<p>mini - I was going to say that as well. When I thought I was moving to the Seattle area, I found some fairly decent prices (compared to what I thought I would spend) on Bainbridge Island. Go farther out and do even better. Water view and all, with lots of (smaller home) choices in my range. I looked at (in person) an incredible, large, large-lot, brand new waterfront home (granted: expensive, but MUCH less cost than I expected for what was there - and NEW) for $900K. I still can’t afford that, but I was still surprised that it wasn’t a LOT more, given the amenities and size. It was so wonderful that I tried and tried to figure out how to make payments on that - not only NO WAY, but not even in the ball-park, no matter how much I got for my Colorado home… :(</p>
<p>And I thought it was bad here The $1 million and up homes are definitely sitting longer and that’s why the builders are now offering incentives to sell them. I think our bidding wars are over here.</p>
<p>Dig–I like the Poulsbo house. Poulsbo is a great little town but the commute to Seattle is just too long. I worked on a very unique development there with small cottage style homes just blocks from downtown. It was a smash hit.</p>
<p>Is Bainbridge island the one referred to in Snow Falling on Cedars? (Too lazy to go downstairs and check my copy). What about it being snowbound as in the story?</p>
<p>In my neighborhood (suburban Houston), you can buy a brand new McMansion for 300-500K. Older homes (late 70s and up, lol) and starter size homes typically run from 100-250K.</p>
<p>barrons
I prefer birds in my backyard- not bears!
If I am going to go rural- I mean rural, not woodinville- more like Pateros.
<a href=“http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_Urban_Bear.html[/url]”>http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_Urban_Bear.html</a>
yes this bear was in Seattle- but the reason why we bought in the city instead of building our own out in Issaquah or Redmond 25 years ago is because I didn’t want to live in an area that is encroaching on animal habitat ( plus I could see the drive increasing- those folks who maybe had a 45 min drive out to Fall city 20 years ago, now are thinking of buying a condo in town for during the week)</p>
<p>Yes, but every night I go to the local ponds and feed the ducks. Right now we have about 18 total little ducklings. It’s quiet and the views are serene. No more broken glass in the sidewalks, gunshots and crap all over. Here people still pickup after themselves. NPR makes the drive go by quickly.</p>
<p>I am moving farther from my work, to what I hope is our retirement home (5 more years- yay!). We’re away from the development (for a while anyway, although we will be somewhat surrounded by - and our view of the mountains somewhat protected by - conservation easment lands) and the extra 10 minutes drive will be worthwhile.</p>
<p>My major fear is that when the new home is completed and I have to convert the construction loan to a mortgage the interest rates will be very high and that when we try to sell our current house the market will have collapsed. Nightmare city.</p>
<p>“Yes, but every night I go to the local ponds and feed the ducks. Right now we have about 18 total little ducklings. It’s quiet and the views are serene. No more broken glass in the sidewalks, gunshots and crap all over.”</p>
<p>Ewwww! Disease carriers! You mean you haven’t shot 'em yet? Where is Homeland Security now that you need 'em? ;)</p>
<p>I haven’t seen broken glass anywhere
even though the street in front of my daughters high school is apparently the turf for a gangwar- I know better than to think the suburbs are any safer-
the burbs is where all the meth labs are
We have a pond in our backyard that we stock with fish, it also attracts lots of unusual birds that aren’t normally seen this far north according to our guide.
I grew up in the burbs, I like rural and I like the city- I don’t think that the burbs are any safer than the city- and I hate developments like what they have done to the Sammamish plateau- yes I am a snob- I like mature landscaping- and having diversity including diversity of ages in our neighborhood
I also have to live within walking distance of saltwater- or I dry up- that was actually the main criteria when we looked at houses, that and 10 miles from work</p>
<p>I bought here in Soutehrn CA when prices had bottomed out 12 years ago and now a similar house across the street has sold for 3x what we paid for this one. I like our neighbourhood in the suburbs just fine but I would never pay that much for that house or for mine. If I was closer to retirement, I’d sell this place and go live it up somewhere else where housing was less expensive.</p>
<p>With rates on the way up and more ARMs in use, foreclosures are up. I know many people think (hope?) that there will still be some increases, albeit small, but it’s more likley that there will be some correction. Some demand will always be there, but the panic buying isn’t sustainable.</p>
<p>Well EK4, I spent 5 years or so at 19th and Jefferson and there was always fresh broken glass(bottles of beer etc.), trash–mostly fastfood stuff, breakins(2 in five years), and all the rest. I’m sorry we chased Bambi out but we don’t want the city life. Green Lake was cleaner but had more property crimes. I lived in the city a total of 13 years and I am done. If they find a meth lab in the Ridge I’ll let you know. So far we are pretty comfortable not even locking our doors.</p>
The $1 million and up homes are definitely sitting longer and that’s why the builders are now offering incentives to sell them. I think our bidding wars are over here.</p>