Moving to Maple Valley, Covington, East Hill (Kent) (Renton, Kirkland: house, schools)

[dew06]

We are looking at moving from the north end closer to my job in Issaquah and have a budget of $300-350k, and looking a homes in good/newer condition 1800-2000 Sq ft (completed two remodels, don't have it in me for a third right now). Ideally a home from the 90's or early 2000's... the new ones are just on such small lots.

Trying to keep the commute to around 30 minutes, if anyone is familiar with theses areas, could you recommend any good neighboorhoods in these parts. We drove a bit thorugh Maple Valley and saw some good (some homes near 272nd) and bad (everything near Witte road seemed dark and depressing). Never made it to Kent or Covington so don't know anything about those areas. Of course the closer to Issaquah the better. Looked around Issaquah itself and there doesn't appear to be anything in our price range. And Renton is not an option... been there, done that and not going back.

Schools aren't a big factor, we have twins <1 year right now... it sounds like Maple Valley is the best option, but they are a few years away anyways and this is probably not our forever house

Thanks for any advice!!

Dan

[Hemlock140]

I'd expect your commute to be worse than from Kirkland. I often go out Issaquah Hobart to 18 as a way to get to I5 without using 405 at commute times, and the reverse that you would be doing is pretty much backed up all the time from Maple Valley to Issaquah in the morning, and the other way in the afternoon. Try driving it a few times at commute hours to see. Especially after school starts, when you get off 18 and have to stop behind school buses all along the way in. If you take 18 to 90 and come in that way you run into the North Bend/Snoqualmie Ridge commuters.