Moving to Seattle (Lakewood, Renton, Bothell: apartments, for rent, how much)

[christi]

I am planning on selling my home in Wyoming to move to Seattle. I want to rent because I usually get sick of a house after a couple years and want to change. It will be my husband, who already lives there with a friend and has a job, myself, and our three year old daughter. Does anyone have any advice on good neighborhoods? Or any advice in general? We have already decided we are definately moving there I just don't know how to go about it. By the way, I love Seattle and I don't care how much it rains.

[jwb123]

Cheapest? Semi-decent?

There is no way we can answer that for you - it's totally subjective.

What is your price range? What do you want/need to be near? What sort of community and ammenities are you looking for?

There is NO where within the Seattle metro area that could be considered "cheap".

[christi]

It was more of a general question...I have read the other posts about Seattle and have seen that people have a generally negative attitude about Seattle. However, I do not live nor do I need to live a fancy life. I don't need a big house, I have a hybrid vehical so I don't spend much on gas, not that I will drive a lot when living in a city with public transportation. We don't buy things other than food or basic necessities. I will have zero debt moving out there. I think we can afford between $1000 and $1600 for rent. I've seen a lot of apartments and houses in this price range. My question concerns recomended neighborhoods for a family.

[toughguy]

The gated community types would like you to believe that the south end is a cesspool, but its really not. It is a bit sprawly and not quite as clean, but those are going to be your most affordble areas.

[jwb123]

I'm not a gated community type, but the south end, for families and young children isn't preferable... though it is less expensive.

If you want to stay in the city limits, and it kind of sounds like you do, and are looking for affordable (still not cheap) and a nice neighborhood for families, I would recommend the Central District, or CD as people call it.

I don't know what rents are like in that area - check craigslist.

We rented a one bedroom with a den, in Magnolia - another nice, but expensive - neighborhood, for $1000 back in 2000.... though I am sure rents have soared since then.

[jwb123]

Homes in the Bothell area (North of Seattle, by about 25 mins) were renting for around $1200-1400 a year ago ... look around 164th and 3rd.

[CityGirl72]

I voted North of Seattle

That's where we are, but the family areas are on the "Eastside" but probably out of your budget

South is cheapest but NOT SAFE FOR A FAMILY

[pwright1]

I vote for south Seattle. The Mount Baker, Lakewood, Seward Park, Columbia City neighborhoods are all pretty nice with all the amenities close by including public transportation, markets, parks, coffee shops and they're all close to Lake Washington.

[wannabeaTexan]

South is perfectly safe for families in most areas. Semi decent is what you're looking for, right? It may not be preferable to some, but it IS decent.

I'm not sure how you would consider the CD safe for families, but not the South end.

I've typed it out before here...I live in Renton with my kids...spent some time in the CD last summer and wouldn't have my kids spending the night there. I'm sure there are decent parts of the CD as well. The part that I was in? Wannabe gangsters and people's houses getting shot up. That is the real deal.

Don't be scared away from all of S King County, although if you want to pay $1 - 1.6K for a not-so-fancy place...then I think you can find it in Seattle itself, depending on how many bedrooms you need. And seeing that you want to rent...well, you can always move.

I'm sure your husband already has some idea of where you could live? And his friend? I'd tend to listen to the friend and have your husband rely on what he's seen first and foremost, if I were in your situation.

[la_fuerza]

West of Seattle?