[kugrz99]

I'm finally moving back to WA! I grew up in Spokane and went to Wazzu but am now living in Jersey (my husband thinks we've been exiled). I have a 2003 MCS IB/W and have put 11,500 miles on it in 6 months (daily commute plus road trips to Maine, Pittsburg, & Washington DC).

If all goes well, I'll be working in downtown Seattle, and I'm looking for ideas on where to live. Also, does anyone know if there are plans for another MINI dealer in the Seattle area.

[adamlondon]

Congratulations on your move. Sounds great, however I myself have absolutely no information on the area, except that it is like London in some respects. Pack an umbrella...

[markjenn]

I haven't heard anything about another Mini dealer. The current dealer (Mini Northwest) is reasonably well liked and is about a half hour south of Seattle. Their waiting list is unreal though - almost a year for a MCS at $600 over MSRP.

Housing is very expensive, but there are lots of options. Our traffic is unreal. A lot depends on whether you have kids and the school system is important to you. Complex subject and I'd strongly suggest you rent for at least a year or two to get the lay of the land before making a committment. If you buy, it will be a huge outlay, so you want to make the right decision.

- Mark

[motoring]

I agree with Mark, lots of variables on housing. There is no perfect place (OK there is but I can't afford it) there is always a trade off. Traffic, Price, noise, lot size, schools, view, etc.

Welcome to Seattle

[nonsequitur]

Welcome to Seattle!

To help answer your questions about where to consider living, there are some basic understanding of your needs that would help us help you as stated by markjenn and motoring: Kids and schools?, Price range?, View?, Commute tolerance and preferred method?, and in-City or Suburban or Country?

Here are some non-real estate "Seattle" links, which in turn have other links, that might be fun to help you get started on what the area offers:
[http://www.cityofseattle.net/] City of Seattle
[http://www.metrokc.gov/] Metro/King County

[http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/] Washington State Ferries
[http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/PugetSoundTraffic/cameras/] WADOT Traffic Cameras
[http://www.kenmoreair.com/] Kenmore Air floatplanes

[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/home/] The Seattle Times
[http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/] Seattle Post-Intelligencer

[http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/ClubMINI/] ClubMINI Internet-based local club

[http://www.seattleattractions.com/] Seattle Attractions
[http://www.museumofflight.org/] Museum of Flight
[http://www.emplive.org/] Experience Music Project
[http://www.pacsci.org/] Pacific Science Center
[http://www.spaceneedle.com/] Space Needle
[http://www.seattleaquarium.org/] Seattle Aquarium
[http://www.microsoft.com/museum/default.mspx] Microsoft Museum
[http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/] Burke Museum
[http://mariners.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp?c_id=sea] Seattle Mariners baseball
[http://www.seattlesounders.net/] Seattle Sounders soccer

[edm81363]

Welcome - feel free to e-mail me at ed@mcnichol.com and I can try to help you out (for a cheesesteak from the shore!)

-Ed

[RickB]

I've been spending a lot of time in West Seattle, the last six months. Even though I've lived in Seattle most of my adult life, I'd never been to Alki, even once, until last Summer. Although there are "bad" parts of town, West Seattle has some really beautiful parks, and it is a very short commute from downtown. When I bus from my place, near the northern city line, it takes 45-50 minutes to get home on an express. From West Seattle, it's twelve minutes. Housing is available; my girlfriend is paying $900/mo to rent a split-level 2-bedroom, and similar houses are selling in the $250k range. Of course, you can spend a half million, easily, nearer Alki beach.
The rain's not so bad. Or maybe, I'm just used to it.
Downtown parking is no fun. I try not to drive in, but when I do, there's usually an "early bird" rate of $8-$9 available. My building (WaMu Tower) is $21/day.

[kugrz99]

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I've had a bit of computer trouble and haven't been able to check mini2.

It looks like my husband is going to be in Seattle by the end of Februay, but I'll be stuck in Jersey until June (or whenever I get a job). In the meantime, he's going to get an apartment with my sister on Queen Anne. (That sounds kind of wierd.)

Hopefully, I'll see you all on the road sooner rather than later.

[snarl]

I'm gleaning the knowledge off of your thread kugrz99. I will be relocating in Seattle in March with two MINIs. The plan is to rent for a while as was suggested. The Pac NW is home.

Thanks for all the links nonsequiter!

[lespurgeon]

All the MINIs reside in Wallingford from what I can tell (there is one parked every block some days). I'm on that NW MINI waitlist (hence being a new member here), but I may just have to look to some other options - wouldn't be too bad to start a Mini relationship with a road trip.