My Estimated Rail Commute Time: 23 Years, 13 Minutes

Sound Transit predicts the Light Rail will reach Northgate by 2030. When I try to conceive of the year 2030, a Jetsons-like image comes to mind, and I want to ask, Won’t our jetpacks and hovercraft make trains obsolete by then? Maybe.

But if you’re not willing to wait that long, the link that runs from Seatac through Rainier Valley, Beacon Hill, and SoDo to Downtown Seattle should be done by 2009.

Most pedestrian websites say that people are generally willing to walk up to a half mile to meet public transportation. If you want to get in before the Light Rail is done, here are some Bang for Your Buck homes (ranging from $119-227/sq. ft.), roughly within a half-mile of each of these stations.

Rainier Beach Station - 24 minutes to Westlake (S Henderson St and MLK Way S)
Price: $345,000
8455 50th Ave S - MLS#: 27146909
Beds: 3, Baths: 2
Sq. Ft.: 2,910
$/Sq. Ft.: $119

Price: $334,500
9275 52nd Ave S - MLS#: 27114225
Beds: 3, Baths: 1.75
Sq. Ft.: 2,680
$/Sq. Ft.: $125

Price: $489,950
9322 Beacon Ave S - MLS#: 27162102
Beds: 6, Baths: 3.5
Sq. Ft.: 3,660
$/Sq. Ft.: $134

Price: $375,950
9316 39th Ave S - MLS#: 27164190
Beds: 4, Baths: 2.25
Sq. Ft.: 2,300
$/Sq. Ft.: $163

Othello Station - 21 minutes to Westlake (Othello St. and MLK Way S)
Price: $349,900
7511 45 Ave S - MLS#: 27155260
Beds: 3, Baths: 2
Sq. Ft.: 2,440
$/Sq. Ft.: $143

Price: $419,000
3533 S Portland St - MLS#: 27167190
Beds: 3, Baths: 1.5
Sq. Ft.: 2,680
$/Sq. Ft.: $156

Price: $397,000
4642 S Fontanelle St - MLS#: 27134310
Beds: 5, Baths: 2.75
Sq. Ft.: 2,410
$/Sq. Ft.: $165

Price: $479,950
4516 S Myrtle St - MLS#: 27140015
Beds: 5, Baths: 3
Sq. Ft.: 2,700
$/Sq. Ft.: $178

Columbia City Station - 18 minutes to Westlake (MLK Jr. Way and S Edmunds St)
Price: $469,000
4143 39th Ave S - MLS#: 27111942
Beds: 4, Baths: 3.5
Sq. Ft.: 2,820
$/Sq. Ft.: $166

Price: $375,000
3420 S Alaska St - MLS#: 27133734
Beds: 3, Baths: 1.75
Sq. Ft.: 2,240
$/Sq. Ft.: $167

Price: $434,990
3523 S Hudson St - MLS#: 27165284
Beds: 5, Baths: 2.75
Sq. Ft.: 2,530
$/Sq. Ft.: $172

Price: $415,000
5051 32nd Ave S - MLS#: 27166861
Beds: 4, Baths: 1.75
Sq. Ft.: 2,380
$/Sq. Ft.: $174

Mount Baker Station - 13 minutes to Westlake (S Forest St and Rainier Ave S)
Price: $365,000
3425 York Rd S - MLS#: 27068016
Beds: 4, Baths: 1
Sq. Ft.: 2,200
$/Sq. Ft.: $166

Price: $439,000
3006 S Charlestown St - MLS#: 27168019
Beds: 5, Baths: 3
Sq. Ft.: 2,350
$/Sq. Ft.: $187

Price: $399,950
3318 Claremont Ave S - MLS#: 27154397
Beds: 4, Baths: 1.75
Sq. Ft.: 1,930
$/Sq. Ft.: $207

Price: $869,500
2322 22nd Ave S - MLS#: 27159098
Beds: 3, Baths: 2.5
Sq. Ft.: 4,170
$/Sq. Ft.: $209
(Bonus: this house is also within a half mile of the Beacon Hill Station, so you could walk downhill both ways!)

Beacon Hill Station - 12 minutes to Westlake (S Lander St and Beacon Ave)
Price: $450,000
3312 18th Ave S - MLS#: 27126308
Beds: 4, Baths: 1.5
Sq. Ft.: 2,480
$/Sq. Ft.: $181

Price: $439,995
2121 21st Ave S - MLS#: 27077899
Beds: 4, Baths: 2.25
Sq. Ft.: 2,340
$/Sq. Ft.: $188

Price: $549,000
2502 20 Ave S - MLS#: 27136674
Beds: 3, Baths: 2.5
Sq. Ft.: 2,560
$/Sq. Ft.: $214

Price: $340,000
2315 S Winthrop - MLS#: 27130197
Beds: 2, Baths: 1
Sq. Ft.: 1,500
$/Sq. Ft.: $227
(Another downhill both ways!)