SEATTLE BOUND from FRANCE (Tacoma, Bellevue: for sale, apartments, rentals)

[PINKIESO8]

Hello all,
I'm so enthused to have found this forum! Everyone seems to be so helpful and I've encountered lots of info I can use on our move. My family and I are moving back to the states after having lived in France for a bit. My daughter has attended french schools here and I am happy to have located 2 french-english schools in the area.

I am looking to enroll her in the French American School of Puget sound, the one on Mercer Island. Besides Bellvue, (which seems to be a very expensive area) can anyone please help us with some names of safe, affordable neighborhoods within the area? We are a family of four, looking for at least a 3 bedroom house or apt to rent. Have been doing alot of research by internet, but you can only get so much from maps- advice would help. Not looking to drive more than 20-30 min for the morning and afternoon commute to school. Thanks alot!

[Ira500]

Safe, affordable areas within 20-30 minutes of Mercer Island.....Well, with a child at French School, do public schools matter? If you have another child, will he/she attend school?

If public schools are not a huge priority, then a few areas worth considering:

Newcastle( it's own city)
Parts of Renton ( Kennydale and others)
Upper Rainier Beach in Seattle ( on the hill overlooking the lake is nicer than the area right by the lake)
Lakeridge, and Bryn Mawr in the area between Rainier Beach and Renton.

[AzDreamer]

I don't think the rents on Mercer Island are much higher that other Eastside neighborhoods. There are a few neighborhoods that don't have views and they are pretty reasonable.

If you decide to rent off-island you'll have to deal with I-90 traffic four times a day. Even if Mercer Island rent was higher you would be saving time and wear and tear on your car by renting on Mercer Island.

[allforcats]

Here's a head start on finding rentals. It's the combined classifieds of the two leading newspapers all around the areas you're interested in and mentioned above. Click on a location name in the little map to drill down to smaller areas and neighborhoods:
NWapartments: Seattle apartment rentals, house rental listings, rental classifieds and other property rentals in Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue and other Washington areas, cities and neighborhoods

More resources:
Seattle Weekly (also covers a wider area than just "Seattle"):
Seattle Classifieds - Seattle Weekly
Craigslist:
craigslist: seattle-tacoma classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events

[PINKIESO8]

yes, good point about saving on the commute! Now I have some starting points to look into. Its an exciting, but daunting task to pick up and move to somewhere you've never been.

[allforcats]

Originally Posted by PINKIESO8

Its an exciting, but daunting task to pick up and move to somewhere you've never been.

Yes, and exhilirating! Life is calling each of you to expand as the universe expands. Wow, you are in for such a wonderful, enriching adventure! I wish you joy

Have you read this thread?
http://www.city-data.com/forum/seatt...er-island.html