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.
Undoubtedly, some UW students, faculty, and staff must live off-campus; and in some cases way off campus. For folks that opt for affordable Federal Way, Route 197 can get you to campus in about an hour, traffic permitting, of course. Bump around from just north of Tacoma until Kent, after which it's a non-stop north. There's two hours a day to either do homework or grade it, or forget about it all.
↑ So, say you want a bit of style, but not so much that it's distracting. Whatever's there, you have to live with every day. This 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath house has decorative details built in throughout the 3,180 square feet, but they aren't ostentatious unless you're a minimalist. And, if you want a bit of flash, get out the paint and the decorative pillows. It was built in 2005, so the appliances and systems should be reasonably current, and hopefully reliable. For $414,750 you get it and the 6,098 square foot lot, with a bit of a bonus if you consider the greenbelt out back.
↑ If you have a big family, a lot of roommates, or need a lot of storage, a 6 bedroom house with 3,340 square feet can make a lot of sense. This $399,950 house also comes with 3 bathrooms, so there shouldn't be a line, and yet not have too many toilets to clean. (Of course, if everyone actually pitches in...) They just redid the roof and the paint, so there's another list of things that don't have to be done for a while. The kitchen is well equipped by Viking, and the house includes a sprinkler system; just make sure it doesn't get triggered just because someone lightly burned the bacon.
↑ Country club living, sure lots of folks like that; especially, the ones that don't want to have to drive to the course. If you love golf that much, or just like having lots of lawn, trees, sand, and water that you don't have to tend, you could buy this $310,000 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath house in Twin Lakes Golf & Country Club. The lot is 7,875 square feet. The house is 2,390 square feet. And the neighborhood is surrounded by lots of holes and possibly some cussing. You may not be on the fairway or the green, but they won't be far. In the meantime, hang out in your sunroom while you wait for your tee time.
↑ One bath has a walk-in tub. The deck has a railing bent like a bit of iconic lightning. See, not every 1983 contemporary rambler is the same. Give a house thirty years and something will make it unique. The interior is an open space floor plan, currently accentuated by the lack of anything inside the house. For $279,900 you get to fill the 1,700 square feet, 3 bedrooms, and 2 baths with your stuff making it into a different version of uniqueness. That is one reason to own, isn't it?
↑ Admit it. Someone out there needs a basic house, no frills, no exotic architecture, no worries about a massive mortgage. There's a rambler for sale at $165,000 that has 3 bedrooms and 1 bath in 860 square feet. Even the 8,496 square foot lot is reasonably flat. Call it a starter home, or a restarter home, or a dramatic reduction in housework and yardwork. There's a luxury to having more money and time, while still owning a home.
· Twin Lakes Golf & Country Club [TWGCC]
· Route 197 [Metro]
· All Bus Tours coverage [CS]
Written by Tom Trimbath