Thoughts on Issaquah Highlands?

[Hemlock140]

I don't know if this is an introductory special or what, but Safeway is opened and the gas station had several customers at 5:50 this morning, regular was just $3.17/gallon. That should generate some customers.

[tobester]

That's about where gas prices are at the moment ... nothing special.

[skihikeclimb]

Originally Posted by cloveleaf

I don't think Issaquah Highlands is unaffordable to BCC students. There are apartment complexes nearby. Not to mention Polygon is going to build more apartments on their newly purchased land. Traffic will get worse, but won't be a nightmare. I really do hope BCC will only move a few of their professional programs here.

You are truly naive if you believe this. The new "apartments" that are going in near the Highlands run about 1500 a month for a single bedroom. 3 bedroom apartments are around 2000 to 2500 a month. Basically these new apartments, and town homes are equivalent to a mortgage payment in other parts of the Puget Sound area. I guarantee you that most of the students at BCC in the IHH will be the children (in their 20s) of families living around the east side. Community Colleges are commute schools mostly.

[flyingsaucermom]

Originally Posted by skihikeclimb

You are truly naive if you believe this. The new "apartments" that are going in near the Highlands run about 1500 a month for a single bedroom. 3 bedroom apartments are around 2000 to 2500 a month. Basically these new apartments, and town homes are equivalent to a mortgage payment in other parts of the Puget Sound area. I guarantee you that most of the students at BCC in the IHH will be the children (in their 20s) of families living around the east side. Community Colleges are commute schools mostly.

Yeah, I dunno. I'm getting new neighbors this week... 3 young unrelated ladies (all different sizes, shapes and colors) They look like they could be in college (early-mid 20's) and their dress isn't what one typically sees around here (which I attribute more to their age than anything else, but it doesn't look upscale in the least... then again, neither does mine!). It's like the heavens up above read my post in this thread and granted me exactly what I'm apprehensive about. Maybe one of them will babysit for me??? I'm going to nice and introduce myself (which is hard for me on a normal basis). You just never know who somebody is until you've said hello.

[skihikeclimb]

Originally Posted by flyingsaucermom

Yeah, I dunno. I'm getting new neighbors this week... 3 young unrelated ladies (all different sizes, shapes and colors) They look like they could be in college (early-mid 20's) and their dress isn't what one typically sees around here (which I attribute more to their age than anything else, but it doesn't look upscale in the least... then again, neither does mine!). .

Well you could be right, but the fact of the matter is that many people who work in the software industry and in tech start ups come to work looking like they just rolled out of bed in the morning (making 70K to 120K a year). Many of the people moving into the highlands work for google, microsoft, etc..... So you are not going to see your stereotypical lawyer, buisness person etc... As far as rents go, yes they are outrageously high (maybe not as bad as say Vancouver BC), but I am quite familiar with the area. New homes (that don't even look that nice) right next to the safeway are going for 600K to 700K + (and they are small to boot). The apartment rents are pretty high as well. I should qualify my statement, and point out that a small percentage of units are available to lower income people. But it is a very small percentage of the units. The vast majority of rentals going into the Issaquah Highlands are for people who make a better than average income. Many of the rentals are going from somewhere between 1450 to 2800 a month. This may or may not be related to this post. But I think people need to realize that homeownership in North America is declining (currently at its lowest level since the 1970s I believe). Many generation X and Y folks are not buying homes for various reasons (student loan debt, extended singlehood, etc...)

[flyingsaucermom]

Originally Posted by skihikeclimb

Well you could be right, but the fact of the matter is that many people who work in the software industry and in tech start ups come to work looking like they just rolled out of bed in the morning (making 70K to 120K a year). Many of the people moving into the highlands work for google, microsoft, etc..... So you are not going to see your stereotypical lawyer, buisness person etc... As far as rents go, yes they are outrageously high (maybe not as bad as say Vancouver BC), but I am quite familiar with the area. New homes (that don't even look that nice) right next to the safeway are going for 600K to 700K + (and they are small to boot). The apartment rents are pretty high as well. I should qualify my statement, and point out that a small percentage of units are available to lower income people. But it is a very small percentage of the units. The vast majority of rentals going into the Issaquah Highlands are for people who make a better than average income. Many of the rentals are going from somewhere between 1450 to 2800 a month. This may or may not be related to this post. But I think people need to realize that homeownership in North America is declining (currently at its lowest level since the 1970s I believe). Many generation X and Y folks are not buying homes for various reasons (student loan debt, extended singlehood, etc...)

Yeah, I get it. My husband once had the title of director (now demoted or "adjusted" to project manager) at one of those major high tech employers you mentioned. And sometimes he actually did just roll out of bed and go to work. That's why I reserve myself (a little) from just completely jumping on the sterotyping bandwagon. Their rent is about $2200/3. That's less than $750 per person. Of course, they are sharing a space and don't have the luxuary of having their own unit (if that's even desired). There is a crazy big divide between those who can rent and those who can buy, especially in a high COL area like this.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by tobester

That's about where gas prices are at the moment ... nothing special.

Really? Not at our local stations in Sammamish, where it's still running $3.49, and here in Seattle $3.79.

[jm31828]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

Really? Not at our local stations in Sammamish, where it's still running $3.49, and here in Seattle $3.79.

It varies greatly, but many stations I see in my neck of the woods (north end) are down to $3.39 now, with some of the Fred Meyer stores down to $3.19.