Moving to Seattle area need help (Tacoma, Bellevue: for rent, house, elementary schools)

[Andy]

No problem. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask. [moderator CUT] The only problem currently is lack of inventory. The weather we had in January may be partly to blame but the number of listings has increased in the last few weeks.

[Roman11]

Andy or compltlyme,

What is Port Orchard and/or Bremerton like. I got online last night and they seem to be sort of like Gig Harbor but are a lot closer to the Southworth Ferry?

Thanks

[Andy]

In my opinion there is a difference. The Port Orchard area has some things in common with Gig Harbor but Bremerton is totally different than both. Bremerton is a Navy town and was a rugged place by westsound standards, until a recent turn around. Things seem to be doing well in Bremerton currently, and there are plans for downtown condos and other developments. The shopping hub of Kitsap County is Silverdale, not Bremerton, a few miles north.

Gig Harbor is different than Port Orchard because it is the higher end suburb of Tacoma while the Port Orchard area is a bedroom community for Seattle, Tacoma, and Bremerton.

If you are considering Bremerton, I'd also consider University Place or Steilacoom, which are not too far from the Tacoma-Vashon ferry. But if you want acreage or a larger lot, your best bet is Gig Harbor or Port Orchard area and places in between.

[Roman11]

Thanks again Andy,

I'm going to make another trip up north in a few month to check out Gig Harbor and Port Orchard first hand agian. Yes I do want land, 2000sq + house at a good price and these two places are where I keep coming back to. I'll keep checking the Real Estate sites daily, do you feel the prices will go much higher than they are now, historically speaking?

Thanks,

[Andy]

Prices are continually rising but so is supply, so there is a possibility of prices slowing down a bit. The first time home buyer market is slammed, but you are in a more comfortable price range in the current market. You shouldn't have too much trouble and the selection should improve shortly, as more listings hit the market in the traditionally torrent spring months. We had record rainfall in January that slowed the market down a lot, but things are getting back to normal.

Here is a map of local school districts.



For more information, use this site to find a particular school's biennial report card:

http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/ (links are disabled, just copy and past in address bar)

[bondo]

I lived in Seattle - Green Lake area for three years and then bought m first home in Snoqualmie Ridge. I lived in Snoqualmie for 2 years before relocating my family to Temecula (I commute to Rancho Bernardo).

The home prices and abundant nature and scenery enticed me out of the desirable Green Lake area where we rented. The schools in Snoqualmie are excellent (I have 2 kids - grade one and pre-k) as well and since it is a new mast planned community it is obviously lacking the old worn down grungy look of Seattle that I never did get accostomed to.

I won't repeat the details on home prices covered thoroughly by other good posts. I just want to tell you about our experiences living on the Ridge. Although picture perfect the weather eventually wore us down. Yes, it is only 40 minute drive to downtown Seattle in the morning (an hour return unless you use the express lane), but the difference in climate is extreme. It is almost always significantly windier and rainier and cloudier in Snoqualmie Ridge than Seattle. And that says a LOT! Almost every day during my drive in to work (Amazon.com which is right at the end of the I-90) I would watch the skies gradually improve heading West. Pouring rain and wind in Snoqualmie, light rain and no wind in Issaquah (15 minutes), drizzel and cloud break in Bellevue (25 minues), crisp moist air and blue skies with broken clouds over downtown. We spent many depressing days indoors with the kids in winter where as we were still able to be active living in the city.

I sincerely advise you to not live on the Ridge and commute to Vashon. The drive, waiting to board the ferry, ride the ferry, waiting to get off the ferry, then some how getting to the Vashon destination will prove to be very frustrating, expensive and time consuming quickly. If you are after island life consider Bainbridge Island, which has great schools, a bridge to the peninsula, a movie theater, good restaurants and access to decent household shopping stores. Bainbridge real estate is affordable away from Winslow (ferry terminal) and some of the swankier coast lines (East and South facing). Most of my ex-Amazon peers with young families are settling in West Seattle. There are lot of opportunities in West Seattle and pockets of great school neighborhoods.

As for me, one April my wife talked me into visiting San Diego. It took one day and I swore a oath to myself to get the heck out of the Pacific Northwest and get to San Diego. It was the best decision I have made in many years. Sunny sunny sunny.

My advice is DON'T move to the Pacific Northwest. I know this must be harsh advise. Many of my co-workers loved living there. I never understood it. The weather is dreadful. Snoqualmie even worse. All the lovely post card images don't stack up to depressing gloomy over cast days for 9 to 10 months of the year. I also find folks in SoCal so much easier to befriend. My wife and I built up a support network for the kids in the first 10 months here so easily. The only people that we ever met in Seattle and thought "those are good people" were always NOT from the Pacific Northwest. They were transplants from the mid-West, California or Canada. Let's face it...bad weather makes for bad moods.

But make the best out of it. We hiked/ climbed a lot of mountains and visited many beautiful parks. Vancouver and Victoria are absolute MUST visits, too. And there are a lot more jobs and good companies to choose from in Seattle area compared to San Diego (well for an IT geek this is true). Have fun. Good luck.

[compltlyme]

Sorry Bondo... I have to disagree with you. I lived in the Palm Springs area and grew up in SD and I love SD but Temecula is NOT SD! Not even close! It is crowded and traffic congested in a way I have not seen in Seattle. The growth there was way too fast and the homes are so close together! Granted there are some of the older neighborhoods that are a bit nicer but WOW...try to get to them. I am sure you know of which I speak?? Try to get on Winchester or the 79!!!!! At any point of the day!!!
And this is one Native born and raised Californian that you can't convince the people are kinder!! Washington residents are by far much kinder and respectful. Just driving the freeways will prove that! And try and get decent customer service in CA... Few and far between if at all!!!!
I was just in Ocean Beach, CA this past week and I LOVE IT.... and could I still afford it... it would be my home. But to stray too far away from there... no thanks! I will stay up here with the beauty and kind people. As for the weather... I have not found it quite as bad as your discription.

[jgw1283]

Bondo, you nailed it right on the head!!
I couldnt agree with you more about the NW people and weather. I've lived here most of my life but have spent much time in Socal area and I agree. NW people are gloomy and depressed much of the time and its because of the AWFUL weather. I cannot wait until I'm done with college so I can move to SD area, I love it down there.

[Redtop50]

HI Roman,

In a previous post you mentioned you weren't suggest living East of 5...can you expound on that?

Thanks,
Redtop50

[mitsuturbo]

Sno ridge would be one hell of a commute to Vashon. Gig harbor would probably be a lot better.