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.
The title of marathon commuters may just go to Boeing employees who, for a variety of reasons, find themselves living in Auburn and working in Everett. Transfers happen. Metro route 952 stretches over 50 miles and more than an hour and a half. Here's a route where you get your money's worth, and then drops you off near Emerald Downs at the end of the day.
↑ A river runs by it, the Green River. Waterfront costs only $296,900 when you buy in Auburn, and you also get 4 bedrooms, 2.25 baths, in 1,980 square feet. It is listed as a one story, but the 820 square foot basement is bigger than many apartments. Cathedral ceilings and lots of light, and all the basic amenities. Dinner by the river can be a quiet antidote to a day of listening to riveting.
↑ An iconic two story wood-framed house with exposed supports nicely treated as trim, forget the data for a bit and realize this house is celebrating its centennial. Congratulations! Okay, there are some basic details like, $289,900, 3 bedrooms, and 1 bath in 1,960 square feet. That's impressive for a 100 year old house. The 1 bath isn't a surprise from back then, but that's a large house for the time. Learning the history, and then being part of it, is worth a lot; especially, if those antique appliances work as well as they look, and stay with the house. Don't forget the rocking chairs on the full-size front porch.
↑How about something a bit newer, like something built in 1930? Flip through the photos, imagine the interior being in downtown Seattle, and you probably wouldn't guess you could get something this nice for $319,950. Back then the bedrooms were probably smaller because there are 5 of them in 2,250 square feet. There are also 2 baths, and one is definitely an upgrade. The back porch and patio looks big enough to live on, or at least use for uncrowded cooking and entertaining.
↑ You know there's work to do when they describe it as "almost 2 bath" and list it as 1 bath. Fixers happen, which is why you can get houses for less than $100/sq. ft. This is another 1930, but its renovation was only begun; which is why its available for $110,000. Four bedrooms and 1,360 square feet are liveable, at a guess. Of course, inspections are a good idea. Someone with a good, reliable paycheck can make a lot of progress on projects; unless, they're spending three hours a day commuting.
↑ Foreclosures happen, and this one goes to auction on October 10th with an opening bid amount of $85,000. It is a basic cube of a house, but hey, a cube is energy efficient. The house is being sold as-is, so there's little information beside 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, and 1,420 square feet of house on a 3,049 square foot lot. Some work, or a lot, may be required. Plan on some paint and some pruning at least.
See anything you like?
· Route 952 [Metro]
· Emerald Downs [ED]
· All Bus Tours coverage [CS]
Written by Tom Trimbath