Need advice on where to live in Seattle area (Shoreline: affordable apartments, renters)

[FloridianGirl32]

Hi, I am 32 years old, single and female. I am going to be moving to the Seattle area but I am very open to which area of Seattle I should live in. Constantly searching online and it is becoming overwhelming. I have 2 small pets (dog and cat). I do not want to live in the center of everything as I like to come home and unwind quietly after work. I do want to live near the water or walking distance from a beach or to be able to walk near the water. I am from Florida originally and miss the water sometimes! I am open to suburbs. I also like walking/hiking trails and seeing lots of trees. I don't want to look out my window at concrete. I'm also wanting to move to a safe neighborhood where I can take my dog out at night and not be scared. My budget is about $1300 and I'm looking to rent a one bedroom apt. Does anyone have a good suggestion about neighborhood or suburbs I should be looking at? If possible, I would like a 15-35 min commute into Seattle.

[kaonevar]

I live 5 miles from downtown and my commute is 25min-1 hour during rush hour. Riding the bus makes it around 45 minutes most days because of a transfer and the buses being out of sync.

Honestly, you aren't going to find a 35 min commute "into Seattle." You'll be lucky to find one that short living in Seattle unless you live near downtown in somewhere like Capital Hill or SLU, etc.

You probably aren't going to find $1300/month very close to water either. Anything with a water view is going to be $$$. Everyone wants a water view. You can probably walk or bus or bike to water from a variety of places though.

You probably can find a 1 bedroom for that budget though.

[AyeScotland]

Did you see the 'Moving to Seattle' megathread started by eskercurve? (As I type this, it is on page 2, near the top.) esker curve kindly created a nice flowchart for people like you and me -- check it out, it might be helpful. Also, you didn't mention where your job will be -- as you can tell from kanovear's post, esker curve's flowchart, and the responses to pretty much everyone else's questions about where to live when they move the Seattle area, the commute times are generally horrible. (Thanks, eskercurve!)

[Arushan]

I recommend Shoreline. It might have what you're looking for.

[Blondebaerde]

Originally Posted by kaonevar

Honestly, you aren't going to find a 35 min commute "into Seattle." You'll be lucky to find one that short living in Seattle unless you live near downtown in somewhere like Capital Hill or SLU, etc.

No kidding. Same thing happens on the Hawaii forum, though there it's actually far worse: people with no clue whatsoever who want to "start over", "find some peace," God knows what else. They end up broke camping on the beach.

Seattle is gorgeous, IF you tolerate the semi-truck size downsides (expense, weather, social scene, traffic, etc.).

Starting to become grim, people wanting "affordable" AND to be where humans might want to live. Or more specifically, those not wanting to deal with gangstas, bums, and other trouble out the front door or next apartment over. Must admit my sense of humor for all sorts of "wildlife" departed on swift wings once I turned 30.

Being an Eastside sort of person, wondering if a studio in Kirkland would work for that budget. I have no idea what that costs, rents are out the window past year, obviously, and pets are boat anchors for renters anyway. However: 15-30 min into Seattle: LOL! 45 min - 1 hour by bus and foot, via Kirkland TC, arriving downtown to Westlake @9AM, per Google maps (transit option, weekday).

Searching is a lot less overwhelming if you list top 5 Must Haves, your budget and tolerance for commuting, and back everything else out from there. Spreadsheet, yellow legal pad, that sort of thing? Probably take a Sunday afternoon to come up with ten places to ask about, then narrow it down to a few for the pre-visit to set everything up, being prepared to make an immediate onsite decision (if I understand the rental market correctly these days: YMMV). I did all that when the Internet was young-ish, so to speak, and hope I never again have to try it at dial-up speeds and "print" everything needed.

Very specific questions receive more-solid counsel on here.

[eskercurve]

With your budget you should be able to find a place anywhere in the city. See my other thread:

//www.city-data.com/forum/seatt...ga-thread.html

[Ruth4Truth]

Edmonds, north of Seattle. There are affordable apartments on the hill above the bay, some of which have a view of the water.

Otherwise, Madison Park, in Seattle, and possibly West Seattle near the beach. West Seattle has a beautiful park on a bluff overlooking the water, too.

[tobester]

Try Columbia City ... easy and frequent bus into downtown. Twenty minute walk to Seward Park (has old growth forest) with some of the best water views and hiking paths around.

[NewbiePoster]

Originally Posted by tobester

Try Columbia City ... easy and frequent bus into downtown. Twenty minute walk to Seward Park (has old growth forest) with some of the best water views and hiking paths around.

Columbia City? I wouldn't recommend it for a single woman. Why not the Seward Park neighborhood? Depending on which side of the hill she's on, she'd have a view of Lake Washington. It's a tony neighborhood. Safe. There used to be an express bus from that area all the way to the U District. Will the OP be commuting by bus or car?

There aren't many apartments available right now in Seward Park, but I checked West Seattle, and there are several one-br. apts. for under $1000 within walking distance of the beach. I don't think you'll have to spend $1300 for a 1-br. in Seattle.