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I am a realtor specializing in Seattle's in-city neighborhoods. Neighborhoods such as Belltown, Pioneer Square, Queen Anne, Ballard, and Capitol Hill are our speciality. My team, the Cook Group, is comprised of 2 agents to work with buyers and sellers, a marketing coordinator, and a transaction coordinator. We work with clients to whom we feel we can be of particular use because of our own experience. This includes relocators, first time buyers and sellers, and military members.
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Harrison - I'd also check out Burien, which has a great "back door" commute on SR 509. The price range fits and it's an easy commute to the airport or UW (no I-5!). Personally, I wouldn't be wild about the Renton idea unless you can't find something you want in Burien or Beacon Hill. The commute would be no fun in both directions. There are scads of other neighborhoods that you might consider, including lots of S. Seattle neighborhoods like Columbia City or McMicken Heights. If you are willing to consider a townhouse or condo/loft, there are even more possibilities. Obviously, I'm an agent, but my advice to you is to find yourself a good realtor who can show you around the neighborhoods, advise about the properties available and address your specific situation (not just your commute, but what works for your family, your future plans, etc)
Good luck with finding your first place! - Mon Sep 8 2008, 09:15
Melissa - I agree that Seattle has many similarities to San Francisco. You can make your choice of community based on distance to your intended work location, the style of neighborhood that you prefer, the quality of the schools, the type of house or other priorities that you may have. I've lived all over the US and around the world a bit, and have always found it best to list my lifestyle priorities and find the community that fits them. That's where a good realtor will come in; it's our job to know the areas and find the right fit for our clients.
You might start with the Greater Seattle Info Guide that's available from the Chamber of Commerce (and many real estate agents). This gives some neighborhood overviews and a sense of where things are. You might also look at the neighborhood section of the Seattle P-I. Link below.
Good luck! - Sat Aug 23 2008, 21:17
I agree that this is a complex question with the short answer being "That depends..." For this reason, my advice to clients is generally to look for a house that fits their needs; the pool of eligible properties may or may not include short sales. Any good realtor will help you run the numbers on all properties of interest; sometimes, a short sale property might be worth the uncertainty and extra work because you love the house, it's priced better than comparable properties, the sellers are very motivated, etc. Other times the short sale won't be worth the trouble. It's up to you to decide what your priorities are. - Mon Aug 4 2008, 14:22
Figuring property tax in King Co is no fun. Since WA has no income tax, a good portion of our taxes are levied through the property tax. This makes for lots of little "pieces" that have been added on separately. Within King County, your overall tax rate can run from about 7.3% up to about 11.9%, depending on what city / school district / fire district / water district / etc you live in. I'm including the link to the King County Assessor's web page that deals with property tax. I hope it will illuminate (not confuse!) the issues. - Sat Aug 2 2008, 09:21
Nicole - I recommend that first time buyers interview 2 or 3 agents before choosing one. Having more than one contact can help you decide what you like and don't like about the agents you meet. It will help you know what to look for in an agent, even if you don't ultimately feel comfortable with the first couple of agents you talk to. Use the techniques already recommended to choose the agents. Alternatively, I like to look for a Certified Residential Specialist at crs.com who services the area in which I'm interested; these agents are highly qualified.
Good luck with your first purchase. Homeownership can be lots of fun, lots of work, and very rewarding! - Fri Aug 1 2008, 10:28
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