SPOKANE, Wash. — Evelyn and Harris Kight-Moore thought they might spend the next two years living in a rental after losing their home in the recent Spokane fires. Instead, they moved into a new house less than a month after the flames destroyed their previous residence.
The couple’s swift recovery stems from decades of disciplined financial habits and meticulous record-keeping — lessons that financial advisors say more homeowners should follow, especially those facing unexpected disasters.
Both teachers for most of their careers, the Kight-Moores built their financial foundation through consistent saving and budgeting practices. Their approach paid dividends when disaster struck.
“I would tell everybody when they get a paycheck, they have to put money in the bank. If they get a pay raise, all of it goes in there,” Evelyn Kight-Moore said.
This commitment to saving allowed the couple to pay off their previous home early, providing them with the financial flexibility to purchase a new property quickly after the fire.
Beyond their savings discipline, the Kight-Moores maintained detailed records of all their belongings and home improvements they had made over the years. This documentation proved invaluable when filing their insurance claim.
“Because of them being so prepared, they were able to report all of that back seamlessly to their insurance company. And the insurance company you know without question was willing to help them,” said Celeste Jones, who assisted the couple in purchasing their new home.
The insurance company reimbursed them fully within one week of losing their home — a remarkably fast timeline that enabled them to move forward with purchasing a replacement property.
While the Kight-Moores’ story represents a successful recovery, the broader housing market in Spokane shows only modest shifts following the fire. On August 1, there were 2,359 homes for sale in Spokane. As of September 3, that number has decreased to 2,194 homes. Real estate agents indicate the inventory has not dropped drastically despite the fire’s impact on the community.
Despite their ability to secure a new home, accepting the keys to their new house proved emotionally difficult for Harris Kight-Moore. The loss of their previous home weighed heavily on him.
“I didn’t want it…I didn’t want it. I wanted it all to be back the way it was….that’s how I felt,” Harris Kight-Moore said.
However, the couple has since shifted their focus toward rebuilding and moving forward. Both remain committed to leaving the tragedy behind and reconnecting with their community in their new neighborhood.
“We’re just going to continue to move forward and that’s what we’re supposed to do in our lives. We’re not supposed to worry about the past and what we haven’t had or what we should have had or what we lost. Now we go forward with the help of the community,” Harris Kight-Moore said.
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