Anyplace on the sound where there's NOT a big military presence? (Seattle: for rent, condos)

[tropix]

Really having a hard time deciding where to start looking for housing. Every town seems to have an interesting personality. I do like Port Townsend best I think because of the art scene, but it seems kind of on the high side $$$ right? Also, is there ANY place on the Sound that doesn't have a big military presence? I'm really not crazy about that aspect of living in the area. I want to stay near the water and some shopping, but could easily do without all those military families moving in and out all the time - makes for a very transient kind of feeling and I like older, more established (even historical) ambience.

[jacqueg]

Not really, I thought long and hard before moving here myself, because you know this area of the US would be high on any hostile nation's list of potential targets for nuclear attack.

There are towns with less, and towns with more, but no towns with no military influence. However, there are places where there are fewer military transients. Just identify the major bases and the major highways leading to/from them, and limit your search to places with a longer commute to/from those bases, say more than 20 miles. You can already kind of tell by looking at where the highways drop from four lanes to two.

It's too hard to make a more specific recommendation than that.

[Ruth4Truth]

I don't understand why people are saying on this forum lately, that Port Townsend is expensive. Aside from Sequim and Port Angeles, I've found it to be the most affordable in the general area, with the possible exception of even smaller towns (Pts. Ludlow and Hadlock). Perhaps someone could shed some light on this.

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

I don't understand why people are saying on this forum lately, that Port Townsend is expensive. Aside from Sequim and Port Angeles, I've found it to be the most affordable in the general area, with the possible exception of even smaller towns (Pts. Ludlow and Hadlock). Perhaps someone could shed some light on this.

The housing in downtown PT is priced close to what you'd expect to pay in Seattle. I have a hard time believing Sequim or Port Angeles support prices that high.

Old, kind of junky 2 bed 1.5 bath 1600 sq ft for $475K - that's around 300/sq ft, around what it would cost in Ballard.

https://www.redfin.com/WA/Port-Towns.../home/36055091

$795K for 1800 sq ft? $437/sq ft? It's a stylish house on a decent size lot, but that is pretty pricey. I've seen similar houses out in Issaquah or Sammamish for a quarter mil less...

https://www.redfin.com/WA/Port-Towns.../home/40083652

[StealthRabbit]

Transient Military Neighbors are not generally a problem outside of the 4-5 areas near bases / Shipyards. Many of those have great established neighborhoods with plenty of military retirees.

to be safe...
Bellingham and North... (you might really like Birch Bay)

Any of the islands except Whidbey.

Port Angeles and west
Olympia area and west

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by mkarch

The housing in downtown PT is priced close to what you'd expect to pay in Seattle. I have a hard time believing Sequim or Port Angeles support prices that high.

Old, kind of junky 2 bed 1.5 bath 1600 sq ft for $475K - that's around 300/sq ft, around what it would cost in Ballard.

https://www.redfin.com/WA/Port-Towns.../home/36055091

$795K for 1800 sq ft? $437/sq ft? It's a stylish house on a decent size lot, but that is pretty pricey. I've seen similar houses out in Issaquah or Sammamish for a quarter mil less...

https://www.redfin.com/WA/Port-Towns.../home/40083652

Rents are comparatively low. You're talking about buying? I've found some really nice homes for rent, 2 br. + bonus room or space, for around 300K, near Ft. Worden. There's a nice development there, beautiful woodworking in these homes that have been labeled "condos", for some reason. There are many good deals around Pt Townsend. Downtown housing is usually more expensive in any town. And some of those downtown homes are historic Victorians.

[NomadicBear]

I don't know of any area in the entire Puget Sound region that doesn't have a huge military presence. The choppers are getting outrageous. I don't know of any areas they DON'T fly over, oftentimes late at night and low, but surely chime in if any of you do.

[rantiquity]

What exactly is the problem with a military present?
Try Costa Rica with a large American population. ..they don't have a standing army.

[SaraBeth07]

Originally Posted by rantiquity

What exactly is the problem with a military present?
Try Costa Rica with a large American population. ..they don't have a standing army.

This. I get that you said you'd prefer a less transient neighborhood, but how fortunate for you that all of these damn transient military members and their families do move around so you have the freedom to be so exclusive.

[98346]

What about Poulsbo? I've found it to be very quaint, even near the Safeway and Super Walmart. Certainly, those stores get a few military families in to shop, but even during Christmas shopping time, it wasn't bad. The whole shopping corridor on SR 305 isn't nearly as crazy as the other side (think Lynnwood/Shoreline) even on a busy day. My wife and I looking in Kingston - we'll have some solitude, be near the water, and can venture into Poulsbo when needed for the big stuff.