Who lived/lives in the Seattle area?

H

Heather Roselli

New member
Long story short...dh is in Seattle right now interviewing with Microsoft - they contacted him and he "passed" two different phone interviews and within a week they had him flying up there. I'm scared to death that they will offer him a job! hehe

I'm comfortable here in Nashville, TN. We moved my mom here (after my dad passed away) just last summer, and my dh's parents live up the hill from us in the same neighborhood. We have a nice house and a good elementary school (but not middle school). I have three boys - two 6 yr olds and one 9 yr old.

So besides leaving my extended family AND the huge cost of living increase...what is Seattle like? I've never been there.

When did you move there, where did you move from? How do you deal with the huge difference in housing costs - I mean how do you buy a house that costs 2.5-3X more than the one you have?!

I've looked at several websites with charts on schools, weather, etc but I need some personal input...I'm terribly stressed already and he doesn't even have an offer! hehe Oh and they want to move quickly on whoever they hire they said, so we'd have to move this summer I'm sure.

Help!:huh:
 
I think Dani Mogstad lives in that area doesn't she? I have never lived there, but my DH wants to move there.
 
I know Misty and Angie are out that way - ;)

I've only visited (eep, 10 years ago now)... and in that time there was a blizzard, days of rain, and an earthquake... LOL! :D So, I don't you would be bored with the weather! ;)
 
I have spent a few summer vacations in the area, and DH lived in Tacoma for 3 yrs...it is GORGEOUS...DH and I would move there in a heartbeat if we could afford it. There is so much to do in the area (I prefer the smaller towns as opposed to Seattle itself)...rainforests, mountains, waterfalls, the coast, lighthouses, whale watching, ferries to the San Juan Islands (and to Canada...Vancouver Island...LOVE!). Basically a lot of opportunities for outdoor activities.
 
I use to live near Seattle (in the Kitsap Peninsula... the place the Seattle ferry goes to) but it's been 12 years since I've lived in Washington. Off the top of my head I know Misty, Sheri, Nettie, and Angie live in the general area. I have a few high school classmates/exboyfriends that are executives at Microsoft and from what I've heard they are very well taken care of by Bill. Sounds like it is a good company to work for. Good luck to your husband!

(oh, and Dani doesn't live near Seattle, she is way way south of there. Near me, in Oregon.)
 
I live near Seattle and Sheri lives IN Seattle I believe! I LOVE it here....the cost of living is a HUGE change, trust me. but, the people and atmosphere are AWESOME!

there are tons of outdoor things to do here..
hiking/biking/skiing/camping...pretty much anything you can think of outdoors
Seattle Zoo/Seattle Aquarium/Museum of Industry and History/Pike's Place/ Space Needle/ Chidlren's Museum in Everett {very close to Misty}/Deception Pass {on Whidbey Island}/San Juan Islands/MT ST Helens/Great Wolf Lodge {about 2 hrs form Seattle}/QWEST Field {Seahwaks Play}/ SAFECO Field {where the Mariner's play}/Forks {the Twilight series is based on}...just to name a few...and I beleive there are LOTS of things in downtown Seattle.

you have to learn to embrace the rain and overcast :) Birkenstocks and socks are a regular thing here and flip flops with jeans :) we always keep our sunglasses close by because one minute it can be raining and the next the sun is shining! same thing goes with llightweight jackets and sweatshirts :)

overall the weather is wonderful out here...I live about 1 1/2-2 hours north of Seattle and other than maybe 3-6 weeks out of the year it is never extremly hot :) Most houses here don't have A/C just for that reason. But I will tell you that even though I don't know what the housing market IN Seattle is like,our house was $325,000 last July for 3200 sq ft and 6 bedrooms. But we have a BIG house {that we added lots of upgrades too} and lots of houses around us are fairly cheaper and smaller. If you would like me to find you anything local to mail to you let me know :)

hopefully Sheri and Misty will see this and chime in...I think Dani lives in Vancouver WA, which is close to the Oregon border.

ETA: I have been here since 2003 {the militray moved me here} and I came from overseas so we really didn't have the cost adjustment to deal with until we bought our house back in July! But we just deal with it...we cut back on our cable and embraced NETFLIX , my kids go to public schools, when we built our house we had an energy effecient heater put in and energy effecient recessed lights, and starting in June I won't be paying for daycare. I also learned to cook A LOT and make things go farther than normal and this has helped us tremendously. We try to stick to using one car {gas prices are roughly $3.89 gallon} for all our driving. I am not even sure where Microsoft is located, but you may want to look into one of the outlying towns for homes. You have to decide what the difference in gas will cost you and will it be cost effective to have to commute....
 
Last edited:
and I forgot to add you are just a car drive north to beautiful Canada :) {even though I haven't been yet!}
 
We lived there briefly in 2005-2006 while DH worked for Amazon. It is very pretty there, and we loved the mountains, but also much more crowded and expensive than we liked. (Previously, we lived in Boise, Idaho but are from Minnesota originally.) We lived an hour away from DH's office downtown, and housing prices were still much higher that we were used to. He took the train into work - public transportation seems really great there - but ultimately, we decided to leave after a short time and move back to Minnesota. DH's job was a major consideration (MAJOR STRESS!) as well as wanting to be closer to family.

I wouldn't mind living there again if DH could find a job that was less stressful and required less of a commute - he got paid pretty well there and that compensated somewhat for the increase in cost of living. I loved seeing Mt. Rainier out my window. :)
 
That is where I am from. There are always options of outer communities for living in and having him commute. My sister live in Enumclaw cause the cost of living was cheaper there and they commute to their jobs. Be prepared for traffic, lots and lots of traffic. It is beautiful there and there is so much to do, but with you being from the south it will be a big change weather wise for ya. The good news is they don't get the humidity like they do here. But it is usually a lot cooler and a lot more rain. If you like coffee drinks, then you are in luck, there is a drive up espresso stand on almost every street corner. Lots of mountains and the ocean is a short trip away.
 
nun69 said:
overall the weather is wonderful out here...

I am not even sure where Microsoft is located, but you may want to look into one of the outlying towns for homes. .
Click to expand...

LOL... not agreeing on the weather. :p Of course we've had record breaking rainfall this season. Heather, there are a lot of clouds and plenty of rain. That could be a big adjustment for you. If you move to the Pacific NW, get a house with LOTS of windows to let in all the natural light you can find. LOL That will help your sanity.

I believe Microsoft is still in Redmond, but it's been a while since I've been there.
 
Home of the very first Starbucks!! :D

We visited there back in '04, but that's about it. If anyone is willing, I need a new Starbucks mug from Pikes Place (our's broke :( )
 
Julie is right about the record rainfall, but I guess I have just have learned to embrace it :p and one thing is I don't think we really have a change of seasons here, just cold and warm!:p {or at least that is how it seems right now!} so as long as you know that in advance, you might be ok~
 
I don't have time to post much since I'm at work, but Microsoft has buildings all over the area. Mostly on the eastside of Lake Washington, so that is were most people tend to buy homes that work there. Commuting to/from Seattle adds a lot of extra time to your day. Housing costs are really variable depending on the area and ammenities. You can definitely find houses in the $300k range right now, but they will not be equivalent to what you probably currently have. Good real estate websites are windermere.com and redfin.com. I've lived here all of my life, so I love it.
 
I'm here Heather. If he gets the job and you have to move, I'd be happy to hold your hand :) There really is tons to see and do here. Seattle itself offers museums, art galleries, theater, shopping, waterfront dining and site seeing, etc.

Nearby there are beaches, mountains, farms, forests - really, it's beautiful.

The downsides have already been identified - higher cost of living, traffic, and rain. Although I find walking on a quiet beach in the rain to be a wonderfully calming experience (can you tell I've leaved in the area my whole life?)

We live just outside of Seattle in south Everett (near Mill Creek if you are familiar with the area). DH takes the bus to work and so far has found that mediates the traffic issue.

If you have any specific questions, just let me know.
 
Visited once...about 4 years ago, it was gorgeous. We were there for a Seahawks game (it's an all day drive from here)

Hoping to get up & visit again someday...just wanted to say best of luck & hope the local girls have calmed your stressors a bit.
 
I'm from Seattle too. Grew up in Bellevue.

It's a wonderful place to raise kids. Lots of activities, resources, family friendly places. The mountains & water are just right there to play on.

The weather is what it is. The nice thing is that it's not extreme. No tornados, nasty humid weather, poisonous things.... What I don't miss the traffic.

And just between you & me...Microsoft is a great company to work for ;) Depending on which campus your DH would be working at(the main campus is in Redmond, but lots of others are in Bellevue -- that whole area is called the Eastside), I would definately look into living on the Eastside (Redmond, Woodinville or, maybe even Lake Sammamish area. I would NOT commute across Lake Washington from Seattle proper to the Eastside everyday. That would be a Nightmare.
 
kristijoy said:
I would definately look into living on the Eastside (Redmond, Woodinville or, maybe even Lake Sammamish area. I would NOT commute across Lake Washington from Seattle proper to the Eastside everyday. That would be a Nightmare.
Click to expand...

Yes and they are adding tolls to the floating bridges.
 
I'm from the area too. :)

We live south of Seattle in a tiny city called Puyallup, and I used to work downtown Seattle. My hubby commutes to Seattle on the train, but if your DH would be on the main campus in Redmond, he wouldn't want that commute. You can definitely find places around that are reasonably priced if you have a good real estate agent. Like other parts of the country, the housing market has taken a hit, so there are a lot of opportunities.

There is a lot to do in WA, and the rain is really not so bad. There are times, when it seems like it is, but there are so many things to do around that you forget about the wet stuff from the sky. In fact, most of us don't even carry umbrellas. :D

It is fabulous to live in an area where you can drive a couple of hours in one direction and reach the ocean, or the mountains, or the more desert-like feel of the eastside of the state. There is a ton of great cultural stuff in the PNW, and there are always a lot of groups and clubs if you want to join and meet new people.

Keeping fingers crossed for you guys!!!
 
scrapsandsass said:
I'm from the area too. :)

There are times, when it seems like it is, but there are so many things to do around that you forget about the wet stuff from the sky. In fact, most of us don't even carry umbrellas. :D
Click to expand...

this is sooo true....I don't even think I own an umbrella:p
 
Thanks so much girls! I knew you would come through for me!

Microsoft is in Redmond and that is where he is interviewing. I have no idea if that is where he would work or not. And I know we wouldn't live in Seattle proper - but an outlying area. I took a brief look at real estate in Redmond and Samammish and it was crazy high I thought! What are some other towns/areas I should look at real estate online? I NEED to see some houses that I would consider in a better price range than I've seen so far! hehe

MS would of course have to have a great relocation package for us, because there is NO way I'd move before selling this house and that could take a very long time! hehe

dh's commute now is only about 25 minutes. I'd hate for it to be a lot longer. He has mentioned trying to get by on one car and using public transportation - we both love that idea if it is possible to do.

I love the idea of so much to do, and I'd love to be close to sea, mountains, canada etc. Walking on the beach in the rain sounds wonderful Misty! But does that possibly trump being near dh's parents AND my mom? Not just for me, but for my kids too.

Would be too funny to live in Bellevue - we live in the Bellevue area west of Nashville now! hehe
 
Last edited:
Heather Roselli said:
Thanks so much girls! I knew you would come through for me!

Microsoft is in Redmond and that is where he is interviewing. I have no idea if that is where he would work or not. And I know we wouldn't live in Seattle proper - but an outlying area. I took a brief look at real estate in Redmond and Samammish and it was crazy high I thought! What are some other towns/areas I should look at real estate online? I NEED to see some houses that I would consider in a better price range than I've seen so far! hehe

MS would of course have to have a great relocation package for us, because there is NO way I'd move before selling this house and that could take a very long time! hehe

dh's commute now is only about 25 minutes. I'd hate for it to be a lot longer. He has mentioned trying to get by on one car and using public transportation - we both love that idea if it is possible to do.

I love the idea of so much to do, and I'd love to be close to sea, mountains, canada etc. Walking on the beach in the rain sounds wonderful Misty! But does that possibly trump being near dh's parents AND my mom? Not just for me, but for my kids too.

Would be too funny to live in Bellevue - we live in the Bellevue area west of Nashville now! hehe
Click to expand...

Bellevue is one of the very expensive places up there. Issaquah or North Bend are a couple of other places to look. My sister and I used to work in Redmond and commuted from Puyallup. The drive was close to 3 hours with traffic, each way! That was back in 95.
 
Heather Roselli said:
Microsoft is in Redmond and that is where he is interviewing. I have no idea if that is where he would work or not. And I know we wouldn't live in Seattle proper - but an outlying area. I took a brief look at real estate in Redmond and Samammish and it was crazy high I thought! What are some other towns/areas I should look at real estate online? I NEED to see some houses that I would consider in a better price range than I've seen so far! hehe

MS would of course have to have a great relocation package for us, because there is NO way I'd move before selling this house and that could take a very long time! hehe
Click to expand...

Honestly, it's going to be tough to find a lower-priced home close to MS. Not impossible, but tough. The success and wealth of MS has driven up property values in the area. You could look in the Bothell area which is north of there. Don't be afraid to ask for the relocation package either. If you do get serious about moving out here, definitely find a good realtor.

Heather Roselli said:
Walking on the beach in the rain sounds wonderful Misty! But does that possibly trump being near dh's parents AND my mom? Not just for me, but for my kids too.
Click to expand...

I don't think I'd leave my family for the sake of scenery, no, but I got the impression this was about job opportunity. I'll leave that question to you and your dh.
 
I really doubt that if you are in an outlying area you could get by on public transportation, unless, your DH can get transport to work. He might be able to find a 'vanpool' type thing to be part of. The further you get out (to find cheaper housing) the LONGER his commute will likely to be. You could look at the very northern part of Renton, but the housing prices would might still seem expensive. You could also consider going more rural, like to Duvall. I would also wait to think about houses, until you get/see your real offer. Hope it goes well today!
 
I love it there and would move back in a nano second! I say that, but now after living in southern Cali for the last 11 years, it might be hard. My dh worked on building all the Microsoft buildings in Redmond. My cousin lives just down the street from there. We lived in Kent, so there was a little commute, but being that my dh is in construction, we usually have to commute no matter where we live.

If you move there...I promise you'll love it! My heart is still there!
 
I've lived in Wahington all my life, and I can't imagine living anywhere else. I've mostly lived in Vancouver, but I did live in Tacoma for a while. And I've been to Seattle a LOT - I love going there. I enjoyed living in the Tacoma area a lot more since it wasn't quite as crazy as Seattle, but I'm sure I could get used to it, lol. The weather can take some getting used to, but I (personally) barely even notice the rain, lol. I do notice when it DOESN'T rain - and like a told a friend that moved from Cali - you just learn to appreciate the sun a LOT more :) Plus - all that rain makes for all the gorgeousness everywhere :)

I can't be any help for housing - we're still renting, so that's an area I have yet to personally deal with.
 
I live on the other side of Washington (the dry side LOL) but my sil works for MS and lives in Brier (just out of Lynnwood). She has a 30 minute or so commute to work. :) So that might be an area to look at. Also there is public transportation over there. I know when her office was in downtown Seattle for awhile she would take the bus to and from work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2026 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top