Housing market (Tacoma, University Place, Steilacoom: homes, landscaping, university)

[Gaylord_Focker]

Originally Posted by Wintermomma

I've been watching like a hawk for about 2 months now, being in the "could we live there realistically mode," and it feels like, to me, the houses that meet my criteria are eeking up in price. Each week I'm having to adjust up my search criteria prices just to see things which I like can no longer afford come up in case there is a lowering when/if it comes time to make a decision.

Interesting. I'm seeing the opposite, though my price point is 500-700

[jm31828]

Yep homes are still selling FAST and at or above list price here in Bothell. No slowdown seen except for slightly lower inventory.
We even received a random call from a realtor asking if we were interested in selling our home because she had clients very interested in our specific area of town.... never had that happen before, crazy!

[87112]

Tech is booming as good as ever, plenty of tech buyers out ther bidding against each other. Dont know how middle class will survive in Seattle in the future, where are they going to live? Drive up to work from Thurston County?

[Wintermomma]

Originally Posted by Gaylord_Focker

Interesting. I'm seeing the opposite, though my price point is 500-700

I was looking/hoping for $800k-1.0m, fairly large, not a lot of work needed family type of home. Now homes with the same or similar size criteria are coming up mostly in the 1.25-1.5 mil range. I don't know if they just went up in price or there's simply no inventory in the lower end section and these are just grander of a home.

[Blondebaerde]

Originally Posted by Wintermomma

I was looking/hoping for $800k-1.0m, fairly large, not a lot of work needed family type of home. Now homes with the same or similar size criteria are coming up mostly in the 1.25-1.5 mil range. I don't know if they just went up in price or there's simply no inventory in the lower end section and these are just grander of a home.

1.25 - 1.5M is about median in Norkirk. Nice neighborhood, schools, and access to I-405. That exit, for 85th, and 70th to the south are just about the points where I-405 starts to get really hairy in the evenings. Probably a bit beyond, north bound anyway. Still, depending where you're going, the traffic beast seems a bit better.

That other price point sounds like a Lynnwood sort of thing, maybe Bothell.

[Gaylord_Focker]

Originally Posted by Wintermomma

I was looking/hoping for $800k-1.0m, fairly large, not a lot of work needed family type of home. Now homes with the same or similar size criteria are coming up mostly in the 1.25-1.5 mil range. I don't know if they just went up in price or there's simply no inventory in the lower end section and these are just grander of a home.

I think 1.25-1.5 is a normal home in Kirkland.

[leastprime]

@Wintermomma,
a suggestion, find a realtor. Let them do some preliminary work and screening. IF you are offered, then time could be very valuable. You need to know what you want in a home. I don't know how long homes remain on the market, but my guess is that since tech workers will now WFH, the couples and savers will want something larger and more isolated yet more interesting than their current 2+2 apartment.

[Wintermomma]

Originally Posted by Gaylord_Focker

I think 1.25-1.5 is a normal home in Kirkland.

I was looking a little further out than that.

[Wintermomma]

Originally Posted by leastprime

@Wintermomma,
a suggestion, find a realtor. Let them do some preliminary work and screening. IF you are offered, then time could be very valuable. You need to know what you want in a home. I don't know how long homes remain on the market, but my guess is that since tech workers will now WFH, the couples and savers will want something larger and more isolated yet more interesting than their current 2+2 apartment.

Yikes, another good point. And we also wonder should we just stay put since everyone is WFH for now. Our challenge is that it's basically move now or wait 4 years kind of situation due to high school; and we've been trying to move there for over 20 years.

I hesitate with a realtor, mostly just b/c they don't make any money until we buy. My mother briefly did it when I was a child and, though current life is different, a lot of people used her services for weekend entertainment to have her take them out looking at homes with no intention of buying; yet she was paying a sitter or taking time away from her family for zero income. So I'm sensitive about engaging one too early, I will have to figure out what the balance is for us.

[leastprime]

Interview realtors. ASAP.
What you think may be different from what is actually happening.
You need to know what is available in our area, now, so that you will know what will be available when the time comes. Your kid(s) will love it up here. For the most part, everyone is a relative new comer to the Seattle area.