Kirkland and Seattle - best area for a family?

Question

My family is relocating to Seattle, they are currently renting a nice house house in Kirkland not far from Google.

They are wondering where they should buy with value in mind? They are looking for a larger single family home in a great community.

What are some great areas that are not totally overpriced for crappy, tiny houses?

Frank Hinck · Answer

@Marcus Auerbach

Lynnwood, Edmonds, North Bend.    City of Seattle getting a bit politically crazy.

Dave Skow · Answer

11/24/2020

Marcus – thanks for the  post

If getting into the  Google  campus in downtown  Seattle or Bellevue  will be important- you will want to be  relatively  close  ( within 10-15 miles )  as   traffic  is normally  brutal  …right now  traffic  is fine and  who knows  what and when it will be  back to the  crush it was  pre covid

The budget  they  have will be  crucial  to  provide  feedback  as well …..if the max  price is 600K  - that’s one thing  ..if the budget can be  1.2 mill  , that’s  another

Thanks

Dave Skow

Matthew Kimball · Answer

Your budget has to be known to really answer the questions. I am in Lake Stevens and it is a great area. Prices are still highly competitive, but obviously much lower then down south. We are seeing "typical" houses easily doing over $500k, with a few new houses just hitting the Million Dollar mark. It's crazy! The commute from here is a killer however. I would HIGHLY suggest doing the commute at the correct time to know what you are getting into. That alone could be the deal breaker. Just going down to Mill Creek or Bothel will cut your drive by a lot! I have heard that Mill Creek is a pretty nice area with a little "buffer" from Seattle. Good Luck.

Julien J. · Answer

I'm curious, where did he land?

Annie Johnson · Answer

I grew up in Edmonds and currently live here near downtown. It's a really nice town with great beaches, schools, resturants and a friendly community. The prices here just like everywhere are insane. We are within 25-30 minutes to downtown Seattle. We also lived in dt Snohomish and loved that place as well.

Sherief Elbassuoni · Answer

@Marcus Auerbach, it really depends on many factors. Do they want to stay close to the Google campus or its bus routes? Do they have a preference for the school district? What about the price range? many other factors.

Feel free to ask them to reach out and I can help them.

Best of luck!

Kai Van Leuven · Answer

@Marcus Auerbach

Snohomish. By far the best area in Snohomish County. Nice down town and surrounding hillsides (Dutch, Lords, Fobes). City and county has curbed growth and lots of houses outside city limits are on acreage. I love living here...

Alex R. Glemzu Jr. · Answer

I liked Tukwila, which is just south of Seattle. Outside of Seattle City Limits, outside of the crazy dictates City Council, spineless Mayor Durkan, and the commuting Antifa and BLM rioters that commute between Portland and Seattle. You would be right next door to Sea-Tac so you have easy access to a major transportation hub. I've attended conferences at both the Hilton, Doubletree, and Marriott and have never been disappointed. They have the Southgate Shopping Center with wonderful selection of shopping, dining, and entertainment. Some of the best medical centers in the state, usually satellites of Seattle Medical Centers. Good Schools. It is a working community, built for working people.

Derrick Deese · Answer

@Marcus Auerbach I would throw in Shoreline.  Personal experience - my wife and i bought a property here as primary residence that needed some rehab.  We were comfortable doing the rehab and got to pick the finishes we wanted AND also (based on redfin estimates which i know are not always totally right), have already seen upside.  With the light rail pending and some more migration out of Seattle, we feel there is upside in the purchase.  Additionally, Shoreline is good for families (our cul de sac has about 20 kids of all ages living there) and the school system is good as well.  Relatively "affordable" vs. other areas that are mentioned above. Not sure the comfort level of rehabs but if they're willing to do that, there are several options in Shoreline area that can provide some value.

For reference, the specs on our house are 3BR, 2.75BA, 1800 sq ft.  There is a bonus room in garage (I plan on using as gym), 7500 sq ft lot.  We have a 2.25 y/o son and expecting another on the way, and this space is more than enough for our family today (we lived in a 1BR/1.5 BA 987 sq ft until now, so this is a nearly double!)

Doris Moore · Answer

@Marcus Auerbach

Bothell, Lynnwood and Monroe have homes at affordable prices. With the hot Washington market all of the house near google are million dollar plus range.

Would they be open to a condo or townhouse?

Or having a longer commute?

If they mover further north to Lake Stevens or Marysville they will have a bigger selection for half the Kirkland prices.

Kirkland and Seattle - best area for a family?

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