Relocating To Seattle

[MK1971]

Originally Posted by ClarityFuture

Thanks for all of the great advice everyone...Cost of living prices are not much of an issue in all honesty...But my ideal living would be a high-tech high-rise tower with younger individuals, not older and retired people that look at you funny because you're under 50 and living in the tower, know what I mean?

I'm really into the contemporary/futuristic look of things I suppose...Can anyone recommend and towers downtown that can cater to this? I'm not looking to buy currently.

As far as transit goes, if I have to, I can buy or car or use Taxi's...It doesn't much matter, but for the mostpart I'll be using the bus.

They have something called flexcar here that might suit what you're looking for.
Flexcar

I'm telling you, though, the bus -- you might have the same issues there that you do with Atlanta's trains.

[Condorll]

Originally Posted by ClarityFuture

Thanks for all of the great advice everyone...Cost of living prices are not much of an issue in all honesty...But my ideal living would be a high-tech high-rise tower with younger individuals, not older and retired people that look at you funny because you're under 50 and living in the tower, know what I mean?

I'm really into the contemporary/futuristic look of things I suppose...Can anyone recommend and towers downtown that can cater to this? I'm not looking to buy currently.

As far as transit goes, if I have to, I can buy or car or use Taxi's...It doesn't much matter, but for the mostpart I'll be using the bus.

If you can afford 2500-3000 in rent buy a home/condo/anything.

Stop throwing your dough out the window! Continue on the rental route and you will land up whining in 10 years that homes are too expensive.

I bought my first home at the age of 22, it was real tough, so young and all my dough went to a first mortgage at 12% and a second at 17%. In my early 50's now and on my 4th home worth close to $600k, mortgage under 100k. My next home will be bought all cash.

People don't want to sacrifice today. They want it all now and whine when they can't have it. Be smart, invest in YOUR future, not the latest big screen TV. Learn how to cook your favorite things, eat in, use the Entertainment book coupons for a night out.

With the kind of income/tax bracket you are in, buy a home.

[SeattlitefromNC]

Originally Posted by Condorll

If you can afford 2500-3000 in rent buy a home/condo/anything.

Stop throwing your dough out the window! Continue on the rental route and you will land up whining in 10 years that homes are too expensive.

I bought my first home at the age of 22, it was real tough, so young and all my dough went to a first mortgage at 12% and a second at 17%. In my early 50's now and on my 4th home worth close to $600k, mortgage under 100k. My next home will be bought all cash.

People don't want to sacrifice today. They want it all now and whine when they can't have it. Be smart, invest in YOUR future, not the latest big screen TV. Learn how to cook your favorite things, eat in, use the Entertainment book coupons for a night out.

With the kind of income/tax bracket you are in, buy a home.

If he doesn't want to, why should he?

Besides, renting has two big advantages:

(1) As a business owner, he can write off part of his rental and/or mortgage expenses as part of his consulting business costs. That benefit exists regardless of whether he rents OR owns.

(2) Right now, the financial situation in this country has swung sharply ... and it is not always in the buyer's favor. People do not feel secure in their jobs (unlike the '50's), the dollar is in the toilet (unlike the '50's), and costs of commodities are sky-high (unlike the '50's). Mobility is a fact of life for a sizable portion of the population, as the average person will change jobs at least three times in their working life -- and often times, a lot more than that! Renting allows for more flexibility to make changes in one's living arrangement.

Don't call it throwing money away ... if the man doesn't want to stay in Seattle for more than a few years, it makes perfect sense not to buy.

[Condorll]

Originally Posted by SeattlitefromNC

If he doesn't want to, why should he?

Besides, renting has two big advantages:

(1) As a business owner, he can write off part of his rental and/or mortgage expenses as part of his consulting business costs. That benefit exists regardless of whether he rents OR owns.

(2) Right now, the financial situation in this country has swung sharply ... and it is not always in the buyer's favor. People do not feel secure in their jobs (unlike the '50's), the dollar is in the toilet (unlike the '50's), and costs of commodities are sky-high (unlike the '50's). Mobility is a fact of life for a sizable portion of the population, as the average person will change jobs at least three times in their working life -- and often times, a lot more than that! Renting allows for more flexibility to make changes in one's living arrangement.

Don't call it throwing money away ... if the man doesn't want to stay in Seattle for more than a few years, it makes perfect sense not to buy.

Perhaps he should see a CPA and get sound financial advice regarding renting vs buying, especially since he is in such a high tax braket. One or two hours with a CPA won't cost him more than a couple hundred bucks, a pittance compared to $3k /month rent.

. I do agree with you regarding the economic conditions in this country today and particularly what the future holds in terms of employment for the next several decades.

My philosophy has always been when you are making the big bucks, dont squander it away, invest it 'cause the rainy days will come, guaranteed, especially when you get older and good jobs are harder to come by.

[ClarityFuture]

Well, I do save quite a bit, and I do want to buy a home, perhaps in a year. As I have said, I am moving over 2000 miles to the other end of the country. While I have visited frequently, you never know what living somewhere is like until you do it for awhile. That is why I would like to rent for a year, and if I stay, I will buy a home.

So, can anyone recommend any nice high-rise rental towers in downtown Seattle?

[pwright1]

The Metropolitan Tower
Harbor Steps
The McGuire
2900 On First
Avalon Belltown
Elliott Bay Plaza
Tower @ 801

[xsteen]

If you don't want to be driving around a lot, and want to stay in the Seattle scene, I'd definitely say, live close or right downtown! There's lots of night life! I've seen and have access to listings for 2Br's right downtown, that were going for as little as $1,500 just a week ago. That's if you don't have pets. Seattle has so much to offer. If you have any questions about neighborhoods, feel free to ask my opinion. Also, if you want to checkout the single's scene, or heck - any scene for that matter, go to meetup.com and check out one of the HUNDREDS of meetup groups throughout the city. I organize the Downtowner's Club and it's a great way to meet lots of new people! Cheers