Any insight about renting on the Eastside?

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by shaylahc

I think this is really variable. The first house we rented here, the landlord wanted to raise the rent $250 after the first year. We talked them down to $150. The next year we left. They tried to raise the rent AGAIN another $250. When they had no takers, they lowered it another $100. They found some sap to pay their massively inflated rent. I guess the landlord thought they were renting the Taj Mahal

Absolutely it's variable, and there are landlords who don't seem to value the stability of having the same tenants, and continuously raise rents. They aren't the majority, but they certainly and unfortunately do exist.

[anneeliot]

Thank you all so much for the insight. I wish there were a better way to find rentals than just the internet. When you want to buy a house, you benefit from the knowledge of a real estate professional, who can point you in the right direction. Sometimes renting just seems like a crapshoot. I guess that's how we ended up in our current neighborhood, which we hate. Nice house, top-rated school, but completely the wrong fit for us.
Thank goodness for this board - it's already helped us out tremendously!

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by anneeliot

Sometimes renting just seems like a crapshoot. I guess that's how we ended up in our current neighborhood, which we hate. Nice house, top-rated school, but completely the wrong fit for us.

Well, you're not providing very many details. What do you hate about your current neighborhood? What would be more of a right fit? I'm inferring that the job offer is on the Eastside, but where can make a difference in where you might want to consider living.

Realize that the San Jose and Seattle areas are very different.

[anneeliot]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

Well, you're not providing very many details. What do you hate about your current neighborhood? What would be more of a right fit? I'm inferring that the job offer is on the Eastside, but where can make a difference in where you might want to consider living.

Realize that the San Jose and Seattle areas are very different.

Our current neighborhood is basically dead - none of the neighbors is ever outside, and children don't play. The area is an enclave of mostly tech workers, and the emphasis is very much on work and school. We feel like the odd family out, and the kids and I definitely get stared at for being ethnic minorities in the neighborhood, but never actually spoken to. We also thought we might like a newer home, but have found that planned developments aren't the best fit for us - I don't enjoy having to keep the blinds closed so that the neighbors don't look straight in.

For our new neighborhood, we would like something a little more diverse (or less tech-worker heavy), with a school that preferably doesn't put STEM subjects ahead of everything else. Also, a larger and/or more private lot, where sitting in the backyard isn't like sitting on a stage. Older houses are fine.

As for the area: my husband is in management consulting, so we don't generally pick a house based on proximity to work, since work location varies too much. He is currently working in Bellevue (part of the reason we're moving up to Washington), but that could change in the future. Decent access to the airport is a pro (he may have to work out of state again). Possible future clients in the area are mostly based in Bellevue, Redmond and Seattle (big tech and telecommunications).

Our highest priority is a safe, friendly neighborhood with plenty of greenery/trees near a town/center with some activities for families/kids and a well-rounded school. Areas with more single-income families (I stay home with our two kids) might also be nice, so that people are around during the day.