How much do you pay for housing? (Seattle: homes, subdivision)

[jwb123]

Because quality of life is subjective, and to some people it is about more than just being able to afford a large house.

Certainly. If housing prices were the only issue in regards to quality of life, in the Seattle area, you might have a point.

[jwb123]

The OP says this...

She's Japanese and likes the asian population/food stores/schools...

Which is reason enough to stay in an area like the PNW... so I get that...

but follows with...

we want a house.

I'm just wondering if it is possible to do it on 60-70ish K...all while funding our retirement, kids' college, etc.

25 bucks an hour is $52,000 a year. I really don't want to do 746 hours of overtime again...but I will...but...I can't depend on overtime to make house payments.

I think Seattle is fine if you're making a buttload of money.

Sometimes, quality of life is about being comfortable

Tell me again, where is the quality of life? Working a ridiculous amount of overtime to stay in an area, and scrape up enough money to buy some $500k fixer and MAYBE (but doubtful) having money for retirement and college funds?? How is that comfortable?? What do you think home prices are going to be like in 2011??

To me, quality of life ISN'T about having enough money to buy a big house... it's about cutting the commute time so you have more time together as a family. Having a smaller mortgage so we don't have to kill ourselves working, can live on one income, can have more time together, can save for retirement, etc.... and live in a place that has more sunshine year round so we can get out and about as a family, more often.

I don't want to kill or burnout myself, or my husband (who is the wage earner)... and let that trickle down to our children, simply so we can put it all into some crap property and stay in Seattle.

But again, that's just ME.

My point with this comment -

Do you know what $240k can get you in a more liveable area??

was that, for example - where I live, $240 will get you much more than what many people would need. Over 3000 sqft, 4 bedrooms, newish or new construction.

He could probably live somewhere like where I am and bring that purchase amount down to $180k - and still have a decent home in a good neighborhood.

[seattlerain]

But he does have a point Jenbar, whether you or me or anybody else agrees with him, he has have a point.

For me personally I have found that I have a higher quality of life here than I would have elsewhere, you found that you have a higher quality of life in the Austin area.

What contributes to my quality of life, or your quality of life is so subjective that it can't be argued.

[jwb123]

Did you read my last post?

But again, that's just ME.

[seattlerain]

Originally Posted by Jenbar

Did you read my last post?

I wasn't referring to your last post, I was referring to this post:

Originally Posted by Jenbar

Certainly. If housing prices were the only issue in regards to quality of life, in the Seattle area, you might have a point.

When I started to reply to the post that I just quoted I was called away from the computer and by the time I got back you had posted again.

Please note that nowhere in the post that I quoted did you say "just me", but thank you for pointing that out.

[jwb123]

Please note that my second post to your quoted, should be construed as a follow up. Thanks.

Without my 2nd post, I still disagree that he's got much of a point because

If housing prices were the only issue in regards to quality of life

still stands.

No one said anything about quality of life = living in a large house... no one with their "real life thinking cap" on, who could step outside of the "let's bicker on a message board" world would ever connect quality of life with simply living in a large house.... so where's his point?

Other than the "I am purposely being obtuse to bicker & nitpick with jen" point, of course....

[70Ford]

Tell me again, where is the quality of life? Working a ridiculous amount of overtime to stay in an area, and scrape up enough money to buy some $500k fixer and MAYBE (but doubtful) having money for retirement and college funds?? How is that comfortable?? What do you think home prices are going to be like in 2011??

I think that home prices will decline. The bubble can't be sustained if you can't afford the homes. However, for where I choose to live (the good schools are where the money is at, eh?....and the money is in Sammamish, that's for sure....) I'm willing to pay a high-ish rent. It's either that or pay a low rent somewhere else, and end up sending my kids to private school... Education is very important to my spouse and I.

I would've stayed in that area regardless of the overtime. The overtime was required by the position, as we were short manned. It was good for me...you either work when you're young....or work when you are old...I'd rather work when I'm young. Sometimes it was a crazy amount, but hey...it's neither here nor there, just in the past.


To me, quality of life ISN'T about having enough money to buy a big house... it's about cutting the commute time so you have more time together as a family. Having a smaller mortgage so we don't have to kill ourselves working, can live on one income, can have more time together, can save for retirement, etc.... and live in a place that has more sunshine year round so we can get out and about as a family, more often.

I don't want a big house. I just want my own house. I've HAD a big house. Big houses are over rated. Lots to clean and maintain. Lots of furniture to buy or they look empty.

The mortgage is the issue, isn't it? I've looked and the thing is - it's not the "mortgage". It's the mortgage + the "incidentals" like taxes...and earthquake insurance and regular insurance...and knowing about "the arsenic and lead contamination problem in the Ruston-Tacoma area" and how that will end up costing you...somehow.

I've lived in Atlanta...and Colorado Springs. You want some sunshine? Try getting it a mile higher than most people. It makes Asians tan real good. (My wife doesn't like to tan.) I like cloudy days, believe it or not. The sun hurts my eyes. I enjoyed Japan, and that was partially due to their weather. It rains for 3 months there - straight.

We've adjusted fairly well to Seattle. It's got loads more going for it than Atlanta or Colorado Springs, at least for us.



I don't want to kill or burnout myself, or my husband (who is the wage earner)... and let that trickle down to our children, simply so we can put it all into some crap property and stay in Seattle.

I won't buy "crap." Never have...never will. But some will. I have a friend in Auburn that bought a home for 180K. She wants to sell it, but can't find a buyer. I took a look at her home and thought to myself "My god, that house needs like 80K worth of work done to it. The front porch was FALLING OFF for God's sake. Oh well, she bought it as a "fixer upper."

I'd call it a "dump." But again, that's just ME.

My point with this comment -was that, for example - where I live, $240 will get you much more than what many people would need. Over 3000 sqft, 4 bedrooms, newish or new construction. He could probably live somewhere like where I am and bring that purchase amount down to $180k - and still have a decent home in a good neighborhood.

Would that neighborhood have EVERYTHING that Seattle offers? No. Because it wouldn't be in Seattle. And it wouldn't work for us.

And I'm tired of moving. Atlanta has almost no Asian influences and frankly, it sucked for my wife. The crime sucked. The smog sucked. The amount of racism there sucked.

Colorado Springs just wasn't for us, either. My wife loves Seattle. I think its price-y, but nice. So there.

Can we get back on the original topic? WOOT.

[seattlerain]

Originally Posted by Jenbar

Please note that my second post to your quoted, should be construed as a follow up. Thanks.

Without my 2nd post, I still disagree that he's got much of a point because



still stands.

No one said anything about quality of life = living in a large house... no one with their "real life thinking cap" on, who could step outside of the "let's bicker on a message board" world would ever connect quality of life with simply living in a large house.... so where's his point?

Other than the "I am purposely being obtuse to bicker & nitpick with jen" point, of course....

If his post was meant just to bicker, then I do understand what you are saying.

[jwb123]

70f:

Which is reason enough to stay in an area like the PNW... so I get that...

Like I said, that's all you needed to say.

The rest of the posts were less about debating you and your particulars, and more about

"I am purposely being obtuse to bicker & nitpick with jen"

They were just vying for my attention.

[sean98125]

Glad you've found a place that suits you better than Seattle did, JenBar. Too bad that there is still part of you that can't leave Seattle behind, though.