Post by theoriginalbean on Sept 29, 2014 9:14:20 GMT -5
Hello! As you guessed from my title, we're most likely relocating to Seattle this spring/summer, depending on how quickly our house sells when we list it in January.
We're trying to figure out where we want to live. The husband is self-employed and I'm keeping my job and working remotely, so our options are wide open. We're coming for another visit later this fall to explore neighborhoods, so I'm trying to get the list down to a few top ideas before then. This is challenging for me, and I'm overwhelmed. We've been working on this for a few months, now, and I don't feel like we're any closer to figuring it out.
We like nature (running, hiking, mountain biking, skiing) and we like city, so ideally I'd want to be close to either one of those two things. Walkability is important, and strong schools and communities. We have two small children. We're strongly considering Bainbridge Island, but I don't know if I can commit to being that isolated. Issaquah and Sammamish are also areas we're looking into. Husband has been looking at Everett, but I think that's too far out for me. We're not opposed to city, but I think our budget would prohibit that from working. (we'd like to be under $500K, and we need 4BR because we both work from home)
Post by MrsPotatohead on Sept 29, 2014 9:52:40 GMT -5
Fun! I'm a Seattle girl (and don't have kids yet) so not sure I can help as much based on what you want, although you could check out North Seattle, Shoreline and Edmonds (the little downtown area is super cute). Good luck!
I second Edmonds, it's a great community with good schools and close to everything. If you can afford close to downtown it's also really walkable, especially in the summer (they have a great farmer's market!) Check out the Edmonds Moms FB group too. I would avoid Everett. The Northshore School District is awesome, so also look at Bothell and Woodinville.
if strong schools are a priority, i wouldn't recommend everett, but that is in your price range..everett is less expensive, you can get a nice 4bdrm for for 3-400k. if you go the everett route, make sure the schools feed up to jackson hs, that's the best hs in the everett district.
great schools in the area would be mercer island, bellevue, bothell/kirkland, and mukilteo. with your price range in mind, i would try a smaller (2000sqft) 4bdrm in mukilteo school district (which is close to everett, but no good walkability).
I live on bainbridge and don't feel isolated at all. It's a great community and the schools are excellent. We have a great downtown area of our own, plus it's a 35 minute ferry ride to get to Seattle and you don't need to drive on if you just want to hang out in downtown Seattle. It's also only about a 2 hour drive to get out to the Olympic peninsula. $500k is a reasonable expectation for a 4 bedroom house here. I have a two year old and we plan to he another child here. Daycare is expensive but you'll find that anywhere in this region. We pay $1,150 a month for full time daycare. Infant daycare is astronomical bc there are like one or two options on the island. My H and I both work in Poulsbo which is the next town over, over the bridge.
Post by stretchad on Sept 29, 2014 13:08:28 GMT -5
I live in Issaquah Highlands, which has parts that are walkable, and really easy access to the outdoorsy stuff you like. However, 4BR might be tough to come by on your budget in the areas walking distance to amenities. Perhaps looking further away (north/south) of I-90 you might be able to find something that works (but less city, more woodsy). We moved to Issaquah from West Seattle (where we lived temporarily after we relocated from the Midwest) because of the newer homes, relatively easy commute to Seattle (I work in SoDo, near the stadiums), and good schools. We love it so far, I just wish we had more of a yard.
Also, if you do decide to look in Bainbridge, I have a lender and realtor recommendation for you. I'm an attorney here locally and over the years have established relationships with some great resources for new comers!
Also, if you do decide to look in Bainbridge, I have a lender and realtor recommendation for you. I'm an attorney here locally and over the years have established relationships with some great resources for new comers!
Post by karebear219 on Sept 29, 2014 15:16:57 GMT -5
I would do Bothell or Issaquah. Bothell is currently redoing their downtown area to make it really cool so you might get a jump on people trying to get out there. It's going to be hard to find a tour bedroom house for 500k though.
Another vote for Bothell (though I'm biased). You likely won't have as much walkability, but the schools are great, and the downtown Bothell area is going to be amazing once it's finished. We have a 5 bedroom home and did not pay 500k so I think your budget it totally realistic.
I would suggest Bothell too. I'm a West Seattle person. But that's where we'd move. It's like the perfect distance out of Seattle, good schools, and close enough to the passes (the hiking, skiing, and mountain biking).
I have no further specific information, as everyone has given you great tips, but I find Redfin much easier to use than Zillow for exploring real estate.
I live in West Seattle. I love it here. I grew up in Milk Creek it was fine, I prefer West Seattle much more. Access to several parks, 50 meter outdoor pool (in the summer), lots of gorgeous running spots, beach, easy access to island life on Vashon, lots of pubs, restaurants etc. it's like living in a small town in the big city. ETA: I think schools in West Seattle are awesome!
and And I'm lol'ing at the "Everett has such BAD schools!"
Post by toratoratori on Sept 30, 2014 13:20:30 GMT -5
I'm going to third the recommendation for West Seattle just because it's my dream neighborhood. You can likely find 4BR for $500K, but it may need a little bit of work. But it's worth it, in my opinion!
Post by theoriginalbean on Oct 1, 2014 9:53:42 GMT -5
Thanks again, everyone! I think we need to think really hard about whether we want to be closer to city or to mountains. I'm very much a city girl, so I'd obviously prefer that
Husband grew up in the New Hampshire mountains, so he's perfectly happy being farther out. He's interested in Tacoma, too. I took your Redfin recommendation and set up a few different searches, so when something comes across that we like, we're ready to go. I'm looking forward to being part of your community!
Thanks again, everyone! I think we need to think really hard about whether we want to be closer to city or to mountains. I'm very much a city girl, so I'd obviously prefer that
Husband grew up in the New Hampshire mountains, so he's perfectly happy being farther out. He's interested in Tacoma, too. I took your Redfin recommendation and set up a few different searches, so when something comes across that we like, we're ready to go. I'm looking forward to being part of your community!
There's a really good group here. I hope you stick around!
Tacoma is a totally different world, but there are some vet nice neighborhoods, some areas are walkable, some good schools, much more affordable than Seattle, and much less crowded. Look at north end/Proctor, and University Pace.
Thanks again, everyone! I think we need to think really hard about whether we want to be closer to city or to mountains. I'm very much a city girl, so I'd obviously prefer that
Husband grew up in the New Hampshire mountains, so he's perfectly happy being farther out. He's interested in Tacoma, too. I took your Redfin recommendation and set up a few different searches, so when something comes across that we like, we're ready to go. I'm looking forward to being part of your community!
I can't remember if anyone else has thrown out Issaquah. But you'd be close to Bellevue (shopping, night life etc) and not too far away from all the hiking and stuff in Snoqualmie pass. I'm in West Seattle and on Saturday mornings we can drive out of town about 45 min or so and get to a decent hike.
TBH, the *real* issue for me is, where is the good beer?
We've done a few Seattle brewery tours, and I'm looking forward to visiting the rest.
Pretty much everywhere.
H and his friends did this route once a summer and it always ended up with me meeting them somewhere to collect H and his bike.
That's my kind of bike route! Bookmarking this, for sure. We did Elysian last fall (and Pyramid, and Pike, and something else) and it's still some of the best beer I've had, especially the one made with rainier cherries. Yum!
TBH, the *real* issue for me is, where is the good beer?
We've done a few Seattle brewery tours, and I'm looking forward to visiting the rest.
I'm also in West Seattle. We have some really, really great beer options, and are very close to the SoDo/Georgetown breweries.
Things in West Seattle to Google: The Beer Junction, Beveridge Place Pub, Elliott Bay Brewery, and Super Deli Mart (though the original owner sold it last year, so I don't know if it's as awesome as it used to be).