Possibly relocating from Texas to Washington (Seattle, Tacoma: sales, real estate, to rent)

[Relocating 123]

I've lived in Texas all of my life but my wife is from the Seattle area and desperately wants to move back. We both have decent paying jobs here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We have a nice 3 b/r, 2.5 bath house that didn't break the bank for us to get. We're not rich but we have never had an argument over money or have had to worry about paying our bills.

I've been to Seattle-Tacoma numerous times and I do love the beauty of the area. I'm just really worried about finances. We would have to make a lot more money to be able to afford a similar lifestyle as we have here. I want her to be happy and if moving there is what it takes, then we'll do it. I'm just hoping we're not going to get up there and be financially strapped. She works in oil and gas and I work in the cotton business. I imagine there aren't too many jobs up there in those industries. My experience is in purchasing, merchandising and logistics.

I guess I don't really have a question. Just nervous about this whole thing and needed a sounding board. lol

[Hemlock140]

No, we definitely lack jobs in those fields, here it's tech and aviation. We do have logistics work, with the Kent Valley being a major warehousing center for the ports of Seattle and Tacoma. From the others that have come here from Texas, you would surely find the cost of living, especially homes to be much higher. The average home in King County is now at over $400k. Your home there would probably be over $500k in Seattle, but closer to the Kent area, for example Maple Valley/Covington areas you could find something in the $300s still.

[Relocating 123]

Thanks for your reply! I will definitely keep that in mind.

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

My spouse has a co-worker who is a life-long Texan, also from Ft. Worth. He and his wife relocated to Washington about the same time that we did. They live more in the Bremerton/Silverdale area. I have to say, he is the nicest person by a LONG shot that I have met here!

[Relocating 123]

Thanks! I'm taking it by your screen name that you don't recommend moving there?

[Blondebaerde]

Originally Posted by Relocating 123

I've lived in Texas all of my life but my wife is from the Seattle area and desperately wants to move back. We both have decent paying jobs here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We have a nice 3 b/r, 2.5 bath house that didn't break the bank for us to get. We're not rich but we have never had an argument over money or have had to worry about paying our bills.

I guess I don't really have a question. Just nervous about this whole thing and needed a sounding board. lol

Hope it works out for you guys.

Yes, compared to some parts of the country, Seattle metro is crazy-money. Around real estate purchases in-particular. Our nine point something percent sales tax makes purchases rather expensive, too. I noticed recently that I couldn't get a grande mocha at (big coffee chain) for less than four and half bucks, and the (big hamburger chain) meal was 1.5x same on the other end of the state. So yes, for various reasons, Seattle metro is not for the faint of heart financially.

On the Eastside, a 3 br home, arbitrarily build after c. 1979 w/1800 sf, would cost an arm and leg these days. Seriously. It's all over the news. Other areas, less money but still "a lot" in-comparison.

Funny, I often discussed DFW with a woman who lived there w/her ex about ten years ago. She spoke of it fondly, in terms of quality of life at reasonable cost (whatever "reasonable" is). She was usually (OK, almost-always) peeved that $60K as a contractor, no benefits or job security, wasn't affording her a lifestyle she liked in Seattle metro: renting a nice house in Maple Valley, commuting to Renton. I dunno: I thought she had it more than OK, but the absurd expense of day care and twice as much for a special-needs child put-paid to my thesis right-quick. Surprising how it all adds up around here.

[Relocating 123]

Thank you for your reply! Actually, I think she wants to live around the Pullayup area. The Seattle forum was as close as I could find. haha! For reference, we have a 3 b/r, 2.5 bath house that is 2900 sq feet (way too big for the two of us) It was built in 2004 and sits on a quarter acre. We paid $205k. We've looked at some comparable houses (although much smaller) in Pullayup online and found some for under 300k. That would be okay as long as I was able to make up the difference with my pay. I would probably try the largest companies first and go from there. Here, we're making a combined income of about $105k and we are doing alright. I'd say we'd need to make at least $150k there. It will all work out one way or another. Thanks again for the info!

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

Originally Posted by Relocating 123

Thanks! I'm taking it by your screen name that you don't recommend moving there?

No, my screen name is not related, I don't know how to change it, although some longtime posters think otherwise. This state is beautiful, it has a lot going for it. But there really is such a thing as the Seattle Freeze, and not just in Seattle! But if your wife is from here, you should be fine.

[GoBlueInSeattle]

Originally Posted by Relocating 123

I've lived in Texas all of my life but my wife is from the Seattle area and desperately wants to move back. We both have decent paying jobs here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We have a nice 3 b/r, 2.5 bath house that didn't break the bank for us to get. We're not rich but we have never had an argument over money or have had to worry about paying our bills.

I've been to Seattle-Tacoma numerous times and I do love the beauty of the area. I'm just really worried about finances. We would have to make a lot more money to be able to afford a similar lifestyle as we have here. I want her to be happy and if moving there is what it takes, then we'll do it. I'm just hoping we're not going to get up there and be financially strapped. She works in oil and gas and I work in the cotton business. I imagine there aren't too many jobs up there in those industries. My experience is in purchasing, merchandising and logistics.

I guess I don't really have a question. Just nervous about this whole thing and needed a sounding board. lol

As others noted, the biggest difference you will find will be the cost of housing. Neither WA nor TX have a state income tax. And the sales tax in King County isn't that much higher than Dallas.

Really comes down to cost of real estate - its just a lot more expensive to buy (or rent) on the West Coast. Its not California-expensive for housing up here, but its still a lot more expensive that most parts of the country, with the exception of the Northeast.

Jobs-wise, we aren't really a center for the energy industry or for commodities (like cotton). One exception might be in lumber - WA state has 2nd largest timber industry in the country. So your logistics skills might be transferrable there. Beyond Kent in general, there's also the Port of Seattle and Port of Tacoma. Combined, there is a fair amount of shipping traffic.

There's also Amazon - which is HQ'd in Seattle. Folks think of it as a tech company (which it is), but its also a logistics and supply chain management company. I don't know how many of those types of jobs it has in the Seattle area - I'd expect what it has are in the more senior-management, professional level. Costco is also based in the Seattle area (Kirkland) - that's another national company with a high-level of supply chain management needs. And depending on your supply chain management experience, there's also Boeing and Paccar (medium- and heavy-duty truck manufacturer).

[Relocating 123]

Thank you! I hadn't thought about the lumber industry. I'll definitely look into it.