Good Day:

My wife and I are thinking about moving to the Seattle area. Does anyone have any suggestions as far as where to look for a place to live. We would like to live approximately 20-30 minutes from Downtown in an area that has a mix between suburbia and city life. We require an apartment/duplex with woodfloors, a garage, and perhaps a little yard. We have been to the Pacific Northwest several times, but have never made it to Seattle. Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you much,

J.

Queen Anne, Freemont, Ravenna, Wedgewood, Leschi, Madrona, Sandpoint, Laurelhurst, Wallingford, the U-District, Greenlake. You probably wouldn't want to be at the south end of downtown Seattle.

Seattle's older (1900-1930) residential neighborhoods, such as the ones listed by Sandy, typically have lower densities than their counterparts in the midwest or eastern US. The sort of accommodation you're seeking will be available in many parts of Seattle. A 20-30 min. commute from a real "suburb," on the other hand, is becoming a difficult thing, owing to traffic congestion and the limitations of our floating bridges, limited freeways and ferries.
The largest real estate agency in the region is Windermere, http://www.windermere.com/ - you might start looking there to help you get an idea of areas and prices. Good luck.

Hi-

As a longtime resident of the city, and not to contradict one of the other poster's, South Seattle can offer some really cool places while being less expensive than the northern (and western) parts of the city.

We live in Seward Park and love it. Columbia City has been going through some major rejeuvination as well. And Beacon Hill has some interesting spots. And as stated, most of these are withing 20 minutes of downtown via Metro bus. There are wonderful neighborhoods all over Seattle, much more interesting than the true 'Suburbs' of Seattle.

I agree with all of the above. The city of Seattle is much like you describe you want to be in, once you are outside of the downtown area. Capitol Hill is more urban, and crowded. Ballard is really up and coming and has more reasonable rents then other areas north of the canal.

Try Shoreline or Edmunds north of the city. Both are about 25 minutes from downtown or a 15 minute bus ride from Northgate Transit Center. Rents are cheaper and if you want to buy, the North City area of Shoreline offers some of the best deals in the area for middle class housing on large lots.

As far as wood floors in an apartment, forget it! You'll find wood floors in the older "inner city" buildings, but in "near-suburbia" you'll get linoleum or low-grade carpet. But, in the city you will also pay a premium for parking ($100-$200/month) while out in the burbs, parking is free.

BYW, did anybody tell you it rains here??? ALOT!!!