Haha sorry, embarrassingly new to Reddit here. (Apparently I have been living under an internet rock for the last few years. Or so my friends emphatically tell me lol)
The job my husband is being courted for is in Bellevue. Everything we've read says commuting is a B so ideally we would live there. However, the housing market in Bellevue is, um, well the words that comes to mind are "unexpected shock." We were initially elated at the prospect of a low six-figure income (plus whatever I'd make as a small business owner there, depending on the market) but now we're not even sure if we can afford to own real estate there. Anything in our price range is either a condo or total fixer-upper, and while I'm sure we'd be able to qualify for something more sizable (not trying to brag, just being pragmatic) we are one of those lame and practical couples who prefer not to live extravagantly beyond or means OR to be house poor. We'd rather our dispensable income go towards travel and experiences, not a giant mortgage on more house than we need.
Honestly, I really had my heart set on living IN Seattle, too, and the concept of living anywhere else, even a suburb, makes me a little sad. After a lifelong obsession, I finally got to travel there for work two years ago, and fell completely in love. I'm worried Bellevue just wouldn't feel the same.
With all that said, humor me with two more questions? :)
Obviously there are many travel/location factors, but overall, would commuting from south Seattle to Bellevue be a nightmare? Again, Seattle has my heart... as well as several houses in our price range. :)
If we found an affordable place we liked in Bellevue, realistically, how often would we make it into Seattle? My assumption (based off what I've read online) is that most locals generally don't venture into the city too often.
Oh, I lied, one more: Are there plenty of great beaches, hiking trails and places to kayak close by?
THANK YOU! Moving across the county is both overwhelmingly exciting and scary. Grateful to have stumbled upon a welcoming little corner of the internet in the form of Reddit.