Moving to WA Need Advice

[deutschman]

Hey guys. I spent a year on the Olympic Peninsula last year and loved it. My sister her kids, and my two brothers already live up in WA. Id love to move up early next year, hopefully some time after Christmas.

I need some advice on where to look for rentals. We are hoping to rent for a bit (year or two) and then buy something.

Some quick info.
Id like to be out of cities, but close enough to Seattle for a commute with a car/buss/train. Iv taken the buss/train to Seattle from Everett and that was not to bad.
I work construction/fine carpentry, and the GF is a massage therapist.
I was thinking of living out near Port Hadlock because I love it out there, but I think doing any driving events and living out there would suck.

Any thoughts or advice?

Cheers

J

[Matt-B]

I suggest SW washington. Never traffic, super low crime, rent isnt that bad

[the imitator]

For finish work, granite slab, custom showers, hardwood,laminate etc
SW WA is super abundant with work and product variation.

[deutschman]

Thanks guys

[Kingb]

I'd say Tacoma area. That's where I stayed. Also thenE30 picnic is here and a lot of PRO3.

[Dylanhat]

Could look at the Kent and Auburn area. The Kent valley has an insane amount of industry. Depends on how rural you are wanting to be vs how close to Seattle.

[MT325is]

I like the auburn area. If I was to live up there it would be auburn or Bellevue but Bellevue is right in the middle of everything.

[timmyr77]

I live in auburn and I think kent to federal way is a pretty good place. Kent auburn and federal way are all about 5 min away from eachother with lots of stuff in between. I commute to Des Moines everyday about 20 min with no traffic so like 35 min to Seattle 20 to Tacoma

[kylelauffer]

Newcastle. Close to freeway very nice area. Rent near there like Renton highlands pretty cool area. Seattle 15-20 min away.

[Jrssampson]

Mercer Island-Redmond-Bellevue-Sammamish. All great places and depending on where/what neighborhood there is a great community...rent could be pricey.

[ck_taft325is]

Depends a lot on your budget, honestly. Renton is nice where I live but, our house which we picked up for 140 (1,300 sq/ft), appraised (without the basement being anywhere near livable) for upwards of 300k. Which in my opinion is ridiculous pricing. The Renton area tho does offer a lot of commuter friendly closenesses and in general is fairly nice. Some older neighborhoods still offer the 'out of the city' feel while still being a stones throw away. Newcastle is pricey but very nice.

[Rennsport]

Stay out of Kent if you dislike traffic. +1 for the newcastle or eastgate area.

[StereoInstaller1]

Stay out of Centralia if you plan on having a job, period. Oly is cool if you want a more laid-back place. Tacoma is cool but kind of filthy; anywhere east side will be nasty for traffic if you have to be somewhere at 8 AM. The ex's 15.6 mile commute from Renton to Bellevue was 45 minutes north and sometimes as much as 2 hours to get 15 miles south, like on a friday.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

[deutschman]

Thanks guys. This gives me a good starting point. We are planning a trip to visit my sister in Everett and do some neighborhood searching.
Right now we pay $1,350 for a very small space (bedroom, small bath, living room/kitchenette). So I'd be willing to spend that up in WA. I think we could get something bigger with some garage space for that price in WA. Could be wrong.

[Mlarsen]

Tacoma is cool but kind of filthy.

......but, it's not filthy.:(
Tacoma is pretty pretty fucking legit. I know I'm pretty biased but, housing costs are low, pretty good job market, no pretentious assholes, crime isn't that bad, lots of good food, tons of beaches and scenic places(we're on a peninsula) etc... Just come for the E30 picnic and you'll see what I'm talking about.