Towns within 60-90 minutes of the city? (Seattle, Tacoma: rental, houses)

[DCMann2]

Hi all, my wife and I are likely going to be moving to the Seattle area in the early 2020s and we've been doing some preliminary research on cities/towns outside the city that would be within reasonable commuting distance.

I've been looking more towards the north in Snohomish County but we'd be open to Pierce County as well and even King County for the right place.

We would prefer to NOT work in Seattle if we could manage it but would be fine with it for the right job. If we do end up working in Seattle we would prefer to commute via Sounder to avoid traffic headaches as much as possible.

We do not have children and are unsure if we will ever have them. I would prefer a house with a little bit of land (1/4 to 1/2 an acre) and our budget for a house will likely be about $350k.

Some of the cities/towns I've been looking at include:

Lake Stevens
Snohomish
Covington
Enumclaw
Graham

Basically we're looking at a crescent running from Everett to Tacoma

Weather is a non-issue; the climate there is extremely comparable to the climate here.

Thanks in advance!

[homesinseattle]

DC, you might get a small place in Enumclaw or Graham for that now, won't be the case in 2020. Have you thought of buying soon and holding as a rental until you are ready to move? You could touch something in Lake Stevens at that price now, it wouldn't have any land to speak of unless it was in rather rough condition.

[MJ5150]

Yep. Buy now while you can in those areas.
Perspective is always something interesting to me. When you say 'a little land', I'm thinking an acre or two. Not a quarter acre or half.

-Mike

[CrazyDonkey]

Why not look at Kitsap County?

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5...?fullpage=true

$360k, 3bd/3ba, 2,700sf, shop, 1.26 acres. Commute to Bremerton via Hwy 16, to Downtown Seattle via Southworth Ferry/Vashon Water Taxi, or to Tacoma via the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

[amaiunmei]

Houses have been going up 10-25% each year, so add that to today's prices and that gives you some idea of what you are dealing with.

[DCMann2]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

Why not look at Kitsap County?

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5...?fullpage=true

$360k, 3bd/3ba, 2,700sf, shop, 1.26 acres. Commute to Bremerton via Hwy 16, to Downtown Seattle via Southworth Ferry/Vashon Water Taxi, or to Tacoma via the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

That's a great looking place

How long do you reckon it takes to get to downtown from there via the ferry or water taxi? And what would that experience be like in winter during rough seas?

I've heard mixes things about the peninsula but it does seem like a pretty nice place to me and as long as we have reasonable access to the city that's what's more important for us.

[homesinseattle]

DC, the boats are huge and quite reliable. It would be rare to have waves (keep in mind it is Puget Sound, not the ocean) be large enough to stop a ferry run. From Kitsap County, Bremerton and Bainbridge have direct boats to Seattle. Bainbridge is out of your price range, there would be some options in Kitsap. Silverdale has everything you need for shopping. Here is the ferry link: WSDOT - Ferries - Schedule: Bremerton to Seattle

[NWarty]

I think you need to stay in California with the rest of the Californians

[DCMann2]

Originally Posted by homesinseattle

DC, the boats are huge and quite reliable. It would be rare to have waves (keep in mind it is Puget Sound, not the ocean) be large enough to stop a ferry run. From Kitsap County, Bremerton and Bainbridge have direct boats to Seattle. Bainbridge is out of your price range, there would be some options in Kitsap. Silverdale has everything you need for shopping. Here is the ferry link: WSDOT - Ferries - Schedule: Bremerton to Seattle

Cool to know, thank you!

How common do you find folks commuting to Seattle, Tacoma, or even Olympia from the Bremerton area? The peninsula looks like a pretty big place but it seems nice and connected with the rest of the Puget Sound area

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by DCMann2

That's a great looking place

How long do you reckon it takes to get to downtown from there via the ferry or water taxi? And what would that experience be like in winter during rough seas?

I've heard mixes things about the peninsula but it does seem like a pretty nice place to me and as long as we have reasonable access to the city that's what's more important for us.

They are talking about a "fast (walk-on) ferry" directly from Southworth to Downtown Seattle. Right now there is a fast ferry from Bremerton to Downtown Seattle (30 minutes?) - there is a "foot ferry" from Port Orchard to the Bremerton ferry terminal. There are also park-n-rides that feed the terminal.

You can also take the Southworth car ferry to Vashon Island and transfer to the Vashon Water Taxi - around 45-50 minutes combined, but first/last mile and transfer time is additional. Or you can take the Southworth car ferry to Fauntleroy and drive from there to other locations in Seattle, which is okay for appointments, shopping, entertainment, etc., but less so for commuting, due to backups at the Fauntleroy terminal.

Getting work in Bremerton (41,000 pop.) or Kitsap County is very possible. The Naval Shipyard and a naval hospital are in Bremerton. A major hospital is in Silverdale. Bangor Submarine Base is in Kitsap County. A community college is there.

Commuting to Tacoma (211,000 pop.) from Port Orchard or Gig Harbor is also doable.