Seattle has buses (and trains). Use them! In which case you might as well find a place to live along a line. One line at a time. Here's the next one, selected at random for the fun of it.
From Loyal Heights to the U District and on to Mt. Baker. Sounds like a great road trip where you pick up young, stalwart adventurers to go skiing; but no, this is Metro's route 48 and the Mt. Baker destination is the neighborhood, not the ski resort, and you start closer to the beach at Golden Gardens than the mountains.
↑ Here's a story board house. Or is it a drawing board house? The original build date is listed as 1940, but that collection of lumber is probably gone now. The barely pre-WWII house is being replaced with a new design that intends to "inspire resource efficiency in residential markets", or at least that's the mission of builder, Green Canopy Homes. The new house on probably an old foundation will be 2,500 square feet, with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, at a price of $875,000. There must be a lot going into the house because it just sold in May for $345,000. That's $530,000 of upgrades. That's a lot of upgrading, and maybe the environment will thank you.
↑ Just a bit newer and a little less pricey. A tiny lot (only 3,012 square feet) means a lot less yard maintenance, and a tall house (3 stories) means a view. For $699,950 you get 3 bedrooms and 3 baths, and 2,680 square feet of floor space, almost the same size as the lot but stacked instead of flat. Maybe the combination will give you more time to walk down to the beach, maybe even walk the dog. Don't have a dog? Maybe the one looking in the door comes come with the house. And, how about that drum kit. Impressive. Combine the two and make more music about dogs. How about your own version of Who Let the Dogs Out called Please Let the Dog Back In.
↑ Private beach access, and for only $629,950? That's uncommon, especially close to downtown Seattle. This house went up about the same time as Sputnik, 1959. Its 4 bedrooms, 1.75 baths, and 2,680 square feet are built to a very open floor plan. The living room wraps around a large cut stone fireplace, and has plenty of large windows. Partial views of Puget Sound remind you of where you are and how close nature is. And, for those days when nature isn't accommodating, the kitchen is well-equipped for cooking and entertaining.
↑ It is tempting to double the description because this is a duplex. What's more important though, is deciding you need a place for family to live that's close but not inside the same walls, or deciding you want to be a landlord. In one case, you're doubling your family space. In the other case, maybe you're doubling your income streams. You choose, after you check out this $400,000, 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2,040 square foot house that's evidently been home to musicians. Some duplexes are mirrored floor plans, but this looks a bit more separate, but not necessarily equal. Negotiations ensue.
↑ This pocket of a house was built before we knew how WWII would work out. It has survived that uncertainty, earthquakes, and decades of Seattle weather; and has been resistant to trends. Check out the pink tile bathroom. Of course, wait long enough and trends come back around as fashion. Maybe that's trendy, again. The house has 760 square feet, which is why it only has 2 bedrooms and that one 1 bath. The price is $424,950. Divide the price by the square footage and end up at luxury condo prices, but maybe a small house with some pragmatic touches (like a basement) are the kind of luxuries you appreciate. That ramp out the back of the basement is a curiosity, though.
See anything you like?
· Route 48 [Metro]
· Green Canopy [GC]
· All Bus Tours coverage [CS]
Written by Tom Trimbath