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Advice Needed on Relocating from SoCal to Snohomish County
<<CAUTION: You are about to read a LONG post. I apologize.>>
Hello All,
I've seen multiple threads on what could possibly help me answer these questions, but I've decided to go the direct route and just ask for advice from the locals instead of going on a wild goose chase.
The Situation: My husband and I are a young married couple with two children. A two and a half year old, and an almost 3 month old. We have a two year old Staffordshire Terrier as well. My husband is in the final stages of accepting a job offer for a major company in Everett, and we're having a hard time trying to find a place that would suit our needs. We would have roughly a month to find something. We have two cars (which from reading through this forum will be useless pretty much because of the horrendous traffic...), and a house full of stuff that is going to be moved, thankfully at the company's expense. I'm a SAHM, and nursing exclusively. We have okay credit, and are definitely not interested in buying a house right off the bat. We have decided that we need to get through the first two years at his new job (because of this company's lay-off rate) before delving into that mess. We're living almost-comfortably in a two bedroom house with a yard, and barely living in the black on my husband's current income. The new job will provide less out of pocket medical expenses and an increased, and more stable income.
Advice Needed: 1) What are the best areas to move into around Everett? Lynnwood, Marysville, Edmonds, Bothell, Woodinville, or Everett itself? My husband's brother lives in Bothell, and has nothing good to say about Everett, but that's just one man's opinion.
2) Due to breed restrictions, it would probably be best to move into a house or duplex with a lenient landlord, but our budget for housing would be $800 or less... what are our options (besides Craigslist and the usual google results for rentals)? We may have an alternative living situation for our beloved pet here in CA, but would prefer to avoid it at all costs. I mean, we will part with our pooch if it's a decision of her or the job, but it will be rather difficult emotionally.
3) What is the weather REALLY like? We're moving from the Mojave Desert, so it's pretty dang dry here. No, we're not concerned about being wet. Would it be wise to invest in rain boots, jackets, and umbrellas before we move, or would those items be cheaper up in WA? How much snow is there really?
4) How expensive is it to live in Snohomish County? On an income of roughly $40,000 a year, could we really survive on one income? Or would it be inevitable for myself to go to work?
5) If I did have to go to work, what are some average childcare costs in these areas?
6) I drive a mini van and my husband drives a small commuter car. Which one is better for the weather?
7) My husband is an FAA Certified Aircraft Mechanic with a few years of experience in a variety of related fields. If a layoff were to happen (God Forbid), what are some nearby airfield or airports?
8) What kind of churches are in those previously mentioned areas? We're Lutherans, but open to trying new churches. We're active members in our church here in CA, and would like to be the same up in WA.
Any advice, warnings, suggestions, and comments are greatly appreciated. And I promise not to take anything personally.
I'm originally from Corona, CA, have also lived in the Mojave (Ridgecrest), and have had Everett as my second home (of sorts) for my entire life.
$800/mo will not get you much in the Everett area. Our family is exploring a permanent move to the area, and we have found that $950+ is more realistic. $800 can be done, just don't expect tons of amenities, or the "best" neighborhood.
Everett is more than fine in most areas. Anybody that thinks otherwise has their nose higher than most people. See if you can find anything in Everett zip 98208, it's a nice area.
It's never hot like the Mojave (Everett's record high is 98F). It drizzles/light rains a lot. It's almost always nice and cool, even in summer. Lots of clouds/overcast though. Everett averages like 8 inches of snow a year, which is basically nothing, but my grandmother (who lives in Everett) says that when it does snow, it's a pain to be out (there's little, if any clearing of the roads). I'd imagine (I've never spent a whole winter there) that it rarely ever gets brutally (< 20F) cold. Winter lows average in the mid 30's for goodness' sakes.
1) What are the best areas to move into around Everett? Lynnwood, Marysville, Edmonds, Bothell, Woodinville, or Everett itself? My husband's brother lives in Bothell, and has nothing good to say about Everett, but that's just one man's opinion.
Ugh... stay away from Marysville. Crime-ridden, bad schools. While it does have some good shopping, it's close to the reservation which comes with its own problems when it come to housing (there is a thread about it here) and other issues. It's also the most remote out of all the cities you listed.
Edmonds, Bothell, Woodinville are always invariably great choices with good schools, safety and amenities.
Everett has some undesirable areas, but generally the best areas are close to Mukilteo. According to Schooldigger.com, Everett has the 2nd best elementary school of the state (Cedar Wood Elementary).
Lynnwood is hit and miss. Some nice areas with good schools, some bad ones. More research is needed.
Also look into Snohomish (the city), Lake Stevens, Mill Creek and Mukilteo.
Quote:
Originally Posted by QuietChaos
2) Due to breed restrictions, it would probably be best to move into a house or duplex with a lenient landlord, but our budget for housing would be $800 or less... what are our options (besides Craigslist and the usual google results for rentals)? We may have an alternative living situation for our beloved pet here in CA, but would prefer to avoid it at all costs. I mean, we will part with our pooch if it's a decision of her or the job, but it will be rather difficult emotionally.
3) What is the weather REALLY like? We're moving from the Mojave Desert, so it's pretty dang dry here. No, we're not concerned about being wet. Would it be wise to invest in rain boots, jackets, and umbrellas before we move, or would those items be cheaper up in WA? How much snow is there really?
Can't speak about the dog. As for weather, we have a HUGE weather thread. If where you're coming from has a lower tax, might as well get the rainboots, jackets and umbrellas there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by QuietChaos
4) How expensive is it to live in Snohomish County? On an income of roughly $40,000 a year, could we really survive on one income? Or would it be inevitable for myself to go to work?
5) If I did have to go to work, what are some average childcare costs in these areas?
6) I drive a mini van and my husband drives a small commuter car. Which one is better for the weather?
Anything is possible... you could live on 40K... but we don't know what your lifestyle's like.
Child cost is high... I know my friend paying 1K a month for 2 kids was a "steal" (According to people we know, I myself am a SAHM).
Both cars are fine as long as you got good tires.
Quote:
Originally Posted by QuietChaos
7) My husband is an FAA Certified Aircraft Mechanic with a few years of experience in a variety of related fields. If a layoff were to happen (God Forbid), what are some nearby airfield or airports?
Everett/Mukilteo has Painefield. We have SeaTac airport as well as Boeing Field. I think there's also a teensy airport in the Snohomish area.
We have lived here 18 years and do not own raincoats or boots, and only rarely use an umbrella. You may get weeks of 24 hour drizzle, misty light rain, but you can walk a couple of miles in it and barely get wet.
I agree with staying away from Marysville, and for the rent and animals
I recommend Snohomish or Monroe. The traffic isn't that bad to Everett, plenty of alternate routes. My sister is in Monroe renting A 3 BR 1BA house on 2 acres with a horse, 4 dogs, 2 cats and 3 goats and makes less than $40k.
While Washington is know for the least church-going people in the nation, we still do have a lot of churches of every kind. They are just not crowded.
Assuming your husband is going to work for Boeing (sorry, the certified aircraft mechanic and "major company in Everett" gives it away), he's right to want to work there a couple years to get established.
But I don't think there's much risk in a layoff. We've got a record backlog and squeezing our production methods to get more out every day and STILL not keeping up with demand.
Good luck!
I would recommend living in Edmonds or Mukilteo if he can afford it.
$40k a year will be pushing it if you're a SAHM. You need about $90k here to make it with a SAHM and working SO, barely. Yeah there's no income taxes but there's a 10% sales tax on everything (more so with booze). That said, I do see advertisements on community bulletin boards at Boeing advertising property for rent much cheaper than you can normally find (legitimately) from Craigslist. A 2 br place will probably rent about $1100 a month. +650 once for the pet "deposit" (which you likely will never get back).
Assuming your husband is going to work for Boeing (sorry, the certified aircraft mechanic and "major company in Everett" gives it away), he's right to want to work there a couple years to get established.
But I don't think there's much risk in a layoff. We've got a record backlog and squeezing our production methods to get more out every day and STILL not keeping up with demand.
Good luck!
I would recommend living in Edmonds or Mukilteo if he can afford it.
$40k a year will be pushing it if you're a SAHM. You need about $90k here to make it with a SAHM and working SO, barely. Yeah there's no income taxes but there's a 10% sales tax on everything (more so with booze). That said, I do see advertisements on community bulletin boards at Boeing advertising property for rent much cheaper than you can normally find (legitimately) from Craigslist. A 2 br place will probably rent about $1100 a month. +650 once for the pet "deposit" (which you likely will never get back).
At any rate, good luck!
I kind of figured I'd need to go back to work eventually. Hopefully it wont be too hard to find a job with manager experience. The tax doesn't bother me in the least. It's been 9.75% here for awhile, so I'm used to it. I'm not much of a boozer so it's all good. We're more and more leaning towards having to place our pooch in that alternative arrangement. It'll probably be better all the way around. Toting along kids will be hard enough.
My biggest concern is finding somewhere that's safe. Where my sons can go out and play at the playground and I wont have to worry about kidnappings or shootings mostly. Stuff, and cars are replaceable. My kidlets are not. Good to know about the cars and whatnot though... tires and wiper blades will be the first things we replace up there. Or maybe we should do it down here, lol. We live a pretty frugal lifestyle, so it wont be much of an adjustment there. The lack of income tax will be weird though... it just means we'll have more of a tax liability later on. <NOT looking forward to that...)
I've lived in this ridiculous town my entire life, so this move for us is monumental. I so look forward to the rain and overcast days, because that's when I am the happiest. It is nothing but sun, and brutal wind here. My oldest son loves playing in the rain, and my youngest is too young to care...yet. Maybe it's the Scor in me that is drawn to the water. Give me a pair of nice jeans, a warm sweater, and some rain boots any day. I very much so look forward to starting a completely new life somewhere other than the desert. It'll be nice to see the color green other than on vacation. I definitely wont miss the sand!
OK, answers to Question #1: At your salary the best place to live is Everett or Mukiteo. You'll really need to save on commuter costs and Everett is a nice town on the Sound.
#2: !!!!!$800 a month for a house, -ARE YOU SERIOUS ???? Consider yourself lucky if you can find a one-room studo apt. for that price. You'd better set your buget for $2,000 a month for a house minimum, if your lucky.
#3: !!!!!VERY WET !!!!! Do you like moss and slugs? It's just the opposite as to where you are living now, -dark, chilly, and cloudy with cold winds blowing off the Sound. Expect rain showers at least most of the time each day and night. Infact it's raining right now as I type this.
#4: VERY EXPENSIVE !!!! Consider $40,000 poverty level.
#5: Childcare, think $1,000 -$2,000 per month per child.
#6: The best car is the one that doesn't stall out and leave you stranded on a flooded freeway.
#7: The airfields is the one between Mukiteo and Everett, Boeing Field in Seattle, and the SeaTac International Airport.
Oh yes!!! We just had a wonderful time in San Diego. Really loved seeing the sun for the first time in years, loved Balboa Park, and the wonderful zoo. We're thinking about moving there.
The traffic is NOT that bad in the Seattle area, just FYI. Seattleites like to complain about it and act like it even somewhat compares to actual bad traffic like LA or Chicago but it doesn't. They obviously have never been or lived in places with bad traffic. I grew up close to where you're from in the Mojave, Canyon lake near lake Elsinore and riverside and trust me, coming from where you're from the traffic should not be a worry for you.
40k a year does some pretty low for a family in the Seattle area though.
My son shares a really nice house in a safe, quiet area of Edmonds, 4 br 2 ba for $1,600/month, 4 people total. In the area north of Seattle you can find something for less than $2,000, but not anywhere near $800.
It's sunny and beautiful right now here, and the rain we got the last few days is the typical light mist, nothing that really gets you wet. Some people like to discourage newcomers and exagerate thr gloom. I love the
weather here and came from California in 1993.
Many people manage on less than $40,000 successfully, depends on your lifestyle. Places like Sammamish have a median family income of $125,000, in Everett it's $50,000, Edmonds $64,000, Snohomish $58,000.
Childcare does run $1,000-$4,000/month depending in the location, and the best places have 2-3 year waiting lists. Everett area is $800-$1,200, while better parts of Seattle and the eastside can run $3,000-$4,000.
I'll be honest, 40k gross family income with a family will be terribly difficult here. I would highly, highly, HIGHLY suggest you create a detailed budget breaking out every single expense, no matter how minor.
40k a year is 3333~ gross a month, so about 2833~ net per month (assuming 15% tax). Now, if you're working for Boeing, I assume you get benefits. I don't know what your premiums are, but let's assume a few hundred in premiums so you're taking home around 2500 a month.
As has been said, I wouldn't expect a house at all with your budget. An apartment will be challenging enough. assume around 1k for that plus utilities of a few hundred per month.
That leaves you with 1k~ to 1300~ or so. Food here isn't cheap and will likely eat up most of that. Also, do you have car payments? Do you have other debt? What about your other bills? Cell? Do you contribute towards retirement? Do you have an emergency fund? Clothes? Car maintenance? Renter's insurance? Medical bills and medicine for sick kids? Is it important you have money to go out and live life?
Essentially, 40k will be very tough to do here. I would be very careful about putting your family into a challenging situation. To be completely honest, 40k is likely considered poverty level here for a family like yours. Are you ok going into that situation if your existing situation is better?
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