fritzrl

Dax: sounds as if you might survive the Seattle overcast pretty well. Most people who don't mind the cloud and fog find that it does energize one in a way -- the air always seems to feel freshly-washed.

Enough on that topic. Re taxes -- yes, true. OR has income but no sales taxes, WA vice-versa. Your plan to live on the WA side, and shop on the OR side of the Columbia River is, however, one well-known to the WA state tax authorities. There are various ways in which they can identify those who do what you suggest, and compel them to cough up the WA-state 'use' tax -- essentially sales tax paid to WA for major purchases made in sales-tax free areas like OR.

Property taxes: probably a tossup, and very dependent on where one lives, whether in OR or WA. In Portland, they're pretty outrageous, in Estacada (where?) probably much cheaper. In Seattle, they're climbing fast, in Ellensburg, still reasonable.

(Writing this from Redmond, WA, on an August day that, to rights, should be sunny and quite warm, but which is, in reality, overcast and 57 degrees cool. See what you're getting into?)

Fritzrl

suze

It's true, Washington has no state income tax (don't know how property taxes compare with Oregon).

Hopefully they will put one into effect soon. We desperately need more money. Our roads are in woeful shape, public schools need better funding, etc. etc.

And I'm sure you know we have a very high sales tax.

jdoramus

I've only been to Seattle once, but I'm just going with the topic. Does anyone know of a good area that has homes for rent? I've searched online and all I get are apartments and nothing tells you what areas are decent.I'm being transferred to Seattle and will be working on down on the piers. I don't mind too much of a commute but I really don't want to be stuck in a cramped apartment downtown just so I can get to work easy. I've gotten ideas on areas from reading y'alls thread, but everything seems to be geraed toward buying.

fritzrl

Jdoramus: my response is based entirely on gut-feel, but here are a few things to consider.

Two good reasons to move to a city that you don't know very well would be either (a) the job market is hothothot, or (b) you've fallen in love with the area, and whether a job awaits or not, you just *must* live there.

(A) is certainly not true right now, so I hope it's (b) that drives you. If you've only been to Seattle once, I hope for your sake it was an extended visit during the winter. If you were here only for a few days during the Summer, I fear you may not know what you're getting into. I exaggerate not a bit when I say the winter gloom does a number on people, even people who've acclimated. Like me, after 16 years here!

Re rental housing: I would recommend you go online to the Seattle PI or Seattle Times (both carry the same classifieds) and find out if you can afford a house to rent. Rents are starting to trend up, because more people are renting not buying, due to our local real-estate 'bubble'. Also: rental houses are in far shorter supply than apartments, so the price is even higher. Close-in rental houses are likely to be the most expensive of all.

Neighborhoods within a reasonable distance of the waterfront include Queen Anne ($$$$$), Capital Hill ($$$$), Wallingford ($$$$), Madison Park ($$$$$), Georgetown ($$), Beacon Hill ($$$) and Rainier Valley ($$-$$$). Regardless, the commute won't be pretty, unless you work a non-day shift of some kind. And parking will likely cost you dearly, unless your employer is providing it for free.

So, go online, do a reality-check -- if you still have questions, come on back to the board.

Fritzrl

suze

jdoramus- Neighborhoods I would suggest where you might find moderate single family homes include: the Central District, Greenwood, Ballard, Maple Leaf, Columbia City, West Seattle, White Center, possibly Fremont, Phinney Ridge.

You might find duplexes or townhouses in Madison Valley, Central District.

No need to live in a "cramped apartment downtown" and quite honestly that wouldn't be any cheaper anyway!

It really is renters market here right now. There's plenty open and rents are not high. Always homes are harder to come by than apartments. Might you consider taking a short-term rental to get you moved out here, then you could look around in person to better get a feel for the personalities of the different areas before you settle in???

You'll probably have better luck generally once you are actually here, than in trying to figure this out online (which I can see why that would be difficult). Also there are rentals from owners which aren't in the paper & may simply have a sign posted. People still find places doing drive-arounds in the neighborhood that most interests them.

christy1

Suze is right. A lot of landlords don't bother to advertise, so driving around and looking for "for rent" signs is worthwhile. Getting a short term rental so you can figure out what neighborhood is best for you would be preferable-people are very neighborhood centered here and each one has its own character.

By "working downtown on the docks" do you mean at the Port of Seattle at Harbor Island (where the container ships and most cruise ships dock), which is south of downtown, at the Port facilities at the north end of Elliot Bay, or at some other specific location downtown? If you're working at Harbor Island, living in West Seattle would have you there in no time. If you're working right downtown, you can live anywhere-there is excellent bus service from all parts of the city to downtown.

suze

Adding to my own suggestions(!) if the job is at the downtown waterfront, i think Ballard would be a terrific choice. it is a great large neighborhood with loads of smaller single family homes and you could get to work on surface streets without using the freeway.

Or as mentioned above same idea in West Seattle if your job is south of downtown.

jdoramus

Thank y'all for the replies. I'm actually in the Coast Guard transferring up there which I'm pretty excited about. A few years back I lived in Kodiak so I can handle the weather and compared to Kansas, Seattle is more than I could ask for. I guess I'll just have to head up there a couple of days early and do what I'm hearing which is just driving around. The military only drops my stuff off once so I have to make sure I'm finding a good place the first time around. Thanks again with all of your help!! =)

Jeff

Fodorite018

Jeff--Be sure to go ask at the housing office before you sign any lease. When we arrived there for the Navy, we lucked out and found a beautiful home right where we wanted, but then had an awful time with the property management company. The Navy stepped in and it became a huge ordeal, and actually lawyers got involved, and basically this company was "blacklisted". We fared well in the end, but it was a headache that I don't wish anyone else to have to deal with, so be sure that any person or company you want to go through is ok by the housing office. Enjoy the area, we miss it, but thankfully family and friends are still there to go visit.