Tacoma WA RE and Family Living

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Tacoma WA RE and Family Living

Matthew Riggs
Rental Property Investor · Minnetonka, MN · Member since 2018 · 16 posts · 5 votes

Considering a move to Seattle and or surrounding suburbs. Initially was looking for a corporate job, so being close to Seattle was important. Now will be starting a business, so proximity to downtown Seattle isn’t as critical.

My wife is a CRNA so she needs to be close to a hospital (larger hospital preferred). We have a daughter who will be school age soon. My question is, should I consider the Tacoma area vs Seattle area for affordability? I will be starting a commercial finance company so will want to be able to “get my name out there” locally, and it’s probably best to be in an area with growing small/medium sized businesses and growing commercial real estate.

Ideally want to be able to boat, ski, hike, bike, all the outdoor stuff close by, but also want a town/city with the amenities as well - breweries, coffee shops, decent shopping, activities to do with the family and a safe and welcoming community.

Thoughts on best areas in/around Seattle and or Tacoma? Prefer not to spend more than $3k per month on rent, would love to buy a place, but budget would be probably $600k max for purchasing, which I know rules much of Seattle out.

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Brian Hughes
Seattle, WA · Member since 2017 · 275 posts · 223 votes
7y

Parts of tacoma are a little rough - but improving.   Other parts of tacoma are awesome right now.   Stadium district is my favorite  right now  (victorian mansions anybody?)   Recent articles in seattle times about the fact that many priced-out homebuyers from seattle are heading south to..   Tacoma.   

600K may not buy a "median" house in seattle but it will readily buy a house in city limits in lots of decent areas especially on the south end of seattle.   Beacon hill,  White center north of roxbury,  upper rainier beach are best bets for a larger home,   Areas of Seward, Hillman, Colombia City, Delridge also for "better" neighborhood but probably smaller house or bigger project.    

Looking for a liveable fixer will also increase your options tremendously.

There are 3 mid century homes in upper rainier beach ranging in age from 60's through early 80's for sale within about 1/2 mile of me right now,   all are well over 2000sf,  4+ bedrooms 2+baths, 2 floors.    Asking prices are ranging between 500K and 600K.    I toured open house at one of them yesterday and talked with the agent for quite a while.    We both agreed despite the asking price it would probably end up selling for 400-450K.   The place was structurally solid with exterior in decent shape but does need substantial interior renovation.   (First time on market since built in 1966, estate)   But its 1/2 mile walk to light rail,  1/4 mile from chief sealth trail and a mile to kubota garden,  Territorial view,   unmolested 2 car garage,   hardwoods throughout need repair but salvageable,  etc.    Hot tub/sauna off master,  mirror tiles throughout and red velvet bar downstairs no extra charge :)    This one might be a little too much of a fixer for a family,  but point is they are out there.

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  • Megan Shay
    Real Estate Broker · Poulsbo, WA · Member since 2018 · 121 posts · 66 votes
    7y

    @Matthew Riggs, Poulsbo/North Kitsap sounds like it'd be PERFECT for you! With the Kingston fast ferry and Bainbridge car ferry, there are options for getting into Seattle when you need to. (I live in Poulsbo and do the ferry commute once/twice weekly). Harrison Medical Center is expanding in Silverdale, 10 minutes from Poulsbo. They have other facilities nearby as well, including in Bremerton. Healthcare (and the Navy) are the biggest employers here. 

    Poulsbo and Kingston are both small communities that are growing, but still charming. And will all the amenities you're looking for. :-) Bonus: You can get a very nice, family-size house (with a view, even) for under $600k. Closer to $400-500k if you are a mile or two out of the center of town. I'd love to chat more and/or meet up if you come out on a scouting trip! We moved here (with our 2 elementary-age boys) from Mercer Island last year (long story short) and we absolutely love it. 

    More info on the area and contact on my blog. InPeakProperties.com/why-poulsbo.

    1Reply
  • Scott Mac
    Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    7y

    @Matthew Riggs

    Tacoma is the rougher area. Is that where you want your children to live and go to school?

    Personally I'd pick a smaller place in the Seattle area, than a bigger place in Tacoma to live.

    Just my 2 cents. 

    0Reply
  • Brian Hughes
    Seattle, WA · Member since 2017 · 275 posts · 223 votes
    7y

    Parts of tacoma are a little rough - but improving.   Other parts of tacoma are awesome right now.   Stadium district is my favorite  right now  (victorian mansions anybody?)   Recent articles in seattle times about the fact that many priced-out homebuyers from seattle are heading south to..   Tacoma.   

    600K may not buy a "median" house in seattle but it will readily buy a house in city limits in lots of decent areas especially on the south end of seattle.   Beacon hill,  White center north of roxbury,  upper rainier beach are best bets for a larger home,   Areas of Seward, Hillman, Colombia City, Delridge also for "better" neighborhood but probably smaller house or bigger project.    

    Looking for a liveable fixer will also increase your options tremendously.

    There are 3 mid century homes in upper rainier beach ranging in age from 60's through early 80's for sale within about 1/2 mile of me right now,   all are well over 2000sf,  4+ bedrooms 2+baths, 2 floors.    Asking prices are ranging between 500K and 600K.    I toured open house at one of them yesterday and talked with the agent for quite a while.    We both agreed despite the asking price it would probably end up selling for 400-450K.   The place was structurally solid with exterior in decent shape but does need substantial interior renovation.   (First time on market since built in 1966, estate)   But its 1/2 mile walk to light rail,  1/4 mile from chief sealth trail and a mile to kubota garden,  Territorial view,   unmolested 2 car garage,   hardwoods throughout need repair but salvageable,  etc.    Hot tub/sauna off master,  mirror tiles throughout and red velvet bar downstairs no extra charge :)    This one might be a little too much of a fixer for a family,  but point is they are out there.

    1Reply
  • Matthew Riggs
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Minnetonka, MN · Member since 2018 · 16 posts · 5 votes
    7y

    Gig Harbor does not look “rough” it looks really nice - how about that area? 

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  • Sisee Adams
    Rental Property Investor · Member since 2018 · 22 posts · 9 votes
    7y

    Gig Harbor has better schools and higher average home price compared to Tacoma.  It is a safer and beautiful place to live.  The only draw back is that it lacks of large corporations or high pay job opportunities.  Unless someone is retired or works from home, most of folks have to daily toll fee ($5 with pass, $6 with cash) to the other cities to work. 

    0Reply
  • Aaron NelsonBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Seattle, WA · Member since 2016 · 307 posts · 191 votes
    7y

    Hi @Matthew Riggs - A preemptive welcome to the Pacific Northwest! Lots of areas around King and Pierce counties for you to consider that will provide great amenities, access and fun things to do! Tacoma could be a good option and there is a ton of movement to the South. Each Tacoma neighborhood has its own feel. 

    There are also areas outside of Tacoma that fit your price point. Are you hoping to live “in the city” or are you also interested in considering a suburban feel? 

    [email protected]425-880-2580
    White Coat Realty536 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
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  • Matthew Riggs
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Minnetonka, MN · Member since 2018 · 16 posts · 5 votes
    7y

    @Sisee Adams - my wife is a CRNA so she just needs to find a medical center with anesthesia jobs. I am in the Army Reserves so will be working part time possibly in Hawaii or JBLM and will be starting a commercial finance business next year. I would like to be in an area in which business owners and entrepreneurs would benefit from my services - providing sources of capital for commercial RE development/refinancing, equipment leasing, SBA loans and various other commercial loans and services. I would want to be in an area where there is growth and where that type of business would do well because of the need for it. So yes I will be working from home to start and my wife will be working at a hospital. It seems like this area would be a good area for us since we are not seeking positions at large companies and I also want to be around more local businesses and business owners. What are your thoughts on that? 

    1Reply
  • Scott S.
    Tacoma, WA · Member since 2014 · 78 posts · 92 votes
    7y

    As someone who lives in Tacoma (10+ yrs) I can assure you won't be living in a "rough" neighborhood with a budget of $600k or $3k/mo for rent.  The North End neighborhoods such as North Slope historic district, Old Town, Proctor, Stadium District are very desirable with safe communities with great schools (Bellarmine Prep for highly-rated private school option).  When people speak of the rough neighborhoods they are typically referring to the South, South End, East Tacoma and Hill Top areas.  Just like Seattle, there are less desirable parts with high crime and issues.    

    Tacoma checks all the boxes for you.  Large hospital options for your wife, close to JBLM and growing small/medium sized businesses.  We also have gained a lot of new breweries and restaurants over the last 10 yrs from Seattle based owners looking for lower costs + growing demand.  And you'll have easy access to boating, hiking, skiing and all the outdoor activities.

    I also love the Poulsbo and Silverdale area but if you need to be close to JBLM that would be a brutal commute.  Gig Harbor is really nice with excellent schools but misses the growing small/med biz need.  You'd likely be commuting into Tacoma.  

    Also check out University Place.  Great school district and very safe neighborhoods.  

    This is why Tacoma is the hottest real estate in the US right now and high-income households are migrating to this area - you get all the good parts of Seattle for half the price. Unfortunately, $600k in Seattle for a SFH is typically going to land you in the least desirable neighborhoods with the worst schools. Unless you are willing to live in 1k sq ft home that likely needs some updating and TLC.

    1Reply
  • Quito Keutla
    Real Estate Agent · Renton, WA · Member since 2017 · 204 posts · 151 votes
    7y

    @Matthew Riggs Tacoma would be a good contender as @Aaron Nelson and @Scott S. mention as it's getting a lot of attention and is affordable.  You might even consider Renton with Boeing, Ikea and Valley Medical, it's a short commute to Seattle and the Eastside( Bellevue,Redmond,Issaquah)  the median home prices is less than the Seattle and Easide making it affordable to live and work.  With your price range there's plenty to choose from.

    0Reply
  • Edward Seid
    Real Estate Agent · Seattle, WA · Member since 2014 · 87 posts · 39 votes
    7y

    Hi @Matthew Riggs! Throw out "rough" with anything Seattle or Tacoma related. You're not in Chicago or Phili :). 

    From what I gather, you want to be close to:

    -small businesses

    -hospitals

    -schools for your daughter

    -family friendly amenities

    Beacon Hill:

    I can only speak for Seattle, but as far as 600k goes, you can get close to hospitals and decent schools in the Beacon Hill area. There's a large VA hospital in Beacon Hill, a huge park, and a golf course/range and plenty of restaurants/bars. In fact, it's one of the gentrifying areas in Seattle right now. 600k is at the bottom of the range for cosmetic fixers (3bd+). Beacon Hill also runs along the light rail route so you can be sure there's plenty of transit oriented development.

    Northgate:

    This neighborhood is just north of University of Washington. Northwest hospital is just a few blocks from Northgate Mall. In terms of small businesses, Simon Properties is actually overhauling the entire mall and they're building 3 practice ice rinks for Seattle's new NHL hockey team. One of the newest light rail stations is opening at Northgate Mall in a couple years. If you can aim for Maple Leaf, Greenwood/Licton Springs or anywhere close to the mall, you'd really stand to benefit from all the new businesses and light rail coming in. 

    Renton:

    Valley medical center is here and so is the Seahawks training center so there's tons of sports medicine places too. Once you get out to Renton, there's more cookie cuter homes if that's what you like, but also home prices much lower than the other neighborhoods I mentioned and IMO better schools than Seattle. Renton is a bit what you'd expect from the burbs. 

    I know we've contacted each other before, but let me know if you have any other questions about Seattle!

    Take care.

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  • Adam Hanson
    Member since 2019 · 7 posts · 1 vote
    7y

    Hey @Matthew Riggs,

      I moved out here to Seattle about 5 years ago from Rochester too!  

    I have just began my investing career and currently am shopping in and planning to move to Tacoma from North Seattle because of price/cost of living. Housing in Seattle seems to be picked clean unless you are deep in the scene or happen upon a bananas deal, however Tacoma is definitely looking like there's plenty of opportunity. There are parts of Tacoma that have an "Austin MN" vibe, a little gruff but starting to clean up as folks are investing in cleaning up neighborhoods and there are plenty of quiet clean and hip neighborhoods in full swing. Seattle is such a great city, but the price of entry seems to be at a real peak right now and it's getting more and more populated to the point that my work commute has over doubled in travel time due to the horrible traffic. But really, anywhere out here in the northwest, you're going to love, if nothing else, there's no 4 feet of snow and 40 degrees below zero in the winter.

    Feel free to reach out when you get out here, always love meeting folks from back home!

    Best of luck!

    0Reply
  • Christen G.
    Rental Property Investor · Seattle, WA · Member since 2017 · 384 posts · 249 votes
    7y
    Co-sign on this!


    Originally posted by @Scott S.:

    As someone who lives in Tacoma (10+ yrs) I can assure you won't be living in a "rough" neighborhood with a budget of $600k or $3k/mo for rent.  The North End neighborhoods such as North Slope historic district, Old Town, Proctor, Stadium District are very desirable with safe communities with great schools (Bellarmine Prep for highly-rated private school option).  When people speak of the rough neighborhoods they are typically referring to the South, South End, East Tacoma and Hill Top areas.  Just like Seattle, there are less desirable parts with high crime and issues.    

    Tacoma checks all the boxes for you.  Large hospital options for your wife, close to JBLM and growing small/medium sized businesses.  We also have gained a lot of new breweries and restaurants over the last 10 yrs from Seattle based owners looking for lower costs + growing demand.  And you'll have easy access to boating, hiking, skiing and all the outdoor activities.

    I also love the Poulsbo and Silverdale area but if you need to be close to JBLM that would be a brutal commute.  Gig Harbor is really nice with excellent schools but misses the growing small/med biz need.  You'd likely be commuting into Tacoma.  

    Also check out University Place.  Great school district and very safe neighborhoods.  

    This is why Tacoma is the hottest real estate in the US right now and high-income households are migrating to this area - you get all the good parts of Seattle for half the price. Unfortunately, $600k in Seattle for a SFH is typically going to land you in the least desirable neighborhoods with the worst schools. Unless you are willing to live in 1k sq ft home that likely needs some updating and TLC.

    0Reply
  • Elizabeth Miller
    Flipper/Rehabber · Cambridge, MA · Member since 2019 · 65 posts · 8 votes
    7y

    I lived in Bellingham, WA for 13 years. You have access to San Juan Islands and Mt Baker, lakes, marinas, and close to Canada if you want bigger city like Seattle. Lots of independent restaurants in town.

    1Reply
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