Gangs in Bellevue??? (Seattle, Tacoma, Everett: real estate, apartments, rentals)

[Brick82]

I am considering taking a position in Bellevue. A friend of mine who grew up in Everett claims it's not nice and there are a lot of problems with Gangs. I told her I researched the area and the crime wasn't nearly as bad as it is here. She said there was a lot that goes unreported and mentioned her brother telling her a story from the news about a 9 year old girl that was burned alive in a car yesterday. I researched this and found nothing. Is there truth to any of this?

Is Bellevue really that bad? I want a tolerant, safe community that I don't have to be filthy rich to rent in.

[Seattleborn]

Are you sure she's not talking about Everett? Everett has a lot of crime. Bellevue has crime like everywhere. FYI- Bellevue is one of the most expensive places to live here.

[70Ford]

I'm scared of the dinosaurs that roam the streets.....with their pointy teeth and sharp claws...just roaring and smoking their cigarettes.

The average price of a home in Bellevue is about $400,000 dollars.
If there was a "gang" menacing people in Bellevue, there would be one phone call (Probably multiple phone calls) and a SWAT team would show up.

Gangs REALLY mess up property values.

To answer your question, Bellevue is not that bad. And you do have to be wealthy to live in there. The average home should cost about 3 times or less of one's budget. That's 133,333.33 dollars a year that a family would need to make to live in Bellevue.

What upper class neighborhood has a problem with gangs? A lingering problem, I should add. I dare say, not many...and not for long.

You'll be fine in Bellevue. Good luck with the job, if you take it...and welcome to Seattle!

[allforcats]

Nonsense.
I've lived in Bellevue for 20 years. I've heard of gangs in other cities, some distance away from Bellevue. I've heard of PROPERTY crimes occurring sometimes in Bellevue, but rarely crimes against persons -- car theft, other theft, stuff like that. Bellevue is considered safe by the locals. I imagine those myths that you heard were about Everett or Tacoma, not Bellevue. I'm a woman and I always feel safe walking in Bellevue late at night.
BTW, Bellevue has a high percentage of wealthy residents; they DO REPORT CRIME at the drop of a hat because they have a lot of political and economic power locally.

There are many, many rental properties available in Bellevue in many price ranges.
These are excellent resources:
NWapartments: Seattle apartment rentals, house rental listings, rental classifieds and other property rentals in Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue and other Washington areas, cities and neighborhoods | - Advanced search
rent.com
forrent.com
apartments.com
craigslist

Have fun!

[Bakergirl]

Crime can happen anywhere but Bellevue is a generally safe place. There are sketchier parts of Bellevue including the Crossroads and Lake Hills areas-more lower income there. I'd live in Bellevue over Everett anyday.

[scirocco22]

I agree with all that's been said so far. Even Crossroads and Lake Hills are much better than they were a decade or two ago.

[GodsGift2Music]

redmond and bellvue are some of the more wealthier cities to reside, as well as certain parts of seattle, like downtown. Kent, Covington, Auburn, are a few suburnan cities that are cheaper and somewhat close to each other (i.e. bellvue, seattle). But if bellevue is where you want to be, go for it! Just "keep your wallet pretty thick" =)

And like previously touched on, there's crime no matter where you go, in fact, I had about 3 crime related events take place in Kent where I'm at- a lady got pursued and arrested by 3 police officers in my community (she 'refuged' here from the apartments next to my condo-type community). My aunt lives in the same apartments this took place (it was a shoot out, I think). But I'm fine! lol. You just have to be aware of your surrounding when it comes to things like that, don't let "crime happy" people keep you from living where you wanna live, doing what you wanna do, etc.

[Ira500]

Bellevue has gangs. Gangs of attorneys, real estate developers, and investment analysts.
Worse than the Crips and Bloods, or at least they're capable of stealing more.

[allforcats]

Originally Posted by Ira500

Bellevue has gangs. Gangs of attorneys, real estate developers, and investment analysts.

Hahahahaha!!! and bankers, chefs, doctors, CPAs, techies, Nordie shoppers, trees and birds!!! Ahh thank you, Ira, for that chuckle!!

[wannabeaTexan]

Is your friend talking about Bellevue WASHINGTON?

LOL