New to Washington: Seeking advice on places to Live (Seattle: 2014, apartments)

[TQ0715]

I will be a recent grad with an Ed.s degree in school psychology in May of 2014. I am trying to gather information to establish the best fit for me, my husband and two children to live work and attend school. We have been to Seattle a few times in the past. I went recently last spring for the NASP conference. We want a more liberal area with some cultural diversity which is also safe. I tried posting under the "Washington" and got no response. I thought I would try under "Seattle". I don't expect perfection. I'm just trying to get as close to what we need as possible.

WORK/CAREERS:

ME: I am seeking employment as a school psychologist in Washington for the coming Fall, 2014. I have been a certified K-4 school teacher for 8 years prior to grad school.. I have been looking at several school districts in Washington.

HUSBAND: He is changing careers and will begin Grad school online in Fall, 2014. His goal is to be a clinical social worker and work with PTSD military vets. He would like to have his practicum in Fall to be with the VA or a Vet non-profit (maybe work for the Veterans Administration eventually?).

SCHOOLS FOR KIDS:

I would prefer my children go to school within the same school district that I work. I hope to work and live in close proximity to the school they will attend.

LIVING LOCATION:

We are "down-to-earth" suburbanites! No strictly rural areas or strictly city areas. We would like
a suburb with decent schools, safe neighborhoods, and reasonable rents ($800-$1400). We will rent until we decide where we want to settle permanently. Easy access to shopping, banks, auto services, interstate and the hospital would be ideal.


AREAS WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING:
1. Lacey/Olympia
2. Silverlake (Everett)...Crime??
3. Lakeland Hills or Lea Hills (Auburn)...Crime??

Are we on the right track? We appreciate any feed-back and suggestions! Thanks!

[DevanXL]

Have you looked into federal way or puyallup?

[sawkeaton]

You need to stay OUT of the suburbs if you want liberalism, culture, and safety. The areas you have been considering are not interesting.

[SusanInSeattle]

Originally Posted by TQ0715

I will be a recent grad with an Ed.s degree in school psychology in May of 2014. I am trying to gather information to establish the best fit for me, my husband and two children to live work and attend school. We have been to Seattle a few times in the past. I went recently last spring for the NASP conference. We want a more liberal area with some cultural diversity which is also safe. I tried posting under the "Washington" and got no response. I thought I would try under "Seattle". I don't expect perfection. I'm just trying to get as close to what we need as possible.

WORK/CAREERS:

ME: I am seeking employment as a school psychologist in Washington for the coming Fall, 2014. I have been a certified K-4 school teacher for 8 years prior to grad school.. I have been looking at several school districts in Washington.

HUSBAND: He is changing careers and will begin Grad school online in Fall, 2014. His goal is to be a clinical social worker and work with PTSD military vets. He would like to have his practicum in Fall to be with the VA or a Vet non-profit (maybe work for the Veterans Administration eventually?).

SCHOOLS FOR KIDS:

I would prefer my children go to school within the same school district that I work. I hope to work and live in close proximity to the school they will attend.

LIVING LOCATION:

We are "down-to-earth" suburbanites! No strictly rural areas or strictly city areas. We would like
a suburb with decent schools, safe neighborhoods, and reasonable rents ($800-$1400). We will rent until we decide where we want to settle permanently. Easy access to shopping, banks, auto services, interstate and the hospital would be ideal.


AREAS WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING:
1. Lacey/Olympia
2. Silverlake (Everett)...Crime??
3. Lakeland Hills or Lea Hills (Auburn)...Crime??

Are we on the right track? We appreciate any feed-back and suggestions! Thanks!

Where is your husband going to be going to school? Where would you like to work? One of you should remain sane and avoid the stress of the traffic. That's how you should decide - one of you, at least, should be close to where they'll be working or going to school.

Lacey, Olympia, Everett, Lakeland Hills - not even close to Seattle, so I wouldn't call them suburbs. Everett is the closest and is about 40 minutes from Seattle with light traffic. During commute times, 90 minutes each way.

If you're looking for an area inside the city of Seattle, I'd suggest Magnolia, West Seattle, Wallingford (close to the University District), Green Lake, though for less than $1400, it might be difficult. The housing market is hot here and rental prices reflect the competition.

Maybe a short term rental until you have a position?

[tacomaite79]

I would say Lacey would probably be your best bet, since it's closer to the joint bases, and schools. Lakewood has some decent areas, but schools would be a problem. Homes are more affordable away from Seattle proper. I suggest starting out with a rental before committing to a home, theres a number of homes and apartments for rent in Lacey area, so you can try it out first.

[braid]

Hi TQ0715,

Based on the places you've been looking, it sounds like you're ok with living far from Seattle. I'd suggest looking into Mill Creek. It's a suburb a bit closer to Seattle than the places you mentioned. It has a nice town center area with one of the best grocery stores in the area (Central Market). The school system is outstanding and has very low crime as well. It's easy to jump on a commuter bus during the week for quick ride to Seattle. You may also consider Snoqualmie or Lake Sammamish as they have nice town center areas as well.

[Robt Evans]

I agree with Braid, the Mill Creek area is lovely. The Town Center has many great places to shop, eat, participate in yoga, exercise, bank, receive health/dental care, and there are trails and parks in the area for outdoor activities. Crime is low. I don't think you will be able to find a single family home for rent considering your budget; however, there are plenty of apartments (older and new) in the area. Some also have air conditioning, which is a nice feature in the summer. : ) ENJOY!