Is Seattle worth it? (real estate, home, job market)

[Repubocrat]

I have been thinking about relocating to Seattle from Minneapolis and I was wondering about the possible negatives. I love Minneapolis-St Paul and the only thing that sucks about our city is the harsh winters. Seattle may not have the greatest weather, but -30 F wind chills and below zero temperatures SUCK! Culturally, I see a lot of similarities, people here in Minneapolis are very nice but very reserved(similar to Seattle, I suppose).Cost of living is higher in Seattle but jobs seem to pay a bit more in Seattle. Besides the crappy weather and the not so social people, any other negatives? It seems to me that Seattle may be similar to Minneapolis-St Paul in many ways, job markets are similar, even in terms of size, demographics and population, we are similar. What are the negatives of the Seattle metro in your opinion?

[Botev1912]

Don't come to Seattle. It has the worst weather in the world. It is cloudy 363 days a year, it rains 361 days a year, it is sunny just once in July and once in August

[Ira500]

I've heard from quite a few people of the similarities between Minneapolis and Seattle.
But what are the negatives to Seattle?
Traffic can be really, really, bad. Housing costs are way too high. And it's hard to find really good pizza.

[SweepingTheNation]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

Don't come to Seattle. It has the worst weather in the world. It is cloudy 363 days a year, it rains 361 days a year, it is sunny just once in July and once in August

I read posts like this and wonder if this is someone who is trying to sway population density or if they really hate the weather? I was is seattle for 4 days and didn't see a cloud. Does that mean that this year it was only cloudy 361 days?

[toughguy]

Seattle seems to be a little more urban and dense than Minny, but our public transportation system is inadequate. The local economy has taken several hits lately, and home prices are in steep decline (although this is a national phenomenon as well). The school system is underfunded, teachers are not paid enough to attract top talent. The nimby, anti-growth, anti-public tranist crowd is formidable here. Many people say our geographical isolation leads to provincialism.

[toughguy]

Originally Posted by SweepingTheNation

I read posts like this and wonder if this is someone who is trying to sway population density or if they really hate the weather? I was is seattle for 4 days and didn't see a cloud. Does that mean that this year it was only cloudy 361 days?

Botev's post was tongue in cheek, he is actually a vocal Seattle proponent.

[70Ford]

Originally Posted by Ira500

I've heard from quite a few people of the similarities between Minneapolis and Seattle.
But what are the negatives to Seattle?
Traffic can be really, really, bad. Housing costs are way too high. And it's hard to find really good pizza.

Seattle "freeze."
Housing market crashing. Real estate taxes increasing.
I suspect there will be a "special vote" for tax rate increase shortly to offset rising state/city spending deficits. Once people see that they don't have the firefighters/policemen/services that they've come to expect, I'm sure they will come off of a penny or two
It's grey and wet about 300 days out of the year. It's 2:48 PM now and it looks like daylight turning to twilight. I don't mind it...I like the dark. mmm..dark.

I've found good pizza. I like Extreme Pizza.
Welcome to Extreme Pizza
It's pricey, though. But we tear it up like a Southerner on some hog mawl and cheese grits. It depends on how adaptable you are. My wife likes Seattle's teriyaki (well, when it's not dry and overpriced)...and I never thought that would happen, since she's from Japan. They don't have anything like Seattle teriyaki in Japan. Well, maybe at a few places. The sauce is too sweet. "Seattle brand" teriyaki is to "Japanese style" teriyaki as Taco Bell is to authentic Mexican cuisine.

I've lived in a variety of places, but I dig Seattle. It has its own "vibe" and it's a good vibe. If I had my druthers, I'd live here or somewhere close to Yokohama. (My wife is from around that area.) Seattle has a seemingly limitless ability to keep me and mine entertained....and that is pretty damn cool.

[_Charles_]

To answer your question (is Seattle worth it?) in one word:


>>>>> NO <<<<<

After 7 years, I got out. Glad I did. It is not the weather or the scenery you will live with – it is the half dead, passive aggressive, PC dogmatic people. Life is too wonderful and too short – don’t waste a minute of it there!

[Repubocrat]

Originally Posted by _Charles_

To answer your question (is Seattle worth it?) in one word:


>>>>> NO <<<<<

After 7 years, I got out. Glad I did. It is not the weather or the scenery you will live with – it is the half dead, passive aggressive, PC dogmatic people. Life is too wonderful and too short – don’t waste a minute of it there!

Your statement perfectly describes the people that live here in the Minneapolis-St Paul area. Actually, that does not bother me as much as ignorant, intolerant, religious, closed minded and uneducated people.

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by SweepingTheNation

I read posts like this and wonder if this is someone who is trying to sway population density or if they really hate the weather? I was is seattle for 4 days and didn't see a cloud. Does that mean that this year it was only cloudy 361 days?

because a lot of people exaggerate how Seattle has 5 sunny days a year. I like the weather but people who hate it exaggerate a lot. Of course this is not even close to the truth