Mountain views at your house? (Seattle, Bellevue: crime rates, houses, neighborhood)

[ElektroDragon]

Well, I just signed contracts on a pretty awesome house near Lake Stickney in the Lynwood/Mukilteo area. I think I got everything I wanted in my price range, and not too bad a commute to the Eastside or Seattle considering I wanted a 300K house that was both newish and large, detached, very quiet, and close to plenty of shopping.

However, there was one major thing that I was not able to get, and that is mountain views. Now that I've experienced the Cascacdes, its nothing like the mountains in the East. Not only did I want mountain views, I wanted to live on TOP of some of these mountains! Issaquah Highlands was great but way too expensive for detached homes. North Bend was nice too, but the only affordable homes were ancient fixers! Puyallup seemed to have too much crime and too much distance from Seattle.

So, I was just wondering if any of you have good mountain views at your houses, or wish you had them? Did I miss any NICE to live in areas where I could get good mountain views for under 350K in a detached, without having to drive 30 minutes to a supermarket or 60 to Seattle?

[springshades]

Sadly the east side is a bit expensive to find a nice size place.

Better views than Lynnwood in the same price range could probably be found in places like the hills above Renton/Auburn/Kent (the valleys below are generally more urban with higher crime rates whereas the hills above are more suburban with lower crime rates) or going farther up to Covington/Maple Valley. There is also Sumner/Bonney Lake/Lake Tapps where something in that price range is probably available.

Generally, the farther south you go the better the view of Rainier is.

That being said, you can still see Mt Rainier and even the Olympics from places in Lynnwood. It depends on how tall the trees around you are. Google has some pics of Glacier peak and a couple others taken from near Lynnwood, though I guess it might be something you'd have to drive or use a lense to get a good view of.

[ElektroDragon]

Thanks for info! A lot of the places you mentioned seem to be too far south if I ever land a job at MS. I actually really like the Cascade views from Everett, not just Rainier. I might just have to settle for enjoying the view whenever I go to Everett Mall. The one time I went there so far, it was spectacular, even though I'd prefer Alderwood if I had to visit a mall. And of course I can always jump on the Cascade Loop to get my fix. But man, really wanted to look out the window or step outside the door and see big mountains.

[jenlion]

We had to compromise on the same thing. I really wanted a mountain view, but couldn't afford it close to MS in a good neighborhood. But, on clear days, we can see some of the Olympics from the street in front of our house. (Once I leaned REALLY far off our balconey and caught a glimpse, but that's not really worth it). And about a mile's walk down the power line trail you get a partial view of the Cascades. So, I'll take it and, like you said, get the fix with a short drive. We usually head down 202 toward Snoqualmie, or down I-90, and drive to the pass, turn around, and come back once or twice a month. Takes an hour or two but mountains mountains mountains mountains mountains.

[dxenopoulos]

There's some amazing views in Bellevue, but any home with those views is unlikely to be that price range.