Need assistance on Seattle job offer...

[ladyjuliek]

Originally Posted by Seattleborn

There are people living well on those incomes. Two things.. they bought along time ago(I know you are renting) or they live in the Olympia area and Eastern Washington. I know you like Seattle. Eastern Washington has alot of afforadble housing, goods, etc, it's not Seattle though.

The only way you will know is if you give it a try. I think it's always a good idea to leave the area you grew up in. I think it gives one a better perspective on life. If you move back, at least you experienced the other part of the country. No one can take that from you!

I just think you may want to live closer to where you work. Commute times take away so much time and that cuts into your quailty of life.

Er actually we moved from our roots, metro-Detroit back in '04. So this will be round 2. But at least I won't have to face the snow. :/ It'll go from moving away from his parents, to be near my parents, to be near no one's parents. O.o

But we've never lived in a place like that, certainly not mountains or anything.

[sean98125]

At worst you may have to live someplace for a year when you sign a lease. In that time you can explore the area and find a place to live if you don't like where you land when you first come here. You might find that you really like Everett or Mukilteo, or even Lake Stevens or Snohomish or Monroe for example, and proximity to downtown Seattle doesn't mean quite as much.

By the way, housing is pretty inexpensive in Monroe and Snohomish (compared to Seattle) and the commute to Everett is not too bad. Monroe has all of the chain stores you probably want and you are on the doorstep to the mountains. It's a little more of a hassle to get into Seattle, though.

Traffic is a significant concern here, so keep that in mind when you are thinking about his commute. He'll be going against most of the traffic flow if he has regular work hours, though.

[jwb123]

Get it out of your mind that you will be trying to get into Seattle on a work evening! If you are going to be working in the Everett area, plan to live near there (Lynnwood, Bothell, Mill Creek, Mukilteo etc) and resign yourself to traveling into Seattle on the weekend for your fun, exploration outings.

Seattle commuting can last from 4pm till almost 8 on some days! Don't discount the congestion and commute troubles. Live where you work and leave your weekends for fun.

[Seattleborn]

Pretty much as always I agree with Jenbar. However, Rush Hour now starts at 3!

[sean98125]

Jenbar has a good point - I-5 southbound from the north end is awful in the afternoons, though it isn't bad from Everett to 145th. It's usually south of there that it's really bad.

[ladyjuliek]

Yeah I know, bus commute time calcs and other references seem to put it at an 1.5 hour if you try at 5ish. 1 hour if you try at 6ish. Half in hour if you're content to wait until 7 or later. (But that was from the northern Seattle apt.)

I've taken the advice and looked for apts closer, and of course, found a great one. Safe. (It seems almost impossible to find a place without a "ghetto" reference in any where near Mukilteo, Edmonds, Everett, Lynnwood, Montlake Terrace, Mill Creek, and on and on and on. Makes you wonder if anyone lives safe up there in apts without living in the described " 'hood.") But anyway, of course they have no availability. :/ Maybe next month.

[ladyjuliek]

Wow! Update! He's faxing back the offer, even with a moving bonus - it's official, he's coming to work and live in Everett/Seattle area next month. (And most likely, really likely, we'll be moving about 2 months from now!) Yikes.... I'm excited and nervous. Oh well, just wanted to share, and to thank everyone for their input, since it's actually happening, not just a mental exercise. Excited and nervous... and now to tell the parents...

[doni]

I'm jealous!!! I think it will be forever till we get up there.(All though our house has only been on the market 2 weeks I've already packed up the nick knacks) I'm already up there (mentally) Never go south again (except to visit)

Doni

[ladyjuliek]

Can anyone tell me of their thoughts on 164th in Lynnwood, specifically Country Gables? The person on the phone told me they don't need a gated community and about car thefts "we don't have any of that - we're a good community." So hard to tell though. Thanks for any input on that area around Martha Lake.

I sure kind of hope that apt prices have topped out for a while, in this whole region! *lol*