relocate from NJ to WA (Seattle, Spokane: 2009, to rent, condo)

[ching1]

we are relocating to wa from nj to start new life, not decided which city but my choices are seattle,spokane, and bellvue. please help us to find good school for my 3 boys ( 5,10,11 y/o), good community...we're planning to rent a townhouse or condo (price range 1000-1200) in a suburb area.and most important,please help us to find a hospital that have good compensation,good reputation for the employee.me and my husband are nurses,so we're looking for hospital that give a nice relocation fee.the only hospital that we know is Harborview,and we have interview on August 2009.please help us

[Cassiano]

Good luck , i am from Mahwah and i am another one from New Jersey that would love to start a new life in WA , i wish all the luck to you and your family !!!

[Dendrite]

Originally Posted by ching1

we are relocating to wa from nj to start new life, not decided which city but my choices are seattle,spokane, and bellvue. please help us to find good school for my 3 boys ( 5,10,11 y/o), good community...we're planning to rent a townhouse or condo (price range 1000-1200) in a suburb area.and most important,please help us to find a hospital that have good compensation,good reputation for the employee.me and my husband are nurses,so we're looking for hospital that give a nice relocation fee.the only hospital that we know is Harborview,and we have interview on August 2009.please help us

Harborview is a large, fast-paced "County Hospital" as well as being the regional trauma center. Think LA County Hospital or Cook County Hospital in Chicago and you'll have the appropriate image in mind. Depending upon your area of nursing, it can be a very busy place to work. It's great that you have an interview there as many hospitals have placed hiring freezes on staff, including nurses, given the economy.

Perhaps sometime before August, you could contact a property manager or realtor and look at housing on one of the days you're in Seattle. Where you live will depend upon your pocketbook as well as the length of commute you're willing to endure. Off the cuff though, I'd bet a 2 bed/2 bath condo or townhouse in the nicer parts of Seattle or Bellevue is going to run more in the $1200 to $1500 range than the $1000 end of things. Bellevue is "east side" so you'll have to cross the bridge twice a day to get to and from work (at least assuming that job is at Harborview).

I know it seems simple but land the best job you can find first, then decide where to live in that particular area, choose schools etc. You also might get more "bites" on your question if you post it on the Seattle and Spokane sub-sections?

Good Luck!

[Ira500]

I made the move from the Garden State over 30 years ago( and continue to miss real diners, good pizza, and good bagels)...Harborview is affiliated with University Hospital, so with either one you'd technically be a state employee. Some other big hospitals in these parts include Swedish Medical center, Group Health, Virginia Mason, Valley Medical in Renton, which is also publicly owned, and Overlake in Belleve.
One area worth considering as a place to live might be Issaquah. It's easy to get to Seattle, Bellevue, and Renton from there, and has good schools.

[tankratt]

Originally Posted by ching1

we are relocating to wa from nj to start new life, not decided which city but my choices are seattle,spokane, and bellvue. please help us to find good school for my 3 boys ( 5,10,11 y/o), good community...we're planning to rent a townhouse or condo (price range 1000-1200) in a suburb area.and most important,please help us to find a hospital that have good compensation,good reputation for the employee.me and my husband are nurses,so we're looking for hospital that give a nice relocation fee.the only hospital that we know is Harborview,and we have interview on August 2009.please help us

Well Ching1, Seattle Bellevue are on the west side of the state and Spokane is on the east side of the state, Seattle Bellevue, fast paced, lots of people, lots to do. It is the largest city/ metropolitian area in the state. To some it is great and to some it is a rat race. Spokane is a small city, lots of family values, slower pace and overall better options for your sons, smaller schools, less crime and so on. I do not know what part of Jersy you are from, so it is all perspective. I have been and worked in Philly/So.Jersy, and Seattle looks like a small town compared to Camden and there crime rates. But I lived in Seattle for 30 plus years and moved to the Spokane area to raise my daughters with my wife. It was a great move. So wherever you end up best of luck. The two main hospitals in Spokane are Sacred Heart and Deconess and Maybe Providance. In Seattle try Northwest hosptal, Childerens, University of Washington (I think they are a part of Harborview, don't know for sure)Swedish and Group Health. In Bellevue it is Overlake hospital and in Kirkland(right next to Bellevue) Evergreen Hospital. Hope this helps.