Moving to Seattle (Bellevue, Shoreline, Renton: 2009, apartment, house prices)

[outofnj4]

Next year we are going to be relocating to Seattle for my husbands new job. We are very excited, even hough I have never been there before. I need help in looking for an area to raise our 2 middle school age kids. The commute will be from downtown right at the end of 520. We would like to keep it under a 45min commute.

Schools are obviously important, but I don't feel we have to be in the 10 out 10 ranked school. I really value a small school, but we are not considering private.

We also really value a strong communitee atmosphere with a town center.

House would need to be 3/4 bedroom, around $5K and we would prefer not a "cookie cutter" set up, but we do need a neighboorhood the kids will feel comfortable in.

Thank you in advance for all suggestions

[Ira500]

Hi OutofNJ,
There are lots of great areas to live in and around Seattle, but I'm a little confused....Your husband's job is going to be where? I think you said downtown right at the end of 520, but the end of 520 isn't downtown. One end is around the Montlake area of Seattle, not too from the University of WA, and the other end of 520 is Redmond, on the east side.

Schools tend to be better on the eastside, but not knowing exactly where the commute is going, Can't tell you where the 45 minute border is, but....here's a few places:
Issaquah: It's one of the few towns on the eastside with a historic downtown. Has an old fashioned downtown that's kind of charming, access to great hiking, yet close to both Seattle and Bellevue.
Bellevue: Getting to be a big city, the downtown has skyscrapers, but Bellevue has a lot of different neighborhoods, and is considered a nice place to live. Houses are usually pricier than Issaquah.
Renton: The schools aren't nearly as good as Issaquah's or Bellevue's, and Renton is a mixed bag. it has a few run down areas, but a lot of Renton is pretty nice, and house prices are much lower than Issaquah's or Bellevue's. Some Renton addresses are in the Issaquah school district, and some Renton addresses are in the Maple Valley ( Tahoma) school district, both good school districts, and then some of Renton is the Renton district, which is not so great, but there are a few public schools in Renton that are considered quite good. Renton's also got a historic downtown and some great restaurants.
Also, by your user name I assume you're escaping the Garden State? I did that( Monmouth County) about 30+ years ago and lived to tell the tale. Where are you coming from?

[CasusBelli]

$5k....a month? you could buy a house for that much....and then some

[JustCallMeTC]

If you have 5k a month for a house, you can buy anywhere in the city. Waterfront is in range for that kind of money.

Mangolia and Blue Ridge are very nice with pool/community centers.

And the views are drop dead neck breaking.

http://images.vrbo.com/vrbo/images/132034

http://bradtroyphotography.files.wor...3/tug-boat.jpg

Both are less than 15 minutes from dowtown in the heart of rush hour.

[Ira500]

I'm thinking the 5k meant 500,000?

[JustCallMeTC]

So much for waterfront or much of a view. lol

[VeronikaW]

Originally Posted by Ira500

I'm thinking the 5k meant 500,000?

That's what I took it to mean, too, Ira.

[outofnj4]

Sorry, I guess i need to clarify. His job location is north of downtown, where 520 meets interstate 5. I believe the area is South Lake Union, and yes it is near the University area.

And no, sadly 5K/month is no where near our range. We would be looking to buy a house for around $500,000.

We are moving from Holland Township on the west side of Hunterdon County in NJ. We have enjoyed the rural area here, but are looking forward to a more suburban atmosphere, maybe even a coffee shop nearby.

Thanks for the responses

[JustCallMeTC]

Originally Posted by outofnj4

maybe even a coffee shop nearby.

LOL Now that's funny! (You'll get that one when move here. Espresso is EVERYWHERE. I and do mean EVERYWHERE)

If your husband is working near South Lake Union, you're close to a bunch of nice areas that are a short 15 to 20 minute commute or less.


Capital Hill
University District
Wallingford
Ballard
Queen Anne
Magnolia
Fremont
North Beach
Greenlake
Richmond Beach
West Seattle
Viewridge

The following are further out, but still fairly reasonable commutes.

Lake Forest Park
Edmonds
Kenmore
Bothell
Woodinville

Now the trick is finding a house in that price range.


Seattle Schools are hit and miss. As you get into Middle School, the schools get much larger. Eckstein is a good one. However, the Edmonds Schools, Shoreline, Lake WA, Northshore districts are all very good.

As to the "Eastside". (aka Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah) There are lots of good schools there, but the bridges can be a real bear. Personally I would not want to have to deal with those twice a day.

[Ira500]

When people her that I'm from NJ, they automatically assume that I must be from either downtown Newark or was surrounded by the Linden oil refineries growing up, when in fact I grew up in a town of about 900 people, surrounded by farmland..
Some people assume that the city of Seattle is also urban and full of apartment buildings, and while there are some parts like that, there are many neighborhoods that are almost all single family homes with yards and almost seem like friendly small towns...JustcallmeTC provided good info, and I'll elaborate:
Eastside: 520 can be hell to cross. I-90 is much better, so don't rule out South Bellevue or Issaquah.
Capital Hill...Unlikely to find a house for 500k, maybe a little too urban, except for North Capitol Hill, which is too expensive.
University District: Too busy, too crazy
Wallingford: Nice, but too expensive
Ballard: Fun neighborhood, but mostly too expensive
Queen Anne: Awesome neighborhood and too expensive
Magnolia: More affordable than Queen Anne, pretty..
Fremont: Fun neighborhood, not much 500k or under
North Beach North of Ballard and more affordable, as is it's neighbor Broadview
Greenlake Lovely, fun area, expensive
Richmond Beach North of the city limits, commute would be a bit further, houses are more affordable, and nice
West Seattle I love the Admiral District and the Alaska Junction neighborhoods of West Seattle. friendly, safe, walkable, pretty, less expensive than most north end Seattle neighborhoods
Viewridge Great neighborhood, kinda pricey

Wedgewood is near View Ridge but is more affordable and very nice.
Lake Forest Park is north of the city and quite nice, and more affordable than most north end Seattle neighborhoods.
Edmonds is north of the city and quite nice, with a fast commuter train into Seattle. Great downtown, nice waterfront.
Shoreline is north of the city, and mostly nice, except for what borders Aurora Avenue.
When I say " too expensive", I'm merely stating that a house for 500k in that neighborhood would not be easy to find...