Relocating to Seattle...maybe a little help picking the right area for us? (Shoreline: rental homes)

[djbjr70]

Howdy folks, I am considering an offer which would include moving to the Seattle area and I am looking for input on the right area.

I am married with 3 kids and would like to rent a home.

Is it out of the question to find a home in a safe area with decent schools in the $2500 range?

We would like good schools but we have been in the "best" schools before and IMO they are more of a competition for parents than anything else.

I just want a good size home (2500sqft?) and a short commute.

Suggestions?


...thanks in advance

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by djbjr70

Howdy folks, I am considering an offer which would include moving to the Seattle area and I am looking for input on the right area.

I am married with 3 kids and would like to rent a home.

Is it out of the question to find a home in a safe area with decent schools in the $2500 range?

We would like good schools but we have been in the "best" schools before and IMO they are more of a competition for parents than anything else.

I just want a good size home (2500sqft?) and a short commute.

Suggestions?


...thanks in advance

A short commute... to where?

[djbjr70]

hahaha oops.

Seattle, 4th and Madison.

I had a 60 mile commute in Phoenix and wanted to kill people. My commute now in Las Vegas is <10 minutes and life is good. (except the fact we hate the desert)

[Hemlock140]

An older home in a nicer area like Greenlake will be $1,800-$2,000 but not many that size are for rent, most will be 1,200-1,500 sf. With so few the size you want the rents will be higher. When it comes to schools, the good ones are in even more expensive areas like Ballard, Magnolia and Queen Anne.

The larger rental homes are in the suburbs such as Issaquah with a 45 minute commute on a good day.

[Inkpoe]

If you're not looking for the top of the top school district, then you've exponentially opened a lot of areas. If you're willing to navigate the crazy politics of Seattle Public Schools; they do have a lot of good elementary schools, it's when you get to the upper levels that would require more diligence, but that may be awhile. The size of the house might prove a bit challenging as the houses closer to Seattle are of an older stock, so they're not as big. Or if they're big, then they're really expensive.

Look to West Seattle (North Admiral, Gennesee, Alki), Ballard/Carkeek area, Lake Forest Park/Shoreline, Renton, Burien/Normandy Park.

[joecello]

The price is not unreasonable at all, we were in a similar situation a few months ago, moved from Dallas with two kids and a $2500 budget, at least 3 bedrooms and 2000+ sq. ft.

Like poster above, saw a lot in the $1900-$2100 range in Ballard, Wallingford, Greenlake, Queen Anne, Magnolia, all 15-20 minute drive/30 minute bus ride to the downtown core, but they were either smaller than 2000 sq ft or not in great shape. As soon as we went up to $2500, things got a lot better, but certainly not PHX/Vegas quality, where housing is cheap. Only issue was competition - if you find a good home to rent, even at $2500, they go very quickly (like a day).

We're fans of Ballard b/c of good schools for being in Seattle Public Schools, but I'm sure other areas are good too - Queen Anne for sure.

[Negotiator75]

Originally Posted by djbjr70

Howdy folks, I am considering an offer which would include moving to the Seattle area and I am looking for input on the right area.

I am married with 3 kids and would like to rent a home.

Is it out of the question to find a home in a safe area with decent schools in the $2500 range?

We would like good schools but we have been in the "best" schools before and IMO they are more of a competition for parents than anything else.

I just want a good size home (2500sqft?) and a short commute.

Suggestions?


...thanks in advance

Don't do it. There is hardly any sunlight there and it rains CONSTANTLY. The kids will have a terrible life. Not to mention that the cost of living there is very inflated, people are nasty with terrible passive-aggressive attitudes.

There is alot of crime there, auto thefts... because its a port city and its easy to send the parts to asia from there. They just stuff your car in a container and its gone.

The city is filled with losers and losing sports teams.. Mariners & Seahawks SUCK.

2500 square feet will run you $500,000+ if you want a nice school near by.

Stay CLEAR from that dump of a city and move to NYC. Don't let these yuppies tell you otherwise.

[spotlesseden]

lol @ NYC. yeah, NYC is more safe, has cheaper housing, more nicer people, and lower tax.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by Negotiator75

Don't do it. There is hardly any sunlight there and it rains CONSTANTLY. The kids will have a terrible life. Not to mention that the cost of living there is very inflated, people are nasty with terrible passive-aggressive attitudes.

There is alot of crime there, auto thefts... because its a port city and its easy to send the parts to asia from there. They just stuff your car in a container and its gone.

The city is filled with losers and losing sports teams.. Mariners & Seahawks SUCK.

2500 square feet will run you $500,000+ if you want a nice school near by.

Stay CLEAR from that dump of a city and move to NYC. Don't let these yuppies tell you otherwise.

LOL! Man the old reverse psychology ploy works well sometimes, doesn't it?

[Ira500]

Oh yeah. When I think about a nice safe place to raise the kids, the first place that comes to my mind is New York City.