Seattle Mustachians - can you help us find a home?

[Matthew]

I recently accepted a full time offer with Boeing in Everett.  I'll be starting in June, so we're beginning to look at housing.  Here are some details:

Family:  Myself, 1 wife, 3 young girls
Coming From:  Alaska
Moving to:  Within biking distance of the big factory in Everett
Budget:  Less than $350k if buying, or $2k/month rent
Additional Requirements:  At least 2 acres of land

I'm hoping some of you will have some input.  Do you know a fantastic realtor?  Do you have a rental that will be vacant?  Any tips on secret pockets of paradise? From looking online, it seems that Whidbey and Snohomish might be the only places that fit the bill.  Thanks for any advice!

[seattlecyclone]

I live in Seattle proper and am pretty sure nowhere within 10 miles of here fits your requirements. Luckily Everett is 30 miles away. :-) I'm not too familiar with that area though. Good luck finding a place!

[No Name Guy]

Have some fun with that 2 acres one......

The others...no problems.  Plenty of choices in south Everett to the Lynnwood area.

What do you consider "within biking distance" to be?  3 miles, 5, 7, 10, 15 - what?  That will certainly help.

[Matthew]

Within biking distance would be about 10 miles for me.  I suppose I'd go up to 15-17 with an Ebike, but mainly I want to keep the commute less than an hour.

[James]

I have friends in that area, if they have ideas I'll let you know. Beautiful area!

Edit: I sent an email to a couple friends there, one is in anesthesia and the other is in business. If they have a recommendation I'll let you know.

[Matthew]

Thanks, James.  Yes, it is beautiful - we're really looking forward to the mild weather and huge growing season.

[zoltani]

I recently accepted a full time offer with Boeing in Everett.  I'll be starting in June, so we're beginning to look at housing.  Here are some details:

Family:  Myself, 1 wife, 3 young girls
Coming From:  Alaska
Moving to:  Within biking distance of the big factory in Everett
Budget:  Less than $350k if buying, or $2k/month rent
Additional Requirements:  At least 2 acres of land

I'm hoping some of you will have some input.  Do you know a fantastic realtor?  Do you have a rental that will be vacant?  Any tips on secret pockets of paradise? From looking online, it seems that Whidbey and Snohomish might be the only places that fit the bill.  Thanks for any advice!

Nothing fits your criteria. You will need to change one if not more of them to find a place to buy.

Rent for a year and explore areas, then make a decision. The boeing plant is closer to Mukilteo than Everett, and the area directly adjacent to the plant is not that charming (trying to be nice with words here) IMO.

If you live on Whidbey you will be taking the ferry everyday, it is not cheap, about $6 with bike. Also note that if boeing provides transit pass that they are not valid on ferries IME. 

www.redfin.com is good for searching listings, better than zillow around here.

[Matthew]

Thanks for the input zoltani.  I agree, the immediate vicinity of the plant is . . . less than desirable.  It looks like a monthly ferry pass is about $65.  I think I can live with that.  I wouldn't expect it to be subsidized, but I'll look into it.

I'll check out redfin as well.  Zillow has been pretty inaccurate. 

Renting is certainly an option.  It would mean an extra move if we end up buying in a year, and we'd like to avoid that if possible.

[RH]

Just rent for a year. I always find it amazing how people would be willing to spend $350K on an area they don't know anything about. Less stress too when you are making a big move.

[zoltani]

You will open up a lot of options if you drop that pesky 2 acre minimum requirement.

[Matthew]

You will open up a lot of options if you drop that pesky 2 acre minimum requirement.

Yep.  But then I wouldn't need to ask for help!  (We actually started out looking for 5+ acres).

[zoltani]

https://www.redfin.com/WA/Clinton/3275-Hilberg-Ln-98236/home/61582835

That meets most of your criteria, on whidbey island. Bike + Ferry + Bike = roughly 2 hours

Personally I would never like to rely on a ferry, but at least whidbey island has a bridge. It would be too far out there for me, I like to enjoy the mountains and Whidbey is a long way from them. Note that often things are more expensive on the islands, groceries, gas, etc.

[whiskeyjack]

The Lake Stevens/Machias area is a possibility, but I don't consider HWY 2 to be very bicycle-friendly for your commute and acreage out that way is going to mean a lot of narrow roads with no sidewalks.    Renting for a year and exploring the area would be a good start.   There's a good bicycle trail called the "Inter-Urban" that goes north-south parallel to 5, but you're not going to find acreage that way.

[Matthew]

Man, those are some good points, zoltani.  I'd love to be close to the mountains.  And rivers.  But the island definitely has its appeal too - that house is pretty much what we're looking for, except for 4 hours a day of commuting.

whiskeyjack - I used to visit a friend out by Lake Stevens, and there were always cyclists on this one treacherous road, I think it was Dubuque.  Winding, hilly, no shoulder.  Exactly what I need to avoid.  I've ridden the Interurban a few times, it's amazing how much faster it is than the roads.

[sol]

There are a couple of properties that match your criteria on estately.com.  Refine your search by lot size and price and you'll find them.  There are a bunch more if you search for one to five acres.

http://www.estately.com/listings/info/8529-52nd-st-se

http://www.estately.com/listings/info/5225-east-dr--1

http://www.estately.com/listings/info/14713-jefferson-wy--1

http://www.estately.com/listings/info/8503-gold-wy

[James]

My friends there had a recommendation:


"Jim Rosenberg is excellent. 425.508.1429 Jimr@windermere.com"


Hope that helps!
James

[Matthew]

Brilliant, James, thanks.  Funny - a friend of a friend who lives down there recommended the same person.