where can i afford to live in WA (Seattle, Tacoma: for sale, how much)

[n0rCalFellow]

I am planning to relocate to WA and i can work from anywhere. Yearly wages are $150k and we can do a downpayment upto $500k. We are looking either build/buy a home with an acreage lot(a min of 5 acres) with views, has access to high speed internet and an International airport is critical.

We looked at Seattle area and it seems very expensive except woods of Issaquah and Renton. Though we are unsure how much does it cost to clear land, get septic/sewer and utilities. Can we afford what we are seeking in Seattle area ? Any recommendations ? Thank you.

[Diana Holbrook]

How close do you need to be to Seattle? Seattle is a bit of a sprawling metro. It's a city surrounded by suburbs and other smaller cities/towns you might have to get beyond before you see a lot of larger parcels available.

There are more 5-acre view parcels, with and without homes, 20+ miles from Seattle. Many more in Pierce County or southward, than in King County. Or northward in Snohomish.

Starting from scratch and building yourself is not unaffordable, but it is complicated and takes a lot of time and energy. It's not for the faint of heart!

[jabogitlu]

Developing in Washington can be a bit harrowing. Much easier to find something you like and purchase it - just my two cents.

You need to come stay for a few days and check it out. South Hill/Bonney Lake are very different from Covington/Maple Valley, and are also very different from Monroe/Maltby/Martha Lake. Plus there are other areas west of the Puget Sound (Kitsap County) that would put you in striking distance of the airport.

[Houston5onthemove]

North of Seattle (Snohomish, Maltby, Granite Falls) is maybe a possibility... you could check the Monroe area, but you're 50 mins minimum from the city of Seattle. I am speaking more to buying something already completed. Developing can be challenging, there are lost of wetland protected areas nestled into many undeveloped areas. We have found that there when you find a seemingly attractive lot there is a reason it's still vacant land. Anything inside a commutable distance is already a neighborhood. If you are willing to look 1+ hour(s) outside Seattle you may be able to buy something. I could be way off but we couldn't buy, develop and build on a 5 acre lot anyplace in Snohomish county (we are about 25 miles north of Seattle) which works out to 55mins (we drove to the airport in SeaTac Saturday at 5am and it only took 55 mins) to more than 2 hours during busy commuter or event traffic.


To be honest, when I searched properties with 5 acres $550k nothing came up from the Canadian boarder to Olympia. Keep in mind starter homes on postage stamp lots near the city that need work at $700k+ and in commuter communities are $400K+.



Good luck with your search!

[jabogitlu]

Good points^.

OP- Access to SeaTac airport is the confounding factor in your plan. Living to the south can be affordable (Mason County, Centralia/Chehalis), but you have to drive through the Olympia-Tacoma traffic mess to get there. Living to the north is more expensive, and traffic between Seattle CBD - Everett can add an hour+ to your trip.

If you're willing to be 2 hours away from SeaTac, your options are much better.

[Hemlock140]

Look at Sequim/Port Angeles. I know for example, that my Mother's old place will be for sale this summer on Blue Mountain, it's an 70s double wide on about 4 acres, so will go for the value of the land. Most likely a teardown for new house. You can still get a acreage lot there for under $100k.

https://www.zillow.com/sequim-wa/lan...e%22%3Atrue%7D

[Tall Traveler]

Originally Posted by n0rCalFellow

I am planning to relocate to WA and i can work from anywhere. Yearly wages are $150k and we can do a downpayment upto $500k. We are looking either build/buy a home with an acreage lot(a min of 5 acres) with views, has access to high speed internet and an International airport is critical.

We looked at Seattle area and it seems very expensive except woods of Issaquah and Renton. Though we are unsure how much does it cost to clear land, get septic/sewer and utilities. Can we afford what we are seeking in Seattle area ? Any recommendations ? Thank you.

Anything near Seattle is going to be very expensive for land. You may want to go out from Tacoma, Olympia or the Peninsula for lower priced acreage.

[Diana Holbrook]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

Good points^.

OP- Access to SeaTac airport is the confounding factor in your plan. Living to the south can be affordable (Mason County, Centralia/Chehalis), but you have to drive through the Olympia-Tacoma traffic mess to get there. Living to the north is more expensive, and traffic between Seattle CBD - Everett can add an hour+ to your trip.

If you're willing to be 2 hours away from SeaTac, your options are much better.

The traffic SOUTH of SeaTac is a heck of a lot better than the traffic from SeaTac Northward.

We can reliably get from Rochester (Just south of Olympia) to SeaTac in an hour.... barring a really bad accident.
I generally plan two hours from here to most parts of Seattle proper.


When I used to work a lot in Seattle, if I got out of there by 3 pm I could get home to Tumwater by 5. I wonder if that's still true. Now that people are telecommuting more, traffic has actually been *better*

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Can you get to where you need to go from the Portland airport (PDX)? If so, look at the area around Vancouver. You have a much better chance of finding small acreage in that area.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

Can you get to where you need to go from the Portland airport (PDX)? If so, look at the area around Vancouver. You have a much better chance of finding small acreage in that area.

Agree... I did 30 yrs of International work travel using very close and efficient PDX, from Vancouver, WA area. (~30 min home to gate, including TSA and check-in.

Great views, hiking, access to recreation and metro from Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area (20 min east of PDX)

Internet.... Starlink is the only option in some areas. Can get 100Mbps.

Much of Vancouver area has fiber, so does North Bonneville,WA (Army corp relocated town)