job transfer from NJ - need help! (Seattle, Bellevue: real estate, budget)

[MishaMommy]

Hello to all. I am completely new to this board. My name is Michelle, my husband, three children, and I live in New Jersey. My husband has recently learned that he will be transferred to Seattle, most likely within a year.
Neither of us have ever been to Washington, and have no idea what to expect.
I have recently started planning and budgeting for this life-altering move.
I have a few questions if people would be so kind as to answer them (if possible, of course!)
Any ideas how long it takes to drive cross-country while in the car with a (presently) 10 month old, 2 year old, and 7 year old?
Fun, not super-expensive neighborhoods in Seattle to live? (We really like the idea of Capitol Hill, or somewhere young like that.)
Is the cost of living outrageous, or reasonable? (Every cost of living calculator I have looked at has said that it's more expensive where we presently live) My NJ examples - presently, a gallon of gas is $2.47, an average three bedroom house ranges between 255,000. to 1,000,000. and a 2 bedroom apartment starts at $895., with $1000. being average.

I would really love some feedback on this. Looking forward to hearing from people! Thanks!!

[CityGirl72]

Do you want young and hip - or do you want family friendly

I moved here from Calif, and Seattle is hip and fun, but it's not the family area of Western Washington. There's nearly nothing to do (that we haven't already done a dozen times, the park or zoo or a museum gets old quick)

Everyone kind of keeps to themselves - I've met many other moms on this bored who are bored here like I am. Since the weather is gllomy and wet 10 months of the year - my family (my kids) go stir crazy

[41Willys]

It took me 35 hours to get to Colorado from the George Washington Bridge.Thats a little more then half way. Are you going rt 80? Be warned!! It is the most boring road in America! Soon as you get out of Ill. its one big corn field! FOR DAYS!!! I was lucky, at the time I was in my early 20's and just had to take care of my pet iguana.. With little guys like that it will take a good 5-6 days.
Take it slow and stop to see some places along the way. It will make it more enjoyable.

[jabm67]

Originally Posted by MishaMommy

Hello to all. I am completely new to this board. My name is Michelle, my husband, three children, and I live in New Jersey. My husband has recently learned that he will be transferred to Seattle, most likely within a year.
Neither of us have ever been to Washington, and have no idea what to expect.
I have recently started planning and budgeting for this life-altering move.
I have a few questions if people would be so kind as to answer them (if possible, of course!)
Any ideas how long it takes to drive cross-country while in the car with a (presently) 10 month old, 2 year old, and 7 year old?
Fun, not super-expensive neighborhoods in Seattle to live? (We really like the idea of Capitol Hill, or somewhere young like that.)
Is the cost of living outrageous, or reasonable? (Every cost of living calculator I have looked at has said that it's more expensive where we presently live) My NJ examples - presently, a gallon of gas is $2.47, an average three bedroom house ranges between 255,000. to 1,000,000. and a 2 bedroom apartment starts at $895., with $1000. being average.

I would really love some feedback on this. Looking forward to hearing from people! Thanks!!

If you can make 500 to 600 miles per day on your drive, then it's 5 or 6 days. I did that move (but still in my pre-family days) from Indiana and it took me three days in a U-Haul truck towing my car on a dolly. Now, I was familiar with the city, and I had a place lined up before I set out, so I knew exactly where I was going.

The fuel prices here seem to be 15 to 20 cents higher a gallon than what you have there.

Real estate will be unpleasant. 3BR in Seattle itself in a mediocre neighborhood will be 350k and up. A tiny 1BR house (albeit on a big lot) across the street from where I live is soon to be listed at $310k. I have to admit utter ignorance about apartment rents now.

Neighborhoods ... there's a lot to choose from. You might want to consult where the the schools are (see http://www.seattleschools.org/area/main/index.dxml ). You may also want to think about the suburbs, since those are reputed to have better schools.

[LMB]

Thanks for asking this question, MM. My husband and I will be moving to Poulsbo (Kitsap Peninsula) in June, and we'll be driving our car--with our golden retriever in the back seat--all the way from central Florida. The trip is over 3000 miles so I'm guessing it will be at least 6 days. Yowza! :-P

[AZ_singlemother]

Real estate will be unpleasant. 3BR in Seattle itself in a mediocre neighborhood will be 350k and up. A tiny 1BR house (albeit on a big lot) across the street from where I live is soon to be listed at $310k. I have to admit utter ignorance about apartment rents now.

Rents are pretty high in Seattle. 2 bedrooms are over $1000. More like $1300/month average. I look at New Jersey's average and they are higher than Seattle. Depending which city.

Houses are much more affordable than in New Jersey but you will not find dirt cheap.

[wythors]

Greetings Michelle. I'm guessing that you are Mrs. GTOreturns. I have run into him on some Mustang boards inquiring about moving here from NJ with his family soon. You really don't want to be in Seattle proper if you're trying to raise a family. The Seattle Public Schools are in some major financial trouble and are closing schools left and right. Also, as previously stated, housing prices in the core area (which includes Capitol Hill) are through the roof. On Capitol or Queen Anne Hills, a nice 3 or 4 bedroom house will run you in the $6-700,000 range. A house that my sister used to own in the Fremont neighborhood (4 bedrooms, tiny lot, no parking, built in the 20's) recently sold for $850,000. Since I would assume that schools are high on your list, I would be looking in south Snohomish county, north King County, or the eastside. Edmonds, Mukilteo, Mill Creek, Bothell, Kirkland, Redmond and Bellevue all would be good choices and you'd get a lot more (and newer) house for your money in most of those cities versus the areas nearer to downtown. The one thing to consider with those locations though is that Seattle's traffic is appalling. Our rush hour is just about to the point where it runs from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in a lot of areas.

[MishaMommy]

Thanks for all the responses! Everything has been really helpful.
Seattle is such a strange idea to me; I really can't imagine living there.
(In regard to the last post - sorry, I have not been on this board before, as myself or anyone else.)
One of the main reasons we want to live in the city itself, is my husband is from the city (NYC) and is looking forward to not driving, and not really needing a car. Plus, honestly, I don't know what the suburbs surrounding Seattle are like, but where we live now, we are considered weird. I'm vegan, and into holistic health care, and my eating just organic food. And we're both artists, and around here, if I take my kids to the park or something, other moms ignore me! So, we were thinking that the city itself might be more accepting of our oh-so terrible eccentricities. Plus, coming from the suburbs I am very pleased at the idea of having our children around different cultures, and styles.
I want the best of all worlds, I suppose - a great school, low crime rate, and really cool people.
BTW - are people friendly in Seattle? Like, walking around, or being at the park? Or, is it more stand-offish?

[compltlyme]

Originally Posted by MishaMommy

Thanks for all the responses! Everything has been really helpful.
Seattle is such a strange idea to me; I really can't imagine living there.
(In regard to the last post - sorry, I have not been on this board before, as myself or anyone else.)
One of the main reasons we want to live in the city itself, is my husband is from the city (NYC) and is looking forward to not driving, and not really needing a car. Plus, honestly, I don't know what the suburbs surrounding Seattle are like, but where we live now, we are considered weird. I'm vegan, and into holistic health care, and my eating just organic food. And we're both artists, and around here, if I take my kids to the park or something, other moms ignore me! So, we were thinking that the city itself might be more accepting of our oh-so terrible eccentricities. Plus, coming from the suburbs I am very pleased at the idea of having our children around different cultures, and styles.
I want the best of all worlds, I suppose - a great school, low crime rate, and really cool people.
BTW - are people friendly in Seattle? Like, walking around, or being at the park? Or, is it more stand-offish?

I hear the Georgetown area is where all the artists flocked to because of the high rents in Pioneer Square. Help me out people that have been in this area longer than I..(2 years). I was talking to a gal who was an artist, and I mean that in every sense of the word. She was very eccentric and interesting to talk to and she was telling me about Georgetown. We were even looking for something to eat and she sent us to a couple different places and both were vegan. Which was great for my friend who is vegetarian. Even I found something wonderful on the menu. I don't know much else about it..prices and such but the one thing she said was it was more affordable than living right down town Seattle. I also don't know about what kind of place it is for raising a family. Perhaps someone else can speak to that.

Also I think for the most part people are really accepting due to the many different cultures that are here. The transit system is great as far as I am concerned, having come from a place in So Ca where you were basically screwed if you didn't own a car. They have park and rides everywhere around here. You drive a few miles and park, jump on a bus and you are in Seattle before you know it. There is also the Sounder. If you go to Sound Transit .org you can see the route.

Good Luck!

[pwright1]

If you are coming from northern New Jersey then prices here are actually lower. I lived in Englewood, Newark and Montclair NJ. You are definately a prime candidate for living in Seattle. I do not own a car and I get around Seattle with ease. I use public transportation everyday. I sugguest you check out neighborhoods around central Seattle. Leschi, Madrona, Madison Valley, the Central District, Mount Baker, Seward Park, Columbia City. If you want your children around many different cultures then these areas are prime spots. As far as schools I know many young couples in these areas who send there children to Seattle public schools, especially at the elementary level. If you like older well established neighborhoods with lots of character then these Seattle neighborhoods would easily work for you. If you like to take walks to the park, visit nice neighborhood restaurants and coffee houses, walk to the grocery store, catch a bus and be just minutes from downtown Seattle, head to any of the local outdoor farmers markets which run from May-Oct then any of these Seattle neighborhoods would be great for you and your family.