Those Who Moved to Seattle (apartment complexes, gated, to live in)

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by VeronikaW

We moved from San Diego to Seattle because we thought the cost of living would be better to raise a family. While renting is cheaper than in San Diego, home prices are almost the same, so we're regretting the move.

V. =)

I followed your posts about the move... are you really planning to move back to CA?

[Fallingwaters]

Originally Posted by LookingtoLeave

Are there a few or is it just I5 and I believe the 405? I would think there are...

If you're asking about infrastructure rather than free vs. toll, mainly, the available freeways are just I-5 and I-405. Not much else that mean much unless you're in Issaquah and take 90 into Bellevue or Seattle (or commute that way between Bellevue and Seattle themselves). As mentioned, there aren't many tolls to be found here.


That link to WSDOT historic traffic pattern analysis over the past few years I posted earlier might be helpful -- take a look at weekdays between 7am and 10 am and then 3pm to 7pm. It'll give you an idea of commutes to avoid.


If you find yourself in a commuting situation, depending on where you find a job, this could help you in picking a place to live. The easiest thing would be to live local to your workplace; however -- it may not meet your cost of living or quality of life requirements (meaning, do you want a house, a townhouse, or a condo, or an apartment, etc; do you feel you need a yard, that sort of thing). Since you mentioned you're a parent, then the school district will mean something to you.

The best place to get data on WA schools I've found is here. Washington State Report Card

You can search per school district and find relative rankings. On the east side, the Lake Washington and Northshore school districts are said to be among the better ones.

By the way, I'm not trying to dissuade you from moving here -- just want to give you real data so you can figure things out. WA govt is pretty open with information so anything about schools, traffic, crime, etc, you can find with some searching on their websites.

Going with some real info, you'll be less likely to have "buyer's remorse" (not meaning a house purchase per se, but regretting the move). And you probably wouldn't regret moving here if you figure out how to get most of what you're looking for in a new city; it's always good to be informed. If I sent you a bunch of pictures of Mount Rainier on a clear day and raved about how great the salmon is (both good things about this area, by the way), or starting riffing on "cool vibes in the air" or whatever it is people come up with, it's not painting the whole picture or really helping you, in my opinion.

[TaJasMi]

Originally Posted by allforcats

I can't imagine where that poster lives who says he or she has no access at all to a pool, workout center, "any amenities at all". It's very difficult to find such a residential location in western Washington. Very odd. Seems every time you turn a corner here in the more populated areas, there are workout centers with pools, movies, dozens of shops and restaurants, wifi, roller blade parks, baseball and soccer fields, lakes, and on and on.

It is true...I have none of those things either at my apartment...and it is a nice place..

[LookingtoLeave]

Thanks for the info fallingwaters. I certainly appreciate the truth and would not want to look at relocation through rose-colored glasses. Just because someone's blunt doesn't mean I feel like someone's trying to dissuade me.

I took a look at that traffic link you gave me and tried to view the rush hours, but it was freezing up so I'll take a look later.

I guess either good or bad-I have no plans on buying when I move to any city. I want to rent for a few years, make sure I want to stay in that city, and make sure all is well with the job before I buy. What I really want to do is just relocate somewhere that is the opposite of TX, and Seattle and SD (even NY) fit that bill. I just need to make sure schools are great, which I hear they aren't in NYC, the areas are safe, and I can afford my rent.

So no matter where I wind up, if I hate it I can always leave. I know it may be costly, but the choice is always there.

[LookingtoLeave]

Originally Posted by TaJasMi

It is true...I have none of those things either at my apartment...and it is a nice place..

What area are you in if you don't mind me asking?

[allforcats]

Originally Posted by LookingtoLeave

What area are you in if you don't mind me asking?

Same area as the other similar poster, the International District in downtown Seattle. Which means that workout centers, with and without pools, are only blocks away, along with the other "amenities" I listed. :-)

[LookingtoLeave]

Originally Posted by allforcats

Same area as the other similar poster, the International District in downtown Seattle. Which means that workout centers, with and without pools, are only blocks away, along with the other "amenities" I listed. :-)

Ah, gotcha. Oh and btw allforcats, it's 55 degrees and sunny here today.

[allforcats]

It's 43 degrees and partly cloudy here today. Nyah nyah :-) :-)

[allforcats]

Looking, I found a great weather site for you -- and it'd be fun for your son.

There is something called "Heat Index" that calculates how hot or humid a place feels. It's the U.S. Heat Index Map.

Heat Index Map for the United States

Also click on Dew Points for another good visual. You'll see, for example, that it feels cooler in Seattle with the same or higher humidity as Ohio and Florida. (The reason is the nature of our marine airflow.)


ANOTHER GREAT WEATHER SITE:
"Why is it that despite the fact that we live near the Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound, and we have generally high humidities, that it doesn't feel as humid as it does in the Midwest and East Coast?"
Why doesn't our humid air feel muggy? | KOMO-TV - Seattle, Washington | F.A.Q.

[The A-Team]

I'm really not trying to say Seattle is bad in any way, i'm just being honest. My apartment is very expensive and has no ammenities(like a pool, workout center, air conditioning, none of that) but is very nice and is really about 1,450 a month. Part of this is lack of parking in Seattle, which has made the price of parking spaces skyrocket. The international district really isn't in the middle of downtown, rather on the outskirts of downtown, close to quest field and safeco field. I know of a couple of places only that have AC in Seattle, one of them being the metro towers, but its like 1700 a month for a studio lol. You can get cheaper in Seattle but it all depends on what you consider a nice place. While apartments in a place like San Diego might be more expensive, they also will have a pool, workout center, AC, probably gated parking etc. I've seen places like that on the net in SD for around 1500 a month, which is barely more than i pay a month. While the apartment might be smaller, you get more ammenities which evens it out. Yes, apartments are a little cheaper here, but you get less for your buck, which ends up making them about equal. That said seattle is awesome just don't come here expecting to pay less!