Best Community, Schools & Home for 900K-1.2M? (Seattle, Bellevue: for sale, real estate)

[with3boys]

We're moving to Seattle area from a great town on Chicago's North Shore. Working in Issaquah with a budget of about 900K-1.2M, where would be the best community, elementary schools, kids' activities, family-friendly, safest, etc. Priority for husband is view (preferably water), priority for mom is level, private yard for kids. Could we afford Mercer Island? Would it be silly to commute to Mercer Island when office is in Issaquah? What about Sammamish? Thanks for your suggestions. Oh, p.s. I need to easy access to a Costco & Trader Joe's. (that's my life!). Kids are 2, 4 & 8.

[Pittgal]

Well there is a Costco & Trader Joes in Issaquah. We love Issaquah, look at a neighborhood called "Montreux", you should find something there with a view of Lake Sammamish! I found this link about the neighborhood Issaquah Undressed » Blog Archive » Montreux in Issaquah - The Neighborhood, the Real Estate

[AzDreamer]

There are lots of homes on Mercer Island in your price range. Use Redfin.com to see what's on the MLS. You set the map, enter search criteria and it shows the homes on the map.

After getting an address if Redfin doesn't show enough you can use google maps street level view to see what it's like to stand on the street and look any direction. I just looked at my house and it looks like they are updating their satellite photos and the street view isn't available right now.

Since you are from out of town an experienced local real estate agent will be a big help. My observation is that the agents with lots of sales are popular for a reason. Call the offices to see if they will tell you their top agents. Some do and some don't.

The commute to Issaquah would be a breeze, I head that way and rarely is traffic a problem. Sometimes coming home the traffic can slow down, like when the Mariners have a game.

We moved here in 1986 with pre-school aged kids and wouldn't consider living anywhere else. It's nice to see your friends around town while shopping and running errands. The town is as safe as you'll find anywhere. Our schools are fine too, most rating systems place them at the top or very close to it.

I recommend you make a list and prioritize your needs. That will save you a lot of time driving around looking at houses that don't satisfy your primary requirements.

I don't know Issaquah well enough to say anything good or bad about it. It's closer to the Cascade foothills so the weather is probably wetter in the Winter but hotter in the Summer.

[Ira500]

As AZ Dreamer said, there are a lot of homes in Mercer Island for sale in your price range, and the commute from Mercer island to Issaquah would be relatively easy. Issaquah is also a nice place..If you lived on Mercer island, you'd have the Bellevue Costco and Trader Joe'[s in fairly close proximity as well as the Issaquah stores....
Seems to me that, as a general rule, in Issaquah you'd be looking at newer homes in that price range, where on Mercer island you'd be looking at older, but updated homes in good shape. all depends of what you like. They both have good schools, but Mercer Island's are regarded by some as the best in the state, and Mercer Island is an awfully nice place, but if really big box stores are important, Issaquah and Bellevue deserve a look. In fact, I'd consider Bellevue too. There are some great areas there, and not far from Issaquah.

[pw72]

You could probably get "more home" in the Issaquah Highlands, or even south Bellevue, (Somerset) than Mercer Island. Mercer Island is one of those places where you pay extra just for the address. Not that there is anything wrong with that! Just ask Paul Allen.

[AzDreamer]

Originally Posted by pw72

You could probably get "more home" in the Issaquah Highlands, or even south Bellevue, (Somerset) than Mercer Island. Mercer Island is one of those places where you pay extra just for the address. Not that there is anything wrong with that! Just ask Paul Allen.

It's true that if all you are looking for is a house your money buys more someplace else, but you are getting a lot more than an address when you live on Mercer Island.

You are only 10 minutes away from downtown Seattle and Bellevue where many good jobs are located. Nobody wants to spend a lot of time and money on their commute if they don't have to.

You have a safe community where your kids can run down to the park and you don't even think twice about it.

You can trust that the schools are doing a good job to prepare your kids for college. If you and your kids aren't interested in college then there is a decent alternative high school.

If you are elderly and can't drive any more all your everyday needs can be found in the central business district. There are plenty of houses and condos within walking distance so you don't have relocate to some strange place just because you gave up driving.

[texastrigirl]

I live in Sammamish and my kids are in Issaquah ISD which is terrific. We love it out here. I don't know if the weather is dramatically different from Mercer though as one poster suggested. If you look at the Washington State Report card website, you will see that Mercer Island, Bainbridge Island, Bellevue and Issaquah School Districts are all very good. That being said, Mercer is generally regarded as the best and wow, if you can afford it, go for it. Your husband may not work in Issaquah for forever and Mercer is a great location for commuting to all parts of Seattle proper. For that price range, I don't think you could get on the water on Mercer but you could probably get a home on Lake Sammamish for that price. Good luck!!

[with3boys]

Thank you everyone for your great advice. I probably can't go wrong with either area, since I've heard great things about both Mercer Island and Issaquah/Sammamish. I guess at this point, it's finding the right house which meets our criteria. My husband liked Clyde Hill, but, a). I don't think we could afford it there, and b). I think the commute to Issaquah would be much more difficult. Plus, it's really important that I find a family-friendly community. I also have to think about resale value, as I'm sure we'll be relocating again with his company. Thanks again for your advice!

[AzDreamer]

Clyde Hill is nice but 405 is very slow through Bellevue. You might find an alternate route that isn't too bad, like 520 east and south on 148th to I-90.

[OcularBeauty]

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