11 Mar Why Move to Seattle From the Bay Area?
Having had three years in property and resident management, I had a first hand look at where people are moving from. Many new tenants I encountered were from California. They were moving up to Seattle for job opportunities and the incredible outdoor lifestyle that Seattle has. Plus, you can’t beat the breathtaking views of Mount Rainier when you are getting ready to land at Seatac airport!
Besides, the great economic status that Seattle has, I want to dive into the data. Let’s take a look at what housing affordability and the wealth opportunity looks like comparing the bay area to the puget sound by taking San Francisco and comparing it to Seattle.
Affordable Housing Costs
The biggest reason people are moving is housing affordability. The average home costs are much lower. You can own your footprint in Seattle for about half the cost of a home in San Francisco and a lower cost of a home in North Bay. For example, the average home price in San Francisco is 1$.4 million. In Seattle, the average home price sits at $750k. This is almost half the cost! All in all, the opportunity to grow your wealth in Seattle is there. With a lower home price, the barrier to entry is more affordable.
Downzoning
Recently, there have been zoning changes in Seattle. ADU’s are now permitted to be added to many lots in the area. If you are looking to get into real estate investing, while trying to grow your career or business, Seattle may be the perfect place to do this. Adding an ADU or converting the basement into a unit will help offset your rent.
Outdoor Recreation
The west coast is known for its array of outdoor options for the active enthusiast. The accessibility to hiking, biking, and multitude of outdoor recreation in the Puget Sound is endless. Not only are there transit options from downtown to get you to your nearest hike, you can partner up with several meetup hiking groups in the area to get to your next adventure. The views of the Cascade Mountains or a trip to the Olympic Peninsula will be worth the trip. Plus, any home you buy in the Puget Sound will have access to a nearby nature walk in a lush green escape.
Walkability
According to Walkscore, Seattle is described as a walker’s paradise scoring a 99 out of 100. For biking, the score is 69. Seattle is adding more and more bike lanes and is geared toward the comfortability of not using a car in the city.
Average Wage
$78K is the average pay for a single person in Seattle. Compared to the average wage of San Francisco at 94k. The wage may be less in Seattle, but getting into a home is the opportunity that awaits.
Grow your Wealth
The opportunity awaits in the Northwest Puget Sound. I help people moving from the North Bay to Seattle as a local Keller Williams Agent. As a landlord myself, I know the opportunity Seattle has. This is especially true for first time home-buyers. Together we can find the home or investment property that is right for you. Schedule your consultation today through my website below:
Sources Cited:
https://www.walkscore.com/score/seattle
https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Employer=San_Francisco/Salary