Moving to Seattle from Texas (Bellevue, Federal Way: apartments, rentals, crime)

[crum1515]

I am a former native Seattlite (don't know if that's really a word), and I just accepted a position with Amazon and I am moving back to Seattle from Dallas here in a few weeks. I see that there are a few recent "Moving to Seattle" threads but didn't want to hijack them just to get a more personable scope of information.

I have been looking at Queen Anne(both upper and lower) and Capitol Hill for my close to downtown search, and Bellevue and Kirkland for my over yonder but still a reasonable commute areas.

What is traffic like during the "rush hour" times on the 520 or on 90 crossing the water mass which I think is called Lake Washington, when coming from the Bellevue/Kirkland/Redmond area?

I am very easy to please when it comes to living, I have set a huge budget disparity to help open up where I live, generally though for a rental I don't want to pay more than about 1800$ a month will consider more as the area dictates. Seen everything in all the area's I am looking ranging from 800-2500 a month... what are some area's that I should try and avoid when considering things like traffic/crime/impromptu karate street fights in the Seattle and surrounding areas?

I also don't mind a little longer than normal commutes, does anyone have insight on living a little farther south like the area's east or south of SEA-TAC? Think that's like Renton and Kent?

I was also looking a bit even more farther south in the Puyallup and Auburn/Federal Way area as I love those area's but without knowing what the traffic will be like that could be a suicide inducing drive.

Really trying to keep the commute to an hour or less for my first year there, after that year I plan on buying a home and will reevaluate my sanity.

Thanks for the input!

[Momofmad]

I can't help you with your questions, but congratulations on moving back! I am a Dallas native and moved here last July for my husbands job. I was so glad to leave the heat, crime, and unattractive landscape behind! Enjoy coming home and best of luck!

[kyled]

Why would you want to avoid impromptu karate street fights? Sounds like free entertainment to me!

[es_em]

Capitol Hill studios are running about $1400-1800 right now (without parking). Your commute down the hill would be easy - a nice walk - but we have a lot of crime (strong arm and armed robberies, vehicle prowls, etc.), homelessness, heroin, crack, public drunkenness, lots of sirens and other noise pollution (drunks people hooting and hollering, busses, horns, etc), and a lot of general rowdiness at night, especially the weekends. We are a very lively neighborhood. The tradeoff for all of the above is that there are about 30 bars and restaurants within a two block radius of me. But, you know, not much peacefulness.

At your commute times, you could log onto the WSDOT website and look at the flow maps and the traffic cameras to give you an idea of your commute. WSDOT - Seattle Washington Cameras They also have a pretty great twitter feed.

[crum1515]

Originally Posted by es_em

Capitol Hill studios are running about $1400-1800 right now (without parking). Your commute down the hill would be easy - a nice walk - but we have a lot of crime (strong arm and armed robberies, vehicle prowls, etc.), homelessness, heroin, crack, public drunkenness, lots of sirens and other noise pollution (drunks people hooting and hollering, busses, horns, etc), and a lot of general rowdiness at night, especially the weekends. We are a very lively neighborhood. The tradeoff for all of the above is that there are about 30 bars and restaurants within a two block radius of me. But, you know, not much peacefulness.

At your commute times, you could log onto the WSDOT website and look at the flow maps and the traffic cameras to give you an idea of your commute. WSDOT - Seattle Washington Cameras They also have a pretty great twitter feed.

Awesome info, thank you!

[crum1515]

Originally Posted by Momofmad

I can't help you with your questions, but congratulations on moving back! I am a Dallas native and moved here last July for my husbands job. I was so glad to leave the heat, crime, and unattractive landscape behind! Enjoy coming home and best of luck!

Haha, thank you! I am certainly happy to be seeing trees again, I missed trees. And hills!!

[dfwcre8tive]

We moved from Dallas to Seattle in October and chose the Mt Baker/SE Seattle area. There aren't a lot of apartments I would consider in the area, but there are house rentals. We wanted to avoid traffic on the bridges and have the option to get everywhere via city streets (no highways) or transit (light rail or bus). I also love being close to the lake. We have other Dallas friends that are renting a townhouse in West Seattle and some that are out in Kirkland. Lots of people are making the move up from Dallas, it seems (and I love the change).

[SusanInSeattle]

Crum, I would try to find something as close to Amazon headquarters as possible - even within reasonable walking distance. You want to keep your sanity and you'll likely be spending more time than you think at work. If it were me, I'd forgo the commute almost entirely and fully embrace the city. Belltown (not the party side along Western/First/Second), Denny-Blaine, Capitol Hill, lower Queen Anne.

Amazon H.R. can help locate some buildings to try.

[BATCAT]

Originally Posted by es_em

Capitol Hill studios are running about $1400-1800 right now.

I don't want to make Seattle seem inexpensive, because it's not, but that is high. I mean you CAN spend that much for a studio if you want but heck, you can find one-bedrooms for under 1400 on Capitol Hill.

[mrman78]

I moved from Houston to Seattle two years ago and settled in upper Queen Anne. It's gorgeous with great views and old houses everywhere you go. It's way quieter than Capitol Hill and rent is cheaper too with more parking options and less crime. Short 20 minute walk to Seattle Center or about 40 minute walk to Westlake downtown (bus takes about 20 minutes with all the stops).