Retiring to the Seattle Metro Area (Bellevue, Renton: condos, townhomes, to buy)

[Seattlebound16]

Hello


My wife and I will be retiring to the Seattle area next year. We are in our mid-50's and trying to find the best place to live. We want to buy something and our budget is around $500,000. One of our children lives in Redmond, WA and the other lives in city center area of Seattle. We would like to live within 45 minutes to an hour from both kids.


We enjoy the outdoors and would love to live in a community that is walkable to restaurants and other amenities as well as being near hiking opportunities.


We are thinking about Bothell, Redmond, Kirkland, Edmonds, and other surrounding communities.


Any thoughts are appreciated.


Thank you.

[flyingsaucermom]

I wonder if you can slide into something near downtown Kirkland on that budget... my mom is in her early 60's and said she'd love to live there. Juanita is a little north (just south of Bothell) and might be a little more affordable.. on the water too... I would add it to your list.

Without a concern over school districts you could also consider Burien and parts of Renton could work.

There is also Southeast Bellevue... Weowna Park area maybe? Although I think finding the right kind of housing stock might be a challenge...

I would add Issaquah too. I live here and love it... plenty of housing options (townhomes, condos and SFH ) with more coming!

[Gardyloo]

Or even downtown Bellevue - TheMLSonline.com: 10129 Main St, Bellevue, WA 98004

[homesinseattle]

Bothell might be the best bet at that price range, it's really not that walkable though. A really good option that you may not have considered is the historic town of Snohomish. It could be ideal.

[razmatazzy]

What type of house are you interested in, size? Lot size, do you care? Do you care if it is a 2 story?

[misscross]

Originally Posted by flyingsaucermom

I wonder if you can slide into something near downtown Kirkland on that budget... my mom is in her early 60's and said she'd love to live there. Juanita is a little north (just south of Bothell) and might be a little more affordable.. on the water too... I would add it to your list.

Without a concern over school districts you could also consider Burien and parts of Renton could work.

There is also Southeast Bellevue... Weowna Park area maybe? Although I think finding the right kind of housing stock might be a challenge...

I would add Issaquah too. I live here and love it... plenty of housing options (townhomes, condos and SFH ) with more coming!

I would highly recommend looking here, even though $500k won't buy you a brand new 3000 sq.ft house if you are willing to go smaller or older you can eventually find something. we were/are looking around that area for retired family members. Very safe and walkable, close to bus transit, Kirkland performance center right next to the senior center, plus many assisted living/senior living type of places there or nearby should you age enough to need a bit extra help. Evergreen hospital is also just 3 minutes away.

[CrazyDonkey]

Why not Redmond?

https://www.redfin.com/WA/Redmond/17...163/home/42745

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by Seattlebound16

Hello


My wife and I will be retiring to the Seattle area next year. We are in our mid-50's and trying to find the best place to live. We want to buy something and our budget is around $500,000. One of our children lives in Redmond, WA and the other lives in city center area of Seattle. We would like to live within 45 minutes to an hour from both kids.


We enjoy the outdoors and would love to live in a community that is walkable to restaurants and other amenities as well as being near hiking opportunities.


We are thinking about Bothell, Redmond, Kirkland, Edmonds, and other surrounding communities.


Any thoughts are appreciated.


Thank you.

1 hr from downtown Seattle and Redmond is a fairly small area, basically areas near520, East of I-5 in Seattle and West of 405 on the Eastside, probably no more than 3 miles north or South of 520 on either side. It's difficult but not impossible to find a house for $500K in that area, but more likely a condo.


Parts of Redmond and Kirkland fit the bill, but Bothell and Edmonds are often an hour out depending on traffic. Unless you only drive in off hours.

[87112]

MY exp is this the richer the area the worse the food choices are. I've use to work temp jobs and always enjoyed Burien, MLK area, Aurora Ave. Cheap and good Asian food, Mexican food you name it.
In the expensive areas of the Eastside you get that 8 to 9 dollar lousy sandwiche shop and fast food but nothing real down and real.

I think Burien has by far the best food choices in this area. I use to love delivering to the area and eat like a king.

the richer the area the less soul it has also meaning Boring!

[leastprime]

We, too.
We are noticing that everything is blowing by $500k and approaching $600-650.