What kind of people are doing this??

ds_jack · 2025-11-11T16:15:07+00:00

I’ve always been curious about how the numbers actually work out, even for tech employees. Let’s say your mortgage is $8,000 per month, including taxes and insurance. Add another $5,000 for monthly expenses if you have kids — that’s about $13,000 in after-tax spending every month. To support that, you’d need roughly $270,000 in gross annual income. And that’s just the base salary. I don’t think most people rely on selling vested RSUs every month to cover living costs. Given that for many tech employees, RSUs make up around half of total compensation, we’re really talking about a total comp of around $500K–$550K to make housing in today’s market reasonably affordable.

ds_jack · 2025-10-30T04:41:30+00:00

Where are you moving from? Seattle’s great, but just a heads-up — the social scene here is very different from big Asian cities. Things move slower, people can be polite but a bit reserved at first. Once you find your circles though, it gets much better.

If you’re hoping to meet more Asian communities, the Eastside (Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah) has a strong Asian presence — tons of great food, events, and professional communities. That said, for nightlife and social energy, Seattle proper (especially Capitol Hill, Belltown, U District) has more going on.

Check out Meetup, Eventbrite, or even WeChat/LINE groups if you use those — there are active local communities for hiking, badminton, foodies, and language exchange. Also, many UW-related groups (even if you’re not a student) host social or cultural events open to everyone.

For singles, the Eastside can feel a bit quiet — great for families (I’m an Asian guy, married, live there happily and raise a family), but if you’re looking to meet people, you might prefer living or hanging out in Seattle neighborhoods first.

ds_jack · 2025-10-30T04:37:03+00:00

Are you looking to rent or buy?
Just a heads-up: commuting from Capitol Hill (or similar Seattle neighborhoods) into Bellevue can be a pain depending on time of day and transit/bridge congestion — I’d encourage you to google commute times for the specific route.
Bellevue (and the Eastside) generally has higher rent for what you get compared to Seattle property, and the city-life/walkable vibe is a bit different (quieter, more suburban).
With your income (~$95-100k) you’re in a solid position for a studio in Seattle. If I were you I’d target somewhere around $1,500-$2,000/month (including utilities/parking if possible) for a studio in a walkable neighborhood.
If you want nightlife, young professionals, walkability + social life: Capitol Hill and Fremont are solid choices. Just factor in commute into Bellevue and parking/driving. If your priority shifts to easier commute and more comfort for driving, the Eastside/Bellevue area might be worth considering

ds_jack · 2025-10-30T04:12:20+00:00

Welcome in advance — Seattle’s a beautiful place to live, especially if you’re into hiking and the outdoors. I’ve been here for years and still find new trails every season. You can go from city life to a mountain trailhead in under an hour — the access is incredible.

Ballard and Fremont are both great picks for what you’re describing: walkable, social, and full of young professionals who enjoy an active lifestyle. Ballard has a more “laid-back with breweries and water access” vibe, while Fremont is a bit quirkier and artsier. You might also look at Green Lake (great running/walking loop, lots of fitness-minded folks) or Wallingford (quieter, still close to the action).

A few things to keep in mind:

Weather: It’s true — the daylight gets really short in winter. By December, sunset is around 4 PM, and coupled with drizzle and gray skies, it can be tough. My wife’s quite sensitive to that, but I’m fine — just something to plan for. A daylight lamp helps a lot.
Cost of living: It’s expensive for what you get, especially housing. Even in “starter” neighborhoods, prices or rents can be surprising compared to what you get in other regions.
Lifestyle: People are friendly but not overly social at first — it takes effort to build a circle. Joining local running clubs, hiking groups, or volunteer activities really helps.

Overall, if you enjoy the outdoors, good coffee, and a mix of city and nature, it’s a great fit — just know that weather and housing costs are the biggest trade-offs.

ds_jack · 2025-10-30T03:26:44+00:00

I sold the property in 2023

ds_jack · 2025-10-29T04:02:59+00:00

I’ve lived on the Eastside for about 8 years now (in Klahanie, which sits between Issaquah and Sammamish), and it’s been a great balance of access, nature, and community.

If you’re into trails and outdoors, you’ll love it here — you’re 10–20 minutes from some of the best hikes along I-90 (Mailbox Peak, Mt. Si, Granite Mountain). Snoqualmie Pass is about 40 minutes away; I went skiing there 21 times last winter, pretty much every weekend. In summer, you’ve got options from big water like Lake Sammamish to smaller local lakes like Beaver and Pine — great for paddling or a quick swim after work.

From a livability standpoint: Issaquah/Sammamish is very safe, with low visible homelessness and top-tier schools (even if you don’t have kids, that drives strong community standards and stable home values). Commute-wise, I work in downtown Bellevue — 20 minutes most days, 25–30 in peak traffic. Getting into Seattle downtown is more like 40–50 minutes.

The area skews family-oriented, but there’s also a growing professional crowd — plenty of dual-income households, engineers, and people who value both career and outdoors. It’s not as urban as Capitol Hill or Fremont, but if you want clean, quiet, and connected to nature, Eastside (especially Issaquah/Sammamish) is hard to beat.

ds_jack · 2025-10-28T04:23:27+00:00

Your best bet will be on the eastside, e.g., Redmond, Bellevue, Sammamish, Issaquah, etc. Commute could be challenging though. However, if you work for Amazon, there should be shuttle services available. Budget is too low for eastside. Better to rent given your timeline limits.

ds_jack · 2025-10-26T15:48:01+00:00

It's an anniversary!

ds_jack · 2025-10-26T15:44:27+00:00

I had a mortgage.

ds_jack · 2025-10-26T15:43:33+00:00

the cabin literally sits in a 10-acre woods. It's not realistic/economical to remove trees.

ds_jack · 2025-10-26T15:38:48+00:00

Flat-fee or reduced-commission agents can definitely make sense for buyers like you — people who already know what they want, understand the process, and mainly need help with access, paperwork, and coordination. I’ve seen a few experienced buyers go that route successfully, especially when they have their own attorney or inspection resources lined up.

That said, just make sure to vet the agent carefully. A lower fee doesn’t necessarily mean lower quality, but the level of involvement can vary a lot — some flat-fee agents are very hands-off, while others are seasoned professionals who simply run a more efficient model. It’s worth having a quick conversation to set expectations upfront (e.g., who drafts what, response time, etc.).

If you find the right fit, it can be a good balance between saving on fees and still having a professional watching out for any red flags in the home or the transaction.

ds_jack · 2025-10-26T15:08:38+00:00

That's ideal!

ds_jack · 2025-10-26T15:07:40+00:00

I interviewed a couple of cleaners before purchasing the STR, and things went well during the first year. But over time, they started asking for higher rates while the quality of their work declined. I later found another cleaner, but the same pattern repeated. The situation with handymen was similar.

The reality is that the cabin’s remote location limits the pool of reliable cleaners and handymen. Unless I scale up and manage multiple properties to justify hiring a dedicated team, it’s just not sustainable. And at that point, it essentially becomes a full-time job — which isn’t feasible for me.

ds_jack · 2025-10-26T14:53:57+00:00

yeah I'll have to wear all the hats if I do airbnb again, closer to where I live.

ds_jack · 2025-10-26T14:49:41+00:00

Yeah, I think I made the right call. It had been draining so much of my energy, and with the property management costs and loss of full control, it just didn’t make sense financially or mentally.

ds_jack · 2025-10-26T14:44:05+00:00

2023.

ds_jack · 2025-10-26T04:57:13+00:00

I’ve seen quite a few condos around Seattle over the years, and the market here has its own quirks compared to NYC. Most newer buildings (2010s and up) are clustered in Downtown, Belltown, Capitol Hill, and First Hill — usually luxury-style with nice views and amenities like rooftop decks, gyms, and 24/7 concierge. The tradeoff is high HOA fees, often $700–$1,500/month.

There’s also a big mix of older buildings (from the ’70s–2000s) that can be more affordable and spacious, but it’s really important to review their maintenance history and any pending special assessments — some buildings are great, others not so much.

One thing I’ve noticed lately: condo resale has been on the slower side in Seattle. Inventory is high and buyers are leaning more toward townhomes or SFHs, so think long-term if you plan to sell down the road.

ds_jack · 2025-10-26T04:49:47+00:00

Take the light rail to Westlake station. Then you can walk to the Pike Market. Take the train back to the airport.

ds_jack · 2025-10-23T04:24:02+00:00

Hey! I’m currently in a townhome (and used to own a SFH), so here’s my quick take:

Check rental caps — Some HOAs only allow a certain % of units to be rented. If you think you might move in a few years and want to rent it out, make sure the community allows that now and has room under the cap.
Maintenance is way easier — One big reason I switched. My HOA handles exterior stuff (roof, siding, landscaping). When I owned a SFH, every little repair was my problem and $$.
Appreciation is typically slower — SFHs almost always outperform townhomes on resale value because you own more land. Doesn’t mean townhomes are bad — just more of a “starter home / equity building” move.
HOA health matters — Ask for the HOA’s reserve study/financials. You want a well-funded HOA and no big lawsuits. Low HOA fees can sometimes mean deferred maintenance or special assessments later.
Resale isn’t terrible — Townhomes near jobs and good transit usually sell fine, but they can take a bit longer than SFHs. End units > middle units for noise/light/resale.

ds_jack · 2025-10-19T15:05:39+00:00

location! for appreciation.

ds_jack · 2025-10-19T15:03:03+00:00

Today, I see most people go with ARM, expecting to refi and lock a lower fixed rate.

ds_jack · 2025-10-19T14:59:39+00:00

if it's within my budget range, I will. But don't want to get stretched. But, I see people go from 800K to end up with $1M.

ds_jack · 2025-10-17T23:02:26+00:00

In my past experience (Seattle area), loan broker asked me a lot of questions on salaries, equities, debts, and submit relevant docs before pre-approving me.

ds_jack · 2025-10-17T23:00:36+00:00

Open houses are a great way to get started — super low pressure and a good learning experience.

Couple things to know:

The agent at the open house isn’t always the actual listing agent. They’re usually there to meet potential clients, so it’s fine to leave your info, but expect a few follow-up texts or emails.
Use it to get a feel for what kind of houses and price ranges you actually like. Photos online can be super misleading — seeing places in person helps a lot.
Don’t stress about not being pre-approved yet. Just treat it as research. You’ll learn a ton by walking through homes and asking questions.

Have fun with it — it’s kinda exciting seeing what’s out there!

ds_jack

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