Seattle has buses. (Really, they're throughout King County, and reach into the neighboring counties, too.) 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.
Why live in Fairwood? Maybe because the most expensive house there is less than the median price for Seattle homes. Take Route 148 down to Renton for ride a bit over a half hour; and if you have to, hop on Route 101 to get you into Seattle less than an hour later. A few hundred thousand dollars here, an extra hour or two there, make your choices.
↑ So, here's a new idea. They suggest this 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 2,530 square foot as a Mother-In-Law house. Why put the mother-in-law in an MIL when she can get her own house for $388,000? With that many rooms, there's enough room for one spouse's mother-in-law, the other spouse's mother-in-law, and the fathers, too (assuming only one mother and father per spouse, but modern American families are messy so maybe someone will have to share a room.) If there's any friction, even the cars can be separated; though it might be a struggle to see who gets the garage and who gets the carport (and whether the garage is still a garage, or has become storage or yet another room.) Of course, a family might move in and that's fine. No in-laws required.
↑ Art glass sconces in the kitchen and corrugated sheeting protecting the porch out back, this house a bit of artistic style inside and some pragmatism outside. The kitchen has been updated, so it looks much newer than the 1959 version. Being from that era, it isn't a surprise that there are 2 bathrooms for 5 bedrooms. People did have indoor waiting lines at that time. Now, the 2,340 square foot house isn't showing its age. The price is certainly modern: $359,950; which is cheaper than a typical Seattle home, but a bit above the local median. Of course, Renton's market is heating up, too. Maybe the appreciation in price has only begun. Maybe the personal appreciation will be - well, requiring the right person.
↑ Ready to downsize just a bit? At 1,600 square feet, this 3 bedroom, 3 bath, tri-level isn't tiny; but it is smaller than most. The price is close to the median, $345,000, though those numbers are floating around a lot in this market. A smaller house on a regular-size lot, 7,048 square feet, means more room for gardening; but, the mowing is minimized in front with mature landscaping. It will be far easier to leave those bushes there, than to take them out, even the lot, plant the seed, and mow. Enjoy the little break that allows.
↑ Tiffany Park and Pottery Barn, the description makes the house sound like a brand name property. Does Pottery Barn sell anything for the house's price of $340,000? The property is 8,330 square feet with an 1,850 square foot, 4 bedroom, 2 bath split-level house that was built in 1977. Inside, the majority of the house is classic and simple, partly open, but interrupted by counters. Maybe that helps the cook watch the party or the kids without having traffic underfoot while making food. There's one room that is more rustic, the browner room with a fireplace, wood-paneled wall, and a ceiling mount for projector and home theater - assuming the fireplace isn't lit. If you want more of a fire, there's a pit out back for that. Note: the pit probably didn't come with a brand name attached.
↑ Some homes can be defined by one element of style. In the case of this 3 bedroom, 3 bath split-level, it is the river rock fireplace bracketed by built-in bookcases. Take the 1,470 square foot house, buy it for $339,950, and design out from that one element that certainly stays with the property. The house was built in 1980, which is usually an opportune time to renovate a thing or two. Take your inspiration from that one item and it will look a bit more distinctive - if you want that sort of thing.
· Route 148 [Metro]
· Five Properties Worth Buying Along Route 101 [CS]
· All Bus Tours coverage [CS]
Written by Tom Trimbath