Safe Seattle neighborhoods with house budget under $300,000 (Tacoma, Shoreline: houses, buying)

[peajay]

I want to put this into perspective because we are moving from Flatbush, Brooklyn. Since we moved in 2 years ago there have been 3 shootings on our block. I only count the ones on our block, I can't keep track with the whole neighborhood. We arrange our furniture to where we are least likely to get shot by stray bullets (we call it ghetto feng shui). So when I say safe, I mean we don't want to live in fear like we do now. We are looking to buy, $300,000 is the top of our budget and we would also like to live on a somewhat nice looking street where the homes look taken care of, cute bungalows preferably, character, within seattle. We would go into the suburbs if there are neighborhoods out there with lots of character.

[homesinseattle]

If you are okay with a smallish 2 bedroom bungalow, might be able to slide into Beacon Hill or south Seward Park/Columbia City at that price. $325K would help. Outside of Seattle just a bit, Burien could work.

[mkarch]

Generally a $300K/under house on a nice block means you're buying the old/small/run down house on the block. On those streets, you're also generally competing with investors looking to tear down those homes to build something they can sell for $600K+.

2 years ago it would have been easy to find what you're looking for, but the amount of flipping and new construction has really stripped the inventory of sub-$400K houses in attractive neighborhoods of late.

[amaiunmei]

Originally Posted by mkarch

Generally a $300K/under house on a nice block means you're buying the old/small/run down house on the block. On those streets, you're also generally competing with investors looking to tear down those homes to build something they can sell for $600K+.

2 years ago it would have been easy to find what you're looking for, but the amount of flipping and new construction has really stripped the inventory of sub-$400K houses in attractive neighborhoods of late.

This is the truth. The market is teeming with all-cash buyers (usually associated with investors) who buy cheap properties. Sub-$300k properties within the city have largely disappeared for that reason, and at that price point, it's very easy to get sniped by an all-cash buyer.

My suggestion is to look outside of Seattle for what you are seeking. Shoreline has a few homes at that price range, but your money will go further down south (especially in Burien or Tukwila).

Good luck!

[Ira500]

Within the city itself, there are going to be very few areas where you can find a cute bungalow for under 300,000. Maybe Upper Rainier Beach. Not far from the city, Burien( especially the part near SW 152nd) is cute, has character, is multi-ethnic and fun. Renton, especially the North Renton neighborhood between downtown Renton and the Landing shopping center, is full of 1920's bungalows with character. And within walking distance of lots of places to dine and drink.
Some of these places, people are going to say "OMIGOD!"Dangerous ghetto!"
Um, no. These people are not from Flatbush. They don't know from dangerous neighborhoods. When I first came to Seattle 35 years ago, I was driven around and shown the "bad" neighborhoods. They're not. They look like respectable middle class neighborhoods compared to the bad neighborhoods I grew up near in New Jersey. Just keep in mind that you get nicer houses in nicer neighborhoods for the price outside of the city limits. There's nothing wrong with Burien or Renton, and both of them are a pretty quick trip into downtown Seattle. Renton has more cute bungalows. Burien's downtown is a little hipper.

[angelenogirl]

I second Renton. There are some really cute pockets, and part of it is in a great school district. Great access to everywhere, too.

What people consider ghetto here is funny.

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by Ira500

When I first came to Seattle 35 years ago, I was driven around and shown the "bad" neighborhoods. They're not. They look like respectable middle class neighborhoods compared to the bad neighborhoods I grew up near in New Jersey.

Let's be clear though, 35 years ago was before the crack epidemic that transformed the CD into a burned out shell of drugs and prostitution. If you're saying THAT was nicer than respectable middle class neighborhoods in NJ, god help NJ.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by mkarch

Let's be clear though, 35 years ago was before the crack epidemic that transformed the CD into a burned out shell of drugs and prostitution. If you're saying THAT was nicer than respectable middle class neighborhoods in NJ, god help NJ.

No. In my opinion, that compared to ghettos in NJ, the CD, even during the crack epidemic, looked pretty nice. I lived in the CD during the crack epidemic. Different things were happening at the same time. During the late 80's, early 90's people were starting to move into the CD and fix up houses, at the same time the neighborhood was getting destroyed by crack. It was like two steps forward, four steps back. It certainly wasn't every street. Lots of the CD back then was pretty quiet. 23rd and Union, 23rd and Cherry? Not so quiet. I'd drive home from work and hope no stray bullets came my way. But even then, Newark was a lot scarier.

[peajay]

Thanks, good to know. I'll look in Renton and Burien. So I take it there isn't really negotiation on the prices in Seattle?

I saw this house that sold in Rainier Beach. My sister in law who used to live in Seattle told us that Rainier Beach is the ghetto. This street looks super nice and what our ideal street would look like. Is this house a fluke? Or is this street a fluke?9284 Ithaca Place South, Seattle WA - Trulia

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by peajay

Thanks, good to know. I'll look in Renton and Burien. So I take it there isn't really negotiation on the prices in Seattle?

I saw this house that sold in Rainier Beach. My sister in law who used to live in Seattle told us that Rainier Beach is the ghetto. This street looks super nice and what our ideal street would look like. Is this house a fluke? Or is this street a fluke?9284 Ithaca Place South, Seattle WA - Trulia

Nope, not that much negotiation on the prices. You're coming in over 10 years too late. It isn't to say you won't ever find anything, but for what you want and at the budget... the competition is going to be stiff, especially when you have investors. I remember reading where they were saying Beacon Hill was the best bang for your buck Seattle neighborhood... and that's with the budget of 300-325k.

Rainer Beach does have some rough areas-- and that is foremost on people's minds. Given the area's.. ahem... racial diversity... that mentality that it's a such dangerous hood area isn't going away. But no, Rainer Beach actually has some BEAUTIFUL homes... especially the ones by the water (of course, $$$$$$$$$$).



Honestly, you want character and bungalows type of homes at that budget range? Don't discount Tacoma. It has all that and is still affordable.