Single 60-year-old female moving to Seattle area (Everett, Redmond: apartment, to rent)

[Llmcleran]

I am retired from auto industry and will be moving from Michigan to Washington to be near my son who works for the gaming industry. I will be living on a fixed income so I'm looking for a place to rent that will be near enough to my son but less expensive than Seattle proper. I would like to find a great apartment/townhouse/house for between $800 and $1100. I want 2 bedrooms and at least 1 1/2 baths. I have a shih tzu so small dogs must be welcome. I want a little outside space too.

Can anyone suggest a good, safe area for me to look at?

[btlake]

Do you want to be within a certain driving distance of where your son lives?

[Seacove]

Where does your son live? In Seattle? Redmond? North or South of there? Because, say if your son lived in Redmond, you could live in areas East of that such as Duvall, or Monroe or Carnation or Fall City that will all be less expensive and you won't care about a commute. If he lives in Seattle, what about living in Bremerton or Poulsbo or something across the Puget Sound where visiting him involves a ferry ride? If he lives North, what about living on Whidbey Island since you wouldn't have to take the ferry every day? There are less expensive areas like Lake Stevens, Snohomish, some better parts of Everett, Mukilteo, etc. that will have smaller less expensive places to rent that might be less expensive because the further out you go, the worse the commute. You can benefit from that. $800 to $1100 is not a huge budget but you would be able to find something as long as you are not trying to live within a really short distance to your son who is probably living closer in. Good luck!