Time To Move To Bremerton? Cheap Housing, New Fast Ferry Are Incentives

BREMERTON, WA - On Monday morning, Kitsap Transit will launch a new fast-ferry service between Bremerton and Seattle. The 118-passenger Rich Passage 1 ferry will take about 28 minutes to cross Puget Sound, which is about half the time it takes a state ferry to make that trip. The fast-ferry has been in the works for more than a decade, and officials hope it'll attract new residents to Bremerton as housing costs (and commute times) soar in the Seattle metro area.

For anyone of normal means living in the Seattle area, buying a home is basically impossible. The median price of a home in June was $729,000, according to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. And moving to a more affordable area, like Kent or Marysville, means a nightmare commute, no matter where you're commuting to.

So, with a relatively easy commute and cheap housing, is it time to move to Bremerton? We decided to take a look at some of the homes and apartments available in the city. We definitely found some nice spots, especially if you work in downtown Seattle.

Here are some of the properties available to buy or rent:

$273,000
103 N. Callow Ave.
A real craftsman built in the 1920s for under $800,000? Bremerton has it. This house is located along a major road (SR 304) and on a bus line that would take you straight to the ferry dock. You literally could not buy a house like this in the Seattle area for such a low price (even if it's toxic waste site).

$195,000
2525 Northeast Helm St.
Looking for more of a country home? This 3,000 square-foot home is located north of downtown Bremerton and is within walking distance to Port Orchard (the body of water, not the city).

$99,000
1588 Naval Ave.
Want something with a nice view? This condo north of downtown overlooks the Port Washington Narrows with the Olympic Range off in the distance. You should also consider how much this place would cost you per month: if you had a 30-year mortgage and put the standard 20 percent down, you would end up paying about $500 a month. That's about a quarter of what you'd pay for an apartment in Seattle or Bellevue.

$1,200/month
646 Highland Avenue
Maybe you're not ready to buy. You can always rent! Apartments at the brand new Spyglass Hill building start at $1,200 per month, and you're literally a 1 minute walk to the ferry. A comparable brand-new apartment building in Seattle (without water views) costs close to $2,000 for a one-bedroom with half the square footage.

There are clearly some good deals over in Bremerton compared to Seattle. But if the ferry succeeds in attracting new residents to Bremerton, it's likely only a matter of time before prices start to rise, and people of ordinary means have to move farther away. Silverdale, anyone?

Images via Realtor.com