Gay family w/kids relocating (Seattle, Bellevue: best city, apartment, home)

[slopecouple]

Hi all!

We are two middle aged (late 40s) gay guys with twin tweens (12 yrs old), possibly relocating from NYC/Brooklyn to the area.

We are very familiar with Seattle, having lived there for 6 yrs in grad school, but would like some more info on inner-ring suburbs as possible relocation targets. We are thinking Mercer Island, Bellevue (Clyde Hill, etc).

Some criteria: good public schools (middle and high), ideally a local commercial area to walk to (think some shops where you can get coffee, simple pantry staples, bread, etc and some restaurants). Would prefer a single family home (we've done apartment living for the past 20 years!). Finally, want to be somewhere where being a gay family isn't going to be a whole *thing*. I'm too old to have to explain myself or talk to teachers in our kids' school. I just want a place where it's no big deal.

Don't yet know where work would be, so more interested in understanding MI and Bellevue as places to live.

Thanks!

[leastprime]

IMO, Schools are fine. Lots of very smart kids in the area.
SFH will be pricey in the areas desired. Seek out a RE agent. Use Zillow/Redfin/local RE website for an idea of pricing and what u want.
GL

[Gaylord_Focker]

Originally Posted by slopecouple

Hi all!

We are two middle aged (late 40s) gay guys with twin tweens (12 yrs old), possibly relocating from NYC/Brooklyn to the area.

We are very familiar with Seattle, having lived there for 6 yrs in grad school, but would like some more info on inner-ring suburbs as possible relocation targets. We are thinking Mercer Island, Bellevue (Clyde Hill, etc).

Some criteria: good public schools (middle and high), ideally a local commercial area to walk to (think some shops where you can get coffee, simple pantry staples, bread, etc and some restaurants). Would prefer a single family home (we've done apartment living for the past 20 years!). Finally, want to be somewhere where being a gay family isn't going to be a whole *thing*. I'm too old to have to explain myself or talk to teachers in our kids' school. I just want a place where it's no big deal.

Don't yet know where work would be, so more interested in understanding MI and Bellevue as places to live.

Thanks!

Money no object, I would live near downtown Kirkland. Fun, yet safe, maybe a little too cool for school. I live in downtown Bellevue and love it here as well.

[rjshae]

Originally Posted by Gaylord_Focker

Money no object, I would live near downtown Kirkland. Fun, yet safe, maybe a little too cool for school. I live in downtown Bellevue and love it here as well.

Yes, Kirkland's pretty nice with walkways along the lake. Traffic can be a pain though.

[Guineas]

MI really sleepy. No sidewalks. Getting from southern end of island can take 15min. No more HOV lane benefit.

Bellevue and Kirkland probably better fit. Why not considering the city?

[homesinseattle]

Originally Posted by slopecouple

Hi all!

We are two middle aged (late 40s) gay guys with twin tweens (12 yrs old), possibly relocating from NYC/Brooklyn to the area.

We are very familiar with Seattle, having lived there for 6 yrs in grad school, but would like some more info on inner-ring suburbs as possible relocation targets. We are thinking Mercer Island, Bellevue (Clyde Hill, etc).

Some criteria: good public schools (middle and high), ideally a local commercial area to walk to (think some shops where you can get coffee, simple pantry staples, bread, etc and some restaurants). Would prefer a single family home (we've done apartment living for the past 20 years!). Finally, want to be somewhere where being a gay family isn't going to be a whole *thing*. I'm too old to have to explain myself or talk to teachers in our kids' school. I just want a place where it's no big deal.

Don't yet know where work would be, so more interested in understanding MI and Bellevue as places to live.

Thanks!

Hey Slope, We are trying to lure my sister and bro in law out here from Upper West NYC right now, making progress . First, gay family thing just isn't a big deal out here, especially if you are closer in to urban areas. I agree with Kirkland, if you want to live on the Eastside, you couldn't do much better. Don't discard the idea of being on the Seattle side, Madison Park is a gorgeous little walkable village by the water.

[Hemlock140]

Finding a place with your wish for a local commercial area to walk to is impossible in Clyde Hill, nearly so on Mercer Island. Close to Downtown Bellevue or Kirkland would work, both with really good schools. Depending on where you work, Bellevue is more likely to be close to your employer with many employers, and a short hop over the bridge to Seattle. Kirkland is not to far from the 520 bridge to Seattle but has a toll. With our non-Covid commutes, I would find the jobs before buying to keep it as short as possible. On the other hand, many employers will consider making work from home permanent.

[Gardyloo]

One possible advantage of Mercer Island over other locations is proximity both to central Seattle and to main eastside communities, especially Bellevue and/or Issaquah. Mercer Island schools are arguably the best in the region, and its "sleepy" reputation is actually rather out of date. "Downtown" MI is increasingly pleasant and walkable; there's still a lot of strip-mall retail from years past, but higher density is happening rapidly. The MI farmers market is very popular - https://mymercerisland.net/wp-conten...161002_276.jpg . The light rail system is being expanded to the eastside, with MI getting a key station. Even so, the current bus access both to downtown Seattle and to other transit hubs like Bellevue, is terrific. Luther Burbank Park in MI is one of the best city parks in Washington State.

Gay families with kids are everywhere in the region; I wouldn't be concerned in your case.

Here's a google street view of a downtown MI scene: https://goo.gl/maps/bcf6o4r24oL5sJsu9