New job in Bellevue... (Renton, Redmond: apartment, rental, condos)

[kpete]

Just landed a great job in Bellevue so will be moving from CA soon. Looking for a single family home to rent in a safe area. Would prefer to commute less than 30 min each way. Also want to pay 1400-1600 per month. Which areas should I focus on?

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by kpete

Just landed a great job in Bellevue so will be moving from CA soon. Looking for a single family home to rent in a safe area. Would prefer to commute less than 30 min each way. Also want to pay 1400-1600 per month. Which areas should I focus on?

Rents rae going to be higher than that for most areas of Bellevue for a single family home. So if you want to live in Bellevue, focus on Lake Hills, Crossroads, or Newport Hills. If you're willing to commute half an hour one way, you'll get more for your money in Renton. Think the eastern Renton Highlands or Kennydale, or many other parts of Renton if you don't have school aged kids( eastern Renton Highlands and Kennydale have good schools, other parts are safe but not with good schools.)

[spotlesseden]

i'm also from CA, moved here for about a month. 1400-1600/ month won't cut it in Bellevue. that's only enough for a 1bed apartment. You make able to find some run-down old house single family home for 1600 if you are lucky.

Renton, issaquah is cheap, but Renton to Bellevue might take 30-40mins with traffic. Without traffic is like 20+mins, depends on start point and destination.

Kirkland is little bit cheaper. 15-25mins to Bellevue.

I work and live in Redmond, it's expensive here too. It takes me less than 10mins to go to shopping in Bellevue. Why every where is tree, tree, and more tree?

[TonyG5003]

To the OP... can you say which part of Bellevue? Like a couple of cross-streets perhaps? A rough area of where you will be working in Bellevue can make a big difference with commute times. For example, if you're closer to I-90 in southern Bellevue, then the Renton area, and also Issaquah would be a good fit. Issaquah is just a few minutes to the west of the southern half of Bellevue down I-90.

However, if you're in northern Bellevue, then you'll want to look for more affordable options in northern Kirkland into the Juanita area or beyond.

Fair warning though, I-405 can turn into a parking lot during rush hour!

With all of this said, rental inventory is almost ALWAYS very tight. So... be prepared to act when you find something. It's not typically a situation where you can look for days/weeks - especially in your price range.

[Hemlock140]

I haven't seen any houses under about $1,800 within a reasonable commute to Bellevue. If you are lucky and happen upon one before anyone else, there might be something in the older downtown parts of Issaquah, North Bend or
Carnation, in addition to Renton, Maple Valley and Auburn, but only Issaquah is within your preferred commute range.

[kpete]

[quote=TonyG5003;25012438]To the OP... can you say which part of Bellevue? Like a couple of cross-streets perhaps? A rough area of where you will be working in Bellevue can make a big difference with commute times.

Thanks TonyG5003 I will be working in the area of 132nd Ave NE and NE 16th St

[TonyG5003]

Originally Posted by kpete

I will be working in the area of 132nd Ave NE and NE 16th St

Ah... right in the middle of things.

With that in mind, you might want to focus looking farther north first - towards Woodinville & Bothell, as getting back and forth to/from either Issaquah or Renton might be more of a burden. Issaquah would still be possible, but it can be a very unpredictable with backups, getting onto I-405.

You'll be using I-405... so be prepared for a good 30 to 40 minutes or more, depending on when you need to leave each morning.

In any event, $1400-$1600 is going to be difficult for a detached single-family home. If you add townhomes to the mix, you will definitely be more successful. You'll find more "homes" south in Renton, and more townhomes or condos north towards Woodinville & Bothell.

Good luck!

[Hemlock140]

You might find something in the Rosehill or Kingsgate area of Kirkland closer to your budget, and rather than the nasty I405 commute, can come in on 132nd, then jog over to 132nd on Northup. That does get busy at times but not bumper-to-bumper, and is fairly scenic where it cuts through Bridle Trails.

[spotlesseden]

one more thing. alot people in here don't know how to drive, you will notice this in your first week.
I got two scratches on my car already. They hit and run, I don't know who did it. I didn't have any when i was in CA. If you look at people's car, atleast 50% of them have scratches.

Make sure you park next to bmw, lexus,... to get your money worth.

The speed limit in here is freaking 60mph. Not like CA, 65-70mph. But I drive 65-70+ anyway.

[Freebird2007]

Try south....waaay south like Fed way.


Even houses in seedy Lynnwood are going for $1800