Safe, south Seattle areas to live (Kent, Renton: condos, houses, neighborhoods)

[lillacottage]

Hello, this is my very first post, so please bear with me. We will retire to the Seattle area in about 2 years to be close to our son ( he lives in Queen Anne). We currently live in Delaware and I am finding real sticker shock in the Seattle metro area. Is it truly impossible to find a small (less than 1000 sf) older cottage in the Seattle metro area for 300K ? We do not want a condo and it seems to me that this is all we can afford. What about Kent, Auburn or Pierce county? Thank you so much to all!

[Ira500]

There are parts of the Seattle area where you can find an under 1000 square foot cottage for under 300 thousand, and you don't need to go to Pierce County.
Parts of Auburn, parts of Kent, parts of Burien, and the Seattle zip code of 98178....98178 is roughly the south end of Lake Washington bordering Renton, but outside of Seattle's city limits. It contains several neighborhoods, some of which are better than others, they include Bryn Mawr, Earlington, LakeRidge, Skyway. Of those neighborhoods, there are parts of Skyway that aren't nice, but other parts that are much nicer. I live in this zip code. It's just a couple of minutes to major shopping but an almost rural pocket at the same time, and a 15 minute drive to either downtown Seattle or the airport. As far as I'm concerned, it has the best value of any neighborhood in the Seattle area, especially considering it's convenient location.

[scirocco22]

(mod bump because of split thread)

[lillacottage]

IRA 500, Thank you! I would not mind to be in a rural/semi rural area. I love to drive around and see cows in the fields ( unfortunately here in Delaware there are very few left courtesy of developers.

[Ira500]

There is less and less of the rural feel right round here. A few houses down people have sheep, and Renton towards Issaquah around the May Valley Road quite a few horses abound.

[christi1981]

Like the other posts say therer are many areas where you can get a cute cottage for under 300K. I just bought my house near puget sound and next to salt water park for under 270k and that was in november. In 2 year the prices might be higher or even lower. What I was told is that prices do not chnage much around the seattle area. Des Moines is a quaint little city by the water. Burien is built up more and has alot of buisnesses. Stay away from federal way it is really busy and built up. Auburn is a blue collar city and kent is nice on the hills. I know a great lady who know s the areas and she helped me which took a long time. If you want to know any more let me know.

Christi

[lillacottage]

Hi Christi, Thank you for your good information. I am still pinching myself how lucky to have found such a forum! All of you guys are sooo nice! I was getting discouraged and started thinking that I would have to look for condos instead... the problem is that the majority do not allow you to put up a bird feeder. I would really miss that. Des Moines sounds lovely, are the airplanes passing a big deal? Another member is also being very nice and I am slowly learning about the areas. Thank you, Valeria