Kyle,
$1,100 definitely puts you in striking range of a 1 or possibly 2 bedroom apartment in most of the areas I mentioned earlier. Buying something for $300-350K is likely going to mean a 1 bedroom condo downtown but quite possibly a townhouse or small home in West Seattle or the south-side of Seattle. If you haven't done the math, a $300K mortgage (not sale price) will run you around $2,000 including taxes & insurance. And these days you pretty much can't a loan without a minimum 3% down FHA or 5% down conventional. Of course, closing costs will vary but their likely around $6000 for people with good credit scores. Try http://www.craigslist.org or http://www.backpage.com for rental listings. I would also suggest purchasing a map so you have a point of reference when speaking to prospective landlords.

Hi Kyle,

I would check out Craigslist - Seattle for rentals to give you an idea of rents.
http://seattle.craigslist.org/

Also a book I would recommend is Seattle Survival Guide 4th edtion.
http://www.amazon.com/Seattle-Survival-Guide-Essential-Handb…
It's got a lot of great info on Seattle, the neighborhoods, the Eastside....lots if good stuff. When I moved to Seattle years ago I bought an earlier edition and found it really helpful.

I hope your move and relocation goes great!

~Deborah

Thanks for the responses so far!!!

The location is in South Seattle. First I plan on renting in the area and then if an opportunity comes about I will look to buy. The Max rent I am looking at is $1,100. If I were to Buy the range I will be looking for is 300-350k.

Kyle,

If it's the Renton Boeing, I would recommend Renton/Kennydale, the Landing near Coulon Beach. The area is growing and prices are still reasonable. It's centrally located and they are building an outdoor mall with hip restaurants and a movie theatre. Attached is a link with more information.

http://www.thelandinginrenton.com/explore.php#

Good luck!

Donita

Rent or buy? If you are planning to rent, there is a fantastic apartment building walking distance to Boeing. It is totallly fun with waterfront access, a theater, party room, gym and minutes to downtown Seattle & Bellvue. I think it is fantastic. Good luch

West Seattle is where people not from Seattle live. You might as well live in Redmond. It's a cute community completely disconnected from the city. Live on the Hill or Central area for some real culture.

There have been some excellent suggestions here. I would also consider the Westwood Village area of West Seattle...there's plenty of shopping, a couple of coffee shops in the vicinity, and one of the best parks, Lincoln Park close by.

I also have to suggest Burien, a city of about 31,000 just south of Seattle. We have lots of amenities, and the Burien Town Square will be completed in the next year or two. We have a nice downtown core with plenty of restaurants and shopping, which will increase when Town Square is completed. The home prices are also less here than in West Seattle generally. But, just as in West Seattle, we are an uphill ride on the way back, though if you take Des Moines Memorial through South Park it's not so bad!

Good luck with your move!

Hi Kyle,

Boeing Field is in a valley so biking to West Seattle means going up (UP) a hill on the way back, but many metro buses have bike racks so on those days when a big hill home is not on your top 10 list, you could have both you and your bike ride to West Seattle, and the Junction is a fun place to be.

If you'd like a funky neighborhood, try Georgetown, it's got a lot of appeal as a very up and coming place and it's at the south end of Boeing Field just an easy bike ride away. In a couple of week will be the 2nd annual "Artopia" in Georgetown: http://www.artopiaseattle.com/

If you are looking for the most urban experience, then Downtown Seattle is a level bike ride away, the neighborhoods are: SODO, Pioneer Square, Downtown and Belltown. All very easy to get to from Boeing Field with Belltown being the furthest.

Post back if you have more questions, or more info about what you like/do so we can give you more specific info.

Seattle is a great place to live and have fun!

~Deborah

Kyle,
I bet you've heard "There's nothing to Fears but Fears himself" one too many times. But seriously, it sounds like you are making this move alone. An eight mile radius from Boeing Field provides you many options. The inner urban neighborhoods full of young professionals are numerous. Belltown offers you mostly high rise condos and mid-rise apartment buildings. If you're not afraid of a real work out on the way home, you could check out Queen Anne or Capitol Hill. They offer a broader array of housing options ranging from single-family homes to mid-rise apartment buildings. Then there's Pioneer Square and the Waterfront if you seek buildings with historic character. The real difference is going to be the available amenities. While Belltown, Pioneer Square and the Waterfront offer lots of dining and entertainment options, access to a decent size grocery store is somewhat difficult. They also tend to be areas where 'burning of the mid-night oil' is a part of everyday life. If you're looking for more serene settings then focus elsewhere. We're expecting the opening of our light rail in 2009. You might appreciate access to this service once you realize just how much it rains here. This might be cause to look at locations in Seattle's south side where diversity is strongest. Finally if you're willing to balance easy access to downtown and less stressful ride to and from work, think West Seattle. Alki Beach as well as Admiral & Alaska Junction offer great village settings with views of the downtown skyline. They're also a bit more affordable.

It depends on which field you are near- is it the one in South Seattle or Renton? If in South Seattle I would recommend considering the West Seattle neighborhood. It would be a short commute, and there is a variety of houses and condos in varying price ranges. Great restaurants, shopping, Alki beach, etc. If you are at the Renton location, I would recommend considering Renton. There are some nice developments in the Petrovitsky area including Fairwood and you may like. Good luck!

There are a couple of variables that will help me answer your question more effectively:

1. What is the price range of home that you are looking for?
2. Are you looking for a condo, townhome, or house?

There are plenty of great neighborhoods within 8 miles of Boeing field, but your price range will be the most important determining factor.

Give me a call at 206.245.4164 or email me at mark@lakeforestmark.com and I'll be happy to discuss this further with you.

My best,

Mark