Moving to Seattle/Kirkland - Advice needed (Bellevue, Shoreline: renting, houses)

[new_drifter]

Hello

We are moving to Seattle area from southern Pennsylvania in September. I will be working in the Google office in Seattle (Freemont). We have a middle school aged daughter and good school district is important for us. So, I am leaning towards finding a house in Kirkland/Kenmore area. Looking for a single family home, with at least 3 bed/2 ba (>2000 sqft) - budget around $1.4m. Looking to crowd source advice here. Does this seem a good option for our needs? We also considered Ballard area to reduce office commute but the houses are old and small there. We considered Shoreline, Bothell and Issaquah but think the commute will be worse, thoughts? Bellevue will probably beyond our budget.

[homesinseattle]

Hi drifter! Yes, Kirkland will be a good fit for you, you guys from the Philly area? I have relatives near Harrisburg. Juanita, Finn Hill and the Kingsgate parts of Kirkland will give you more square footage for the money versus central or south Kirkland. You’ll probably find more newer homes in Kingsgate. You are right with your price range about Bellevue, unless you go east to Lake Hills, which adds to your commute and the homes are older vintage as well. Yes, you would have considerably tougher commutes from all those other places you mentioned.

I would encourage you to be open to mid century architecture. These homes can be impeccably remodeled and offer nice value for money, bigger lots and established neighborhoods.

[CrazyDonkey]

Not a lot available in Kirkland proper. Kenmore, the commute is worse and the schools aren't as highly ranked (MS 4&5/10, but HS 8/10).

Have you considered Queen Anne?

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...48930412_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2...48818536_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5...48771687_zpid/

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2...48948308_zpid/

[leastprime]

Get a RE agent ASAP. Take a couple of exploratory trips.
Consider renting for 6 months before committing to a house.

I thought Google moved their Seattle operations to Kirkland? But apparently not.
Keep flexible. Amazon and Microsoft have operations all over Seattle area.

[DJKirkland]

Kirkland does have a large Google campus (and will be expanding in a big way in the not too distant future), so if you find a home there maybe the opportunity to transfer to the Kirkland campus will make itself available!

[Blondebaerde]

Originally Posted by new_drifter

Hello

We are moving to Seattle area from southern Pennsylvania in September. I will be working in the Google office in Seattle (Freemont). We have a middle school aged daughter and good school district is important for us. So, I am leaning towards finding a house in Kirkland/Kenmore area. Looking for a single family home, with at least 3 bed/2 ba (>2000 sqft) - budget around $1.4m. Looking to crowd source advice here. Does this seem a good option for our needs? We also considered Ballard area to reduce office commute but the houses are old and small there. We considered Shoreline, Bothell and Issaquah but think the commute will be worse, thoughts? Bellevue will probably beyond our budget.

Cranes in Kirkland, as Google seems to be expanding their footprint. That's an assumption on my part, that they're expanding the campus as I've not looked at blueprints or plans online. I live about three miles due north. Cross Kirkland Corridor runs right through it, they've done a nice job with all that with more to come. Would be trippy if one day that's a light rail or something along that Corridor.

I think you'll find what you seek in Kirkland at that price point as that's about what I'd want for my place. Were I in a selling mood we'd talk. I like Norkirk but there are several nifty neighborhoods including the aforementioned around Google. Mildly surprised you'd like to get to Google in Fremont on a daily basis. That might be something of a drag in terms of commute but not quite awful either. They seem to have moved in next to Adobe which isn't a big surprise all considered. Thinking I'd look into the bus vs. driving: traffic is picking up for-sure this summer, in fact I dare say "with a vengeance" though that's anecdotal on my part. I avoid driving in Seattle during commute hours.

I'm surprised anyone is building any structures related to IT. Remote work is serving our purposes quite well and we've adapted as an industry AFAIK. If any industry could adapt it's IT. Zoom and Teams have come a long way fast. I've been mostly remote since '17 so 2020 wasn't a thing for me, simply business as usual. They're slowly easing us back into offices which I shall politely resist with all my might as working from my home office is convenient. The day I can get gigabyte internet access in a place like Hood River Oregon is the day I strongly consider fleeing the eastside for more remote destinations. My needs in life are very different from OP's. Good luck in your endeavors.