Looks like Drifter is moving to Seattle! (1 Viewer)

[Britney Spears]

Just realized that Drifter's face reminds me of Bruce Springsteen.

 

[Drifter]

Just realized that Drifter's face reminds me of Bruce Springsteen.

You should hear me karaoke Born in the USA

 

[krista4]

You guys like West Seattle better than Ballard or Fremont, then? Is that a proximity issue?

How about Queen Anne? Where is that in your rankings?

I lived on Blaine street in Queen Anne. I can't say enough about the area, but it's high priced. Tell me a little about your situation and I can sell you/talk you out of it.

We're in our 30s (husband) and 40s (me), no kids; past the party-every-night days but we are used to having everything out our front door so are much more highly attracted to busy areas than quiet ones. We are city people so aren't put off by a bit of sketchiness, and we prefer diversity to yuppiedom. I like hippies but he doesn't.

I won't need to commute, but my husband's a chef so the closer we are to a bunch of restaurants, the better for his options (though he can commute as necessary).

His biggest desire is to build a wood-burning oven outside; mine is to have some nice outdoor space, and preferably a view. Based on this plus some other factors, not really interested in a condo (ruling out much of Belltown, for instance).

 

[krista4]

Drifter, will send you a FB message too, but obviously with what's going on with your MIL please don't feel you should take the time to look at this house today! It was way too nice of you anyway.

 

[El Floppo]

GL K4... still reading the thread for no reason whatsoever.

 

[krista4]

GL K4... still reading the thread for no reason whatsoever.

It's because you're my GB.

 

[Britney Spears]

Can we see some pics of this place?

 

[krista4]

Can we see some pics of this place?

It's not that exciting, but let's wait and see if we're able to get it (bids are due Wednesday). This is part of our potential "live without mortgage" program. I'm still torn between trying to buy one without a mortgage, or going more high-end and getting a mortgage. And, of course, renting. If Drifter doesn't find trolls living in the basement or anything and we can successfully bid on this one, we'll take it, though.

 

[Drifter]

Report delivered

 

[Hawks64]

Report delivered

You are a good person GB Drifter, big for going out of your way for Krista.

 

[krista4]

Report delivered

You are a good person GB Drifter, big for going out of your way for Krista.

You guys don't know the half of it. I just read Drifter's report, which was not only crazy-informative and helpful but included video and pictures.

 

[Hawks64]

Report delivered

You are a good person GB Drifter, big for going out of your way for Krista.

You guys don't know the half of it. I just read Drifter's report, which was not only crazy-informative and helpful but included video and pictures.

It's the Gym Tan family effect.

 

[Drifter]

Report delivered

You are a good person GB Drifter, big for going out of your way for Krista.

You guys don't know the half of it. I just read Drifter's report, which was not only crazy-informative and helpful but included video and pictures.

Let me know if you have questions. I definitely went too fast over parts I should have spent more time on, mainly the deck and front room.

 

[krista4]

Report delivered

You are a good person GB Drifter, big for going out of your way for Krista.

You guys don't know the half of it. I just read Drifter's report, which was not only crazy-informative and helpful but included video and pictures.

Let me know if you have questions. I definitely went too fast over parts I should have spent more time on, mainly the deck and front room.

I still can't watch the videos as they say they're marked "private".

 

[Hawks64]

Report delivered

You are a good person GB Drifter, big for going out of your way for Krista.

You guys don't know the half of it. I just read Drifter's report, which was not only crazy-informative and helpful but included video and pictures.

Let me know if you have questions. I definitely went too fast over parts I should have spent more time on, mainly the deck and front room.

I still can't watch the videos as they say they're marked "private".

Feel free to share with the rest of the rest of the class that's following along on your adventures K4.

 

[Drifter]

Report delivered

You are a good person GB Drifter, big for going out of your way for Krista.

You guys don't know the half of it. I just read Drifter's report, which was not only crazy-informative and helpful but included video and pictures.

Let me know if you have questions. I definitely went too fast over parts I should have spent more time on, mainly the deck and front room.

I still can't watch the videos as they say they're marked "private".

Should be fixed

 

[krista4]

Report delivered

You are a good person GB Drifter, big for going out of your way for Krista.

You guys don't know the half of it. I just read Drifter's report, which was not only crazy-informative and helpful but included video and pictures.

Let me know if you have questions. I definitely went too fast over parts I should have spent more time on, mainly the deck and front room.

I still can't watch the videos as they say they're marked "private".

Feel free to share with the rest of the rest of the class that's following along on your adventures K4.

I was able to watch the videos . It appears that Drifter has his kids and his wife in the videos, too? I would not share in any case without Drifter's permission, but particularly if his family is there. (Very cute family, by the way.)

Drifter, huge thanks again. The videos were enormously helpful. I'm not so keen on the house now but Mr. krista seems to continue to be interested. Of course, at the right price I might change my mind, so we'll see. We were thinking of offering significantly over asking, but I can't see that at this point. I especially hate the master bedroom/bathroom layout.

 

[Hawks64]

Report delivered

You are a good person GB Drifter, big for going out of your way for Krista.

You guys don't know the half of it. I just read Drifter's report, which was not only crazy-informative and helpful but included video and pictures.

Let me know if you have questions. I definitely went too fast over parts I should have spent more time on, mainly the deck and front room.

I still can't watch the videos as they say they're marked "private".

Feel free to share with the rest of the rest of the class that's following along on your adventures K4.

I was able to watch the videos . It appears that Drifter has his kids and his wife in the videos, too? I would not share in any case without Drifter's permission, but particularly if his family is there. (Very cute family, by the way.)

Drifter, huge thanks again. The videos were enormously helpful. I'm not so keen on the house now but Mr. krista seems to continue to be interested. Of course, at the right price I might change my mind, so we'll see. We were thinking of offering significantly over asking, but I can't see that at this point. I especially hate the master bedroom/bathroom layout.

That I understand. Do you like the place? Going to put an offer in? What's the next stop after Seattle?

 

[Drifter]

Just lost my whole post.

Key points:

1. My wife hated the Master Bedroom/Bath layout as well. I suppose it is better than if the only bath on the level was actually IN the MBR.

2. I think it's priced about right. I wouldn't offer much above it. If you're making a cash offer, that will likely carry a lot of weight given the circumstances.

3. You can copy my whole message here if you want. No big deal.

 

[Drifter]

I think the place definitely has more guy appeal than girl appeal as well. I think it serves many of your needs/wants pretty well but definitely wasn't a home run.

 

[krista4]

OK, with Drifter's permission, here's his whole message to me:

Here are my thoughts on the house along with some video walkthrough:


Apparently this was a single guy who died in a hunting accident - fyi.
Typical Seattle house - through the back you enter at ground level, from the front you are going up a lot of stairs. The big deck you see in the pictures is actually the main level. More after your questions.

This one seems to have some ugly white cabinets in the kitchen we could replace. Also might need a better range, etc.
How open is the area from kitchen to living space?

Very open. You can see it in the video. The kitchen is nothing special. The cabinets could use some updating and the appliances are pretty run of the mill. Counters and backsplash are nice.

How comfortable is the living space itself? Can you get a good view from any living spaces to the water? A big thing
for me in buying a place is having my office have a nice view, particularly of water.

There is a big picture window in the main living room that has nice views. That room is not the biggest but being open to the kitchen helps. The TV area in the basement is a decent size The office is in the basement (walkout in the back), there is a window that would have something of a view but it is ground level with a fence. The video will show it.

WTf is going on with the master bath? We were told it is under extensive renovation. What do you see?

Totally ripped up. The guy was in the middle of a DIY renovation when he died. There's probably 3 or 4k worth of work to be finished. What is roughed out has the potential to be nice - jacuzzi tub, large double shower. One issue is that it is across from the master bedroom and also serves as the bedroom for the main floor. Probably the biggest detraction to the whole house IMO.

How does everything flow? Remember we are just two with no kids so where bedrooms, etc. are is not a big factor,
but does it feel like a home?

Yes. It is very similar to the first house we lived in just down the street (5258 45th Ave SW). The main level is very open and nice. The basement, is nice, but still a basement. Good for mancave purposes and gives guests their own little area but definitely separated from the main level by a typical set of basement steps.

Pizza oven? Would this go in the container garden area? Is there space?

HIgh scores here. I think the container area would work but there's an arbor off the alley that would be excellent for it.

How are the views? A huge factor in this house's favor is the view situation, so if it isn't as great as it seems from pics,
then I'd want to know.

Excellent views - not 180 degrees though. Directly in front are some tall trees, so most of your view is to the Southwest - still good through. That deck out front would be fantastic in the summer time. Inside, the views aren't going to dominate. They are there but there's just the one big picture window giving you access to it.

Could we screen in the porch on the lower level?

You could, but it's not a great area. It's used mostly as storage right now. It would require some work to turn it into a decent living area and with the deck upstairs I don't know what you'd really use it for.

Just to let you know how we live...we don't need a ton of space as it's us and the four cats, but we have frequent
visitors for whom it is nice to have a separate space. Liked the layout here in that there is the lower level that seemed
separate.

It is separate. That's where the 3/4 bath is. Small and nothing special but functional. I forgot to video it so here's a picture.

Overall, I think it meets most of your criteria. It does not knock it out of the park with the incorporation of the views in the living space but it's still nice. Bathroom needs a lot of work obviously and you might want to consider a kitchen renovation before moving in if Devin wants more of a chef's kitchen. I'd also consider blowing out that front wall where the picture window is and putting in some French doors so that you can open the space up more to that deck in the nice summer months.

I'm slightly concerned about the retaining wall. There's a large crack on one side so if you get it under contract, that's something you'll probably want to do more than a cursory house inspector inspection on. It was also obvious that the wall has been the target of graffiti in the past as there was a big area that had clearly been recently blasted.

Location: A+

Livability: B (small Master Bedroom, Master Bath situation)

View: B

Entertaining: B (C+ if the bathroom thing bothers you), A in the summer because of the deck.

Pizza Oven: A

Kitchen: B- but with potential

Guests: (1 set of guests at a time): B+

Videos. I should have turned the phone horizontal. Sorry for the limited perspective.

Walkthrough 1 - In the kitchen I say you might want to redo the counters. I meant the cabinets.

Walkthrough 2

I was trying to figure out why the guys like it better than the girls, and Mr. krista said, "Because of the basement man-cave space and we don't care where the bathrooms are." Makes sense. I don't like that so much of the living area is essentially basement level.

 

[Drifter]

OK, with Drifter's permission, here's his whole message to me:

Here are my thoughts on the house along with some video walkthrough:


Apparently this was a single guy who died in a hunting accident - fyi.
Typical Seattle house - through the back you enter at ground level, from the front you are going up a lot of stairs. The big deck you see in the pictures is actually the main level. More after your questions.

This one seems to have some ugly white cabinets in the kitchen we could replace. Also might need a better range, etc. How open is the area from kitchen to living space?

Very open. You can see it in the video. The kitchen is nothing special. The cabinets could use some updating and the appliances are pretty run of the mill. Counters and backsplash are nice.

How comfortable is the living space itself? Can you get a good view from any living spaces to the water? A big thing for me in buying a place is having my office have a nice view, particularly of water.

There is a big picture window in the main living room that has nice views. That room is not the biggest but being open to the kitchen helps. The TV area in the basement is a decent size The office is in the basement (walkout in the back), there is a window that would have something of a view but it is ground level with a fence. The video will show it.

WTf is going on with the master bath? We were told it is under extensive renovation. What do you see?

Totally ripped up. The guy was in the middle of a DIY renovation when he died. There's probably 3 or 4k worth of work to be finished. What is roughed out has the potential to be nice - jacuzzi tub, large double shower. One issue is that it is across from the master bedroom and also serves as the bedroom for the main floor. Probably the biggest detraction to the whole house IMO.

How does everything flow? Remember we are just two with no kids so where bedrooms, etc. are is not a big factor,

but does it feel like a home?

Yes. It is very similar to the first house we lived in just down the street (5258 45th Ave SW). The main level is very open and nice. The basement, is nice, but still a basement. Good for mancave purposes and gives guests their own little area but definitely separated from the main level by a typical set of basement steps.

Pizza oven? Would this go in the container garden area? Is there space?

HIgh scores here. I think the container area would work but there's an arbor off the alley that would be excellent for it.

How are the views? A huge factor in this house's favor is the view situation, so if it isn't as great as it seems from pics, then I'd want to know.

Excellent views - not 180 degrees though. Directly in front are some tall trees, so most of your view is to the Southwest - still good through. That deck out front would be fantastic in the summer time. Inside, the views aren't going to dominate. They are there but there's just the one big picture window giving you access to it.

Could we screen in the porch on the lower level?

You could, but it's not a great area. It's used mostly as storage right now. It would require some work to turn it into a decent living area and with the deck upstairs I don't know what you'd really use it for.

Just to let you know how we live...we don't need a ton of space as it's us and the four cats, but we have frequent

visitors for whom it is nice to have a separate space. Liked the layout here in that there is the lower level that seemed

separate.

It is separate. That's where the 3/4 bath is. Small and nothing special but functional. I forgot to video it so here's a picture.

Overall, I think it meets most of your criteria. It does not knock it out of the park with the incorporation of the views in the living space but it's still nice. Bathroom needs a lot of work obviously and you might want to consider a kitchen renovation before moving in if Devin wants more of a chef's kitchen. I'd also consider blowing out that front wall where the picture window is and putting in some French doors so that you can open the space up more to that deck in the nice summer months.

I'm slightly concerned about the retaining wall. There's a large crack on one side so if you get it under contract, that's something you'll probably want to do more than a cursory house inspector inspection on. It was also obvious that the wall has been the target of graffiti in the past as there was a big area that had clearly been recently blasted.

Location: A+

Livability: B (small Master Bedroom, Master Bath situation)

View: B

Entertaining: B (C+ if the bathroom thing bothers you), A in the summer because of the deck.

Pizza Oven: A

Kitchen: B- but with potential

Guests: (1 set of guests at a time): B+

Videos. I should have turned the phone horizontal. Sorry for the limited perspective.

Walkthrough 1 - In the kitchen I say you might want to redo the counters. I meant the cabinets.

Walkthrough 2

I was trying to figure out why the guys like it better than the girls, and Mr. krista said, "Because of the basement man-cave space and we don't care where the bathrooms are." Makes sense. I don't like that so much of the living area is essentially basement level.

The basement thing is a very West Seattle feature (Seattle in general, but especially here). There are so many hills that you find a lot of two story homes where the basement plays in heavily.

 

[krista4]

OK, with Drifter's permission, here's his whole message to me:

I was trying to figure out why the guys like it better than the girls, and Mr. krista said, "Because of the basement man-cave space and we don't care where the bathrooms are." Makes sense. I don't like that so much of the living area is essentially basement level.

The basement thing is a very West Seattle feature (Seattle in general, but especially here). There are so many hills that you find a lot of two story homes where the basement plays in heavily.

That makes sense.

I haven't ruled the house out by any means but have significantly reduced what I think we might offer. I do have a few spreadsheets I've set up ( ) that I'll run it all through again.

That retaining wall crack (which looks like to goes across the driveway as well) worries me, too, but that could shake out during inspection.

 

[Drifter]

OK, with Drifter's permission, here's his whole message to me:

I was trying to figure out why the guys like it better than the girls, and Mr. krista said, "Because of the basement man-cave space and we don't care where the bathrooms are." Makes sense. I don't like that so much of the living area is essentially basement level.

The basement thing is a very West Seattle feature (Seattle in general, but especially here). There are so many hills that you find a lot of two story homes where the basement plays in heavily.

That makes sense.

I haven't ruled the house out by any means but have significantly reduced what I think we might offer. I do have a few spreadsheets I've set up ( ) that I'll run it all through again.

That retaining wall crack (which looks like to goes across the driveway as well) worries me, too, but that could shake out during inspection.

That's not the driveway, it's the sidewalk on the side of the house

 

[krista4]

Oh, OK.

The house "felt" smaller than 2431 sq ft to me. Did it feel that way to you? Maybe it's just because of the basement effect?

 

[krista4]

For perspective, this was our favorite house when we visited in December, but I thought on a per-sq-ft basis it was priced too high for scary Columbia City. Allegedly same size as the West Seattle one but really had a larger feel than that video gave me.

 

[Drifter]

The exposed beams in that house are going to make it feel more airy. I think this one is narrow but very long which might give you that smaller feeling. It could also do with better/larger windows.

 

[krista4]

I think this one is narrow but very long which might give you that smaller feeling.

That's what she said.

 

[krista4]

The exposed beams in that house are going to make it feel more airy. I think this one is narrow but very long which might give you that smaller feeling. It could also do with better/larger windows.

Yeah, higher ceilings, too.

 

[Drifter]

The exposed beams in that house are going to make it feel more airy. I think this one is narrow but very long which might give you that smaller feeling. It could also do with better/larger windows.

Yeah, higher ceilings, too.

If you really wanted to and weren't planning living in it for a while. There's probably potential to rip up the entire top level, expose the beams, put in more/bigger windows.

In fact, since you were planning on making a higher offer before, that might not be a bad route.

 

[krista4]

The exposed beams in that house are going to make it feel more airy. I think this one is narrow but very long which might give you that smaller feeling. It could also do with better/larger windows.

Yeah, higher ceilings, too.

If you really wanted to and weren't planning living in it for a while. There's probably potential to rip up the entire top level, expose the beams, put in more/bigger windows.

In fact, since you were planning on making a higher offer before, that might not be a bad route.

Interesting idea...

 

[Drifter]

That's what they did in the house I lived in that had almost an identical layout.

Essentially, they blew out the wall on the MBR side and extended the foundation about 3-4 feet. They then built the MBR suite along that entire edge and put the Master Bath where the laundry room was and shrunk the existing Master Bath into an exclusive guest bath.

That was in addition to exposing the ceilings and adding windows.

Obviously that's the extreme version but it worked out very well in what I'm pretty sure was the same house without the garage.

 

[Drifter]

I actually found a sketch from when we moved of that other house's layout

 

[krista4]

I actually found a sketch from when we moved of that other house's layout

Very cool. I loved the look of that house. Can I buy it?

 

[Drifter]

I actually found a sketch from when we moved of that other house's layout

Very cool. I loved the look of that house. Can I buy it?

We've been trying to figure out what was up with it. I can put you in touch with the management company if you want to contact the owner and make an offer.

 

[krista4]

I actually found a sketch from when we moved of that other house's layout

Very cool. I loved the look of that house. Can I buy it?

We've been trying to figure out what was up with it. I can put you in touch with the management company if you want to contact the owner and make an offer.

Yeah, I think I just need to suck it up, get a mortgage, and get the house I want (whatever that might be).

 

[simey]

If any of you like bluegrass/americana music, one of my favorite North Carolina bands (Chatham County Line) is playing at the Fremont Abbey this Friday. They are really good.

 

[krista4]

If any of you like bluegrass/americana music, one of my favorite North Carolina bands (Chatham County Line) is playing at the Fremont Abbey this Friday. They are really good.

We get in town Friday morning.

 

[simey]

If any of you like bluegrass/americana music, one of my favorite North Carolina bands (Chatham County Line) is playing at the Fremont Abbey this Friday. They are really good.

We get in town Friday morning.

Go see them! I know you'd like them.

 

[krista4]

If any of you like bluegrass/americana music, one of my favorite North Carolina bands (Chatham County Line) is playing at the Fremont Abbey this Friday. They are really good.

We get in town Friday morning.

Go see them! I know you'd like them.

I have great faith in your taste in music. Looking up the time right now.

 

[proninja]

If any of you like bluegrass/americana music, one of my favorite North Carolina bands (Chatham County Line) is playing at the Fremont Abbey this Friday. They are really good.

We get in town Friday morning.

Go see them! I know you'd like them.

I have great faith in your taste in music. Looking up the time right now.

Hmmm

 

[krista4]

If any of you like bluegrass/americana music, one of my favorite North Carolina bands (Chatham County Line) is playing at the Fremont Abbey this Friday. They are really good.

We get in town Friday morning.

Go see them! I know you'd like them.

I have great faith in your taste in music. Looking up the time right now.

Hmmm

In? A little dinner/drinks before? Drifter?

 

[Fennis]

so are we placing an offer on this house?

 

[Mr. Pickles]

so are we placing an offer on this house?

If we are, I need to get my ducks in a row here.

 

[Britney Spears]

A) GB Drifter

B) Who puts up the fixtures in a bathroom remodel before the shower is even built out?

C) Replacing those glass panels with cable railing on the deck would be an easy way to make that deck way nicer and increase the view.

 

[proninja]

If any of you like bluegrass/americana music, one of my favorite North Carolina bands (Chatham County Line) is playing at the Fremont Abbey this Friday. They are really good.

We get in town Friday morning.

Go see them! I know you'd like them.

I have great faith in your taste in music. Looking up the time right now.

Hmmm

In? A little dinner/drinks before? Drifter?

I'm in. Talking my introvert wife into dinner and a show with a big group from the internet could prove challenging, so I might come stag.

 

[The Future Champs]

The top of Queen Anne is a great neighborhood, but people pay extra to live there b/c the school is probably the best in the city.

Parts of West Seattle are nice. If I'd moved there when I first came to Seattle I'd still be there.

Leave the U District for the kids.

Greenlake is sweet, and I didn't see Wallingford mentioned here, but that might be a neighborhood to consider.

Fremont isn't so hippy dippy now, which is sad.

I'm on Sunset Hill in Ballard. I love it, and crime isn't an issue, but it is a long way from the freeways. The flip side of that is traffic around the neighborhood is light, and it's very quiet around me.

 

[krista4]

The top of Queen Anne is a great neighborhood, but people pay extra to live there b/c the school is probably the best in the city.

Parts of West Seattle are nice. If I'd moved there when I first came to Seattle I'd still be there.

Leave the U District for the kids.

Greenlake is sweet, and I didn't see Wallingford mentioned here, but that might be a neighborhood to consider.

Fremont isn't so hippy dippy now, which is sad.

I'm on Sunset Hill in Ballard. I love it, and crime isn't an issue, but it is a long way from the freeways. The flip side of that is traffic around the neighborhood is light, and it's very quiet around me.

Thanks! I have had Wallingford on my radar as well. By the way, we looked at a couple of great houses on Sunset Hill. Loved the houses and the view and the feel but ultimately though it wasn't enough in the middle of the action for us. Might reconsider that, though.

We are a no-go on the West Seattle house. I had several big issues with it, including master bed/bath layout, having a majority of the house at basement level (and concomitant lack of windows/light), having a huge amount of house taken up with weird closet/storage spaces, semi-crappy kitchen, etc. Our agent thought we'd need to be in the $615K range to have a shot and would need to be very flexible with inspection issues, etc. Given how much we'd want to change, I just couldn't get my heart into a bidding war and having to be so aggressive. I'll do a bidding war for something I really love, but this wasn't it. The only thing I really loved about the house was location.

Back to the drawing board. I'm checking into a new listing in Ballard. I've kind of come around to liking West Seattle more, though, and you get a LOT more for your money there as well. We'll see.

 

[eaganwildcats]

The top of Queen Anne is a great neighborhood, but people pay extra to live there b/c the school is probably the best in the city.

Parts of West Seattle are nice. If I'd moved there when I first came to Seattle I'd still be there.

Leave the U District for the kids.

Greenlake is sweet, and I didn't see Wallingford mentioned here, but that might be a neighborhood to consider.

Fremont isn't so hippy dippy now, which is sad.

I'm on Sunset Hill in Ballard. I love it, and crime isn't an issue, but it is a long way from the freeways. The flip side of that is traffic around the neighborhood is light, and it's very quiet around me.

Thanks! I have had Wallingford on my radar as well. By the way, we looked at a couple of great houses on Sunset Hill. Loved the houses and the view and the feel but ultimately though it wasn't enough in the middle of the action for us. Might reconsider that, though.

We are a no-go on the West Seattle house. I had several big issues with it, including master bed/bath layout, having a majority of the house at basement level (and concomitant lack of windows/light), having a huge amount of house taken up with weird closet/storage spaces, semi-crappy kitchen, etc. Our agent thought we'd need to be in the $615K range to have a shot and would need to be very flexible with inspection issues, etc. Given how much we'd want to change, I just couldn't get my heart into a bidding war and having to be so aggressive. I'll do a bidding war for something I really love, but this wasn't it. The only thing I really loved about the house was location.

Back to the drawing board. I'm checking into a new listing in Ballard. I've kind of come around to liking West Seattle more, though, and you get a LOT more for your money there as well. We'll see.

1) The house you linked to above is amazing.

2) I really hated the house Drifter walked through. Would feel confident in the decision not to pursue.

 

[The Future Champs]

The top of Queen Anne is a great neighborhood, but people pay extra to live there b/c the school is probably the best in the city.

Parts of West Seattle are nice. If I'd moved there when I first came to Seattle I'd still be there.

Leave the U District for the kids.

Greenlake is sweet, and I didn't see Wallingford mentioned here, but that might be a neighborhood to consider.

Fremont isn't so hippy dippy now, which is sad.

I'm on Sunset Hill in Ballard. I love it, and crime isn't an issue, but it is a long way from the freeways. The flip side of that is traffic around the neighborhood is light, and it's very quiet around me.

Thanks! I have had Wallingford on my radar as well. By the way, we looked at a couple of great houses on Sunset Hill. Loved the houses and the view and the feel but ultimately though it wasn't enough in the middle of the action for us. Might reconsider that, though.

We are a no-go on the West Seattle house. I had several big issues with it, including master bed/bath layout, having a majority of the house at basement level (and concomitant lack of windows/light), having a huge amount of house taken up with weird closet/storage spaces, semi-crappy kitchen, etc. Our agent thought we'd need to be in the $615K range to have a shot and would need to be very flexible with inspection issues, etc. Given how much we'd want to change, I just couldn't get my heart into a bidding war and having to be so aggressive. I'll do a bidding war for something I really love, but this wasn't it. The only thing I really loved about the house was location.

Back to the drawing board. I'm checking into a new listing in Ballard. I've kind of come around to liking West Seattle more, though, and you get a LOT more for your money there as well. We'll see.

Send me an email if you have any questions about Ballard; I've been here since 89. I'll pm you an email address.