'Burb comparisons.. (Seattle, Vancouver, Everett: crime, house, neighborhoods)

[Seattletony]

Brier is secluded suburbia its actually sandwiched in between Bothell , Mountlake Terrace/Alderwood Manor, and Lynnwood. Some parts more rural than others but for the most part decent size homes with big lots by comparison to the other aforementioned places.

[wamommy1]

Brier is nice. I would check to see what high school Brier feeds into. I believe it's Mt Lk. Terrace. Now, 10 years ago it was nice. Now it has some problems... gang type activity. It's not that bad, but there are much better high schools in the area. To name a few... Bothell, Woodinville, Jackson, Ingelmoor

[Bossanovawitcha]

I think we may just end up renting. The market has to slow down in 2007 I would think, or at least stop to catch its breath.. Renting may be our safest option as we get to know the area. If we are able to stay in Bothell, we'll try to stay in the schools mentioned..

[scallawag]

If I can chime in here....are there any suggestions for an area to be based in for a salesman that has to travel all over the area? Is it a hopeless freeway mess no matter where we go, so just choose a good community? We are planning to come this weekend to check things out. Our HS student is very interested in the Running Start program, so we will be looking for a job in the area to accommodate him, helping the transition which will undoubtedly be hard enough.

[wamommy1]

Is your area going to be the Metro area? Eastside? Will you have a certain boundary to sell in? That would make a difference on where we could give you information. My brother-in-law travels all the time for his sales job and lives in Port Orchard. He is a ferry ride to Seattle, 30 min to Tacoma and Sea-tac. It just dependes. If you're going to travel alot into Seattle I would say the eastside hands down. I-90 is much better than I-5 south anyday!!!

We love the Bothell area, it's just an awful commute to Bellevue or Seattle for my husband. We almost moved out of the state because it's awful. We've decided next year to move to Sammamish/Issaquah.

Also, what's you price range for housing? That can determine areas to live.

[scallawag]

Thanks for the reply, wamommy.
Currently we are out of a job, but looking for a great place to move. Sales is what it'll probably have to be. I would imagine that there is more opportunity for customers in the entire area, from tacoma to everett, and have been looking at homes online for up to 425-450K. I'm loving the idea of a water view, like camano, whidbey, gig harbor, and have found several choices there. If he had appts all day, all over the area, is most of the time spent in traffic? DH used to travel that area 4-5 years ago, but he wasn't trying to commute. He would leave the hotel and travel after 9 to appts, and then move on to next area (Eastern WA) the next night.

[wamommy1]

Whidbey is gorgeous! I'm not sure how my bro-in-law works with appts???? I can tell you that it takes my hubby 30-45 mins in the morning @ 5 ish, and 1-1.5 hours if he can leave by 4, but most of the time it's 6pm. Bellevue Traffic is the WORST. Whatcom county is growing and very affordbale 250-300K. If you lived there, he could take I-5 South to Seattle/Tacoma and North to Bellingham. You would also have HWY 2 to head east. North Bend might be a good option too. You're right off I-90 to head east, have quick access to the Bellevue, and not a bad commute to Seattle. Bellevue Community College is great too for the running start. What about Eastern WA?

[scallawag]

Thanks for the details. There are some sales jobs in the Bellingham area, and we need to know if the territory is large enough to make a living to support a house pmt similar to what we have now. I have checked the mls there, also. Eastern WA is just as hot as where are now in the summer, and not populated enough?? to pay what we would like in commissions. Maybe I'm wrong. We have traveled with DH on his trips occasionally, and loved a lot of what we saw, but not the Tri-Cities as much. Not a fan of high desert or barren landscape. Had a fun time at the apple days in Wenatchee, and bought 2 pies at a restaurant there that was highly recommended. We got sick of eating pie on the road till it was gone! Just heard of an opportunity in Vancouver. Are there nice enough areas around there? I remember driving thru not so nice parts of town.

[wamommy1]

Vancouver has a lot of nice areas. It's much more affordable than the Seattle Metro. Camas is anice bedroom community. There's also Woodland and Castle Rock. There are alot of good homes in the Vancouver area. We have friends who live there and would never move.

If you're not a fan of the high desert than the Tri-cities is not for you. What about Spokane?? It has a nice dowtown and it's very affordable. You're close to Idaho and lots of lakes.

Bellingham is nice too! The housing prices have gone up the past few years. You might look at Ferndale and Blaine. I'm not sure which Colleges are up there for Running start. Western Wa univeristy is there for 4 year degrees and it's a great school!

There's always Olymoia too! I love it there. My Husband grew up there and has very fond memories. There are several colleges there for Running Start. It's affordable too. You can get to Eastern Wa from there too. It's not as close as I-90 but there is a route down there.

If you're serious about Vancouver, check out the Portland area threads. That should give you a better idea. Keep in mind if you live in Vancouver and work in Portland you will have to pay taxes in both places.

[jennien13]

There is a Running Start program at the local Community College in Bellingham, Whatcom Comm. College.