Do any of the Washington cities have a true "suburb"? (Seattle: vehicle registration, big house)

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by revelated

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.

You're not going to find a whole of houses in brick either. Ring of Fire, ya know?

[skinem]

How about stuccoed brick?

Post #5, and others, came out and answered your question about stucco...it wasn't in code. Here it is plainly...no stucco. Do not get stucco here. You may find instances of stucco in Yakima or Tri-Cities. No swamp coolers. Find something else in housing materials. Get AC. Or get stucco and deal with its attendant problems. There are a lot more brick homes available than stucco. Many more. You can even have one built. Or buy an existing one, because unlike stucco, there is a greater selection of brick homes.

...and I wasn't smarmy (I do not think that word means what you think it means, to quote a great swordsman.)...

...I was sarcastic. There's a difference.

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by revelated

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.




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.




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.

Most of your posts, but especially this one, make you sound like a stereotypical arrogant, status-seeking, materialistic Californian. Thank goodness most Californians aren't like that...

[revelated]

Originally Posted by backdrifter

Most of your posts, but especially this one, make you sound like a stereotypical arrogant, status-seeking, materialistic Californian. Thank goodness most Californians aren't like that...

What specifically about wanting something that is current and not aged - meaning something low maintenance - is "arrogant", "status-seeking" or "materialistic"?

Here's the deal. I work many hours. I get paid very well. One thing I don't have is time to keep doing constant work on a house that I'm paying hundreds of thousands of dollars on. If I'm going to invest that money, the house needs to be robust out the gate. Doesn't have to be perfect, doesn't have to be a mansion...hell, it doesn't even need to be multi-story. But it should be something that I can consider a sound investment. Unlike most, that's what I do - I give my money to valuable things, not junk. I don't buy junk cars, houses, computers, etc. I also buy things that are attractive to my eye because, unlike most in this country, I don't settle for some shack in the woods just because it's cheap. I'll pay for what looks good to my eye AND is going to somehow pay dividends, even if those dividends are nothing more than the knowledge that my roof won't just start leaking one day randomly.

I won't deal with an electric/gas bill exceeding $50 either. It's not acceptable. It means something is not efficient and I won't spend thousands of dollars getting it up to that.


It's not about status, it's about efficiency. I know some of you would just settle for the first $50,000 condo that you find because there's no reason to pay any more money, but that's not me.


On a side note, I was browsing Bing Maps and stumbled across a place called Sudden Valley. Any opinions of this area? Is it like the imagery speculates, fresh out of Friday the 13th when it gets dark?

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by revelated

I won't deal with an electric/gas bill exceeding $50 either. It's not acceptable. It means something is not efficient and I won't spend thousands of dollars getting it up to that.

Well, then unless you don't run appliances or heat, we probably can't meet your needs in Washington. There's always Oregon or northern California, though.

[revelated]

Originally Posted by j_k_k

Well, then unless you don't run appliances or heat, we probably can't meet your needs in Washington. There's always Oregon or northern California, though.

That is a perfectly doable monthly electric/gas bill for...wait for it...efficient people and appliances.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by revelated

That is a perfectly doable monthly electric/gas bill for...wait for it...efficient people and appliances.

It's kind of amusing for you to come here wanting information and help, and then handle yourself so there's no reason to offer either. In all sincerity, I can't see you enjoying Washington. We're just too inferior and unsophisticated, and there's no reason for you to subject yourself to the society of your lessers.

[sll3454]

The best place to keep your utility bills under $50 is . . . wait for it . . . Southern California.

[revelated]

Originally Posted by sll3454

The best place to keep your utility bills under $50 is . . . wait for it . . . Southern California.

I realize that most of you just don't know how to manage your bills. Or perhaps you see no value in buying energy efficient appliances. That's fine. If one can live in Cleveland OH and have an energy bill under $50 in the winter, it's certainly doable in Seattle, WA.

Just because YOU can't do it doesn't mean it can't be done.

[Hemlock140]

Sure, you can have a $50 gas/electric bill living in a studio apartment on one of the middle floors in a 20 story building. Not many homes, even tiny and incredibly efficient can do that in this area. The OP is talking about a big house where he's looking at $200/month or more in winter.

Sudden Valley is in Bellingham, a small liberal area well north of Seattle, and colder/wetter. It's very white and lower middle class, with median family income about 60k, homes in the low 200s. And looks nothing like your ideal neighborhood picture.