Investable areas between Seattle and Tacoma?

[Tim S.]

I'm thinking about buying some property in the general area <$200k. I want to avoid the bubble of Seattle proper.

I'm a little bit familiar with Tacoma, it's a possibility, but wanted to know if there is an area in-between that is up and coming. Some place with a central Mini-urban shopping/restaurant cluster, or a nucleus that can grow into one. Some place that isn't just boring suburbia.

Maybe I'm looking for the impossible, I'm sure you'll let me know. Some place that in the next 5+ years will grow into something interesting, an area that people might want to live where it's cheaper than Seattle, but still a commutable distance away, and has some central area of interest.

Any candidates for such a place? Or maybe I should be looking in another direction from Seattle?

Des Moines maybe?

Thanks