Possibly moving to Seattle - please provide tips on areas to look at (Bellevue: apartments)

[drift3r]

Hell -

I'm currently interviewing for a job in Kent, WA and if I get it, I will need to relocate quickly from Denver. I'm somewhat familiar with the area and have some resources I can lean on, but was trying to do some preliminary research.

I'm 38, married and have my first kid on the way. Quality of schools is a concern but not a major one since that's around 5-6 years away before it becoms an issue.

We currently live in the city in a transitional neighborhood close to some higher end urban neighborhoods that have already transitioned. While we like the city, that's not our first priority but we don't like tract housing suburbs where the eating is limited to chains.

Ideally, I think I'd like to rent for 6 months and get to know the area before buying, but I'd also like to take advantage of the depressed market and maybe get a good deal on something. We also have 2 dogs so that complicates renting. I also don't look forward to having move twice in 6 months, the second time with a newborn.

Does anybody have suggestions for areas along with a quick encapsulation of what it's like there? I'd like to keep the commute to 30 minutes or less from Kent and decent housing in the $400k range, if possible (some flexibility on both of those).

[Ira500]

Okay, here's a few places with brief synopses:

Kent: It's really pretty varied. Downtown Kent now has commuter rail service to Seattle, has an amazingly good Greek restaurant and a great bakery...There isn't a lot of nice housing in downtown Kent, but a lot not far away...The East Hill of Kent is suburb/diverse, with a surprising number of good little ethnic hole in the wall eateries.

South Seattle: Columbia City is a hip, vibrant transitional neighborhood, and Seward Park to the east is a great area, lots of big trees and great views.

Renton: It's one of the areas oldest towns, formerly a coal town, then a Boeing factory town, and now emerging as more of a suburb of Seattle and Bellevue. Also very varied, some is near Lake Washington...Also a land of nice restaurants including one that is in an old house and has the best food anywhere and has a huge beer and wine selection..

Black Diamond: Small town within half an hour of Kent. Really pretty, as one is heading towards the mountains..Another fine bakery. Feels like the country.

Des Moines: Nice little town on Puget Sound near Kent...Has a single screen movie theatre and very walkable old fashioned downtown area with a beach town feel.

Auburn: Just south of Kent, also on the Sounder train...Has a suburb called Lakeland Hils which is newer housing and considered desirable, but feels a little remote.

Maple Valley: Next to Kent and with an excellent school district. Good hiking on the Cedar River trail

[Kim Emmons]

Come check out Maple Valley. Schools are excellent, most of the families moving to Maple Valley do so because of the great schools. This is a community that cares about the kids and reaches out to each other for help and support. If you want to feel connected to your community and get involved then Maple Valley is a great choice for you. Kent is the neighboring city so you commute will be good. We are 20 minutes from the mountains and about 30 minutes from Puget Sound. There are alot of lakes and golf courses nearby as well. If you google Maple Valley, you will find the City's website and others to give you a better feel for the City!

[wsugrad03]

Ira500 pretty much summed up the area well. If you want a quick commute, I would recommend the Kent east hill area. If you don't mind commuting 30 minutes, I'd check out Auburn/Lake Tapps/Bonney Lake area down in Pierce county. You can get more house for your money in Pierce county.

Covington and Black Diamond are other nice areas, but the commute is a bottle neck. Just be warned. Of course, the Valley Freeway (167) has been known to be a bottleneck in itself. You'll need to hit the roads early to avoid misery.

Good luck.

[MsKitten]

I have heard such mixed things about Kent and am feeling confused. We are moving later this year to Seattle area as my husband has a job in Tukwila. We would like to be within 10 miles as the husband wants to be able to ride his bike to work. Looking at the Kent website, it seems like a great little community, but people I have talked to say there is abundant crime, that it's full of rednecks, etc. Does anyone on this forum actually live in Kent who can give sound advice? Thanks in advance!

[Ira500]

MsKitten,
I don't live in Kent but I work there and know lots of people who do live there. Kent is physically large and it's pretty varied. Some parts of Kent are much nicer than others. The westernmost part of Kent, around Pac Highway and I-5 has a lot of apartments and higher crime...Downtown Kent also is perceived as a place that is dangerous late at night, though it's got some great restaurants and a great bakery...
And the eastern part of the east Hill of Kent is really, really nice, like anything east of 116th Avenue...

[sbdude76]

If it's at REI... get me the discount!

[nwbackpacker]

Originally Posted by MsKitten

I have heard such mixed things about Kent and am feeling confused. We are moving later this year to Seattle area as my husband has a job in Tukwila. We would like to be within 10 miles as the husband wants to be able to ride his bike to work. Looking at the Kent website, it seems like a great little community, but people I have talked to say there is abundant crime, that it's full of rednecks, etc. Does anyone on this forum actually live in Kent who can give sound advice? Thanks in advance!

A lot (not all) the people that live in the city of Seattle have this "thing" about anywhere that isn't Seattle proper. So they'll look down on the Eastside (bland!!), and Renton (shudder) and Kent (horror!). So my advice is to listen to a lot of people on the forums, but ultimately you're going to have to get out and see these places on your own.

Sorry I couldn't be of direct help, but feel like I have to warn people of the location snobery that exists in this area.

[MsKitten]

What do you guys know about the area in zip code 98032, south west Kent north of the Riverbend golf complex?