Best neighborhood/city for us? (Seattle, Shoreline: apartments, rentals, condo)

[tonyman]

My wife and I are moving to Seattle next May or so. She will be working downtown and I have not found a job yet, but am seeking a transfer or a new job. I will be working either in Seattle or in a close (20 miles) city. We are both 24 and love to go out to restaraunts and bars, but are NOT party animals. Just like to go out on the weekends and have a few drinks, so an areawith that is a plus. our budget for a condo/apt is $1,000/month. We both have cars and want to be in an area where we can park and not have to walk a ton to our home. Want somewhere quiet, safe, nice, and friendly. We would not mind living in a nearby city and commuute to work.

[Vinylly]

First of all, for $1,000 per month, you're not going to get much in the way of an apartment. If you're lucky you might find a one-room studio are a small basement apartment in somebodies home. For your budget, you would have to locate in some of the less desireable neighborhoods, -you just won't be able to be picky.

[eskercurve]

You won't be able to have your cake and eat it too with $1000/mo.

You'll likely need to look south or to the very far east and north. Commuting will be very bad, about an hour or so (yes traffic is that bad here). You won't be able to live in an area with walkable neighborhoods or be able to walk to the bars, etc. You will be forced to commute everywhere. Consider raising your max rent to about $1500 / mo and maybe you'll find something closer.

Have you factored in any cost of living adjustments or higher wages that the both of you will be making once you move here?

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by tonyman

I will be working either in Seattle or in a close (20 miles) city. We are both 24 and love to go out to restaraunts and bars, but are NOT party animals. Just like to go out on the weekends and have a few drinks, so an areawith that is a plus. our budget for a condo/apt is $1,000/month. We both have cars and want to be in an area where we can park and not have to walk a ton to our home. Want somewhere quiet, safe, nice, and friendly. We would not mind living in a nearby city and commute to work.

Well, I disagree with the PP... you actually would find a lot of apartments for up to 1K/mo. But it's hard to set anything up from afar, given how fast rentals go.

You could definitely find something in: Burien, Renton, Shoreline, Kenmore. A bit closer to the DT area: Columbia City, West Seattle, Ballard, even Capitol Hill and Queen Anne.