Double WFH + baby moving to Washington (Seattle, Bellevue: sales, apartment, rental)

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by 04kL4nD

I agree with western Federal Way (and Des Moines outside of the flight path) being more desirable than Everett, personally. For one, you've got great views, as long as you're by the Sound, and you're also in between Tacoma and Seattle and not far as from SeaTac which is 10x better than Paine Field..

Paine Field was just getting started with commercial airline service when Covid hit. Now it has to start almost from scratch again. But it's much more convenient to residents of north Seattle and the northern suburbs, needless to say, than SeaTac. It will take it time to build up service, but I think it's promising, though Covid was a big setback. I hope Paine Field is able to make a go of it. That whole area is experiencing a lot of growth, and could support an airport. I was happy to see Alaska Airline using it, as well as United, IIRC.

[04kL4nD]

Originally Posted by homesinseattle

O4k, I dare you to drive to Grand Avenue Park in Historic North Everett on a nice day, stroll around the surrounding streets (Rucker, Hoyt) then walk over the pedestrian bridge down to the marina, have a cold beer at Scuttlebutt Brewery or dinner on the waterfront, tell me you still don't find this part of Everett charming. I dare you .

Fair enough and I do like a challenge I'll wait until summer, but the parts I've seen of Everett (downtown in particular) haven't been anything to get excited about, but I do realize there are desirable parts, just like every other city in WA.

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Paine Field was just getting started with commercial airline service when Covid hit. Now it has to start almost from scratch again. But it's much more convenient to residents of north Seattle and the northern suburbs, needless to say, than SeaTac. It will take it time to build up service, but I think it's promising, though Covid was a big setback. I hope Paine Field is able to make a go of it. That whole area is experiencing a lot of growth, and could support an airport. I was happy to see Alaska Airline using it, as well as United, IIRC.

I'm sure if you need a regional fligh/West Coast flight, it's probably more convenient than SeaTac if you're north of Seattle and south of Bellingham, but international travel, let alone flights to the East Coast, aren't happening if you want to fly direct.

Also, SeaTac (while conveniently located for ME) is a kind of a hot mess. I griped about SFO when I lived in the Bay and preferred flying out of Oakland pre-pandemic, but it's just a huge hassle to pick people up, and unless you've got Clear + or TSA Pre-Check, it's an absolute nightmare during summer.

Originally Posted by mayfair

Another thing about north Sno County/Everett/Marysville: not very Asian. It's a very white (though not completely) formerly blue collar area so the feel is going to be very different than south or east of Seattle. Boeing is big influence in that area.

There are pockets of bad drugs/crime/homeless.

The further out you go (as in Marysville/Arlington) the more chance of running into some old racist views. The area is changing, but why choose one of those areas when you have other choices.

People mostly live there because it's close to their work. Edited to add: And don't underestimate the traffic around Everett. It's some of the worst. Especially when the Boeing factory changes shifts.

With an 800k-$1M budget, they should look into Anacortes. We're happy where we're at, but it's super desirable and for good reason.

[pomotac]

With an 800k-$1M budget, they should look into Anacortes. We're happy where we're at, but it's super desirable and for good reason.

Where are you located if I may ask? We've had two offers declined already (both ~4% over asking) and are starting to feel demotivated even though this is still early on.

[ncole1]

Originally Posted by pomotac

Where are you located if I may ask? We've had two offers declined already (both ~4% over asking) and are starting to feel demotivated even though this is still early on.

Why do you think you have to BUY a home before you know the area? It might be easier if you rent temporarily. This will also give you time to figure out the issues of daycare -----> preschool -----> school availability and logistics.

[mayfair]

Originally Posted by 04kL4nD

With an 800k-$1M budget, they should look into Anacortes. We're happy where we're at, but it's super desirable and for good reason.

The main drawback is that Anacortes is a long way to both Sea-Tac and Paine Field.

Anacortes is a super nice place (minus the refinery smell that saturates the town periodically) and there is a shuttle to the airport, but it's a long way if you travel frequently. And you have to get through Everett traffic.

It's also in Island County, so it's under the same county governance as Camano, San Juans and Whidbey.

Anacortes would be a great place to raise kids if you can make it work with jobs and commute. Lots of parks, nice community, access to beaches and the ferry to the San Juans and Guemes. Housing is very tight for both rentals and buying.

But again, it's very,very white, skews older and not much of an Asian population. Just a few Asian restaurants. The main retail area (where you can buy clothes or shoes etc.) is north of Mt. Vernon in Burlington, so it requires a freeway drive. The basics like grocery and hardware can all be found in town.

[CalWorth]

OP, if you're WFH, cast a wider net, look at Kitsap County. Look at Silverdale, Poulsbo, possibly Bremerton & Port Orchard.

[homesinseattle]

Take a look also at Gig Harbor, desirable community within your price range, probably a 35-40 minute drive to Seatac Airport during non-traffic hours.

[pomotac]

Originally Posted by ncole1

Why do you think you have to BUY a home before you know the area?

FOMO, what else lol. We are thinking about renting but it's also hard to find good 4 bedroom rentals.

OP, if you're WFH, cast a wider net, look at Kitsap County. Look at Silverdale, Poulsbo, possibly Bremerton & Port Orchard.

I have some sort of a irrational issue with not being on the mainland. Not sure if this is utterly stupid or not, but if there's some sort of a natural disaster there are only about 2 roads to get out of Dodge. The likelihood of that ever happening are minuscule but it's hard to get around mentally. Same can be said for Gig Harbor (which otherwise looks great), but at least it's much closer to mainland.

That being said, it's definitely worth looking into more.

[homesinseattle]

Originally Posted by pomotac

FOMO, what else lol. We are thinking about renting but it's also hard to find good 4 bedroom rentals.




I have some sort of a irrational issue with not being on the mainland. Not sure if this is utterly stupid or not, but if there's some sort of a natural disaster there are only about 2 roads to get out of Dodge. The likelihood of that ever happening are minuscule but it's hard to get around mentally. Same can be said for Gig Harbor (which otherwise looks great), but at least it's much closer to mainland.

That being said, it's definitely worth looking into more.

Not irrational at all. Gig Harbor has a couple escape routes if it ever came to that (locusts, rats, Nazis or anything ). This really is one of the nicest places in Pierce County, and would also give you some housing options without the bidding wars you have found yourself in.

[leastprime]

OP, please consider the WA side of the Columbia River.