Relocating from Phoenix! Need good rural area to live! Help! (Seattle: schools, subdivision)

[W014474]

All of a sudden we're moving! We have been in Phoenix for 8 years so moving with 4 kids is going to be huge! I've scoured every scrap of advice I can get about suburbs from the web but we're unique--we don't want amenities or a city feel. We want land to build a little organic farm, and we're willing to commute for the right location. There are beautiful properties in Granite Falls but there are mixed reviews of the community on these forums. Does anyone who lives there want to venture a more recent opinion (other threads are years old). We can get fewer acres for more $ in Kent. We're focusing on places that are a quick ride to the Sounder train (figure commute would be more pleasant than hazarding the roads). Any suggestions on nice ag-friendly towns within 1.5 hours of downtown? I'm concerned about schools/crime/commute to Seattle during traffic. We'll be down next weekend but are overwhelmed with trying to pick a place to raise our family (husband loved growing up on Bainbridge but wow too pricey!) We could afford up to $550K but would love to get land as cheaply as possible ($200k range) so we can build an awesome house. The more acres, the better but we'd settle for 5. Truly, I'd appreciate ANY input!

[Hemlock140]

The farther out you go the lower the prices. I would recommend looking at Monroe/Snohomish to the north, Maple Valley/Auburn to the south. If you are willing to go past Bainbridge, Port Orchard, Seabeck, or Poulsbo.

[W014474]

Thanks! I'll look closer at those communities, except Kitsap County seems to be extremely farmer-unfriendly (though my spouse would love to take the ferry to work They have extremely restrictive policies. I have 10 chickens on my 1/3 acre subdivision lot here in Phoenix; I couldn't legally have them on an acre in Poulsbo because the stocking density regulations are so stringent. King county seems good (every lot in Seattle can legally have a few chickens) and Snohomish encourages agriculture outright.

[Hemlock140]

I was thinking produce more than livestock. Sound like this place in Port Angeles would be great for you, though it's a bit of a haul to the city (close to 3 hours).

126 Phinn Port Angeles, WA 98362 | 264153 | Coldwell Banker

[W014474]

Thanks! The property looks beautiful! I'll have to take a closer look at that area!

[analogkid84]

Ninety minutes from downtown you could look as far north as Mt. Vernon. Coming closer in maybe look at the Arlington/Stanwood areas. I used to live in Marysville and there are some small chunks of land around that area. The Stillaguamish and Skagit valleys have some of the best farmland in Western WA. If I can ever escape Houston to get back up to the Pac NW, I would love to live up in the Skagit Valley area. Good luck with things and I envy you.

[Vinylly]

Originally Posted by W014474

All of a sudden we're moving! We have been in Phoenix for 8 years so moving with 4 kids is going to be huge! I've scoured every scrap of advice I can get about suburbs from the web but we're unique--we don't want amenities or a city feel. We want land to build a little organic farm, and we're willing to commute for the right location. There are beautiful properties in Granite Falls but there are mixed reviews of the community on these forums. Does anyone who lives there want to venture a more recent opinion (other threads are years old). We can get fewer acres for more $ in Kent. We're focusing on places that are a quick ride to the Sounder train (figure commute would be more pleasant than hazarding the roads). Any suggestions on nice ag-friendly towns within 1.5 hours of downtown? I'm concerned about schools/crime/commute to Seattle during traffic. We'll be down next weekend but are overwhelmed with trying to pick a place to raise our family (husband loved growing up on Bainbridge but wow too pricey!) We could afford up to $550K but would love to get land as cheaply as possible ($200k range) so we can build an awesome house. The more acres, the better but we'd settle for 5. Truly, I'd appreciate ANY input!

your out of luck in the Seattle area. The suburbs are all triky-tacky tract developments. You'll have to look for such places on the east side of the Cascades, like Ellensburg, Winachee or Yakima.

[Inkpoe]

Look to South King County (Auburn, Black Diamond, Covington, Enumclaw, Maple Valley/Ravensdale et. c) and Pierce County (Buckely, Graham, Sumner, Puyallup, Orting). Land is cheaper and taxes are lower than up north. Plus, the Southern line trains are much more reliable than up north.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by Inkpoe

Look to South King County (Auburn, Black Diamond, Covington, Enumclaw, Maple Valley/Ravensdale et. c) and Pierce County (Buckely, Graham, Sumner, Puyallup, Orting). Land is cheaper and taxes are lower than up north. Plus, the Southern line trains are much more reliable than up north.

I was just going to post almost exactly the same thing. Kent still has some rural areas too.

[W014474]

Good to know. Thanks for the input, guys! Is Granite Falls still Methville or have they cleaned things up? I just read about the former mayor's arrest in 2010 for drug dealing...scary.