Ping: Path12 ( Moving to Seattle, leaving thursday)

[Lathum]

It's official, we move to Seattle 7/1. I expect a tour.

[path12]

It's official, we move to Seattle 7/1. I expect a tour.

W00t! You got it. You'll love Safeco Field.

[Lathum]

well, technicaly she got it.

[Barkeep49]

I disapprove as it will be difficult for you to make future Chicago FOFC meets.

[path12]

I disapprove as it will be difficult for you to make future Chicago FOFC meets.

Me or Lathum?

[path12]

well, technicaly she got it.

Are you guys still thinking Eastside?

[Lathum]

Are you guys still thinking Eastside?

not sure yet.

[path12]

BTW, overcast, mid-fifties with showers expected this afternoon. You have no idea what a paradise you're getting ready to step into.

Though July 1st will put you just a few days short of the start of our glorious six-week summer.

[path12]

Oh, plus the pollen count is high enough that I'm begging people to stab me in the sinuses. I guess the rain later will help with that a bit. The pollen, not the stabbing.

[korme]

Woohoo, no more bad representation of Cincinnati

JK Lathum, congrats on the move

[Lathum]

Woohoo, no more bad representation of Cincinnati

JK Lathum, congrats on the move

The Nati don't need my help ;)

[Lathum]

Are you guys still thinking Eastside?

A friend MM works with just moved to West Seattle and really likes it, any neighborhood recomendations?

[path12]

A friend MM works with just moved to West Seattle and really likes it, any neighborhood recomendations?

Yeah. I grew up in West Seattle, it's a good area but there's really only one main way in and out. My other favorites in-city are Ballard, Fremont and Phinney Ridge. Queen Anne is nice too. In the suburban areas I like Shoreline (that's where we live now) and Edmonds to the north, and Des Moines and parts of Renton to the south. I wouldn't want to go much further north or south because of traffic.

Eastside I don't know as well as far as neighborhoods go, but you'd be fine in most all the Bellevue/Redmond/Issaquah area I'd imagine.

[Dr. Sak]

I visit my best friend in Seattle every December and love it there. If I ever decided to move out west, I would move to Seattle in a heartbeat.

[Lathum]

Yeah. I grew up in West Seattle, it's a good area but there's really only one main way in and out. My other favorites in-city are Ballard, Fremont and Phinney Ridge. Queen Anne is nice too. In the suburban areas I like Shoreline (that's where we live now) and Edmonds to the north, and Des Moines and parts of Renton to the south. I wouldn't want to go much further north or south because of traffic.

Eastside I don't know as well as far as neighborhoods go, but you'd be fine in most all the Bellevue/Redmond/Issaquah area I'd imagine.

so which of these areas are considered "West" or Alki?

[path12]

West Seattle is an area of it's own. There is a bridge that connects it but for the most part it is across the Sound from downtown and the rest of the city -- most Seattle skyline photos are taken from West Seattle looking across Puget Sound to downtown. Alki Beach is in West Seattle. As for the other places I mentioned (all of which are in-city proper), Ballard is in the northwest part and is where most of the Alaskan fishing fleet is docked (if you're a Deadliest Catch fan), Fremont and Phinney Ridge are on the north side of Lake Union and Queen Anne is more centrally located (it's roughly by the Space Needle).

[path12]

I visit my best friend in Seattle every December and love it there. If I ever decided to move out west, I would move to Seattle in a heartbeat.

I know I take it for granted because I've lived here my entire life. I would love to relocate for at least a couple of years.

[chesapeake]

Seattle is a great place to live if you don't mind 1) the cloud cover from November to April, and 2) football games kicking off at 10 AM.

I don't know what you are looking for in housing, but I have a friend with a 1 bedroom condo in Ballard currently looking for renters.

They have been (almost) giving away waterfront condos in Bremerton, which is a 55 minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle.

[path12]

Seattle is a great place to live if you don't mind 1) the cloud cover from November to April, and 2) football games kicking off at 10 AM.

I don't know what you are looking for in housing, but I have a friend with a 1 bedroom condo in Ballard currently looking for renters.

They have been (almost) giving away waterfront condos in Bremerton, which is a 55 minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle.

I love the early kickoff for NFL -- roll out of bed and get right to the game. The cloud cover does suck unless you're a big fan of grey.

I don't think you want to deal with the ferry ride from Bremerton, especially if MM is going to be working on the Eastside.

One place I did think of while driving home yesterday was Bothell. It is on the north end of Lake Washington and gives decent access to both I-5 and I-405......

[Lathum]

Seattle is a great place to live if you don't mind 1) the cloud cover from November to April, and 2) football games kicking off at 10 AM.

I don't know what you are looking for in housing, but I have a friend with a 1 bedroom condo in Ballard currently looking for renters.

They have been (almost) giving away waterfront condos in Bremerton, which is a 55 minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle.

we are definantly buying, probably something with at least 3 bedrooms. 55 minutes seems a little long

[Lathum]

how far is Bothell from the city/ east side?

it looks like there are some nice homes there

[billethius]

I lived on Mercer Island for a few years - and it was perfect as it was right in between Seattle and Bellevue. However, if you're buying, it's probably not affordable.

Issaquah (about 25 minutes east of Seattle) is pretty nice and much more affordable than Seattle/Mercer Island/Bellevue.

[path12]

how far is Bothell from the city/ east side?

it looks like there are some nice homes there

Just northeast of the city, maybe about 10 miles from downtown. You can get to I-405 (the main freeway on the eastside) from there fairly easily though I'm sure it's crowded at rush hour. I'm guessing about 8 miles to Redmond, 10-12 to Bellevue.

[chesapeake]

55 minutes seems a little long

Heh! You're going to the wrong city for that! It has the 3rd worst traffic in the nation. Sadly, the city and the state have, for the most part, lacked the will to fix the problem.

I have a great story related to this. Washington's two Senators for many years were Warren Magnuson and Scoop Jackson, and after 20+ years serving together, they got to be a very powerful tandem. In the early 1970s, Scoop and Maggie lined up an $800 million grant from the Department of Transportation to create a subway system in metropolitan Seattle. Then the city's voters killed the project.

On the plus side, Atlanta now has a fabulous rail system.

Where is the job located? If you want to stay within a half hour drive from work, you won't be able to go very far outside of that location -- unless the work schedule is at odd hours.

[path12]

Sadly, the city and the state have, for the most part, lacked the will to fix the problem.

God, ain't that the truth. This city/county/state cannot make a decision on their own ever. God forbid anyone risk offending anyone else. And I say that as a pretty left-wing guy myself. The endless studies/committee/study some more tendency around here drives me crazy.

[billethius]

Heh! You're going to the wrong city for that! It has the 3rd worst traffic in the nation. Sadly, the city and the state have, for the most part, lacked the will to fix the problem.

I have a great story related to this. Washington's two Senators for many years were Warren Magnuson and Scoop Jackson, and after 20+ years serving together, they got to be a very powerful tandem. In the early 1970s, Scoop and Maggie lined up an $800 million grant from the Department of Transportation to create a subway system in metropolitan Seattle. Then the city's voters killed the project.

On the plus side, Atlanta now has a fabulous rail system.

Where is the job located? If you want to stay within a half hour drive from work, you won't be able to go very far outside of that location -- unless the work schedule is at odd hours.

It also depends on what direction you're traveling. I lived in Seattle for a few years and traveled south to get to work and then back north into the city in the evening and my commute was a breeze. Hell, I worked in Tacoma for a few years while living downtown and I rarely had a commute that was longer than 35 minutes. On the other hand, I'd never want to live in Everett and work in either Seattle or Bellevue.

[chesapeake]

It also depends on what direction you're traveling. I lived in Seattle for a few years and traveled south to get to work and then back north into the city in the evening and my commute was a breeze. Hell, I worked in Tacoma for a few years while living downtown and I rarely had a commute that was longer than 35 minutes. On the other hand, I'd never want to live in Everett and work in either Seattle or Bellevue.

Path may be able to speak to this better than I can, but as working folks have moved back into the city limits, what used to be a traditional reverse commute looks a lot like regular rush hour. My friend (the one with the Ballard condo) lives on Madison a little south of the Arboretum, but his wife works for the Evil Empire out in Redmond. On days she has to drive during rush hour, she often gets stuck in traffic for quite a while.

[chesapeake]

God, ain't that the truth. This city/county/state cannot make a decision on their own ever. God forbid anyone risk offending anyone else. And I say that as a pretty left-wing guy myself. The endless studies/committee/study some more tendency around here drives me crazy.

Washington has all sorts of problems that make it the delightful conundrum that it is. Being predominantly good liberals, the voters want and expect a high level of public services coupled with environmental protection; and then they vote, as they have several times, to severely curtail their ability to tax themselves to pay for it. Don't get me started on the lack of a state income tax.

For all its faults, there are few better places to live in the world.

[billethius]

Path may be able to speak to this better than I can, but as working folks have moved back into the city limits, what used to be a traditional reverse commute looks a lot like regular rush hour. My friend (the one with the Ballard condo) lives on Madison a little south of the Arboretum, but his wife works for the Evil Empire out in Redmond. On days she has to drive during rush hour, she often gets stuck in traffic for quite a while.

The traffic on the eastside, in my experience, is the worst around here. If I worked for a company over there, I'd have to live over there as well. Unfortunately, it's only going to get worse. With google opening a campus in Kirkland and 405 having pretty much no room to expand, things aren't looking pretty for anyone who has to commute over there on a daily basis.

[path12]

Washington has all sorts of problems that make it the delightful conundrum that it is. Being predominantly good liberals, the voters want and expect a high level of public services coupled with environmental protection; and then they vote, as they have several times, to severely curtail their ability to tax themselves to pay for it. Don't get me started on the lack of a state income tax.

For all its faults, there are few better places to live in the world.

If I remember right, we were once referred to as the "Soviet Socialist Republic of Washington" by someone in DC. :D

[Dr. Sak]

What cracks me up is all the peddlers asking for money on the offramps. Meanwhile they are dressed in Columbia gear, with North Face jackets. And sweaters on their dogs.

What did piss me off is the people on the bridge on I-5 down by Fort Lewis with signs...F.T.A....Fuck The Army.

[Lathum]

so what Evil Empire are you refering to?

[path12]

Path may be able to speak to this better than I can, but as working folks have moved back into the city limits, what used to be a traditional reverse commute looks a lot like regular rush hour. My friend (the one with the Ballard condo) lives on Madison a little south of the Arboretum, but his wife works for the Evil Empire out in Redmond. On days she has to drive during rush hour, she often gets stuck in traffic for quite a while.

The old reverse commute days of folks in Seattle working on the Eastside is over. I-90 isn't as bad because of the added capacity, but 520 is stacked up both ways morning or night.

Traffic into the city from either north or south these days will involve some sort of backup no matter the time (except late night) -- either from Northgate until the 520 exit from the north, or Boeing Field into downtown from the south. This applies to weekends also.

[path12]

so what Evil Empire are you refering to?

Microsoft.

[path12]

The traffic on the eastside, in my experience, is the worst around here. If I worked for a company over there, I'd have to live over there as well. Unfortunately, it's only going to get worse. With google opening a campus in Kirkland and 405 having pretty much no room to expand, things aren't looking pretty for anyone who has to commute over there on a daily basis.

Yeah, I'd hate to commute 405. I've turned down two job offers that would have required me to do that.

[Cringer]

Move to Spokane and commute to Seattle. ;)

[chesapeake]

If I remember right, we were once referred to as the "Soviet Socialist Republic of Washington" by someone in DC. :D


Actually, we changed it to the People's Republic of Seattle after the fall of the USSR. :)

[Yellow5]

Yeah, I'd hate to commute 405. I've turned down two job offers that would have required me to do that.

Welcome to my world. :)

I drive Tacoma to Bellevue (T-Mobile) every day. Morning isn't bad most days, takes me an hour to get in. Coming home is at least an hour and a half.

[Schmidty]

It's official, we move to Seattle 7/1. I expect a tour.

You'll hate it here. It sucks.

[Schmidty]

Dola.

By "here", I mean NW Washington. And I'm just kidding - You'll probably like it even though I hate it.

[dawgfan]

If your wife is working on the eastside of Lake Washington (she'll be working in or near Issaquah if I remember the last thread correctly) I would not recommend living in West Seattle - it will be a long commute for her.

You may want to look at something in Bellevue, maybe the east part close to Redmond - she'll have an easier drive to Issaquah, and you should be able to find a reasonable option via bus service to get to the UW (if you're still thinking you'll be attending classes there).

[Yellow5]

I think this calls for a Seattle area get together in July or August.

[path12]

I think this calls for a Seattle area get together in July or August.

That'd show those Chicago bastards. ;)

[Lathum]

If your wife is working on the eastside of Lake Washington (she'll be working in or near Issaquah if I remember the last thread correctly) I would not recommend living in West Seattle - it will be a long commute for her.

You may want to look at something in Bellevue, maybe the east part close to Redmond - she'll have an easier drive to Issaquah, and you should be able to find a reasonable option via bus service to get to the UW (if you're still thinking you'll be attending classes there).

She will be working in Issaquah, thanks for the heads up. We are contacting a real estate agent soon so I will let you guys know what areas they suggest.

Thanks for the feedback, I will definantly be up for an FOFC get together.

[Antmeister]

Um...how is your girl saldana taking this?

[path12]

She will be working in Issaquah, thanks for the heads up. We are contacting a real estate agent soon so I will let you guys know what areas they suggest.

Thanks for the feedback, I will definantly be up for an FOFC get together.

Is she working for Costco? I know they're based in Issaquah.

[Schmidty]

We're moving to Redding, CA in July, but if I'm still here when the get-together happens, I'd be up for it.

[Ksyrup]

I may be making a business trip out to Seattle in the next couple of months. Not sure yet. I've heard mixed things about the area - one guy who makes Schmidty sound like he works for the Seattle Area Tourism Division, and a couple people who think it's a great place to live.

[Lathum]

Is she working for Costco? I know they're based in Issaquah.

Not for Costco but with Costco.

[Desnudo]

Seattle to Issaquah isn't that bad, depending where you live.

[path12]

I may be making a business trip out to Seattle in the next couple of months. Not sure yet. I've heard mixed things about the area - one guy who makes Schmidty sound like he works for the Seattle Area Tourism Division, and a couple people who think it's a great place to live.

Let us know when you get the dates. It would be fun to have a Seattle get-together.

[dawgfan]

Seattle to Issaquah isn't that bad, depending where you live.
Well, depends on where in Seattle. Somewhere near I-90 like Columbia City would be OK, but West Seattle would be a chore - getting to the West Seattle Freeway, dealing with the traffic on that freeway, getting onto I-5 and dealing with that traffic, then getting on to I-90 and dealing with that traffic. And trying to come home on days when the M's are in town? Better stay late or leave by 3PM...

Not to mention the West Seattle Freeway is going to get it's long-overdue rebuild starting in a couple of years. Good for West Seattle long-term, but probably not pleasant while it's happening.

[path12]

Not to mention the West Seattle Freeway is going to get it's long-overdue rebuild starting in a couple of years. Good for West Seattle long-term, but probably not pleasant while it's happening.

I was living there when the old bridge was rammed and out of commission until the high-level one was built. What a pain in the ass that was.

[dawgfan]

I was living there when the old bridge was rammed and out of commission until the high-level one was built. What a pain in the ass that was.
Yep, that sucked. I grew up in West Seattle - nice place, but getting into town was tougher then.

[path12]

Hey, we were neighbors! Whereabouts in WS were you? Looking at your profile my youngest brother might have been a couple years ahead of you in school.

[dawgfan]

I grew up in the Admiral district, about a block away from the totem pole viewpoint.

[path12]

Heh. My high school girlfriend worked at the Admiral and I got a part time gig changing the marquee and stuff back in the day, though my main job during that time was at Alki Spud. We lived about a block away from Madison Jr High.

[Lathum]

OK, need some input here.

It looks like we have things narrowed down to 2 areas, west seattle and Bothell.

West Seattle looks closer to the city, slightly more expensive.

Bothell looks further from the city but we can get a house there for the same price as a townhouse.

My wife will be working in Issaquah and I will likely be going to UW. She tends to leave for work pretty early, by 7:00 AM so I'm not sure traffic will be a huge issue.

We are leaning towards West Seattle because it is much closer to the city so it won't be such a hassle to go in, we're lazy like that.

Thoughts?

[dawgfan]

For West Seattle, going to work for her at that time of day probably won't be horrible, though it will be busy. The bigger issue for her will be the commute home. Especially on days the M's are playing at home. Also be aware that the West Seattle Freeway will be undergoing major renovation/expansion work in the next few years, and the Alaskan Way Viaduct will undergo some type of rebuild/replacement in the next 5-10 years which will impact getting in to the city from West Seattle.

Bothell is also a fair distance from Issaquah, but I suspect the commute won't be quite as bad.

You may want to take another look and see if you find anything appealing in the Beacon Hill, Mt. Baker or Columbia City areas - that would cut out the West Seattle Freeway and I-5 portions of your wife's commute, and you'd be pretty close to the light-rail line that will start service next year.

[path12]

I agree with what Dawgfan said except do think the commute from West Seattle is pretty bad at 7AM. Sometimes we drop the dog off at a friend's house there and I know it's taken a good 20 minutes to get to I-5 at around 7:15......

[Lathum]

So it seems there are alot more townhouses out there, would it be fair to say thats the norm?

[path12]

There's been a ton of new construction because the area was one of the last to start to get hit by the housing bubble, so there were a bunch of townhouse/condos/new housing in the pipeline that prices are dropping on now....

[Desnudo]

Well, depends on where in Seattle. Somewhere near I-90 like Columbia City would be OK, but West Seattle would be a chore - getting to the West Seattle Freeway, dealing with the traffic on that freeway, getting onto I-5 and dealing with that traffic, then getting on to I-90 and dealing with that traffic. And trying to come home on days when the M's are in town? Better stay late or leave by 3PM...

Not to mention the West Seattle Freeway is going to get it's long-overdue rebuild starting in a couple of years. Good for West Seattle long-term, but probably not pleasant while it's happening.

I guess it's all relative. I don't know much about the West Seattle traffic. In the mornings, it takes me about as long to get to Sammamish from Ballard as it does to Redmond. And sometimes less.

[Desnudo]

OK, need some input here.

It looks like we have things narrowed down to 2 areas, west seattle and Bothell.

West Seattle looks closer to the city, slightly more expensive.

Bothell looks further from the city but we can get a house there for the same price as a townhouse.

My wife will be working in Issaquah and I will likely be going to UW. She tends to leave for work pretty early, by 7:00 AM so I'm not sure traffic will be a huge issue.

We are leaning towards West Seattle because it is much closer to the city so it won't be such a hassle to go in, we're lazy like that.

Thoughts?

There is going to be a huge cultural difference between living in Bothell versus living in West Seattle. If you ignore traffic, it's really a decision of whether you want something closer to city style living (West Seattle) or the burbs. Although West Seattle isn't exactly close to downtown, it's doable on a weekend night, whereas a place like Bothell is a hike, even without traffic.

[Lathum]

There's been a ton of new construction because the area was one of the last to start to get hit by the housing bubble, so there were a bunch of townhouse/condos/new housing in the pipeline that prices are dropping on now....

any word on if those prices are going to continue to drop. The last thing I want is to pay 365K for a condo that will be worth 300K in 3 years.

[path12]

any word on if those prices are going to continue to drop. The last thing I want is to pay 365K for a condo that will be worth 300K in 3 years.

Well, now that's an entirely different issue and depends a lot on where you feel the market is nationwide. I'm pessimistic enough that I'm continuing to rent rather than look to buy right now, but I've been holding off for the past four years because of not trusting the market. Inventories are continuing to grow while sales are dropping, and getting a loan is tougher than it has been -- just like everywhere else.

A local housing blog I read every week or so: hxxp.seattlebubble.com You might guess their stance by the url.

I can also give you some anecdotal evidence. About a half mile from my house is Echo Lake. There was a new townhouse development built right on the lake that is now for sale. There are around 20 units and about 6 of them were presold. Those presales all fell through, construction is at least 95% done now and not a unit had been sold as of the weekend before last. We're interested, but want to see how these start to sell and at what level before pursuing further.

[dawgfan]

So it seems there are alot more townhouses out there, would it be fair to say thats the norm?
Yeah. It's a combination of factors:

- High demand for housing in the Seattle metro region;
- Big spike in housing prices was leaving fewer options for new homeowners/entry-level housing prices;
- Concerted effort in King County to reduce suburban sprawl and encourage greater urban density

As for the housing price bubble, from what I've read prices are expected to continue dropping somewhat, but the Seattle area isn't expected to have nearly as bad a drop as other regions have experienced. But if you're not sure you'll be here 10+ years, you may want to wait on buying and rent for a few years until you better know your long-term future in the area and the prices stabilize.

One other factor to consider is while prices may be dropping right now, interest rates are probably as low as they're going to be, so there is a long-term advantage to buying now and locking in the current rates if you think you'll be here long-term.

Desnudo is right about cultural differences between Bothell and West Seattle. West Seattle is more of a traditional neighborhood in layout and character, whereas Bothell is primarily suburbs. West Seattle has always had a slight detachment from the rest of the city due to the location, but it's still close enough that a night on the town isn't a long drive or bus ride and the neighborhood itself has really upgraded in the last decade. It used to be a very sleepy, old area, but there's been a big uptick in new businesses and renovations and the demographic has gotten younger. Since it was underpriced relative to other Seattle neighborhoods during the big housing price spike, it attracted a lot of younger home buyers in the last 5+ years.

Still, the upcoming transportation projects that will directly affect West Seattle (the W. Seattle Fwy rebuild and the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement) should not be ignored in your decision.

[Lathum]

my wife would like to know what time How I Met Your Mother comes on in Seattle

[path12]

my wife would like to know what time How I Met Your Mother comes on in Seattle

I believe it's 8:30.

[Lathum]

Well we looked at townhouses today.

We basicly have it narrowed down between 2.

One in Fremont near the downtown area and on in Ballard. Both nice areas but man, they are expensive.

[Lathum]

bump for the Seattle crowd

[Bigsmooth]

Hey. I've lived in Seattle for about 7 years now, love it. I live in Wallingford and work downtown (for Seattle Public Utilities). One way to beat the traffic is to take the bus. For all the complaining around here about lack of mass transit, I find that the city bus system is very accomodating. In the future, when I'm ready to buy a home, I'll most likely go north to Shoreline/Lake Forest Park and just hop the bus downtown. They just take the express lanes and you fly past the rest of traffic....

Anyhow, it's a great city. Congratulations on your move.

[Lathum]

well the movers and packers are coming today. It's a pain but at least we don't have to do it ourselves. The company sends people to do everything, pack our dishes, etc...


We are leaving Thursday, driving to austin MN. Friday we are staying in Rapid City SD and are going to go to Mt. Rushmore. From there we are going to Butte, MT then onto seattle. About 2400 miles. It's a long drive but we have plenty of audiobooks ready.

I can't say I will miss Cincinnati but I will miss the people we have become friends with. I am really looking forward to Seattle but it will definantly be an adjustment. Especialy for viewing live sporting events.

[cartman]

You said Butte.

[Schmidty]

We need to get something going. It'd be really fun to hang out with you guys, so you can see that I'm not as angry and insane as I seem on this board!!!