OT anyone from Seattle/Redmond, WA

DH has got through the first stage of interviews for Microsoft, next step is
for him to fly out to Redmond for a face to face interview. As far as we
know, there won't be the opportunity for me to go out there before him
having to make a decision (if he gets a job that is), so I'm looking for
info about the area, stuff like housing costs and general costs of living.
Also, what are education and health services like?

For those who don't know me, I'm from the UK, where we live right now, in
Cambridge. I've worked briefly in the US in Putnam County, NY, but other
than that I've not been to the US, so I'm lacking in knowledge in lots of
areas.

I'd also be interested to hear from anyone who has moved back to Europe
after living in the US, we own our home here, so if we were to move we would
have to make a decision whether to sell or to let it out and there are heaps
of other issues, basically any wisdom appreciated!

Cheers

Anne

Anne Rogers wrote:
DH has got through the first stage of interviews for Microsoft, next step is
for him to fly out to Redmond for a face to face interview. As far as we
know, there won't be the opportunity for me to go out there before him
having to make a decision (if he gets a job that is), so I'm looking for
info about the area, stuff like housing costs and general costs of living.
Also, what are education and health services like?

For those who don't know me, I'm from the UK, where we live right now, in
Cambridge. I've worked briefly in the US in Putnam County, NY, but other
than that I've not been to the US, so I'm lacking in knowledge in lots of
areas.

I'd also be interested to hear from anyone who has moved back to Europe
after living in the US, we own our home here, so if we were to move we would
have to make a decision whether to sell or to let it out and there are heaps
of other issues, basically any wisdom appreciated!

Cheers

Anne

Hi Anne -

We live in Bellevue, about 5 minutes from the main M$ campus - actually
moved here when DH worked there for a while and was sick of the commute
from Seattle. Now, of course, we both work about 5 minutes from our
old place - sigh...

Cost of living in the Seattle/Redmond/Bellevue/Kirkland area is pretty
high, but perhaps not too different from what you're used to. Health
services are generally good, if expensive, but M$ has excellent
benefits still, I think. Bellevue schools are excellent, for the most
part - other areas are likely good as well, but I don't know specifics.

Feel free to drop me an email (remove spaces "kerry deutsch at
gmail com") and I'd be happy to help you out...

Kerry

Anne Rogers wrote:
DH has got through the first stage of interviews for Microsoft, next step is
for him to fly out to Redmond for a face to face interview. As far as we
know, there won't be the opportunity for me to go out there before him
having to make a decision (if he gets a job that is), so I'm looking for
info about the area, stuff like housing costs and general costs of living.
Also, what are education and health services like?

Email me if you like, Anne. My bet is if they're willing to hire him
from overseas he must be in line for a fairly high-up job, so I would
expect you'd do all right financially. Housing costs are quite high
here. If we had to buy our three-bedroom, two-bath house now instead of
ten years ago it would be around $300,000-$450,000 (or any amount more,
depending on location and any "extras" such as landscaping, "old world
charm," view, etc.). Education is spotty -- some good schools and
programs, but there's a reason about 30% of the kids are in private
schools (and it's not just because there are a lot of rich folks here,
although there are). Microsoft tends to have *very* good benefits,
covering all kinds of "alternative" care as well as standard stuff, so
it's likely you'll do as well as anyone as far as health services go.

--Helen

Anne -

I grew up in this area, still live here, DH is French and was brought over
by the same company. If you'd like to e-mail me with any questions feel free
boobelleandellie at gmail dot com.

Jess

"Anne Rogers" wrote in message
...
DH has got through the first stage of interviews for Microsoft, next step
is for him to fly out to Redmond for a face to face interview. As far as
we know, there won't be the opportunity for me to go out there before him
having to make a decision (if he gets a job that is), so I'm looking for
info about the area, stuff like housing costs and general costs of living.
Also, what are education and health services like?

For those who don't know me, I'm from the UK, where we live right now, in
Cambridge. I've worked briefly in the US in Putnam County, NY, but other
than that I've not been to the US, so I'm lacking in knowledge in lots of
areas.

I'd also be interested to hear from anyone who has moved back to Europe
after living in the US, we own our home here, so if we were to move we
would have to make a decision whether to sell or to let it out and there
are heaps of other issues, basically any wisdom appreciated!

Cheers

Anne

In article ,
"Anne Rogers" wrote:

DH has got through the first stage of interviews for Microsoft, next step is
for him to fly out to Redmond for a face to face interview. As far as we
know, there won't be the opportunity for me to go out there before him
having to make a decision (if he gets a job that is), so I'm looking for
info about the area, stuff like housing costs and general costs of living.
Also, what are education and health services like?

Hi -- I'm in Seattle. The public schools are generally thought of as
being not-so-hot, but I don't hear the horror stories I used to hear
when we lived in NYC. The housing market is going up up up (we've been
priced out), but if he's working at Microsoft I presume you'll be okay.
--
my fried egg makes me sick first thing in the morning

I'm in the area also, and DH worked at M$ for a year as a tech writer,
although he was at one of the satellite campuses in Bellevue. We're
actually in Edmonds which is Northwest of where M$ is by about 30
minutes when there isn't any traffic. ;-)

Sharalyn
mom to Alexander James (9/21/01)

" wrote in message
oups.com...
Housing costs are quite high
here. If we had to buy our three-bedroom, two-bath house now instead of
ten years ago it would be around $300,000-$450,000 (or any amount more,
depending on location and any "extras" such as landscaping, "old world
charm," view, etc.).

Though still relatively cheap compared to the homes in the UK. Have you seen
the prices over there? I don't know how anyone could afford a home there.

Though still relatively cheap compared to the homes in the UK. Have you
seen
the prices over there? I don't know how anyone could afford a home there.

with great difficulty, my husband and I were exceptionally lucky, we both
had a little bit of money, him from working in his gap year, me from a death
in the family, so between us we could scrap together a deposit. However our
salaries weren't enough for a mortgage on even the cheapest house in our
city, though we worked out we could afford the monthly payments, then we
heard about something called guarantor mortgages, basically my dad had to
sign for us, but there were fairly strict criteria that he had to meet for
him to be able to do that, of our 4 parents, I think he was the only one
that qualified. We bought almost the cheapest house available, it was the
price it was because it was an uncared for dump, we've had it for 3 years
now and it's been hard work and there is still a long way to go.

Anne

I'm in the area also, and DH worked at M$ for a year as a tech writer,
although he was at one of the satellite campuses in Bellevue. We're
actually in Edmonds which is Northwest of where M$ is by about 30
minutes when there isn't any traffic. ;-)

do you know what things are like in terms of being able to walk or cycle to
work, DH currently cycles to work and enjoys it, it keeps him fit as well as
saving money.

Anne

Hi -- I'm in Seattle. The public schools are generally thought of as
being not-so-hot, but I don't hear the horror stories I used to hear
when we lived in NYC. The housing market is going up up up (we've been
priced out), but if he's working at Microsoft I presume you'll be okay.

schools are not so hot just here either, so no change there, we are
tentatively contemplating home schooling anyway

I understand the salaries are good at microsoft, so you're right we would be
ok, I expect we would rent at first, so we could get a feel for the area and
where we wanted to live.

Anne