mleg

artlover, thanks for the wise words.
Orcas, my sister lives there.
I know the trip in a week will be a good one whether we decide to move or not.

Orcas

Your sister will show you some of the surrounding communities, hopefully. Bellevue is an urban type of suburb and there are plenty of areas to live that are nearby where you can find less expensive housing, if that is an issue for you.
I'm glad you are coming to see what it is like here. Let us know what you think. Have a great trip!

Orcas

I should add that I like the idea of your spending time with a real estate agent, too. Be sure to let them know what you are able to spend on a house nad don't let them take you over the top. It is very depressing when they start showing you things that are out of your price range, as there are always nicer things out there, but what you really need is a good neighborhood to raise kids in. Those are priceless, and not always related to housing cost.

LeoraO

Seattle area has a reputation as one of the worst traffic gridlocked regions
in the Northwest. Grey is not the issue
it's the H2O that comes with it. Take your time with this decision; do your research very well as would be a very costly mistake if it proves not to your liking! Best of luck, L.O.

GoTravel

I am a step parent mleg and my stepdaughter was moved in her high school years. My brother was also moved in his high school years.

It has worked out okay for my stepdaughter, not great and it was horrible for my brother.

bbqboy

To me Seattle is just a much further north Big City. I don't see what this would accomplish as far as changing lifestyles.
Why not Portland, by the Way?
I've noticed here in Southern Oregon that most of our Cal immigrants are from SoCal. Don't know whether they decide to stop as soon as they hit the State Line and see it's still sunny, or they think, Eureka! I've escaped, or What.
Most NoCal immigrants seem to keep on going clear to Portland or onward to Seattle.
My unscientific watching of U Hauls going N & S on I-5 produced this data.

MsTea

I know this does not address the question you asked, but if any of your daughters have found a friend or group of friends in CA who are real soulmates and are having the time of their lives together, think long and hard about moving at this time. The early teen years are wonderful for girls, but so short! For the record, I speak from experience- my own (eons ago) and my daughter's, who had dear friends move away. She missed them, I missed having them around my house. Unlike houses and towns, these experiences will be gone forever - calls and IM's are not the same, and the new friends may not be either. It's worth examining i think.
Let me add that I do relate to your desire to move. If I could move every few years I probably would - so many places, so little time...
Best of luck to you and your girls whatever you decide.

suze

I find the posts from people who do not live here quite interesting. Seattle has less actually rainfall than many many places in the country. Traffic can be bad which is why people tend to try to live near where they work (my commute to work is exactly 5 miles round-trip).

I also find it interesting so many people feel the right to comment on your parenting choices. Sheez. As someone who was "moved" and not thrilled about it as a teenager, I came out just fine. And have since moved to several states by my own choice.

But Seattle is home and I adore the city and the Pacific Northwest.

I would add that along with Bellevue you might want to visit and consider Kirkland, Redmond, Issaquah possibly even city neighborhoods like Ballard, Green Lake, Wallingford, or Ravenna.

Barbara

"I also find it interesting so many people feel the right to comment on your parenting choices."

suze, the Op asked "move or not" One reason not to move is that it is often very hard on kids, especially teenagers. She invited opinions and she may not like them all.

suze

Barbara, point taken. That is the title but in her text that did not seem to be her major inquiry imo.

It irks me when a bunch of people chime in (and many did) saying negative things about the area when they do not live here, some who have never even visited! Hardly seems helpful.

fodderfodder

I recently left the Seattle area because of overcrowding and traffic and probably never move back. One other thing to think about, WA state is the 4th highest taxed state in the country.

happytrailstoyou

I wouldn't advice you to move any place about which you have doubts, unless you must move there for some reason.

karens

I find the statistic that rainfall totals are higher in other areas highly misleading. I find it more helpful to compare the # of sunny days - that is that I'd like to know, anyway. If it mists all day, or rains 1", it still means my outdoor plans will be curtailed. I prefer to hike, bike, go to the beach, etc. on sunny days.

I have a good friend in Seattle, and I know kids out there compensate and are used to playing outside in misty weather. At least I know my kids aren't attuned the weather as much as I am - they don't seem to feel the hot or cold as much as me, or be bothered by a bit of rain. It would bother me more. That's just how I feel; suze, if you think that's a negative comment or not, I'm not sure. I don't think you need to live an area to comment on the weather. Moab is hot hot hot in the summer, and I think I am qualified to comment on that (negatively) when discussing a move to that area even though I've never lived there.

mooselywild

Thanks for the small bit of sanity, suze! Though, I don't really see anyone with no exp. with Washington actually say anything negative about Bellevue. (looking puzzled)

Side note, though I don't really want to spur on the debate:

If my parents were to move: "Right, girls, so your dad got a job in _____ We're moving by_____. Go check out the area on the web, and we're going out to visit next week. Pack what you want, 'cause we're throwing everything else out!"

So, I would have a say on the house they pick, the school I would go to, and what we could take with us- that's it. Where we would move? No way! Three teen girls (my sisters and I) the biggest concern would be the number of bathrooms, lol.

I wouldn't worry about the disruption to the girls' lives all that much- they can make the most of the move- but if one of them is capable of holding a grudge against you for it(my sister is quite capable of making my parents' lives hell over things like moving- mostly because my parents fall for her bait every bloody time)....then, yes. Be afraid. Be very afraid

Baaaaack to Washington- mlegs, also drive around w/o an agent- you may find a better deal that way- and with an agent- I agree, stick with your guns and take anything they say about the house with a grain of salt. Try to meet your future neighbors- you may find out things the sellers don't want you to know! Best of luck!

mooselywild

Yeees- the taxes are ugly. So are the house prices. I love Washington, but I probably won't move here after college...

redfern

I live in WA state (Southwest) and I have to say it is beautiful here. When I travel to other places I am always glad to come home to our beautiful green state. And, yes it rains a lot, but it smells so fresh and wonderful! Where I live the housing costs are going up, but not to the point where people can't afford them. Welcome to Washington!
Here's a great website to visit:

http://www.experiencewashington.com/

Good luck!

mooselywild

Absolutely agree with you, redfern! But affordability varies dramatically by the person.......

redfern

Very true, but the minimum wage is higher then most places. So, our wages aren't bad, and a small house in a subdivision isn't $600,000 like what I hear California is like. (From what Iv'e gathered.) But, on the other hand, it's not as cheap here as, say , Davenport WA.

mooselywild

Davenport! hee hee....my mother had a job there straight out of college-

sure, much of eastern WA in still quite affordable, BUT...

take Walla Walla, for example: 22 yrs ago, my parents bought the house for 90,000. Today the houses in the same neighborhood go for on average 230,000- and this ain't the historical neighborhoods, this is the 1970s very pleasant neighborhoods! By the time I graduate college, get a job, and want to buy a house- I will not be able to afford it here (unless by some miracle the market doesn't raise, even drops)...unless I marry, which is unlikely

Forget California, Portland, Seattle....

bbqboy

Moosey, that's why these bandits, oops, immigrants are snatching up all of Southern and Central Oregon.