Hello PNW teeners!, Likely moving to Seattle in the near future Options

[mightyohm]

Just wanted to give a heads-up to the PNW crowd that I am likely to join your ranks in the next couple months.

A job has come up in Seattle that will take Kylie and I away from Austin, where we have been for just under 2 years now. (We sure move around a lot.)

We'll be looking for a place to live in the near future. Definitely looking for a 2+ car garage this time, I'm tired of having to push Kylie's car out of the way when I need to do anything in our tiny 1 car garage!

One question I wanted to ask ya'll - if I'm working in Bellevue, is it realistic to even consider living in Seattle? Or would I be better off staying on the East side? (Redmond, etc??) I'm not sure what commute times are typical, but I realize that any commute involving a bridge is usually difficult (lived in the Bay Area for 8 years).

I'm looking forward to meeting everyone in the area. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[r3dplanet]

Hi! Welcome to the lovely PNW! I've lived in Seattle, Austin, and Portland where I live now. I love Seattle very much but there is a severe issue of having absolutely no parking whatsoever. If you venture out to the suburbs a little there is more parking (ie: both of my brothers bought houses in Ballard solely because the houses had garages). Across the pond there is certainly more parking options as well as up north.

There's another little issue: the 520 floating bridge is due for major reconstruction and its one of two bridges that cross Lake Washington. So suddenly what was already a hideous, painful commute from Seattle to Bellevue/Redmond will become even more hideous.

When I lived there last, I lived on Queen Anne and commuted by bicycle to Redmond. I was in shape then. For comparison, it took less time to bike than driving it if you have a 9-5 job. Eventually I took a 3pm-11pm shift just to avoid the traffic altogether.

It's a tough situation. Depending on your lifestyle, you might find living in Seattle to much more fun and dynamic. It's easier to get about on the east side of the pond but even there its getting more and more congested all the time. Plus, depending how much money you make housing can be quite expensive.

Will you have the chance to do any kind of scouting before you move up?

You might consider Bothell, University Village, or Ravenna.

-marcus

Just wanted to give a heads-up to the PNW crowd that I am likely to join your ranks in the next couple months.

A job has come up in Seattle that will take Kylie and I away from Austin, where we have been for just under 2 years now. (We sure move around a lot.)

We'll be looking for a place to live in the near future. Definitely looking for a 2+ car garage this time, I'm tired of having to push Kylie's car out of the way when I need to do anything in our tiny 1 car garage!

One question I wanted to ask ya'll - if I'm working in Bellevue, is it realistic to even consider living in Seattle? Or would I be better off staying on the East side? (Redmond, etc??) I'm not sure what commute times are typical, but I realize that any commute involving a bridge is usually difficult (lived in the Bay Area for 8 years).

I'm looking forward to meeting everyone in the area. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[NORD]

Welcome to the PNW

Talk to Jon Bovey peagreen 914 he sold real estate up here in the PNW
others live in the Seattle area also that can recomend where to live.
Me I moved out of that place 20 years ago to big for me

[914werke]

Jeff it will be great to welcome you & your wife to our little (PNW 914) community. Good recommendations, get a hold of Jon he would be a good resource. Id look N. in Snohomish county or the Kent valley. both off the 405 corridor so you'll avoid the new 520 tolls.

[messix]

welcome to the pnw! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

there are many of us that live here, several of us live in the south snohomish county area and the commute to bellevue is so so, about 45 minutes or so.

check craigs list for rent prices if thats what you plan on doing. the east side is spendy and trendy.

because of my work i know just about every neighborhood hood in the king and snohomish county and some of pierce county also. so if you have any questions on a neighborhood as far as if it's sketchy or safe send me a pm or post up in this thread.

[mightyohm]

Wow, thanks guys!

Sounds like the right thing to do is to stay on the east side - I'll check out Craigslist. The company I'm working with is going to help us find a rental. I just need to tell them what we want and if we have a preference about location.

I need to research the area and see what's good for us. Our challenge has always been that we like to be close to stuff (walking distance to restaurants etc) but really need the garage space for our growing fleet of old cars (914, Sunbeam Alpine and hoping to add another soon). That usually puts us close-to, but not inside the downtown area.

Are there any good walking friendly neighborhoods on the east side where I'm likely to find a 2-3 car garage? Any advice to help me get an idea of what my options are would help a lot. I wouldn't blink at a 15-30 minute commute, 30-45 is getting a little long but tolerable.

[Zaney]

Wow, thanks guys!

Sounds like the right thing to do is to stay on the east side - I'll check out Craigslist. The company I'm working with is going to help us find a rental. I just need to tell them what we want and if we have a preference about location.

I need to research the area and see what's good for us. Our challenge has always been that we like to be close to stuff (walking distance to restaurants etc) but really need the garage space for our growing fleet of old cars (914, Sunbeam Alpine and hoping to add another soon). That usually puts us close-to, but not inside the downtown area.

Are there any good walking friendly neighborhoods on the east side where I'm likely to find a 2-3 car garage? Any advice to help me get an idea of what my options are would help a lot. I wouldn't blink at a 15-30 minute commute, 30-45 is getting a little long but tolerable.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)
Redmond is pretty cool for the things you are looking for. There are a bunch of 80's split level homes for rent or sale in the area with 2 car garages.
I too arrived in the PNW from Austin (25 yrs ago though).
Just leave the sticky, mugginess there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

Cheers!

[PeeGreen 914]

Thanks for mentioning me NORD (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Still do sell real estate.

The rental market is rough in that area right now but you should be able to find something nice. Woodenville or Redmond are likely your best bet. Both are very nice areas with great accomodations.

Where is you company located? The location in Bellevue is fairly critical when picking a place. If it is South Bellevue Redmond is a much better location as Woodenville would have too much trafic. If it is North Woodenville is really nice.

Jon
206-954-3006

[messix]

juaninta beach area might work too. just north of kirkland.

you have to try spuds fish and chips there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif) !


bothell might be good too.

[dinomium]

I did the Seattle to Downtown Bellevue commute for an number of years-- it was HELL! I can't imagine what it would be like with only one Bridge!
Jon is the man in the know, so stick with his advise. Bothell is another PITA to get to and from...

[mightyohm]

Where is you company located? The location in Bellevue is fairly critical when picking a place. If it is South Bellevue Redmond is a much better location as Woodenville would have too much trafic. If it is North Woodenville is really nice.

Jon,

The company is located in downtown Bellevue (NE 4th and 108th).

There definitely seem to be less rentals available than I'm used to seeing, but hopefully we'll find something. We'll probably rent for a year or two and then buy anyway, so whatever we find doesn't have to be perfect.

[jcambo7]

There definitely seem to be less rentals available than I'm used to seeing

Sorry this state is not as flat or as big as Texas. We have mountains and trees which take up a lot of room. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

[KELTY360]

Be sure to take a look at Renton or Newcastle. I live at the north edge of Renton and it's 7 miles to downtown Bellevue. It's also easy to get into Seattle, without even having to cross a bridge if you don't want to. For being close in and on the eastside, the rents are reasonable and multicar garages are plentiful. Renton is kind of a forgotten town with a lot going for it. I'd be glad to give you a tour of the area if you'd like.

[Bleyseng]

Seattle to Bellevue via I90 is pretty easy still but via 520 you have to pay a toll.
Areas like Ravenna, Queen Anne, Capital Hill aren't going to have 2 car garages unless its a new/renovated $1 million house. But these are the best neighborhood to live in. I live on Beacon Hill and there are a lot of 1960-70's houses that have 2 car garages and its close to Seattle's downtown, Chinatown, I5, lightrail, I90 etc and rents are still cheaper here. We walk to grocery stores, library, lightrail, ethnic restaurants, golf course, huge community park and Lake Washington.

If you want to stay on the boring culturally deprived Eastside I'd look at Newcastle/North Renton as there are a lot of 1960-70's homes with 2 car garages and yards for rent. Redmond is nice too.

There aren't many rentals on the market here now as people forced out by the mortgage crisis moved into rentals. I just rerented one house I have with having a Craigslist ad on for one day. Accepted only 7 applications to get the folks I am renting to. Its a tough market but on the eastside it might be a bit easier as people are moving back into Seattle to not have to commute in the traffic. Plus Seattle nightlife has exploded with new restaurants/bars, clubs everywhere! Check out the link:

http://www.seattle.gov/visiting/

I just got back from 6 months working in South America so I can really see the changes.

[PeeGreen 914]

Where is you company located? The location in Bellevue is fairly critical when picking a place. If it is South Bellevue Redmond is a much better location as Woodenville would have too much trafic. If it is North Woodenville is really nice.

Jon,

The company is located in downtown Bellevue (NE 4th and 108th).

There definitely seem to be less rentals available than I'm used to seeing, but hopefully we'll find something. We'll probably rent for a year or two and then buy anyway, so whatever we find doesn't have to be perfect.

Redmond and Woodinville would be nice for what you are looking at. During rush hour 405 can be a real bitch but those areas and close enough and have enough back roads to make it fine. Other areas to look at may be Issaquah, Sammamish, and Newcastle. I personally would avoid Renton unless you know where to avoid.

[KELTY360]

I personally would avoid Renton unless you know where to avoid.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) I think you need a little re-education Jon. Lot's of stuff happening down here. Don't let your bias get in the way. I'll gladly give you a tour and show you what I mean. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)

[Rand]

I lived in Bothell 10 years and love the Eastside. Woodinville, Redmond, Kirkland (downtown is cool and on the lake). All very different than old Seattle or south towards Renton. Newcastle is ok (not as much to do). I'm not a Renton fan.

It really depends on your style. There's such a huge variety. You really need to spend some time exploring before you commit to a place to live.

You like walking to places...Definitely spend some time in downtown Kirkland.

Or you could get a nice waterfront property next to Bill Gates in Medina. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

It's a beautiful area. You will love it. After a few years you may be wishing you were somewhere with more sunshine though. You have to take winter vacations to sunny places to stay sane.

[PeeGreen 914]

I personally would avoid Renton unless you know where to avoid.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) I think you need a little re-education Jon. Lot's of stuff happening down here. Don't let your bias get in the way. I'll gladly give you a tour and show you what I mean. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)

Uh, Marc, you know Renton and therefore know the areas not to rent. If he sees a good rental right off Sunset or somewhere similar he may not know better (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

Renton has some very nice neighboorhoods but also has some really bad ones as well.

[scooterseattle]

If you will be working in Bellevue, I would definitely live on the Eastside. I live in Seattle and prefer the Seattle vibe, but the commute would not be fun from Seattle to Bellevue.

Bellevue proper is nice and the fuel savings (and commute time savings) by living in the same town where you work may make it worth while.

[KELTY360]

I personally would avoid Renton unless you know where to avoid.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) I think you need a little re-education Jon. Lot's of stuff happening down here. Don't let your bias get in the way. I'll gladly give you a tour and show you what I mean. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)

Uh, Marc, you know Renton and therefore know the areas not to rent. If he sees a good rental right off Sunset or somewhere similar he may not know better (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

Renton has some very nice neighboorhoods but also has some really bad ones as well.

Like most anywhere, neighborhoods to avoid are fairly self evident, whether by price or condition. Over the past 30 years I've lived in Lake Forest Park, Redmond, Juanita Beach, Mercer Island, Rainier Beach, Queen Anne, Shoreline and Renton. I have also traveled extensively throughout the area visiting estate and garage sales. You can learn a lot about an area by the stuff for sale from people's basements and garages. All these places have their attributes and drawbacks. I tend to avoid cookie cutter, homogenized neighborhoods as characterized by Redmond, Issaquah, Bellevue and Newcastle; so that's my bias showing. What I find interesting about Renton is the strong community involvement, the variety of neighborhoods and a park system second to none. It doesn't hurt that there is a strong mechanical IQ due to the manufacture of Boeing jets and Kenworth trucks, among other things. That has also created a strong 'car community'. I guess I just don't get the point of prejudicing a whole city because they might have a 'bad' neighborhood. As I said in my first post, I'm happy to show anyone around the area, I'll even go through the so called bad spots....but really fast with the windows rolled up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)