Bremerton WA or any other area in Seattle area (Tacoma: to rent, low crime)

[Stonecoldharbours]

I am searching for a nice area, low crime, good schools, nice restuarants and scenic views...where in WA can we get a home for about 200 grand that fits this bill, anywhere? We are conservative, but non church going family (we often do not talk politics or religion anyhow) that would love to live out West but first we need to see if it matches up with what we can afford, thanks!

[chris]

it depends on which climate you're looking for. In most of Eastern WA (drier/four seasons) you can get in an 200k in most counties.

In Western WA (more temperate, not a lot of snow), your choices will be restricted to most of the Olympic Peninsula (including areas outside of Bremerton in w/sw kitsap cty), Lewis county down to Cowlitz county and areas surrounding. Even at 200k you might be cutting it close...
There also may be areas north of Everett (mostly skagit county) that fall into that price range.

Finding good schools may be your biggest challenge. Expensive areas tend to have better schools.

Most of washington state is affordable with the exception of metro Seattle.

[Stonecoldharbours]

I had heard its a very nice area, was listed on the top places to raise a family, do you think we could get inside of that area for 200,000? Thanks for your help btw!

[faulkton]

Stay away from Bremerton. I'm not discouraging you from moving to western Washington, just Bremerton.

Silverdale/poulsbo is ok and close, but might be tough on your budget.

Bremerton does have some ok neighborhoods, but a lot of it is pretty ghetto. The restaurants are nothing special, mostly chain places.

I lived on the edge of downtown Bremerton for over three years. I actually sort of enjoyed it, but only because i was young and entertained by it all. I was never scared and don't think it was an especially violent place, but it was definitely filled with drugs and prostitutes. Not the type of place you would want to raise kids. Twice in three years i had prostitutes knock on my door in the early hours of the morning. The first time because a john had beat her up and she wanted me to call the police, and the second time another one knocked on my door to ask for spare change. I had my street blocked off while police raided a house and found people sleeping in my yard countless times. People constantly were squatting in the abandoned houses on my block. I was never robbed, but i do have a german shepherd, a pitbull, and a great dane. i also parked my vehicle in the basement garage to avoid having it damages/stolen/burglarized.

I know i lived in a bad neighborhood and this is par for course for bad neighborhoods in real metro areas, but this is a city of only 40,000 people.

Having lived in both, i think Bremerton is more ghetto than even Tacoma.

[wythors]

You're not going to find anything livable, much less with a view in a nice neighborbood with good schools, for $200,000 in the metropolitan areas of western Washington. The average selling price for a home in the greater Seattle area is over $400,000. You might find something in that price range in one of the smaller towns in a depressed area like Aberdeen/Hoquiam, but more than likely, it would still take a quarter million for something nice. Eastern Washington is a different story, but it's a completely different world over there.

[BanteringBear]

I would discourage anyone who is not wealthy from buying a home in any area of Washington state right now. Prices have never been so out of proportion to incomes, and are ripe for a major, yes I said major, correction. Anyone telling you otherwise is lying, or foolish, or both. If you are hell bent on doing so, at least inform yourself first. Look at historical values. I am not even sure if you can get a trailer in King County for $200k. Sure, you can find a small older home in Kitsap County (Bremerton) for less, but then you are a boat ride, or an awful bridge commute away from the jobs. Tacoma still offers some houses in that price range but drugs, gangs, guns and prostitutes are the neighborhood flavor. I think it's wise to rent for at least six months to a year when moving to any new area, as you are not sure you will care for it. It has never been a better time to rent in WA. You can get rent a nice place in Seattle for $1800 per month, or buy a trailer for the same, and that's if you have 20% down. It's why I left the state. Too expensive for me!

[Stonecoldharbours]

Thank you guys for your help, we have crossed out WA on our lists to places to live and raise a family, thanks again.