oudeis on 11/12/2009 at 01:35
For a long time now I've been aiming to get back to the California coast (I lived in various places up and down the state back around the forging of the Great Rings of Power). With both the global economic problems and Californians chronic inability to get their budgetary shit together I don't think now is a good time to return. This has been confirmed by fellow techs (I work in technology) on other boards, so I recently turned my sights on Seattle. After a week of scanning the real estate ads on craiglist I have come to this conclusion: HOLY FUCKING SHIT IS SEATTLE EXPENSIVE :wot::eek:::(:nono::grr:.
I'm currently paying ~$650/month for a one-bedroom apartment in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Denver. A similar situation in the symmetrically-named Capitol Hill area of Seattle would likely cost me 50-100% more. Since my price ceiling is about $850 I need to find out where I should be looking. With that in mind, what neighborhoods should I target and which should I avoid? What areas are closest to local tech centers? I really don't care about living in the 'cool' areas or about having a showcase apartment but I don't want to live next door to a meth den either. So long as I'm not living in a cockroach colony, a closet, a dungeon, or a neighborhood where I have to worry about stray bullets I'm perfectly content.
ercles on 11/12/2009 at 02:50
What neighborhoods should you target?
Vancouver!
PeeperStorm on 11/12/2009 at 03:33
Quote Posted by oudeis
...but I don't want to live next door to a meth den either. So long as I'm not living in a cockroach colony, a closet, a dungeon, or a neighborhood where I have to worry about stray bullets I'm perfectly content.
Sounds like tha Sourpuss
Gangsta ain't keepin' it real.
Pardoner on 11/12/2009 at 04:05
Quote Posted by oudeis
A similar situation in the symmetrically-named Capitol Hill area of Seattle would likely cost me 50-100% more.
What? Capitol Hill is probably one of the hipper places to live, but you can get unfurnished hardwood one bedrooms at $750/mo for year (possibly even six month) leases. I found some
nice 850s on craigslist just now. Take a look at the Stranger classifieds, the Seattle Daily classifieds, and the UW Daily classifieds if you can't find what you want on craiglist. What kind of room are you looking for (e.g. one/two/studio, furnished unfurnished)?
Quote Posted by oudeis
With that in mind, what neighborhoods should I target and which should I avoid? What areas are closest to local tech centers? I really don't care about living in the 'cool' areas or about having a showcase apartment but I don't want to live next door to a meth den either. So long as I'm not living in a cockroach colony, a closet, a dungeon, or a neighborhood where I have to worry about stray bullets I'm perfectly content.
Transportation is a real factor in Seattle. Picking out a neighborhood generally depends on where you're going to be working/studying/chilling, and how much time you are willing to spend commuting (and what mode of transportation). Besides that, most of the tech stuff (Microsoft, Valve) is on the East Side, but far away from anything interesting (besides a fuckton of malls).
Capitol Hill, Fremont, and Wallingford are probably the hippest neighborhoods. The Central District and Columbia City are neat as well. The University District is a second rate place to live (crime has been spiking there), but the other nearby neighborhoods are decent enough (Ravenna, Phinney Ridge) if a little suburban. Queen Anne is all right as well.
oudeis on 11/12/2009 at 04:42
Pardoner: Thanks for all that. I saw the prices on craigslist and seriously began to despair of ever moving to anywhere that interested me. I'll check out what you said.
Quote Posted by oudeis
...but I don't want to live next door to a meth den either. So long as I'm not living in a cockroach colony, a closet, a dungeon, or a neighborhood where I have to worry about stray bullets I'm perfectly content.
Quote Posted by PeeperStorm
Sounds like tha Sourpuss
Gangsta ain't keepin' it real.
better?
PeeperStorm on 11/12/2009 at 05:49
Now it's more like the Sourpuss Octogenarian.
Tonamel on 11/12/2009 at 07:44
You should come to the midwest. I'm paying $690 for a two bedroom duplex.
Aerothorn on 11/12/2009 at 16:01
Quote Posted by Pardoner
Capitol Hill, Fremont, and Wallingford are probably the hippest neighborhoods.
Wallingford is hip now? When I was growing up there is just kind of a generic middle-class neighborhood. Man, shows how out of the loop I am.
If you weren't concerned about job stuff, I'd say go with Portland, OR. I love Seattle, but Portland has much better public transportation and (somewhat) cheaper property values, though they've been skyrocketing as more people figure out what an awesome place Portland is - probably the best weather around, beautiful environment, lots of parks and dogs, friendly people, Powell's. But as noted, it's not going to have nearly as much tech stuff in Seattle.
Very important question: do you drive or take public transportation? Public transportation is pretty crap in Seattle (lots of bus-hopping), though things are pretty congested for cars too. As noted, there *are* cheaper places in Seattle - I can assure you that most UW students are not paying $1400 a month for an apartment. That said, I haven't done a property hunt there yet, so I can't honestly say for sure.
And of course, there's always the suburbs, though as noted the Redmond etc. is pretty damn boring. Lake Union might also be cheaper on account of its distance from downtown?
And as far as your concern about bullets: while I understand gang violence IS on the rise in Seattle, it's still a very safe city overall - this isn't NYC. I lived there for 18 years or so and honestly never had a single encounter with crime outside of someone throwing a rock at our window when I was young. Which is of no scientific value whatsoever, mind you, but I never felt uncomfortable walking around at night. There are probably parts of South Seattle that are rough, but in the minds of most Seattlites that's practically a different city. We're a classist bunch.
Strangeblue on 12/12/2009 at 03:46
I, of course, always pimp for Ballard. It's not as trendy as Fremont, but its cheaper and less crowded, though you still can't get a parking space at the Sunday Market... However, the overbuilding of condos in Ballard has resulted in cheap condo rents along Market and 24th, which are both nice areas with good public transit.
Parts of Phinney Ridge, Greenlake and Greenwood are quite nice and affordable, but you have to be picky about seeing them in person. Avoid Columbia City and Lake City like the plagues that they are. There are a few gems in Central, but again, you have to go in person to see or you end up in a a slum.
heywood on 12/12/2009 at 15:10
Quote Posted by oudeis
HOLY FUCKING SHIT IS SEATTLE EXPENSIVE :wot::eek:::(:nono::grr:.
It's really not so bad. Try living in SF, NYC, Boston, LA, or DC (or London, Tokyo, HK, etc.)
I didn't realize Denver was so cheap. $650/month for a one bedroom in a hip neighborhood of a major city is a pretty good score that will be hard to duplicate.
