Living On The East Side Vs. Seattle
What is it like to live on the “East Side” of Lake Washington? In a word… wonderful! Many people have found themselves being drawn toward East Side cities like Bellevue, Redmond, Woodinville and Newcastle as they seek to be near downtown Bellevue, which improves their commute for work, if they have an office there or are driving across 520 or I-90 to get to Seattle for work.
The East Side tends to be cleaner and safer than the equivalent latitudes in Seattle, WA.
Living In Downtown Bellevue, WA
Downtown Bellevue is a little bit of a world unto itself. Many people feel the East Side is a little snobbier, fancier and “out of reach” for the average Joe. I was talking to a real estate recruiter yesterday and she was saying how she felt more compelled to get dressed up in heels and a blazer to go out into the professional world in Bellevue. She keeps it more casual on the Seattle side.
For the most part, downtown Bellevue has a few high rises, but the downtown core is smaller than you’ll find in Seattle. There are some really nice luxury condominiums where you can buy a penthouse unit for $2 million. Right next to the downtown are residential single family homes which you can buy for $1-2 million as well.
Living In Downtown Seattle, WA
Many people I’ve talked to in the suburbs seem to feel that living in downtown Seattle, WA is out of favor at the moment. While downtown Seattle apartments and condos used to be popular and demand high rents, with the ongoing “work from home” trend in the technology sector, many large Tech employers who used to hire tens of thousands of people who worked downtown every day are seeing their employees work from home and consolidating their office spaces in response to that trend.
As a result, fewer “gainfully employed” people are walking the streets of Seattle, WA – and other city dwellers are appearing more predominant, in comparison.
Living In Seattle vs Redmond, WA
Now, if you’re trying to decide between living in Seattle vs Redmond, WA… chances are you are working at Microsoft! Many people who search for homes specifically in the Redmond area are there because they want to be close to work and Bill Gates’ software company Microsoft is the 800-lb gorilla in the East Side employment space.
The truth is, though if you work in Redmond, you are well-positioned to get there easily enough from Seattle, Bothell, Lynnwood or even Monroe, Washington.
Relocating To Seattle For A Tech Job
Seattle, Bellevue and Redmond over a LOT of IT jobs. Whether you work for Amazon, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, or one of the many smaller tech firms, it’s great to get an orientation of what to look out for when relocating to Seattle for a tech job.
What To Know Before Relocating To Seattle, Washington
Washington is an awesome state and Bellevue, Seattle and Redmond are all fantastic places to live. However, things have been changing in Seattle a lot over the last few years, so in this video, I strive to “tell it how it is” and let you know exactly what you need to be aware of when moving to Seattle, WA.
Cost Of Living In Seattle
One of the biggest concerns people have when they move to Seattle is the Cost Of Living
Need help relocating to Seattle? Emily Cressey of HomePro Associates can help!
But, not to fear! HomePro Associates can help! We love working with relocation buyers in Seattle and the surrounding King and Snohomish county area, in order to help you find the home of your dreams… whether it’s a close-in townhouse or condo, a single family home in the north end, or a more rural farm property in Redmond, Woodinville or Monroe.
Please fill out the form below and let us know when you will be in town to look for property and we will be happy to help you find, offer on, and buy the right property for you!
