[Drago]

Your most likely going to have to go a little further out to find that kind of house for that kind of money. Schools should not be to big a concern as the eastside has some of the best. Neighborhoods are hit and miss...depends on what your looking for.

Our first place was in Kirkland (about 10 minutes from Bellevue without traffic). Three bedroom with a great room upstairs. We were starting our family and unfortunately, there were no other younger couples with kids in the neighborhood. Sold for 300K in 2001. We wanted more house and a better demographic so we moved north to the Mill Creek area (about 35 minutes to Bellevue, without traffic) and bought a four bedroom
home with a den and a three car garage in a great neighborhood for roughly 400K (in 2001 values).

As Superman as eluded...you can count on doubling travel times during the rush hour(s).