Question about rentals near Renton (Seattle, Bellevue: apartment complex, townhouse, neighborhoods)

[Turbojugend]

Well, this came out of nowhere. Hoping some of you fine folks can help me out with this:

I've been living in L.A. for the past 30 years, now a potentially superb job opportunity has just come up in Renton. They may be on the fast track to get me moved. Problem is I know absolutely nothing about the Seattle area, or where to even start looking for rentals. We'd need at least two bedrooms, hopefully around $2k a month, more is okay. We would settle for an apartment but a single family home would be ideal. I'm already used to a hellish commute, not that I want to keep doing it but I'm okay with it.

The wife and I just turned 50, both pretty mellow. We do enjoy shopping, dining, hiking, and the occasional sports game. No children, so schools are not a consideration. We currently live in the suburbs here in L.A. and are content. A quiet and safe bedroom community would be ideal.

Hopefully that's enough info to at least get a few suggestions. Thank you!

[CrazyDonkey]

Try looking in the Renton area first, which will minimize your commute - lots of "quiet and safe bedroom community" areas there (and nearby). You'll still be close enough to Seattle for sports and other events.

https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_ren...65_rect/11_zm/

For instance:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...48698420_zpid/

[Xanathos]

If you've got the money, focus on Newcastle rather than Renton. Renton is hit-or-miss. Newcastle is just universally nice, and the commute to either Boeing, Paccar, or Wizards of the Coast (seems the only 3 companies you would be relocating for in that particular city) would be cracker jack simple.

[CrazyDonkey]

If a family, then yes. But for just a couple, no.

[Ira500]

Depends where in Renton the job is. I live in Renton, and i like it, and I live in an area not considered particularly nice(Earlington Hill).
So, Lakeridge and Bryn mawr(just NW of downtown Renton) are quiet and pleasant(they have the 98178 zip code). Kennydale is nice, parts of North Renton are nice. There's no reason to stay away from all of Renton, although Newcastle is indeed nice. There are a few sketchy areas in Renton...So don't live in them. If the job is closer to the Kent border, parts of Kent are nice, or Renton's Talbot Hill or Fairwood neighborhoods.

[Turbojugend]

Thank you very much for the responses thus far, it is appreciated.

I will definitely stick to Renton when it comes to my initial search, but a co-worker who is familiar with the area also mentioned Issaquah and Maple Valley. Would those fit the bill as well? I'm just trying to figure out where I should be visiting when I head up there. Thanks!

[Xanathos]

Originally Posted by Turbojugend

Thank you very much for the responses thus far, it is appreciated.

I will definitely stick to Renton when it comes to my initial search, but a co-worker who is familiar with the area also mentioned Issaquah and Maple Valley. Would those fit the bill as well? I'm just trying to figure out where I should be visiting when I head up there. Thanks!

Your co-worker is valuing cost savings over convenience. Issaquah would be a nightmare. Maple Valley, you could probably do it in 35-40 minutes so long as the one road you'd have to take (a 2-laner) didn't have some sort of issue, but you can't count on that. And it's incredibly far south from the main part of the Seattle/Bellevue region.

[Turbojugend]

Again, thanks everyone for the suggestions and comments. Just a quick update on my situation: Looks like it would be corporate housing at The Landing in Renton, at least for awhile. I was in the area last week and it looked really nice, close to everything shopping and dining-wise. So if I do make it up there, I'll probably use The Landing as my home base and start exploring from there.

[MtDreamer16]

Originally Posted by Ira500

Depends where in Renton the job is. I live in Renton, and i like it, and I live in an area not considered particularly nice(Earlington Hill).
So, Lakeridge and Bryn mawr(just NW of downtown Renton) are quiet and pleasant(they have the 98178 zip code). Kennydale is nice, parts of North Renton are nice. There's no reason to stay away from all of Renton, although Newcastle is indeed nice. There are a few sketchy areas in Renton...So don't live in them. If the job is closer to the Kent border, parts of Kent are nice, or Renton's Talbot Hill or Fairwood neighborhoods.

Just curious, Ira500, I've heard before north Renton and northeast are good, and Newcastle. But what specific areas of Renton do you feel are sketchy? I've heard vague statements about not 'being too far south', but that's it. Is there a specific street to stay north of, or east of?


Thanks for any specific info you can provide as someone living in Renton.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by MtDreamer16

Just curious, Ira500, I've heard before north Renton and northeast are good, and Newcastle. But what specific areas of Renton do you feel are sketchy? I've heard vague statements about not 'being too far south', but that's it. Is there a specific street to stay north of, or east of?


Thanks for any specific info you can provide as someone living in Renton.

There's an apartment complex just west of the downtown Renton Fred Meyer store that sees a lot of police activity. Parts of the western part of the Renton Highlands are run down and perceived as higher crime( but it's getting better). The part of the North Renton neighborhood adjacent to downtown and very near 405 are a mix of industrial and residential, and at best are kind of noisy. The part of the South Renton neighborhood right next to Rainier Avenue are somewhat rundown and noisy, maybe a bit sketchy.
But I don't think you can say "Avoid all of the western part of Renton", or "Don't live in South Renton", or
don't live in downtown Renton", because even in the "worst" parts of Renton, most of the neighborhood is fine, safe, pleasant, and the neighborhoods get a bad rap because of a bad block or two. I live in the western part of Renton near Skyway, and it has a bad reputation. I've been here 18 years, and have never been robbed, never been burglarized, never had my car stolen, and know and like all my neighbors. It's more boring than it is dangerous. Which suits me fine. I like boring.