Dude, this guy isn't talking about some posh high end part of Seattle. I just sold my "quaint 1200sqft starter house" in a remote South Seattle neighborhood for $675,000. It's 45+ minutes by transit to downtown. You know what I paid for that just 5 years earlier? $350,000.
This is the part of town where the grocery store has security guards all over the place, and the bank has thick bulletproof glass between you and the teller, and the transit options such big time. If you want to live anywhere remotely near where the jobs are, every house is near $1m+ now.
Conclude what you want, you're completely wrong and out of touch with current housing prices in a lot cities.
Funny reading some comments. I currently live in the northern part of Kirkland, in a very average suburb.
This isn't rich people houses folks, these are middle (possibly lower middle) class houses. Most people here didn't pay 1M for their homes, they most likely paid a very affordable price many years ago. It's worth repeating that house prices increased an average of ~40% since the beginning of Covid. That should help to put prices on perspective.
Going to the Safeway on Rainer is really on you. It does get dicey at night, but the day is okay.
One reason I would never live in "South Seattle" it's a literal food desert. The WinCo being in Kent is it's only saving grace, but even the QFC a bit north of the Safeway on Rainer - yeah.
The fun part is, all the good brands are routinely on sale/discounted heavily because the local population either does not like or can't afford it - e.g. cheeses. Always 20-40% discount on cheese.
Not so common in north outside Seattle limits, or even along the border - but yeah to go back to point -
"This is the part of town where the grocery store has security guards all over the place, and the bank has thick bulletproof glass between you and the teller, and the transit options such big time. If you want to live anywhere remotely near where the jobs are, every house is near $1m+ now."
Is why the good houses cost 1,000,000+. Community and neighborhood alongside school district.
There is some irony, though, in being in one of the most portable sectors of the economy but complaining about having to live “where the jobs are.” I think a lot more of it has to do with FOMO and wanting to live a particular tech lifestyle rather than needing to live in Washington or California to work in tech.
Other jobs literally have to move to continue their work in a particular industry. When a factory relocates, line workers need to move too. Nurses often have to move, or learn a new job. Sure, you may not have a high status FAANG job, but there’s way more remote work in tech than probably any other industry. I think it’s more an issue of managing expectations and wanting it all, than lack of opportunity to find a job in an area with a decent quality of life
This is the part of town where the grocery store has security guards all over the place, and the bank has thick bulletproof glass between you and the teller, and the transit options such big time. If you want to live anywhere remotely near where the jobs are, every house is near $1m+ now.
Conclude what you want, you're completely wrong and out of touch with current housing prices in a lot cities.