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#1
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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 |
#2
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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 |
#3
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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 |
#4
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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 |
#5
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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 |
#6
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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) |
#7
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" 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-$450,000 (or any amount more, depending on location and any "extras" such as landscaping, "old world charm," view, etc.). Though still relatively cheap compared to the homes in the UK. Have you seen the prices over there? I don't know how anyone could afford a home there. |
#8
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Though still relatively cheap compared to the homes in the UK. Have you seen the prices over there? I don't know how anyone could afford a home there. with great difficulty, my husband and I were exceptionally lucky, we both had a little bit of money, him from working in his gap year, me from a death in the family, so between us we could scrap together a deposit. However our salaries weren't enough for a mortgage on even the cheapest house in our city, though we worked out we could afford the monthly payments, then we heard about something called guarantor mortgages, basically my dad had to sign for us, but there were fairly strict criteria that he had to meet for him to be able to do that, of our 4 parents, I think he was the only one that qualified. We bought almost the cheapest house available, it was the price it was because it was an uncared for dump, we've had it for 3 years now and it's been hard work and there is still a long way to go. Anne |
#9
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I'm in the area also, and DH worked at M$ 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 |
#10
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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 |
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