Help me with Seattle Neighborhoods! (Kirkland: house, established neighborhood, private school)

[OHtoCT]

My husband and I are considering moving to Seattle and are interested in hearing your feedback about neighborhoods. One friend of our told us to consider Ballard, Phinney Ridge, Magnolia & Green Lake. My husband read something about Kirkland (art scene, waterfront), Madrona/Leschi (good views, up and coming area), Beacon Hill (good views, sleepy area), West Seattle, and Wellingford. I tend to trust our friends more though because they know the area. So we are are mid 30's, starting a family in the next year or two, middle/upper middle class, democrats. He works in the IT industry and likes to bike ALOT. We want to live where there are bike trails, coffee shops, dog parks, organic co-ops, farmers markets, sidewalk cafes, etc. We like eclectic foods, yoga, and down to earth people. Safety. Younger families. We live in wealthy, established neighborhood now, beautiful old homes, but no one is like us; it's all country clubs, pearls and entitled young adults. Also our neighborhood now is two square miles and is bordered by bad areas on each side.My husband wants a house with a beautiful view and we are looking to spend somewhere between 400-500k for a house. Can anyone suggest an area of Seattle that we might like to check out when we visit in October?

[Seattleborn]

Unlikely you will find any kind of view in that price range. Based on your preferences I would look at the Ravenna/Wedgewood area. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, organic places. Also, try Sandpoint and View Ridge. You have the burke gilman trail close by. The dog park at Magnuson park is great too! All the other areas are great except Beacon Hill. It is up and coming but still not in a great area. Ballard is up and coming. Wallingford is a great place too! Will you have kids? If so, will they go to public or private school? This is a good question as to find the right neighborhood. Ofcourse this only applies if you have or wll have kids.

[scirocco22]

I agree with Seattleborn, you'll probably have to budget at least twice that much for a view property within the Seattle city limits.

Kirkland is not in Seattle but is part of the "suburbia" located in what is locally called the "Eastside" (east of Lake Washington) which is considered the more upscale suburbs of the greater Seattle area. Again, property with "beautiful views" will be in the six figure price range in Kirkland or anywhere on the Eastside also.

Keep us posted.

[pwright1]

I strongly suggest the Mount Baker area of Seattle. Very established neighborhood with all you're looking for. Probably Seattle's most diverse community. But it's also the site of two annual rowing regattas that draw competitors from all over the Northwest, and Seafair, which features hydroplane races and air shows every August. It has nice parks, tennis courts and its just blocks from Lake Washington. Has a new Yoga studio, wine store and of course the Mount Baker community center, the oldest in the city. Most of the homes were built between the late teens to the 20's with some in the 30's - 50's and some newer homes popping up. What drew me there was the diversity of the community. Homes range from the 300's to some as much as 3million. Many young childless couples or couples with small children live in MB. There's a nice dog park located right at the south end of Mount Baker. Many in the area work at Microsoft and Amazon. Your just minutes from dt Seattle. There's all the great restaurants, coffee shops and galleries of the newly revitalized Columbia City along with the Columbia City Farmers Market and the CC Movie House. Columbia City, Seattle