looking at eastside (bellevue-ish) from Portland OR area (Seattle, Renton: fit in, to rent)

[christiner81]

My husband is looking at potential employment in Bellevue. We currently live in a quaint little (pop 20K) town surrounded by farms in the Portland metro area. I joke that it's like mayberry here, I really like where we are now and would only leave if the job is too good to pass up.

Searching on the Seattle forums, it seems like trying to replicate what we have now is not really available (affordable, semi-rural, decent commute, small town, historic homes) near Bellevue. I am pretty intimidated by the home prices and affluence near Seattle and trying to figure out if we will fit in. I have never visited Seattle before so I have no idea what to expect.

We are both college educated and have a low six figure income but are living well below our means right now so that we can save our money - i'm not sure we'd have the ability to do that if we relocate, even if his salary increases.

Random...I have chickens in my backyard...would that be an oddity in a place like Kirkland, Issaquah or Sammamish? Are those areas considered "pretentious" at all? I'd really love to live in a historic home but it seems like those are few and far between outside the Seattle city limits. We are not interested in new construction or HOA type communities. I don't really consider myself to be "Portland weird" or hipster but I do like a smaller town feel, independent businesses and slower pace of life.

[amaiunmei]

Originally Posted by christiner81

My husband is looking at potential employment in Bellevue. We currently live in a quaint little (pop 20K) town surrounded by farms in the Portland metro area. I joke that it's like mayberry here, I really like where we are now and would only leave if the job is too good to pass up.

Searching on the Seattle forums, it seems like trying to replicate what we have now is not really available (affordable, semi-rural, decent commute, small town, historic homes) near Bellevue. I am pretty intimidated by the home prices and affluence near Seattle and trying to figure out if we will fit in. I have never visited Seattle before so I have no idea what to expect.

We are both college educated and have a low six figure income but are living well below our means right now so that we can save our money - i'm not sure we'd have the ability to do that if we relocate, even if his salary increases.

Random...I have chickens in my backyard...would that be an oddity in a place like Kirkland, Issaquah or Sammamish? Are those areas considered "pretentious" at all? I'd really love to live in a historic home but it seems like those are few and far between outside the Seattle city limits. We are not interested in new construction or HOA type communities. I don't really consider myself to be "Portland weird" or hipster but I do like a smaller town feel, independent businesses and slower pace of life.

Your assessment of the situation is astute. Lots of people see Portland and Seattle as similar, but I personally think they are very different ... especially in situations like this. You are describing what you are looking for, and bits of that exist here, but not necessarily the whole package (and not without a drive).

Housing is by far the biggest cost up here, and it's smarter to rent right now as buying is still very expensive (moreso than in Portland).

If you do move up here, I'd suggest looking at Duvall.

City of Duvall Official Website

Also, if you keep chickens up here, steer clear of the mountains (Cougar Mountain, Issaquah, etc) as wild animals (coyotes, bears, cougars, etc) may be attracted to your flock.

The legality of having chickens in King County is addressed here: Backyard poultry

[flyingsaucermom]

While I would absolutely LOVE having you as my neighbor, I couldn't recommend where I live (Issaquah). Truthfully I wouldn't recommend Kirkland or Sammamish either. I have kids and we deal with a particular set of circumstances that makes me really enjoy my neighborhood. The plus side is that I also like semi-rural environments and we do have a lot of nature around us, but negatively I have to deal with the droves of Mercedes, BMWs, Hummers, Audi, etc... and the personality characteristics that often times correspond to such choice in automobiles. Granted there are plenty of individuals and families that are grounded and content with what I call the "small scale life", but we are definitely fewer in number than in other parts of the area. I would also suggest Duvall, but it is also my understanding that it is also growing much like most other communities nearby.

[Inkpoe]

Definitely check into Duvall and Carnation. I'd also look east of Redmond/Union Hill, towards Ames Lake and Fall City. Snoqualmie and North Bend could possibly work as well, but they've got lots of new developments.

[Hemlock140]

You can find pockets of more rural homes in all of the eastside cities, though very few in Bellevue. Even in Seattle there are homes with chickens in the front yrd, here in Sammamish there is a recent surge in vegetable gardens/greenhouses in the front yards. Inkpoe gave you the best places to find what you are looking for, I'll add to that Monroe and Snohomish though they are farther to commute, but more affordable. You could also go SE to parts of Renton, and Maple Valley.

[tobester]

Why not look in Seattle proper? While not 'semi-rural' - you can have chicken coops and live in a historic, non cookie-cutter home. And the commute to Bellevue is not that bad.

[amaiunmei]

Originally Posted by tobester

Why not look in Seattle proper? While not 'semi-rural' - you can have chicken coops and live in a historic, non cookie-cutter home. And the commute to Bellevue is not that bad.

Words like "small town" and "quaint" and "slower pace of life" were used, which I interpreted as eliminating all of the larger cities. With ex-urban Portland as the reference point, I interpreted that flatter and more rural environs were requested. I could be wrong, though ...

[christiner81]

Originally Posted by flyingsaucermom

While I would absolutely LOVE having you as my neighbor, I couldn't recommend where I live (Issaquah). Truthfully I wouldn't recommend Kirkland or Sammamish either. I have kids and we deal with a particular set of circumstances that makes me really enjoy my neighborhood. The plus side is that I also like semi-rural environments and we do have a lot of nature around us, but negatively I have to deal with the droves of Mercedes, BMWs, Hummers, Audi, etc... and the personality characteristics that often times correspond to such choice in automobiles. Granted there are plenty of individuals and families that are grounded and content with what I call the "small scale life", but we are definitely fewer in number than in other parts of the area. I would also suggest Duvall, but it is also my understanding that it is also growing much like most other communities nearby.

OK thank you for posting this. You and I sound very alike. We do have pockets of affluence like you describe in Portland and we have purposely avoided them.

Originally Posted by amaiunmei

Words like "small town" and "quaint" and "slower pace of life" were used, which I interpreted as eliminating all of the larger cities. With ex-urban Portland as the reference point, I interpreted that flatter and more rural environs were requested. I could be wrong, though ...

I am not opposed to seattle proper, though the logic of having to cross a bridge for a commute as well as dealing with their school system doesn't sound appealing at this point. I haven't investigated seattle public schools enough for myself, but i get the sense they aren't great. I've got 2 kids, one will be school age this fall and the younger one has a physical disability that IMO, isn't a big deal, but the school environment could potentially make or break his experience.

[tobester]

Originally Posted by amaiunmei

Words like "small town" and "quaint" and "slower pace of life" were used, which I interpreted as eliminating all of the larger cities. With ex-urban Portland as the reference point, I interpreted that flatter and more rural environs were requested. I could be wrong, though ...

The thing I love about Seattle is that there are neighborhoods that actually meet the quaint and slower pace of life definition - it's not 'til you get to the busier commercial cores that big city feel drifts in.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by christiner81

OK thank you for posting this. You and I sound very alike. We do have pockets of affluence like you describe in Portland and we have purposely avoided them.


I am not opposed to seattle proper, though the logic of having to cross a bridge for a commute as well as dealing with their school system doesn't sound appealing at this point. I haven't investigated seattle public schools enough for myself, but i get the sense they aren't great. I've got 2 kids, one will be school age this fall and the younger one has a physical disability that IMO, isn't a big deal, but the school environment could potentially make or break his experience.

What you are looking for will be difficult, because the best schools are in the most affluent areas. All those people that drive the expensive cars and must have the latest of everything are also well educated and anxious for their kids to get the best possible opportunities, so they take an interest in school issues and contribute both financially and with their time. There will be some of that in the outlying, more rural and small town areas but not as much. In places like Bellevue, Mercer Island, Issaquah, Redmond, Kirkland and Sammamish there is little difference between the schools, all high performing. In Other areas you need to do more research to find the best ones. For example, Carnation and Duvall schools are all about the same and decent but not great. North Bend has a variety from very good to not so much.