Best bang-for-the-buck suburb? (Bellevue, Renton, Redmond: short sale, new house, best schools)

[angelenogirl]

Originally Posted by CT_trackstar

Thanks everyone! So far we are looking at Maple Valley and Northshore districts. I am very concerned about the Maple Valley commute though. Woodinville seems a little too pricey and I don't know much about Bothell or Kenmore so I'll have to start researching. Maybe I'll add Shoreline to the mix.

To me, driving from Maple Valley feels like one of those dreams where you're running down a hallway and the end just keeps moving farther away. It just feels So. Far. Away.

I love Bothell; definitely check it out.

[Seattle206723]

Originally Posted by CT_trackstar

Possibly relocating to Seattle for a job in Eastlake. Looks like the "premier" school districts (Bellevue, Issaquah, Mercer Island) are probably going to be outside of our price range. What's the "next best" location? Schools are a priority, reasonable commute to Eastlake, and would like to get into a 3 or 4 BR, 2000+ sq ft house for under $450k, if that's possible. There's got to be that goldilocks town where the schools are very good and housing is somewhat reasonable, right? Right???

Finaces and COL are going to be huge for you IMHO..

450K Home 2000^2 3 or 4 BR with a credit score of 749 + 20% down is $2057 on Avg at 4.125 APR

6020 121st Ave SE (450K)
Bellevue, WA 98006 (Built in 1963) The areas you want will be very, very, very, tough to find in the current situation

I would also consider Home Schooling my Kids if doable in your situation. Most people who are buying now or going Up North or Down South. Maple Valley South 40mins and Bothell = North 30min.

Bothell Sounds and looks good; but that 522 with the new Toll's and The Traffic Jams depending on the time of day? Is HELL ON EARTH! You take exit 26 to 405 on to I-5 and Your out of the pot and into the fire. Combine that with the driving skills of some of our drivers and it can get sticky real quick.

Planning is key; leave 1.5hrs early and you should be okay; Maple Valley; there is not easy route but the Nerve Centers 169 and fighting Truckers and then on To I-5 for road warrior style traffic during peak times. Plan to leave up 2.0 hrs for that commute. I can't stress enough to never get caught by the DesMoines exit on a traffic Jam. It goes from a 4 way down to a 2 way with people jumping on from the 188th street exit.


Now the housing prices in those two areas are perfect for what your looking for; but your gonna pay the piper with the traffic commute via a car. If your okay with Light Rail or the Bus; then Find a Parking area at the Airport and pay the toll hop on the Rail and get where your going.

You should check out the WSDOT - Seattle Washington Cameras this will give you an Idea of the Traffic...

GL Warrior and I will see you on the battlefield someday.

[BellevueNative]

Originally Posted by angelenogirl

To me, driving from Maple Valley feels like one of those dreams where you're running down a hallway and the end just keeps moving farther away. It just feels So. Far. Away.

I love Bothell; definitely check it out.

I agree! I can't imagine driving the Maple Valley Hwy twice a day. It does feel like it takes forever to get to Maple Valley. At least Bothell and Mill Creek are along I-5 or 405 the whole way.

[BellevueNative]

Originally Posted by Seattle206723

Finaces and COL are going to be huge for you IMHO..

450K Home 2000^2 3 or 4 BR with a credit score of 749 + 20% down is $2057 on Avg at 4.125 APR

6020 121st Ave SE (450K)
Bellevue, WA 98006 (Built in 1963) The areas you want will be very, very, very, tough to find in the current situation

I would also consider Home Schooling my Kids if doable in your situation. Most people who are buying now or going Up North or Down South. Maple Valley South 40mins and Bothell = North 30min.

Bothell Sounds and looks good; but that 522 with the new Toll's and The Traffic Jams depending on the time of day? Is HELL ON EARTH! You take exit 26 to 405 on to I-5 and Your out of the pot and into the fire. Combine that with the driving skills of some of our drivers and it can get sticky real quick.

Planning is key; leave 1.5hrs early and you should be okay; Maple Valley; there is not easy route but the Nerve Centers 169 and fighting Truckers and then on To I-5 for road warrior style traffic during peak times. Plan to leave up 2.0 hrs for that commute. I can't stress enough to never get caught by the DesMoines exit on a traffic Jam. It goes from a 4 way down to a 2 way with people jumping on from the 188th street exit.


Now the housing prices in those two areas are perfect for what your looking for; but your gonna pay the piper with the traffic commute via a car. If your okay with Light Rail or the Bus; then Find a Parking area at the Airport and pay the toll hop on the Rail and get where your going.

You should check out the WSDOT - Seattle Washington Cameras this will give you an Idea of the Traffic...

GL Warrior and I will see you on the battlefield someday.

I'm not sure why you recommend she home school her kids. She can find a home in her budget in a perfectly decent school district. There are plenty of people home schooling that have no business doing it, IMO. Including some of my neighbors (for religious reasons). Most people are not better teachers than the teachers who went to college for it.

[BellevueNative]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

I never thought of Woodinville as even somewhat posh!

It has started to get that reputation because of all of the winery tasting rooms (they're not wineries, just tasting rooms). And it is a very pleasant little town. What amuses me about it is that the nicest homes in Woodinville (Hollywood Hills) aren't even technically in Woodinville. That's technically unincorporated King County.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by BellevueNative

It has started to get that reputation because of all of the winery tasting rooms (they're not wineries, just tasting rooms). And it is a very pleasant little town. What amuses me about it is that the nicest homes in Woodinville (Hollywood Hills) aren't even technically in Woodinville. That's technically unincorporated King County.

True, and there are also some nice homes on that road just east of Safeway above Woodinville-Duvall Road that connects to Paradise lake, but I wouldn't call them posh. I think of something like the Plateau Club/Windsor in Sammamish (which I wouldn't like to live at) as posh. Despite the wineries, Woodinville still has that woodsy rural feel.

[Seattle206723]

Originally Posted by BellevueNative

I'm not sure why you recommend she home school her kids. She can find a home in her budget in a perfectly decent school district. There are plenty of people home schooling that have no business doing it, IMO. Including some of my neighbors (for religious reasons). Most people are not better teachers than the teachers who went to college for it.

Its always an option to Home school your kids. Some people send them to public school some don't. You mentioned they do it for Religious reason. That would be there choice; no different then a Catholic school like I was raised in.

[CT_trackstar]

Home schooling is not an option for me!

Anyway, I'm seeing some news reports about failed school levys and using trailers as classrooms in Maple Valley - I'm starting to think that is not a good option.

The search continues.

[flyingsaucermom]

Originally Posted by CT_trackstar

Home schooling is not an option for me!

Anyway, I'm seeing some news reports about failed school levys and using trailers as classrooms in Maple Valley - I'm starting to think that is not a good option.

The search continues.

I've seen trailers at almost every single elementary, including the three elementary schools my son has attended (MI, Seattle, Issaquah). They were all three ranked as "9" or "10" in rankings.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by flyingsaucermom

I've seen trailers at almost every single elementary, including the three elementary schools my son has attended (MI, Seattle, Issaquah). They were all three ranked as "9" or "10" in rankings.

Good luck finding a school without portables. Enrollment has peaks and valleys, and no district is going to add real buildings to meet an enrollment bubble that could go away in a few years, so they all use portables, including the best schools in Bellevue, Issaquah, Sammamish and Redmond.