University of WA Medical Center (Seattle, Everett: to rent, condo, townhouse)

[West coast at heart]

Hi everyone. I am graduating from nursing school in a few days and I am looking at hospitals to work. My wife and I are planning on moving to Western WA and I am researching places to live and work. We are currently living in Mishawaka, IN. I know UW Med Ctr has a great reputation but I do not know anyone who works there. I am looking for any information concerning how easy it is to get a job, working atmosphere.... I am also wondering what the areas are like around the city to live. I would like to live outside the city. I am looking for houses around 200,000 to 300,000. I need to be close enough that if I am called in to work, I can make it in about 30 minutes. Any information would be welcome. Thank you.

Peace and respect,
West coast at heart

[Matt Wilma]

Maybe a condo close-in that has a built in community already that will help you meet people. Perhaps something in the Greenlake, Wallingford, or Fremont areas that are right on the other side of the freeway from UW. I'm not totally sure about which are the best hospitals though...

Matt

[Jennibc]

Unfortunately, you are not likely to find a house for 200K to 300K within in 30 minutes of UW medical center. You MIGHT be able to find something in that price range in the Everett area.

[Ira500]

You can actually find a home in the 98178 zip code for less than 300,000 dollars. That's about a 30 minute drive from UW Medical Center...Mind you, this is not a prestigious neighborhood, but most of it is safe and attractive, and mind you, these will not be large modern homes, but some of them are in nice shape.

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by Ira500

You can actually find a home in the 98178 zip code for less than 300,000 dollars. That's about a 30 minute drive from UW Medical Center...Mind you, this is not a prestigious neighborhood, but most of it is safe and attractive, and mind you, these will not be large modern homes, but some of them are in nice shape.

If that's Tukwila, it is unlikely a person can get to UW medical center in 30 minutes or less if during rush hour. During rush hour it takes me anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to drive from the Southend of downtown to Northeast Seattle (just 3 miles north of UW medical center)

[Ira500]

No, not Tukwila. Unincorporated King County roughly between Rainier Beach and Renton, the area that includes Skyway...Airport Way is the non freeway alternative into downtown.
At rush hour, I never take the freeway if I can help it, and some of the surface streets ( Airport and E Marginal) flow very well. You can't do freeway speeds, but they move.

[West coast at heart]

Well thanks IRA, Jenn, and Matt. I had a feeling it would be more expensive than I thought. I found the area that you were talking about IRA. I believe it is just north of Renton, correct? That is a possibility. My wife I and will have to go looking. I would like to check out the area anyways. Jenn, what can you tell me about Everett. I have driven passed it a few times while visiting my inlaws and and each time I have gone passed it on I-5, there has been an accident. Coincidence I am sure, but it does seem to get real busy in that area. I read in another blog that N. east of town was nice. I don't recall if it cost of housing was mentioned though. Maybe Matt has the right idea. Maybe a condo would be the way to go. Any idea what they run? And are there any websites for them?
My main concern first off is to find a job at a good hospital. Are there any nurses out there that could offer any insight? (I just graduated ! I am waiting to take my boards exam as soon as I get cofirmation from the NCLEX board.)
Thanks!
wc@h

[Ira500]

I found the area that you were talking about IRA. I believe it is just north of Renton, correct?

....And West of Renton as well. The main retail streets are Renton Avenue, Rainier Avenue, and Martin Luther King Way. Parts of Martin Luther King and parts of Renton Avenue are a little sketchy, but there are lots of pretty parts of the area as well..So if you're driving around, go down Langston Rd from downtown Renton or 74th Avenue S going east from Renton Avenue.

[Jennibc]

I am not particularly fond of Everett but you can get houses in your price range there. My husband makes the commute there everyday and it takes him about 30 minutes from NE Seattle, but he drives against rush hour traffic. If you hit traffic it could take as long as an hour. As a new RN, if you are able to get on at the UW, you likely will be working the late shift so traffic may be a nonissue to start.

Northeast Seattle is one of the more desirable neighborhoods in town and as such, it is expensive. I live in Wedgwood which is one of the least expensive NE neighborhoods and houses typically go for the mid 400s all the way up to over 900K for brand new construction. You won't find a condo or townhouse for 300K or less here.

Unfortunately, Seattle has turned into one of those cities where if you weren't here a decade ago when houses were quasi-reasonable, as a middle income family, you will not be able to afford homeownership within the city limits. We bought over seven years ago and if we hadn't purchased then, we wouldn't be able to afford to live where we do now.

If you want to move out here and experience a Seattle lifestyle, if you have no children, it might be better for you rent initially. That way you can live in the city closer to your place of employment. There are medical centers all over town and a shortage of RNs so you shouldn't have trouble finding work. However, be prepared to work graveyard or swing. Although, I do have a friend that just finished and took his boards and was able to get the day shift at the VA's psychiatric unit.

[West coast at heart]

Thanks IRA, when we go out there to look, we will take a look. The list of areas to drive through keeps growing.

Jenn, I appreciate the insight. We contemplated renting first. We thought about buying some land and having a house built. I wish we had made this move ten years ago. Are there areas to rent that are in nice areas and reasonable? (sounds like that is a tall order!) We will also look into the Everett area.

I have heard the same on shifts starting out in Nursing. Newbies tend to get the unwanted shifts in the hot areas. I want to work in critical care (ICU, ER, cardiac...). I hope to get into UW because of the benefits they offer. However, I will look into the other hospitals too.

Thanks,
wc@h