Seattle has buses. 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 Shoreline Community College to downtown in less than an hour? Sure, as long as traffic agrees. The Route 355 bus running down Greenwood, Phinney, and Aurora. Let the bus driver deal with stop lights and all the cars popping in and out of strip malls.
↑ It's perched. This house isn't very large, only 1,605 square feet, and the lot isn't very large, only 7,405 square feet, but just a bit of elevation sets it up and back from the street. It's perched, which also means a little more privacy. Hopefully, it isn't too perched because it is also wheelchair accessible. The house was built in 1947, just when the Baby Boom was getting busy, which may explain the 4 bedrooms; and also explains the 1 bath. Additional bathrooms were a luxury back then. Not bad for $275,000.
↑ It's 1959. Make sure your house has a two car garage. That was the idea when this house was built. It is a bit bigger, 2,540 square feet, on a bigger lot, 10,230 square feet, with 4 bedrooms, and that added luxury of 2.5 baths instead of one. Oh, the luxuries at the end of the Baby Boom and the middle of the Cold War. Now, you can get it and that slate entry and stacked stone fireplace design for $429,950. Ironically, even though it has that two car garage, it is also within walking distance of a lot of what you need. That's modern.
↑ Talk about modern, this 1980 house has more bedrooms than baths, 3 beds to 3.5 baths. So much for sharing, but it was the start of the Me decade. For $399,000 you get a 1,820 square foot house on a 78,40 square foot property. For some bizarre reason it has a coin-operated washer and dryer. It has been a rental, and now is an as-is; so, there may be a story to uncover that goes beyond numbers, windows, and walls. A rental house with a coin-operated laundry? That's innovative, and evidently not incredibly successful.
↑ Either the door leading out from this condo is the best thing about it, or they are really proud of that hanging basket. In any case, here's a bit of typical modern apartment living, slightly dated or at least in need of better camera lighting. For $184,500 you get 2 bedrooms and 2 baths in 906 square feet and a lot lower living expenses than in more expensive houses. Surely some of that extra money could go to fixing up the place. Add a bit of art, or even some better bulbs, and make this better for very little. In the meantime, it is functional; and which is the point.
↑ Here's another condo with nearly the same numbers: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 891 square feet, for $204,000, but the presentation is more appealing - despite the front photo that emphasizes the mass-produced nature of apartment complexes. The kitchen has a few stylish elements that add without overwhelming. The bay window is a nice touch. The complex's amenities are also pluses: hot tub, swimming pool, playground - and, uncommonly, a racquetball court. There's some things you can't get in a $204,000 house.
· Route 355 [Metro]
· Shoreline Community College [SCC]
· All Bus Tours coverage [CS]
Written by Tom Trimbath