Seattle area Disers-Need input!

[bekkiz]

My husband and I, both CA residents since early childhood, are considering a move to the Seattle area next summer or so. We cannot afford to live in our area of CA (just can't buy a worthwhile house) and would like to start a family (hence the wanting to buy a house.)

We are planning a visit in February to check out neighborhoods. We have friends in Phinny Ridge and Sammamish, and visited both in May. Looking at the housing prices in both places, it appears we could buy in either, though, it seems you get more bang for your buck the further away from downtown you go (duh!)

DH has been checking out job leads, and would most likely be in the downtown area (he's a web applications developer, with loads of experience and feel confident in finding a job based on what he's seen)

I am a teacher and coach, but am also certified to work in preschools and day cares, and am not opposed to retail work either, and plan to be a SAHM when the kidlets come.

Any adivce on neighborhoods we should check out, thoughts on living in WA, traffic issues when living in the suburban areas etc. My family is really opposed to us leaving but I figure they'll get over it. I'm very excited about the prospect.

 

[ceiligh1]

There are many great places around seattle to raise kids. The first thing you need to know is how you feel about a planned community, as they have taken over a lot of the housing market up here. Also how close do you actually want to be to a city center. We lived in Redmond about 10 min from work, but at night it would take at least 45 min to drive home. Now we live in Issaquah 20 min from work but it takes about 30 min to drive home at night with no stopping. If you plan on living out side the city it is a good idea to live near one of the freeways I90, 520 especially if you will be actually commuting to Seattle. We live in an area called Klahanie, its a huge planned community http://klahanie.com/klahaniecenter.asp. In our street of about 12 homes there are 26 kids, all different ages and everyone watches out for them. It wasnt my first choice but I am glad we chose it. Good luck to you. If you have any other questions let me know.

 

[webprinter]

We live across the water from Seattle on the Kitsap Peninsula, (Port Orchard, Bremerton, Silverdale). We like it best over here because of less traffic and less people. It is a more quiet peaceful lifestyle. Also, housing prices have not yet caught up with the Seattle area. You should at least come over and check it out. Your husband can take a ferry over to Seattle to work or carpool from here. It is about a 30-60 minute ferry ride, depending on where you take the ferry from. We love it out here. Debby

 

[Meriweather]

We can have a meet

I live north of Seattle, so you probably don't want to move out this way (although of course, housing is cheaper).

 

[BelleBoo&AmisMum]

We're east of Seattle (waaaaaaaaaaaaay east in the Snoqualmie Valley) traffic sucks no matter where you go, always has. Takes DH 45 minutes to get home and we're 12 miles from his work.

But it's pretty and generally a nice place to be!

We like the eastside as opposed to in-city. We made a point to find an established neighborhood that wasn't a major planned area. There are lots of planned neighborhoods though, we're really close to Redmond Ridge (part of why our traffic sucks so bad) I just can't get over how small the lots are! For $80,000 less we got 3xs the lot size!

 

[Cindyluwho]

We live across the water from Seattle on the Kitsap Peninsula, (Port Orchard, Bremerton, Silverdale). We like it best over here because of less traffic and less people. It is a more quiet peaceful lifestyle. Also, housing prices have not yet caught up with the Seattle area. You should at least come over and check it out. Your husband can take a ferry over to Seattle to work or carpool from here. It is about a 30-60 minute ferry ride, depending on where you take the ferry from. We love it out here. Debby

Debbie, you're right! It is gorgeous over there! You can also park at the ferry dock, walk on the ferry and be dropped off right in Downtown Seattle.

I live in the West Seattle area. We have some of the most amazing views of downtown. When it's not rush hour it's only about 5 minutes to downtown, I don't drive during the rush so I don't know how long it takes during peak times. I just love West Seattle, it's got that small town feel but is just minutes from downtown. Check out the John L Scott website, it's so easy to use and will give you an idea about neighborhoods and prices. http://www.johnlscott.com You can even enter your parameters and it will email you every time something new comes up that fits your bill!
Most importantly, have fun looking at houses, take your time and YEAH!! another disser in Seattle!!
Cynthia Reid
John L Scott Westwood

 

[binny]

my dear Brother used to live in Bellevue right by Bellsquare and has since moved out to Fall City ( near Issaquah) but up in the hills more, he says it takes him less time to travel to Ballard now than when he lived in Belleevue LOL

I love it up where he lives!


Also love the Silverdale and Poulsbo areas.

 

[bekkiz]

Thank everyone so much for the advice! I'm looking into some of the areas you've mentioned--Issaquah looks really nice.

We're from the Bay Area and are very used to 45-60 minute commutes, so we wouldn't mind going a little further out for a newer, nicer house that didn't require too much work.

Any more suggestions?