Eastern Seattle suburb hunt! (Bellevue, Renton: homes, neighbourhoods, best schools)

[Yankee100]

Moving to Seattle and will be working in Bellevue. Have not visited area yet and have begun hunting on the web looking at Sammamish, Issaquah, Woodinville closeby and some further out such as Snoqualmie. We are looking for a great school system for the kids who are entering high school and middle school. Also looking for a nice home (2,700-3,500 sq ft, and no older than 25 years old, acreage from. 5 - 1 acre, no zero lot homes!). Also, looking for communities with restaurant, shops, and a gym. Please educate!

[Inkpoe]

For the kind of home you are looking for, I hope you have a big budget. Honestly, anywhere in the Eastside would fit what you want: all have restaurants, shops, gyms and great schools.

Also include Bothell and the portion of Renton that touches Issaquah.

[seattlenextyear]

Cue Texastrigril saying something about how Sammamish has good schools and kayaking eagles

[AddyLaddy]

We live in Sammamish 98075 and soon Issaquah 98029, they are both very pleasant neighbourhoods with access to all the shops you need down in Issaquah. Restaurants are OK over here, but there isn't that much choice.
But you're going to find it hard to find 0.5+ acre places unless you have over $700k to spend. And those properties would have most likely been built during the 1990s or earlier.
The Issaquah school district is top-rated, my boys go to Skyline which is meant to be one of the best schools.

[Hemlock140]

Skyline and Eastlake, though in different districts are less than a mile apart and among the best high schools in the state. The home you are looking for will be available in Sammamish at $700k-1 million or more
in this area. If you can go as old as 1980 or so you might find something 3,000 sf on 1/3 acre for just under $600,000. There are a few restaurants and shops in two small shopping centers, a gym, parks and lakes, trails. All the restaurants and shopping you need are available about 6-7 miles in either direction at Issaquah or Redmond.

[Yankee100]

How does Woodinville/Cottage Lake area compare? How does Woodinville HS and schools compare with Sammamish (Skyline) & Issaquah?

[tobester]

Please don't refer to the Eastside as Eastern Seattle

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by Yankee100

How does Woodinville/Cottage Lake area compare? How does Woodinville HS and schools compare with Sammamish (Skyline) & Issaquah?

That's a nice area, and the schools are good, a few notches below but there's no reason not to live there.

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by Yankee100

How does Woodinville/Cottage Lake area compare? How does Woodinville HS and schools compare with Sammamish (Skyline) & Issaquah?

Skyline HS is just superbly awesome, state of the art. WHS and the area don't really compare... however, this shouldn't translate to it being its "bad". Its not... at all If you can take the time to personally check it out (talk to the staff), tour the school. Ultimately it depends on what you're looking for.

Originally Posted by tobester

Please don't refer to the Eastside as Eastern Seattle

Strangely enough, that's what C-D does = http://www.city-data.com/city/East-S...ashington.html I'm not sure why they chose to "group" it like that there.