whats a good area to buy a home in seattle reddit

Every bit a born and raised Seattleite who has moved around the urban center quite a few times, I've gotten to know the neighborhoods well. Just as much as I know the ins and outs of this boondocks, the reality is that Seattle is constantly morphing and evolving into a bigger and (more often than not) better version of its quondam self, and so what was true about a neighborhood at one point might accept inverse by the time y'all're done reading this (joking, sort of). Seattle'due south definitely on the rising, and while that's good for the local economy, it can also crusade rental prices to soar and longtime locals to relocate.

The upside of Seattle'south growth is that in that location are plenty of neighborhoods to choose from, only considering information technology's still smaller than other big cities, y'all won't exist overwhelmed. Narrowing your search requires looking at the whole picture: public transit options, housing affordability, the vibe/history of the neighborhood—notice a rest between what's most important to you and what you can reasonably beget.

In my case, I knew I wanted a newly constructed, however moderately priced two or 3 bedroom space that wasn't besides far from the superhighway, and in a neighborhood safe plenty to walk my dog at nighttime. I ended up finding a cozy, mod townhome on a maple-lined road in Due north Seattle/Broadview that checked all the boxes, and allows me to get downtown via bus or car in 20 to 30 minutes.

Here are some helpful tips to finding your perfect neighborhood in the Emerald Urban center itself, or in the greater Seattle area, where in that location are plenty of options as well.

First, consider your commute. Most people either work in downtown Seattle, which extends from Pioneer Square to South Lake Union, or the eastward side, which is not in Seattle proper and includes the cities of Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond. If your piece of work will take you to downtown Seattle, consider neighborhoods with sufficient public transport options, such as Greenlake, Fremont, Buoy Colina, or Northgate, which all are conveniently located near a bus or lite rail line that volition bring you downtown in less than an 60 minutes. And for Bellevue workers, Kirkland, Redmond, and Renton all accept direct bus lines which head into the main business areas—some buses to the east side also run through parts of the Seattle neighborhoods Montlake and Capitol Hill. If you're planning to drive, be warned. Seattle is rated as No. 6 in the nation for the worst traffic, right backside L.A., just to give you an idea of how bad blitz hour can be (yeah, it'south legit).

Nada beats being able to walk to work to avoid traffic altogether. Many Amazonians alive and work in South Lake Union, so they can walk to piece of work. Belltown, Eastlake, and Lower Queen Anne are also close plenty to South Lake Union to hoof it.

And then, selection whether you want to be on the east or west side. Iconic Lake Washington serves not only equally a cute backdrop for the urban center, only as well as a dividing betoken between the e and w side of the region. The west side, which includes Seattle proper, has more of a big urban center feel to it, complete with skyscrapers, humming sidewalks, and overcrowded flat buildings, while the east—which includes the cities of Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond—is more spacious and suburban.

Seattle is grungier, dirtier, and has more hipster coffee shops, while Bellevue is make clean, tidy, and has more than loftier-end retail plazas. The east is relatively calmer and quieter, while Seattle has more than belatedly-dark activities in areas like Capitol Loma, Pioneer Square, and Fremont, which are known for their live concerts/shows, speakeasy bars, and craft breweries.

Part of the reason for the cultural divide between the ii sides of the water is that it'south hard to get from one side to the other. To go from Seattle to Bellevue, or vice versa, you have two options (well three if y'all count driving effectually, which takes forever); take either the 520 or I-90 floating bridges. Between the ii, 520 is the most direct path, but I-90 doesn't take any tolls. Your best bet if you lot have to go between the two a lot is to alive with easy access to I-90—I suggest Mercer Island, Mount Bakery, or Bellevue'south Factoria neighborhood. Alternatively, if you choose a urban center like Renton in the s, or Bothell and Kenmore in the north, you can access either side without the demand to cross a bridge.

Find the right fit for your personality. Each Seattle neighborhood has a dissimilar vibe, and then figuring out which ane you like best will assistance you know where you belong. Do yous find happiness immersing yourself with various nationalities and ethnicities? Try Rainier Valley or parts of Westward Seattle. Looking for a youthful, energetic oversupply that doesn't slumber? Bank check out up-and-coming, industrial Georgetown, or the LGBQT and artistic headquarters that is Capitol Loma. Or do you prefer calm and placidity? Expect into neighborhoods like Wedgwood or the attractive-but-pricey Leschi. Y'all tin also find out what kind of events are held in your new potential neighborhood past searching Facebook events, checking out local paper the Stranger, or request locals via Quora or Reddit.

If you need some infinite, you shouldn't have an issue. Seattle's apartments are more spacious than other big-city rentals. Most i-bedrooms, even in the nicest parts of boondocks, typically are at least 400 to 500 square feet, which isn't huge, but big enough where you can have a few people over, or requite your doggo some infinite to run around. Provided your budget is at or above most $ane,200 a month, you lot should have some dainty options at your disposal. Our Curbed Comparisons column tin give you a better idea of what you can expect at certain price points, only be assured that you probable won't be living like a hermit crab during your tenure—unless you opt for a newly trendy microstudio.

Practise you lot want to take public transit? While we don't take a robust subway system even so, the bus lines here are, for the about part, efficient, reliable, and run through all the major areas. For example, from Shoreline, the side by side city that sits north of Seattle, you lot can hop on a bus that runs through Greenwood, Greenlake, Phinney Ridge, and Fremont, and nevertheless ends up in downtown in less than an hour. If you can't find a spot close plenty to walk to a station, consider looking for a place near a park-and-ride, like the ones in Factoria, Mountlake Terrace, or Renton.

As for the lite rail, the main route runs from Ocean-Tac airport all the way to the Academy of Washington and stops at 13 main points along the way, including Tukwila, Rainier Beach, Sodo, and downtown. An expansion to Northgate will be complete in a few years, and there are more expansion projects on the fashion.

For added convenience, become yourself an ORCA pass—an electronic laissez passer card that works on buses, trains, ferries, and light rail. Prices vary based on your usage and travel distance, just range from $ninety to $200 a month.

If you'll be driving, consider how far you'll be from the freeway. Due to its small footprint and narrow shape, Seattle doesn't have a lot of intersecting highways (unlike, say, L.A.). There's just one major n-to-south interstate on each side of the lake (I-5 if you're in Seattle, I-405 if you're on the eastward side), and you lot'll want to be close to it if you value being able to bulldoze around the city quickly. Some of the more trendy neighborhoods like Ballard might audio nice on newspaper, but it will take you twenty minutes to become on the expressway from in that location. West Seattle is another cool neighborhood known for its dive-y pubs and open flea markets, just the trek across the W Seattle span to get to the freeway can exist brutal.

Are you a frequent flyer? If and then, yous may desire to look in to places closer to the airport, or at least on the light rail path, which will take yous directly to the Body of water-Tac finish. Tukwila is the closest neighborhood to the aerodrome, and is also attainable past light track. Other options on the light rail route are Rainier Valley, Buoy Loma, and Hillman Urban center. Skyway, Renton, and Burien are also nearby, but don't have light rails stations.

Paine Field in Everett recently started offering commercial flights, making it a feasible airport for residents on the north finish of the region, in neighborhoods such equally Marysville, Lynnwood, and Factory Creek. But it only features a express amount of flights, and then be sure to bank check its website to run across which cities information technology connects to if y'all're thinking nearly moving to a home almost this area.

Aye, your neighborhood can exist walkable. At that place are many neighborhoods where you can easily stroll to a java shop, eatery, or bazaar. Downtown is ane, provided you lot don't mind a steep hill hither or there (and limited grocery store options). Across that, the most pedestrian-friendly areas include the International District, Pioneer Square, and First Colina. Other areas farther from the city center, like Ravenna and Phinney Ridge, are becoming more walkable, and attainable bicycle lanes brand it piece of cake to go downtown from these areas as well.

If you'd prefer to walk in nature, pick a neighborhood with easy access to our countless trails and nature walks. The massive Discovery Park sits right in the middle of Magnolia, and the always Instagrammable Washington Arboretum sits across from the UW campus in Madison Valley. Further east, Marymoor Park in Redmond offers plenty of walking trails, while as well serving as a pop outdoor music venue. Get the latest from Curbed Seattle'due south hiking guides.

How much racket can you handle? Sometimes a little ambient noise can be soothing, whether information technology comes from a semi-busy street, foot traffic, or your overly enthusiastic neighbors. Even so, if yous're like me and prefer some peace at the stop of the night, you'll want to discover a quieter neighborhood like Broadview, Lake City, or Mercer Island. If y'all prefer lively crowds and a bustling late-dark scene, try Belltown, Capitol Hill, and the University Commune.

Seattle isn't one large wood, just we accept some great parks. The Seattle Parks and Recreation department manages over 485 parks, which brand up about 12 percent of the urban center's mural. Then for fellow pet-owners or public park enthusiasts, you lot may want to consider being in an area like Magnolia for Discovery Park, Sand Point for its pup-friendly Magnuson Park, Mountlake for the Arboretum, or Seward Park for the park of the same name. In the northern role of the city, Green Lake is one of the go-tos for park lovers. The park in that location, Dark-green Lake Park, is centrally located in the neighborhood and has a corking walking, running, and biking path that circles around the lake.

We accept plenty of beaches, also—although if you're looking for a sandy oasis, they're few and far between. If y'all're looking for a more traditional beach for, say, a volleyball tournament, there'south Golden Gardens in Ballard and Alki Beach in West Seattle, but if you don't mind a few rocks, in that location are plenty of places to lounge or have a dip along the Puget Sound to the westward or Lake Washington to the east (and many of these parks take grassy lawns so you don't have to sit down down on the barnacles).

Take a exam run and tour around the neighborhood beginning. Y'all never really know what y'all're getting into until you're in it. Seattle has no shortage of houses that expect really nice in photos, merely are in downtrodden areas. If you tin can't arrive to check out the neighborhood in person, Walk Score and existent-estate sites can help you become a better idea of what information technology's like. Another surprisingly good resource can be Google maps. By enabling yous to meet bird's-heart and street-level views of the area, you can get somewhat of a good idea of the neighborhood as a whole. It might non exist 100 per centum accurate or up to date, just it can at to the lowest degree give you an overview.

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Source: https://seattle.curbed.com/2019/7/10/18701148/seattle-neighborhoods-advice-where-to-live

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