From Houston to Seattle May 2013? (apartments, for rent, how much)

[Chaped]

Hello everyone.

I have decided to move to Seattle in May of 2013 or whenever i find a job. I would greatly appreciate if you guys could tell me where i should be looking for an apartment. I'm 30 years old with no kids, no GF or wife. I love to run and ride my bike. I have no pets. The only thing that i will be taking with will be my bike and my car. Also, where are the places to meet late twenties and early thirties single women. Where are the places with a good nightlife? I'm not looking for the college nightlife atmosphere, but places that have a good selection of handcraft brews and very good restaurants.



Thank you,

[Hemlock140]

I would suggest Ballard, where there will be 1,700+ new apartments built over the next year or so, some completed in time for your move. This could help stabilize the current high demand/prices. Studios start at about $1,200. If you find something in the area around 15th and Market, you will be close to everything and can either take the Rapidline bus to downtown Seattle to work (or drive). It's flat and you can ride out toward Shilshole/Golden Gardens, or catch the bike trails down near the cruise terminal.

[eskercurve]

How big is your car? If I think Texas, my own prejudice conjures up SUV or big truck. That won't work here. At all. Like, the streets and lanes arent big enough. So do limit yourself to mid sized sedan. I see people in SUVs swerving and straddling the lane so often ...

As for neighborhood it might help to know budget. Pretty much the efficient bus system will get you anywhere in the city to where the party is at. Also, helps to know if your job will be downtown or not. How do you handle minorities? Do you mind ethnic food places far outnumbering American joints? If you do good with that you have more options and more affordable housing.

I would recommend east of capitol hill and south of there.

[Chaped]

Originally Posted by eskercurve

How big is your car? If I think Texas, my own prejudice conjures up SUV or big truck. That won't work here. At all. Like, the streets and lanes arent big enough. So do limit yourself to mid sized sedan. I see people in SUVs swerving and straddling the lane so often ...

As for neighborhood it might help to know budget. Pretty much the efficient bus system will get you anywhere in the city to where the party is at. Also, helps to know if your job will be downtown or not. How do you handle minorities? Do you mind ethnic food places far outnumbering American joints? If you do good with that you have more options and more affordable housing.

I would recommend east of capitol hill and south of there.

I own a Mitsubishi Lancer, I never liked trucks or big SUV's.

I don't know where i will be working yet, since I'm still looking for a job right now.

Being a minority myself I think i should be able to handle minorities pretty well.

[mrman78]

Originally Posted by Chaped

Hello everyone.

I have decided to move to Seattle in May of 2013 or whenever i find a job. I would greatly appreciate if you guys could tell me where i should be looking for an apartment. I'm 30 years old with no kids, no GF or wife. I love to run and ride my bike. I have no pets. The only thing that i will be taking with will be my bike and my car. Also, where are the places to meet late twenties and early thirties single women. Where are the places with a good nightlife? I'm not looking for the college nightlife atmosphere, but places that have a good selection of handcraft brews and very good restaurants.



Thank you,

I moved to Seattle from Houston in April. I'm also single and in my early thirties. I did it without a job lined up since it was getting really difficult to get the attention of local employers (other than phone interviews) and I couldn't stand living in Texas anymore. After arrival, I had a good response to my resume and found a job within a month and a half. I also found an apartment on top of Queen Anne hill before I moved up here and felt super lucky to find it let alone be accepted to rent it considering I wasn't here nor had a job locally yet. Anyway, the key is to save, save, save and make sure you have a really nice cushion if you plan to move without a job. Once you arrive, just treat the job search as a full-time job and get out of the house. I went to the central library monday-friday from about 10am - 4pm and researched jobs, updated my resume, etc.

[marvel23]

Originally Posted by Chaped

Hello everyone.

I have decided to move to Seattle in May of 2013 or whenever i find a job. I would greatly appreciate if you guys could tell me where i should be looking for an apartment. I'm 30 years old with no kids, no GF or wife. I love to run and ride my bike. I have no pets. The only thing that i will be taking with will be my bike and my car. Also, where are the places to meet late twenties and early thirties single women. Where are the places with a good nightlife? I'm not looking for the college nightlife atmosphere, but places that have a good selection of handcraft brews and very good restaurants.



Thank you,

Wow, sounds like me. I'm from Houston, 30, no kids, no GF. I am finishing up my masters in May and thinking about moving to Seattle, Phoenix, or Portland in that order. Houston is a good city but I need a change of pace. I own a home here and I would need sell it before moving.

[Chaped]

Originally Posted by mrman78

I moved to Seattle from Houston in April. I'm also single and in my early thirties. I did it without a job lined up since it was getting really difficult to get the attention of local employers (other than phone interviews) and I couldn't stand living in Texas anymore. After arrival, I had a good response to my resume and found a job within a month and a half. I also found an apartment on top of Queen Anne hill before I moved up here and felt super lucky to find it let alone be accepted to rent it considering I wasn't here nor had a job locally yet. Anyway, the key is to save, save, save and make sure you have a really nice cushion if you plan to move without a job. Once you arrive, just treat the job search as a full-time job and get out of the house. I went to the central library monday-friday from about 10am - 4pm and researched jobs, updated my resume, etc.

How much money would you say i would need to save.

I'm thinking of taking $4,000.00. This is going to be used for my daily expenses, not for rent.

Rent is going to be on a separate savings account.

[spotlesseden]

Originally Posted by Chaped

How much money would you say i would need to save.

I'm thinking of taking $4,000.00. This is going to be used for my daily expenses, not for rent.

Rent is going to be on a separate savings account.

that's should be enough.

[Luckycat01]

I'm in a similar situation (single, no children but I do have a cat) only I finished my MA in 2011 and I have not been able to catch the attention of any prospective employers I think becasue of my location. I'm in Ohio and I can't stand living here much longer. I'm think of saving up and just moving. I'm glad to see the feedback on this feed has been positive. I hope things work out for you, it gives me hope that if I do the same thing I will be ok.