiet Case Inlet waterfront, marinas and rural properties surrounded by classic Northwest scenery.

Explore Grapeview
Olympic Mountains from Union on Hood Canal

Mason County / Hood Canal

Union

Hood Canal living with Olympic Mountain views, boating and one of Washington's great waterfront settings.

Explore Union
Hoodsport's estuary

Mason County / Hood Canal

Hoodsport & Lake Cushman

Where Hood Canal meets the Olympics—diving, boating, hiking, shellfish and mountain adventure.

Explore Hoodsport & Lake Cushman
Downtown Centralia

Lewis County

Centralia

Historic downtown character, I-5 convenience and a true Southwest Washington small-city lifestyle.

Explore Centralia
Chehalis depot platform

Lewis County

Chehalis

Historic neighborhoods, rolling countryside and a classic Southwest Washington downtown.

Explore Chehalis
A view of West Napavine, Wash

Lewis County

Napavine

Small-town living, newer growth and quick I-5 access between Olympia and Portland.

Explore Napavine
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