Working in Issaquah and using Sea-Tac (Seattle, Renton: to rent, low crime, top schools)

[3DDD]

My wife and I will be moving to the Seattle area for our jobs. We will be using SeaTac multiple times per month as our jobs require air travel when we aren't in Issaquah. Any ideas for affordable housing in suburbs somewhere in the middle for the easiest commute? Looking to rent for a year or so.

[RRinWA]

As long as your flights are very early or later evening getting to SeaTac will take 20-25 minutes from Issaquah. We try to fly out before 7am and come back in after 7pm. Did this scenario just yesterday in fact.

[leastprime]

IMO, Anything within walking distance of the LINK.
If you are driving, your range is limited by traffic. If you are using public (bus, LINK), your range is limited by frequency of the bus, and how far do you want to walk to the LINK or to a bus stop.

[Blondebaerde]

Originally Posted by 3DDD

My wife and I will be moving to the Seattle area for our jobs. We will be using SeaTac multiple times per month as our jobs require air travel when we aren't in Issaquah. Any ideas for affordable housing in suburbs somewhere in the middle for the easiest commute? Looking to rent for a year or so.

"Affordable" what, friend?

Question is often asked, and only sometime bracketed by valuable backup info. Everyone wants:

• Affordable
• Safe
• Good schools
• Easy commute to (somewhere).

There are zero areas that hit all four. I'd say, pick any three or pick any two.

Good schools mean good property values, I have no kids and live between two top schools. Agents bust down my door, couple times/year, with soft offers which really mean, "why don't you leave so a couple with 2 children can move into this fine split-level." That would work, actually, each kid would have their own bedroom, too (chuckle). Haven't seen that this year, though, suggesting the market has leveled out at the moment and the crazed demand may be down.

Maybe I'm slow but let me get this straight: the jobs are in Issaquah? I'd look at mass transit options there to Seatac, I've never done that one but can guess it's a hop to downtown right across the I-90, then the LINK to Seatac from International or Pioneer Square. That's how it is for Kirkland, not as far out. Further, I'd live in Issaquah which certain is not "affordable" though hits 2 1/2 the other requirements (I'd never call the commute from Issaquah to anywhere "easy" though isn't end of the world, either).

The "easiest" commute, which was the ONLY of the Big 4 Asks you mentioned, is that which one, minimizes need for a car; and two, provides rapid mass transit to/from place of business. For me, that is usually either downtown or Eastside, the two general tech concentrations in metro Seattle. I've worked in both, though in Renton at-current which is atypical across a twenty year career in the area.

Try again, please.

[Hemlock140]

Blondbebaerde is right. Issaquah has a big transit center, and it's a 15 minute bus to the Seattle International District where you can catch the light rail to the airport. Much easier and cheaper (parking at the airport is expensive).


Issaquah itself has great schools and low crime, all of the big box stores, plus favorites like Trader Joe's and some good restaurants. It's apparently affordable for the 37,000 people that live there, but if it's above your budget, Renton is less expensive and in between Issaquah and the airport.

[homesinseattle]

Sure, that's quite doable. Just use common sense with traffic hours.