Photos of the property we bought near Seattle

16 years ago

Hi everyone,

Thanks to a few nice people in a post below who helped me learn to post photos, I'd like to share our property with you!

It's 2.64 acres with a creek, pond, and private lake access across the Puget Sound from Seattle (60 min drive or 60 min ferry ride). We currently live in Los Angeles but hope to move home in about 3 years to build our dream home on it.

*Our eventual building site (facing Southwest)

{{gwi:1496664}}

*a photo of our little creek taken from the road

{{gwi:1496665}}

*another creek photo

{{gwi:1496666}}

*creek with a little bridge (they were there when we bought the place)

{{gwi:1496667}}

*one of the many trails that cut through the property and 15 acres of greenbelt surrounding it

{{gwi:1496668}}

*Our building site facing Northeast

{{gwi:1496669}}

Thanks for looking!

Sarah

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (20)

zone_8grandma
16 years ago
Sarah,
Very pretty - are you on the Olympic Peninsula? (I'm near Port Townsend)
pinktoes
16 years ago
Why do I just have little icons on the screen which don't open up when I click on them? No photos on my screen. I'm semi-computer-illiterate, so it could be user error.
Related Discussions
Mountain Hemlocks near Seattle
Q
Comments (5)
It depends on what you are looking for - the "small, thin and twisted" are generally wild harvested trees (with a permit - all approved and OK) and that look is very indicative of their alpine or subalpine growing conditions and is very much in demand with a certain type of retail customer. Larger, fuller and more regular shaped trees are field grown specimens and tend to be less widely available as the demand is not as strong but they do exist. FWIW, collected or harvested trees often have a compromised root system due to both their growing conditions (i.e., rocky cliffs)and to the harvesting methods. If not excessively compromised and with good aftercare, in a cultivated garden with decent soil, good drainage and adequate watering, these will very often fill out and grow into very handsome, large trees. Try looking at retail outlets that specialize in a wide conifer selection - Wells Medina or Emery's are a couple. And sometimes outlying retail nurseries that offer landscaping services or also cater to the wholesale trade like Olympic Nursery in Woodinville or Savage Plants on the Kitsap Peninsula will have a bigger selection of larger stock. FWIW, most retail nurseries bring in the bulk of their tree stock for the season in late winter or early spring - you are unlikely to find too much additional new stock later in the year.
...See More
We bought a Rainbow Bridge
Q
Comments (20)
It has been suggested by many people that we should do a title search on the property so today I called my friend that is the County Clerk and explained the situation. The Recorder of Deeds happened to be sitting in his office so they told me what to do. I went to the court house and started with the old books that show everything starting in the late 1800's from the time the land was subdivided and it only had transfers of the deed. I then checked the computer which has everything since the late 1980's and the only two things that have been and still are on the property are two liens by the city for rubbish removal for $110.00 & $135.00. Both had been put on the property within the last two years after the husband passed away and the wife left the property uncared for. They then sent me to City Hall where I spoke to the legal department. Both ladies there were really nice and thanked me for what we are doing with the cemetery. The total owed to have the liens removed is just under $350.00 so that is no big deal. It could have been worse. A title search would have cost $500.00 to find out that $350.00 is owed. It only took me about an hour total to find everything out on my own. Everyone I have spoken to has been very helpful. The property has never been issued an address so I called zoning and they transfered me to public works. They are going to go check out the property and then will email me an address for the place. Our insurance guy needs to have it for the liability insurance. I will be glad when all of the legal stuff is finished and I can get busy giving the place a much overdue grooming. A local man contacted us yesterday after reading the story in the paper and offered to donate a bunch of hostas and daylillies. He is not an animal lover but he likes what we are doing for others.
...See More
This one? Just bought a property and trying to figure what we have..
Q
Comments (9)
total WAG ... the invasive plum ... i dont think anyone is talking about a fruit tree here ... who killed the grass??? ... is there a plan there ... that crotch angle.. will lead to future problems ... its up to you .. since you have no invested emotional attachment ... to MAYBE get rid of it.. and plant something better .. or leave it be for 10 years... getting attached to it ... and then it failing in a wind.. snow.. ice.. or all of the above storms.... and it failing ... in spring.. when it flowers.. an ID should easily be made ... ken
...See More
Can we talk about real estate property taxes?
Q
Comments (46)
Timely subject. Our neighborhood just received our property tax assessments for 2016, payable in 2017. Our property taxes have gone up 45%. Our home values have not. We had a refi appraisal within the last year & our home value was less than the current property taxes, prior to this increase. A 45% increase & our taxes are already high. Illinois is number 50, of 50 states, in public pension debt. In the recent past, the federal government has given Illinois stimulus money for education. The majority of that money has NOT gone to schools & students - it has paid for pension debt. We're going to need another bailout from the states that have been fiscally responsible. Edit: We will be appealing - we do every year. The first time we used an attorney, whose fee was 50% of of the tax savings. Then we started doing it ourselves. We have the choice to appeal based on "uniformity" or "overvaluation." "Uniformity" involves collecting & submitting comps of other comparable homes. "Overvaluation" is submitting a home appraisal with a date of Jan 1, 2016 so we get tax credit for the entire year. We've had better results with the home appraisal, overvaluation method. Everyone in our neighborhood's home value has jumped up by between $200,000 - $400,000, according to the taxing authority. I'd have no problem with it if our home value had truly increased, but it hasn't.
...See More
sniffmeister
Original Author
16 years ago
We are! The property is in Port Orchard near Bremerton. I grew up in Kitsap County and now live in the concrete wasteland that is Los Angeles. =D They're calling for rain here tonight and I'm watching the skies!

I love Port Townsend! My family are big campers and love camping up in that area.

Pinktoes, I'm sorry you can't see the photos...I think it did it ok cause I can see them on my computer.
pattiem93
16 years ago
It's not you, Pinktoes-I get the same thing. It sounds lovely though!
zone_8grandma
16 years ago
Well that's a puzzle because I had no problem seeing the photos...

pinktoes & patty,
Why don't you try the links directly? I've pasted them below...

http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos4050
http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos3741/1/89/20/67/23/7/723672089109_0_ALB.jpg
http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos4052/1/89/20/67/33/6/633672089109_0_ALB.jpg
http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos4050/1/89/20/15/59/2/259152089109_0_ALB.jpg
http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos4050/1/89/20/56/13/2/213562089109_0_ALB.jpg

Laura, you are smart to buy now... By the time you build, the value of your lot will most likely rise. We bought our lot in Jan of 2005 and now the lot next to us (which is smaller and has no view) is for sale at more than twice what we paid...
persnicketydesign
16 years ago
Congratulations on your GORGEOUS property!

You're making me terribly homesick!!! I used to live (and still have my entire family) in Poulsbo, Silverdale, and Bremerton. *sigh*

It's all changed so much over the years and I'm amazed every time I go back home. My brother and I spent every summer at my grandparent's house on Chico Way when I was little. I remember when there wasn't even a stoplight in Silverdale! LOL
flgargoyle
16 years ago
I had to right click on each one and select 'view image'. Now I can see them all- beautiful piece of property. It must have something to do with the way some computers are set-up. It's so exciting to make that first step! We bought 7 acres last fall, and should have a gravel drive in by the end of the year. Hopefully, in '08 I'll build a barn; in '09, maybe start on a house. Good luck, and keep us posted!
pinktoes
16 years ago
flgargoyle has the trick that works for me. And the pics stay on my screen after they show up. Well, at least for now.

Gorgeous! I so love the little bridge!
sniffmeister
Original Author
16 years ago
Persnickey,

I grew up in Manchester, and my in-laws live at Kitsap Lake. You would be SHOCKED at Silverdale now! With the new Tacoma bridge opening 2 months ago, the price of our property has already doubled since the 2006 tax assessment.

pinktoes, we were so excited to see those little bridges when we viewed the property! The neighbors all got together to buy the 15 acres around it to make trails and parks and I guess when they were developing it, they felt the need to do ours as well. Oh well, we love it and can't wait until the we meet the neighbors on the paths even if some of the paths are on our own property!

When we were property hunting I found this place just by driving by and stopped to look. My father in law said it looked "wet" from the road and thought it was a waste of time but we explored it anyway. I fell in love the moment I crossed that little bridge.

Thanks everyone for looking! Sarah
kats
16 years ago
Sarah,

What an amazing area! Congratulations on the start of your journey. Keep posting those "pics".
flgargoyle
16 years ago
If you like bridges, go to pacifi.ca and look around. My son and I built a 15' bridge over our garden pond.
cork2win
16 years ago
Great property! Reminds me of our place... creek and pond and bridges and all. I hope the "public" trails don't become a nuisance at some point.
lindybarts
16 years ago
What a beautiful piece of land! Hope your dream home becomes a reality very soon.
rhome410
16 years ago
My computer won't show them to me even if I try the right click trick. Had to do the whole cut and paste thing.

Have you seen the plans for Manchester, Sarah, speaking of change in the area?

Your property: Beautiful, beautiful. I opted out of dealing with 'wetlands' this time we bought, so you are braver/more tolerant than I! (The rules and setbacks change so constantly.) Not trying to be a downer, though. Your property looks wonderful.
sniffmeister
Original Author
16 years ago
The people who had it before us had all the permitting done so we're good with the county.

What's going on with Manchester? My parents are selling their house there now but I haven't heard of any new plans.
rhome410
16 years ago
Manchester: Downtown, if you call it that ;-), they have torn out the old grocery store and that strip of little shops (used to hold galleries, dance studio, etc.) toward the water from the library to put up upscale condos and shops. They were pouring concrete the other day. I heard awhile back that there are similar plans for across the street from the restaurant, but I haven't seen any drawings published and there have been no physical changes to the lots.

Are your parents leaving the area? I love Manchester.
sniffmeister
Original Author
16 years ago
Wow, that's crazy! I used to go to the little store all the time and spent my summers in that library!

My parents sold their home for a 1 story place in Gig Harbor. Both are physically handicapped and a 2200 sq foot 2 story house was a bit much for them now that my sis and I have left the nest!

It's up for sale if you know of anyone in the area looking for a great house with a wonderful view! I can send you a link.
rhome410
16 years ago
Seems like every other house is for sale right now. The market is SO slow. I hope they find a buyer soon. My parents had to move from their place south of Olympia and sold it the first week! --So it is possible, since they only need one buyer! It'd be great to have the link.

We lived in Gig Harbor for several years. Lots of nice areas around there.

Thankfully, the library will still be there. We go there all the time! It has a view of the water for the moment, since the old building is gone, and the new one isn't up yet.

PS Is your cousin the male or female drama teacher? :-)
houseful
16 years ago
Oh, it's gorgeous! That sure is something to look forward to over the next few years.

My brother just moved back to AZ from Poulsbo because his wife hated it. I never got to visit them when they lived there, but when I was 10, I spent the summer in Bothel with my married sister. I loved everything about it, including the rain. The best part was picking blackberries right off the side of the road!
sniffmeister
Original Author
16 years ago
The male drama teacher. =D

Houseful, Western Washington isn't for everyone especially for someone who grew up in the desert!

I got married in Bothell at one of the last remaining farms which is smack dab in the middle of the city. It's a lovely area.

My grandparents had this huge alley behind their house that had a ton of blackberries and raspberries that ran the length of the alley; about 1/2 mile. My sister and I LOVED picked them with my nana and we probably ate about 50% more than we ended up putting in our buckets. =D

Photos of the property we bought near Seattle

Comments (20)

zone_8grandma

pinktoes

Related Discussions

sniffmeister
Original Author

pattiem93

zone_8grandma

persnicketydesign

flgargoyle

pinktoes

sniffmeister
Original Author

kats

flgargoyle

cork2win

lindybarts

rhome410

sniffmeister
Original Author

rhome410

sniffmeister
Original Author

rhome410

houseful

sniffmeister
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Photos of the property we bought near Seattle

Comments (20)

Related Discussions

sniffmeisterOriginal Author

sniffmeisterOriginal Author

sniffmeisterOriginal Author

sniffmeisterOriginal Author

sniffmeisterOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

sniffmeister
Original Author

sniffmeister
Original Author

sniffmeister
Original Author

sniffmeister
Original Author

sniffmeister
Original Author