Sammamish? (Redmond, Issaquah: preschools, live in, shop)

[jwb123]

For example - in the Abbey Road subdivision on Edu Hill. These homes were built in 1996, and purchased for about $250 I think... now they are all anywhere from 630k and over 800K...

Zillow - Real Estate Search Results

[scirocco22]

Sure, Jen, but on the other hand, there are other areas on Education Hill that aren’t as “yuppie-ish” as Abbey Road. Take, for instance, the immediate area radiating from the junior high school. These homes are much older than the subdivisions similar to Abbey Road. In fact, I know two families who are blue-collar workers, raising young kids, living in the area right around Horace Mann elementary where you’ll find a handful of late 1960s-type ramblers.

Again, in the area where I used to live, there are older, less affluent neighborhoods that don’t fit the “yuppie” image. Sure, I sold my house for a price in the mid-500k but there are some houses in the Rose Hill area among others that are still priced below that in Redmond. You can find pockets of these types of neighborhoods all over the city.

In my opinion, parts of Sammamish have a more yuppie feel than parts of Redmond. I guess the point I wanted to make to the OP, is that they shouldn’t rule Redmond out so quickly. At least take a look to see what’s available. My continuing point is, of course, to live as close to where you work as possible.

[scirocco22]

After thinking about this one a bit more, I'll throw in a few more suggestions.

I neglected to hone in on the fact that you're looking for some place similar to Maple Valley. Yes, Redmond is not that similar to Maple Valley ...but neither is Sammamish. Sammamish, in my opinion, is for the more affluent of the middle-class where Maple Valley is more middle-of-the-road middle class --if that makes any sense. I just heard on the radio today the that median price of a home in Sammamish is $670,000. It can't be that high in Maple Valley.

If Redmond turns you off that much, then how about somewhere in the Snoqualmie Valley? Eastern Duvall, Carnation, Fall City, Preston, Snoqualmie areas? Or perhaps the Bothell, Clearview, Monroe corridor?

No matter, living in any of those areas will increase your commuting time and thus less leisure time ...or valuable time with your family.

[seahawksweetie]

I love Fall City, at least from what I've seen online. However, I'm not looking to buy right now, only rent. And I don't think there are that many rentals available in that area.

[delftblue]

Why categorize "the south" as less desirable for MANY reasons? Have you ever lived on both the eastside and "the south" of Seattle? I have.

My family is from a very affluent suburb of Chicago, was transferred to the Seattle area and lived in a gorgeous community in Sammamish and we have lived overseas for many, many years as well.

When my husband and I decided to make the move to Washington (which I thought was such a great idea after having lived here with my family and loving it) we took 3 years of living in apartments on the eastside and Bothell/Woodinville area to find our perfect balance (well maintained homes and yards, clean community, convenient shopping, excellent healthcare and an overall sense of classiness)-which we never found, mostly based on the astronomical cost of homes many of which aren't worth an eighth of what they're asking.

We found much of the eastside as very undesirable (none of the towns seemed to really flow, felt very choppy, inconsistent pride of ownership, congested, gorgeous landscapes and views ruined by unfortunate planning on behalf of the building taking place and too many strip malls in relation to street side boutiques in charming small downtown suburban atmospheres that you'll find plenty of south of Seattle). We wouldn't spend $500- 600K on a run down starter to save our life- on principle alone- whether it was in our budget or not. Nor would we spend that same amount to live in a newly constructed home with a strip of grass to call a yard and the ability to serve my neighbor dinner through my window to theirs. To us, the community atmospheres simply did not support the cost of the homes- any of them. If we were to spend that sort of money in Chicago- you'd bet we'd have a consistently fabulous community to call home.

Having spent a good deal of my youth and a bit of my adulthood on the eastside, I must admit I carried the same assumptions of "the south" as you (Jenbar) do and as many, many other eastsiders do as well. It is unfortunate and sad.

Thank goodness for an open mind, because had we not had the sense to start exploring the south we would have moved out of state out of complete disappointment in trying to find a consistently charming, classy, upscale yet relaxed place to call home.

Now, that being said, there are several towns south of Seattle that I would not consider living in- just as there are north and east of Seattle. But have you been to Sumner, Bonney Lake, Lake Tapps, Lakeland in Auburn, Maple Valley, Enumclaw? These are some of the most consistently overall classiest, well maintained & gorgeous communities outside of Seattle no matter what direction you are looking. Huge, huge homes, lakes, golf courses. Or if vintage charm tickles your fancy then you'll find some of the most beautifully maintained historic homes in the state on gorgeous tree lined streets- killer views of Mount Rainier. They rival some of the most well established and affluent suburbs of some of the largest cities in this country. Plus, a few of these towns to "the south" are serviced by the very clean and efficient Sounder Train that takes commuters directly to Seattle- unlike the eastside. Most other suburbs surrounding large cities in this country aren't even considered as attractive unless they are serviced by a major mode of transportation such as the Sounder.

We finally settled on Sumner and consider it gold. It is what we consider one of the best kept secrets around. We enjoy all of the amenities of Seattle- sporting events, theater, Pike Place, etc, in a short trip that takes less than 30 minutes- even in rush hour. The Sounder even makes exclusive trips into the city during the baseball season. The husband and kids can go see the game and I can get a dose of the city- no driving involved.

When Seattle doesn't sound appealing, we have Gig Harbor (amazingly charming- right on the water- fun boutiques and cafes- lots of character), downtown Tacoma which has some of the best seafood around- much better than anything I've ever found in Seattle. Downtown Tacoma is bustling with young, affluent couples as well as singles & families that take advantage of the great museums, dining, views, etc. Not at all the downtown Tacoma the eastsiders affectionately remember from years past. Not at all- trust me. I wouldn't step foot with my young family anywhere questionable as we are extremely particular.

If the outdoors is what you're craving- we're just that much closer to Mount Rainier, Northwest Trek (outdoor northwest wildlife safari) and some of the most beautiful hiking and biking trails around as well as lakes and ocean too.

I ask that anyone not familiar with Seattle that is looking for a place to live please consider looking south. You can still be within a 30 mile drive of Seattle and live affordably and beautifully. As many of you know, in most big cities in this country a 30 mile drive outside the city is often still considered the city. Many of the best suburbs don't even start until you're a good 30 miles outside of the core. But for some reason, 30 miles any direction other than east to a Seattle native is like 10 hour car ride to the rest of us. Strange.

The transportation situation (all things considered- including the Sounder) is also so much better (actually it's not even comparable) south of Seattle as is the overall quality of life if you're not into cluster living. And no, that doesn't mean it's rural or farmland hick living as many an eastsider would tell you. That's laughable actually.

Understand that most people on the eastside are blind to the south- or at the very least they haven't taken the time to truly explore all there is to offer. Keep in mind that it wasn't until relatively recently that the eastside experienced its "boom". There was a time (90's) that what is now called Sammamish was unincorporated Redmond and was considered the boonies- as was Issaquah, Woodinville, etc. Unless you lived in Bellevue, Kirkland or Seattle you were nobody.

Eastsiders get as far as Kent or Tacoma, make all sorts of assumptions and call it quits. I guess I may do the same thing though if I visited the eastside for the first time and choose downtown Issaquah, Redmond, Factoria and Eastgate to name a few. Hardly what I would call desirable, in fact I would probably say the same thing Jenbar said, stay away as the eastside is "less desirable for MANY reasons."

[scirocco22]

Well, we're actually drifting a bit off topic here.

I for one didn't necessarily say that all areas to the south of Seattle are less desirable. I was just trying to answer the OP's initial question of what areas might me similar to Maple Valley only closer to Redmond where he was going to be working.

If we were to discuss all the possibilities in south King county then we are not being any closer to Redmond than Maple Valley.

[jwb123]

'rocco, you know I love Redmond! I don't mean to disparage it, I would be living there right now (slightly over the top maybe, but making a point) if we could have afforded it!

...but I still feel if you were moving into Redmond TODAY and putting an offer on a home TODAY - you need money.


I don't doubt that there are "average money" people living in Redmond - but when did they buy in??

To dblue.... my mom used to live in Bonney Lake, and we had several friends who lived south. I have spent a lot of time there - and I still firmly say, without reservation, with children, and considering schools, I would never, never buy south. For ME, it's not desirable, yes - for many reasons. I don't want to live in a "pocket" nice neighborhood... I want to live in a nice neighborhood. Period.

[delftblue]

Sammamish is appealing to many people. Especially those that work for Microsoft- because of it's proximity. If a pretty home in a subdivision on a well kept street is what you are looking for and are willing to pay the price, then it may be for you. I don't believe you should expect much else though out of this particular town.

Scirocco22, you may not have mentioned to stay away from the entire south, but Jenbar did, which is why it was necessary to reply in more detail.

Many people are open minded to living somewhere other than where they "think" they want to live, which is why I feel it's important to at least consider something other than the eastside (especially since Moon Waffle does not seem to keen on the whole yuppie, snobby thing which much of the eastside is all too famous for). My husband and I had the same requirements as Moon Waffle. We wanted to be within 30 minutes of Sammamish- or so we thought-and didn't want that yuppie feeling.

Jenbar- what exactly is it about the south of Seattle that you would never consider living in any of the communities? When was your mother in Bonney Lake?

Like Sammamish less than a decade ago, Bonney Lake used to be considered rural. It is much, much different today and is the fastest growing city in the state of Washington- without the ignorant building madness that is happening elsewhere.

To each their own, obviously, but I find it interesting that you flat out refuse to even consider anything south. My husband and I could not be pickier. We have young children that we are raising here, we have extremely high standards and have lived all over the world. We have lots to compare to. Many communities (no, not all) south of Seattle rival the eastside. For many, many reasons that I would just love to point out in detail.

There are many places I would not raise my child on the eastside. But I certainly wouldn't rule out the entire area. I’ve lived in several areas there, shopped there, seen doctors and dentists there, went to school there. I feel as though I have the daily living experiences, as an adult, to even begin to make such claims and comparisons.

I do feel there are areas on the eastside (if one must stay there) such as Clyde Hill & Medina in Bellevue that justifiably support the high housing prices. These are classy, well established and well planned communities that offer the culture and amenities that should and are to be expected when purchasing a home anywhere near the million dollar mark. I do not feel that Sammamish or Redmond are in any way comparable nor do they offer the highly sophisticated and up market lifestyle, offerings and surroundings that one may expect to encounter when purchasing a home of that magnitude. Out-of-staters need to know this. Sammamish and Redmond are simply not the end all be all for Seattle area living- not even if you work at Microsoft. To many, many of us accustomed to a high standard of living (and those that just appreciate an uncomplicated but nice lifestyle) they leave a lot to be desired.

What is your definition of a "pocket" community Jenbar? Have you lived in Puyallup, Bonney Lake, Sumner, Lake Tapps recently? Have you even been there in the last year or so. Have you shopped there, eaten there? It's not as if you are on the freeway for hours and happen upon a little one stoplight, one shop town in the middle of nowhere. They're all linked- in community and proximity- up to Issaquah. Sumner, Bonney Lake, Auburn, Lake Tapps all have their own newspapers- some run by the King County Journal- no shabby little fly by night publication. These are large communities with lots to offer. Nothing pocket about them. Major retailers and other corporations house their headquarters here as well as their CEOs and other executives. I know, they are my neighbors.

Not everyone with good taste and wealth (or not) enjoys the eastside nor would they choose to raise a child in any one of the many unappealing communities/areas that make it what it is. Ever. Period.

I apologize if this is more than what you asked for, Moon Waffle, or anyone else reading this, but I think it will serve you well to at least look out of the eastside. For many people, the housing/community search could range widely. A person could be considering Monroe down to Yelm and out to North Bend with lots in between- especially if you haven’t lived here for a while or perhaps have never been to the state. This is just how it is in many parts of the country. Many transplants will be used to this. Eastside Washingtonians don’t seem to quite grasp this concept yet. You can work in Seattle or Redmond or Bellevue and live 30 miles or more away in any direction and be happy.

Remember there is that Sounder commuter train. Look closely at the cities it serves, it speaks volumes. The towns with stations- those are the ones to watch. There is a reason they are being serviced and others are not. This is where many of the hot spots are and picking one of these could not only prove to be the best move for your family, but a wise investment choice.

Good luck in your search. You have lots to choose from in this beautiful state.

[scrapylady]

I don't know how you consider the south a reasonable commute for Microsoft. I Have lived in Federal Way for over 35 yrs, daughter must commute to Eastgate area of Bellevue (where Microsoft is building new office building by the way) and if she leaves here later that 5:00 am it can take between 45 min to 2 hr to get there. Leaving before 5:00 it is a 30 minute ride, the best possible time anymore, and we live a mimimun of 20 - 30 minutes north of sumner on the best traffic days. I know I go there a lot! On top of that she is in the carpool lane!!!

[thisismemaria]

Originally Posted by gallo

Sammamish is a nice town. However, it is very much like Redmond, and it is expensive. I would assume there is a fair amount of families with kids there, and I have heard the schools there are very good. Judging from what you wrote, if you don’t like Redmond, I am not sure that Sammamish might be what you are looking for.

FYI for anyone wondering, pretty much all of the Eastside suburbs (i.e., Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah, etc.) are very similar.

So much, it can be a little eerie thinking about it, LOL.

What do you mean by similar? I find each of those cities to be quite different. They are all expensive compared to the rest of the state but that is it. Each area is different and great for a lot of reasons. Don't generalize all of the eastside. There are pros and cons to living in any area.