Do any of the Washington cities have a true "suburb"? (Seattle: condo, appliances)
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Sigh. You're right. No cities in Washington have "areas where there are newer house developments where they have adopted a more modern look", particularly the Seattle area. It's an entire state devoid of any suburb with newer housing developments where they have adopted a more modern look. I know I would trust numerous computer searches over anyone actually there.
You are ONE person. Yes, I trust the National Association of REALTORS database over ONE person's opinion. You think rustic looking houses are "modern" because you live there. To me, that's not what I'm ideally looking for. I gave an image of what I seek, and no, that house building style is not in "all cities" like you said.
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Originally Posted by skinem
I'm sure you're right. I expect for nearly 200 years inhabitants here have been doing it wrong. I'm sure that's it.
Disregarding your smarmy attitude about a well-to-do comment which is based in part on years of exposure in other areas such as Arkansas where during the wet and cold, the wood DOES rot - having seen it first hand with my great-grandparents house, mind - and seeing how they went to solid brick for most of their houses, I consider it quite a fair comment.
Now, taking a second look, I see what bisjoe posted is close to what I expected to see. I also see the prices are basically identical to what we have in San Diego for that style of build quality. That's fine - at least now I know what to expect, which is all I'm really asking for.
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Originally Posted by sll3454
Could the "swamp cooler" be a heat pump? They are pretty efficient heaters in areas that don't get extremely cold, and they are excellent air conditioners.
Or maybe you meant window units?
How far from Seattle are you willing to look for your suburbs?
When I refer to "swamp cooler" I don't mean a literal one. I'm referring to some rusty unit stuck on the side of the house in disrepair, as opposed to a fresh, new, often beige or white, new Kenmore or whatnot unit that just blows centralized air straight from electrical sources. Ultimately I'm looking for energy efficiency, not rustic charm.
I don't mind a reasonable commute, in fact I could theoretically go half of Washington to work and still be an easier commute than we've got out here just by virtue of population. That said it would be nice to live reasonably close to work but not in a densely populated area; thus the desire for a good suburb. Don't want to be out in the sticks though; need to have some shopping and stuff.
And again, this is all research at this point. The interview is next Friday and I'll get a lay of the land, but I'm preparing myself for a job offer. They seem to be right on the edge of downtown Seattle.
I found a CamWest development in Bellevue (SE 51st Pl). A realtor should be able to help you find others, especially if you are open to a long commute.
However, you may discover that traffic near Seattle is not so different from Southern California.
I found a CamWest development in Bellevue (SE 51st Pl). A realtor should be able to help you find others, especially if you are open to a long commute.
However, you may discover that traffic near Seattle is not so different from Southern California.
Port Orchard seems to have some nice ones.
And there is NO chance that Washington has worse or similar traffic conditions to San Diego. It's not possible. We've got freeways with five lanes on each direction AND four lanes in the middle for express AND toll roads, and we STILL get jams constantly.
And there is NO chance that Washington has worse or similar traffic conditions to San Diego. It's not possible. We've got freeways with five lanes on each direction AND four lanes in the middle for express AND toll roads, and we STILL get jams constantly.
... Nope, we just have bottlenecks. So yes... our traffic conditions aren't exactly ideal.
I can deal with the occasional bottleneck. What i don't like is sacrificing nature to alleviate traffic when the real problem with traffic is the fact that licenses are given away like candy.
I'm sure you're right. I expect for nearly 200 years inhabitants here have been doing it wrong. I'm sure that's it.
Heh. It's kind of funny. A besetting California sin is having no idea that "I want someplace like California," then getting annoyed when told "We don't have one and don't want one," is unappealing. How could we possibly not want to be like California, from which all progress, culture and good things emanate? We should be honored they would consider our humble state.
It's not like we are all desperately eager to encourage everyone from everywhere to move here. Some people just won't find what they want here, and that's fine. Best for them and us if they find someplace that can live up to their expectations, if Washington cannot.
Heh. It's kind of funny. A besetting California sin is having no idea that "I want someplace like California," then getting annoyed when told "We don't have one and don't want one," is unappealing. How could we possibly not want to be like California, from which all progress, culture and good things emanate? We should be honored they would consider our humble state.
It's not like we are all desperately eager to encourage everyone from everywhere to move here. Some people just won't find what they want here, and that's fine. Best for them and us if they find someplace that can live up to their expectations, if Washington cannot.
You need coffee.
I don't want that neighborhood type. I just got through saying I definitely don't want the traffic. I don't want "California in another place". That home building style is not exclusive to California. While it may have gotten popular here the reality is that stucco-based homes are all over Nevada, Arizona, even Missouri in parts. I'm given to understand that even Arkansas - the place that had the last standing Whataburger, if I recall - is starting to do some of these types of developments. Not the neighborhood, but the way the homes are built. They're lower overall maintenance and generally higher durability. The mold argument is a sound one that I didn't think of. Now maybe the stucco homes are more sought after in hotter or drier climates, I dunno.
I've gotten the answers I need though there have been some smarmy folks. The real answer is "yes and no. We don't have that style of house hardly anywhere, but we do have comparable homes built with different materials that are just as good". Be nice if people would simply come out and say that.
My next step - and I really wish I had taken the company up on their offer to stay an extra day but oh well - is to see what if they present a job offer after all of this, and if so, I will probably just do a month-to-month at one of the nicer apartments that's half of what my rent is now, and then buy a condo in a nicer area. That'll round out my credit report to all types of credit and then I can evaluate buying a house later.
I can deal with the occasional bottleneck. What i don't like is sacrificing nature to alleviate traffic when the real problem with traffic is the fact that licenses are given away like candy.
Or perhaps the real problem is that too many people live too far from work. The more people who commute long distances, the worse it will get, and the more nature will be sacrificed. Are you saying you should be able to commute but for some reason others shouldn't?
On the Seattle traffic situation: I haven't driven in it much yet, and really, I haven't seen any terrible traffic. I've just heard and read a lot of complaints. I did, however, spend 37 years in Los Angeles County, so I am familiar with the situation in Southern California.
I don't want that neighborhood type. I just got through saying I definitely don't want the traffic. I don't want "California in another place". That home building style is not exclusive to California. While it may have gotten popular here the reality is that stucco-based homes are all over Nevada, Arizona, even Missouri in parts. I'm given to understand that even Arkansas - the place that had the last standing Whataburger, if I recall - is starting to do some of these types of developments. Not the neighborhood, but the way the homes are built. They're lower overall maintenance and generally higher durability. The mold argument is a sound one that I didn't think of. Now maybe the stucco homes are more sought after in hotter or drier climates, I dunno.
No where in the Pacific Northwest does anyone have stucco except for a very, very few individual houses here and there. I can think of precisely two. One was built Spanish Style in the 1950's. The other is a mansion and I'd be surprised if it's real stucco. It's more of an architectural choice that is more in place in the South West then here.
Your problem is that you don't seem to understand what stucco is. It's applied to the outside of a house with a bucket and trowel. It's usually laid on top of concrete. The concrete is used to help keep temperatures more even in extreme heat and cold. Washington weather doesn't allow these combinations of building materials to be used very often.
The other problem is that concrete in PNW is made of basalt rock - of which we have plenty. But it's not cheap to get due to all those pesky trees, and anywhere between 10 to 1000 feet of topsoil on top of it. It's cheaper to use the readily available building materials found in the trees.
Another issue to deal with is that stucco doesn't flex very well in extreme temperature and humidity fluctuations. This causes a huge number of cracks that are nearly impossible to fix.
Keep in mind, that despite appearances, wood actually does last longer in this environment then stucco does. It flexes very little. It's waterproof (most leaks are at joints,) and it allows the inside of the house to breath so that mold doesn't grow.
BTW - Whataburger is still a pretty big chain. I just ate there (mostly out of desperation) in Dallas Texas three months ago.
No where in the Pacific Northwest does anyone have stucco except for a very, very few individual houses here and there. I can think of precisely two. One was built Spanish Style in the 1950's. The other is a mansion and I'd be surprised if it's real stucco. It's more of an architectural choice that is more in place in the South West then here.
Your problem is that you don't seem to understand what stucco is. It's applied to the outside of a house with a bucket and trowel. It's usually laid on top of concrete. The concrete is used to help keep temperatures more even in extreme heat and cold. Washington weather doesn't allow these combinations of building materials to be used very often.
The other problem is that concrete in PNW is made of basalt rock - of which we have plenty. But it's not cheap to get due to all those pesky trees, and anywhere between 10 to 1000 feet of topsoil on top of it. It's cheaper to use the readily available building materials found in the trees.
Another issue to deal with is that stucco doesn't flex very well in extreme temperature and humidity fluctuations. This causes a huge number of cracks that are nearly impossible to fix.
Keep in mind, that despite appearances, wood actually does last longer in this environment then stucco does. It flexes very little. It's waterproof (most leaks are at joints,) and it allows the inside of the house to breath so that mold doesn't grow.
BTW - Whataburger is still a pretty big chain. I just ate there (mostly out of desperation) in Dallas Texas three months ago.
Here's what I (need to) know about stucco. It's attractive. It gives the house a solid appearance and feel. It's not just the concrete; the stucco itself, when properly troweled, adds to the exterior by a wide margin. A wood house looks old the moment you paint it.
Now I do see some that are vinyl sided. Vinyl also just doesn't seem to do it.
At this point I'd be ok with simple brick, but insulation is a big deal. Not that I want to keep out the cold or anything, but rather that the temperature inside remains somewhat constant regardless of what's going on outside. That's a problem where I live right now.
And I meant Worldburger, not Whataburger. Been over 20 years since I've been out there.
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