So we're in the market for a new home. We went and saw one today. It's east of Seattle, for those familiar it is in Fall City. It's on a small lake. Five acres but much of it is wooded and/or marsh. There is just enough carved out - for the house and for lawn - that I can do what I am wanting to do (gardening & agility equipment).

But I am worried about how soggy the grassy area is by the house. Granted, it has been raining a lot this past week or two, but other areas of the property were not soggy. The grassy areas by the house = soggy. Would fruit trees even thrive with their feet wet like this? I imagine it wouldn't really dry out till summer. And with my dogs, I'm envisioning a mud pit surrounding the house.

I checked king county's imap which shows no flooding, but there is wetlands. No huge surprises there. The yard is technically out of the wetland zone but that doesn't stop it from being soggy.

A friend of mine just made a good point about mosquitos having a hay day there. Probably very true.

Is my assumption correct? Fruit trees would hate me? There is a lot of moisture in the air. I saw some fruit trees but they were covered in moss. I'm thinking we need to pass on this house.

Nichole from the description you gave it does sound like it's going to be swampy ground. If it's a mosquito haven and your gut feeling is telling you it's too wet then I would listen and pass on it. Unless of course you're going to grow rice:)

Now that I'm away from the house and away from the pretty views, that does seem the most logical. What a bummer.

Of course, you could just stick with growing trees in pots rather than inground.

Mike

You may also want to find out if the grass is perhaps the septic drain field. When we moved to Duvall we found the same thing but we were able to fix it. If it is a drain field you can add dirt on top but you can't plant trees.

Is clearing some of the other land an option?

PS...You can control the mosquito problem almost completely if you open plunks (yes that is the brand) and fling it around the soggy areas. Safe for animals and fish so no problems.
Too bad for us that doesn't work in SE Texas. It would be like the commercial where they're trying to take down the building with a giant stuffed rabbit.

The good news is...now is a GREAT time to be buying a house.  Interest rates are low, and there are tons of homes on the market in most communities at bargain prices.  Don't get into a rush.  The perfect one is out there waiting for you.

Not too many things, in the fruit tree department, like soggy feet.

We've been looking since summer time. We're going back and forth between buying raw land and building or buying the house the traditional way. I want a main floor master bedroom and a large, flat, sunny lot and those things are nearly impossible to find in this area.