Seattleites: I need some advice

[Ediacara]

So.... after six long (but generally productive and overall enjoyable) years in Montana, the boyfriend and I are moving back to my hometown of Seattle this summer. We need some advice on where to look for an apartment and a general idea of how the city has changed since I last lived there (summer of 2001). We'd prefer a one (or maybe two) bedroom, with a dishwasher, a balcony, and (please please please!) a W/D in the unit for about $1,000 - $1,200/month that's near a good bus-route into downtown.

-> Has the bus system changed much in the last six years?
-> Have neighborhoods changed much in terms of affordability and crime?
---> Specifically we're thinking of Lower Queen Anne, Belltown, Cascade, Eastlake, Capitol Hill, Madison Park, and First Hill. Is there some other neighborhood that we should be considering?

Thanks for any help!

[Suich]

1. I've lived here since the '60's but I have no idea about the bus system

or rentals. Why don't you post this in the Washington State forum? They're a pretty helpful bunch there!



:hi:

[Ediacara]

2. I thought about that, but it seems so serious down there

[Suich]

3. It's this sucky weather...makes us all too serious.

Who knows? You might cheer them up!

:shrug:

btw, Cascade has mostly been bought up and developed by Vulcan (Paul Allen). I don't even recognize south Lake Union any more.

[Ediacara]

7. I had a feeling that was the case

There were still a few residences there when I left, but I am not surprised it's all non-residential now.

[Fenris]

4. Changes in affordability? Yes!

This applies to houses, but it still highlights Seattle's disturbing real estate market: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/308223_overvalue20.html

Apartments are becoming more and more scarce in the area as developers are choosing to turn them into condos because they think that the market is never ever going to slow down (it will). They're kicking out lifelong tenants with meager consolation prizes ($500 to help you move! Get lost!). It's all very sad.

Maybe Lisa can offer more helpful information. :hi:

[flamingyouth]

5. Capitol Hill has gotten really expensive, from what I can tell.

Our friends just had to move out of their place because of a huge rent increase. They actually ended up buying a condo because it was about the same amount of money per month, believe it or not.

I'm kind of out of the loop apartment-wise, but have you considered maybe a little farther north, into Maple Leaf/Ravenna? I don't know if it would be cheaper up there, but it might.

There has been some weirdness with Metro lately as the Seattle School District is moving some high school students onto the buses and it's apparently making them pretty crowded (the P-I ran an article on this last month, and you can see LisaM's thread in the WA forum about this as well).

It will be great to have you back! :hi:

[Ediacara]

6. Thanks guys!

I certainly should have included Wallingford/Fremont/Ballard in my list of neighborhoods. I had lived in Interbay for a time and I remember feeling that it was extremely remote, so I was a little hesitent to mention anything in the north-end. I don't think we'll be renting forever, but we're hoping to find something for the short term within the parameters I laid out.