Moving from Denver, CO to Everett, WA (Edmonds, Lynnwood: low income, sales)

[MEA707]

Hello Washingtonians,

I got a job offer from Boeing and am looking at places to live in or around Everett.

I've read a lot about bad areas in Everett, like around Casino Road, which is unfortunate as I found a lot of apartments in that area that are in close proximity to the Boeing plant.

Anyone have any suggestions on decent places to live in safe neighborhoods that aren't too far from Boeing? I'd prefer to live in Everett itself, but will also look at surrounding towns, particularly to the south of Everett. I will need to be at the plant by 6AM, which is why I am looking for a place that doesn't have long commute times.

I've read great things about Mukliteo and it looks very appealing to me, but rent rates are a bit higher than what I'm looking for.

Is Lynnwood a good place? Haven't really read much about it yet, but it's proximity is good.

I'm looking to rent a 1 bedroom 1 bath apartment, preferably under $700, but am willing to go slightly above if it's well worth it. Not looking for anything fancy. Just a decent clean apartment in a safe neighborhood. I don't care too much about square footage and amenities like swimming pool, activity center, etc.

I currently live in Aurora, CO which is the largest suburb of Denver. It's a pretty mixed city with low income, middle income, and high income neighborhoods. Sales tax in most areas here is 8.1%.

I know that Washington is more expensive than Colorado (CO does have a 4.63% state income tax though, while I know WA has no state income tax), but I'm hoping the 16.47% salary increase at Boeing should cover the higher living costs.

It has always been my dream to work for Boeing and I absolutely love the Puget Sound area, so these are my two main motivations for accepting this job offer.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[Sobefobik]

I don't know a lot about that area up there, but I've heard that Mukilteo is one of the nicer areas of Everett.

[Count David]

If you can handle anything north of Iliff Ave in Aurora, you can handle anything in Everett.

My personal fave Everett area is Silver Lake. Check zip 98208, you may be able to find something in your range there. EZ commute to Boeing at 0600, I would think (most folks are going in the other direction).

[StealthRabbit]

Having come to PNW from Colorado myself, the BEST recommendation was to avoid a house nestled in the trees. Get good exposure to light, lots of southern windows. This was given by a herd of folks that went from Ft Collins to Marysville, and many had to go back to Colo in a year or two due to weather / illnesses.

As tempting as the forest is to a prairie dweller, the exposure to sun is very important in your home. (or you may be sleeping with light boxes). We were terribly sick for a few yrs boning up on local antibodies.

I hope you don't like good beef. If you do, bring a large cooler / chest freezer. I get back to CO, WY, NE to get beef a couple times / yr. Flying SWA I get to bring a couple coolers each trip. (Salmon / Steelhead > CO & Beef > home). I just heard of a source in Eastern WA that I will try *tho I get to CO more often than Ea WA.

I would definately do your house hunting with the commute in mind. Hopefully you can work nights and get an EZ commute, more money, and fewer bosses. I would tr to get a home the Opposite direction from the major traffic flows, but not too far away. Biking might be a good option if you are working days. May folks don't mind riding in the rain, BUT the roads are ~ 16' narrower than CO. Few with paved shoulders.

You will enjoy the 'Raise' w/o state taxes, BUT be very careful about buying property and use the tables from Assessor office to find lower taxed regions (Property taxes). Mine went from $800 / yr and now $12,000/ yr on a joint I built for under $100k. I wish the assessor would write me a check for his value, as I don't have any lookers when priced at 1/2 the value. I fought it until they beat me into submission. Up the road 30 sec my taxes would be less than 1/2 (different taxing district).

Renting has its advantages in WA, as rents are not that bad. Personally, I would buy a commercial property that has living space and have my tenants pay my taxes, or, if you like country, buy an acreage with a trashed mobile home & a shop. Put a nice RV or apartment in the shop and don't bother talking to the assessor. Mean dogs and shotguns help keep him away. The counties DO use aerial surveillance to monitor building violations. Camo netting is your friend. (Especially important if you own a bulldozer / backhoe. The county is not keen on 'Construction Equipment' parked in farm / timber / rural zoning).

[MEA707]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

If you can handle anything north of Iliff Ave in Aurora, you can handle anything in Everett.

My personal fave Everett area is Silver Lake. Check zip 98208, you may be able to find something in your range there. EZ commute to Boeing at 0600, I would think (most folks are going in the other direction).

I'm actually south of Iliff Ave, but good to know! Thanks for the information.

Doing a quick search in Silver Lake, I see a few apartments around the lake itself. The area looks nice so I will do a search there.

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

Having come to PNW from Colorado myself, the BEST recommendation was to avoid a house nestled in the trees. Get good exposure to light, lots of southern windows. This was given by a herd of folks that went from Ft Collins to Marysville, and many had to go back to Colo in a year or two due to weather / illnesses.

As tempting as the forest is to a prairie dweller, the exposure to sun is very important in your home. (or you may be sleeping with light boxes). We were terribly sick for a few yrs boning up on local antibodies.

I hope you don't like good beef. If you do, bring a large cooler / chest freezer. I get back to CO, WY, NE to get beef a couple times / yr. Flying SWA I get to bring a couple coolers each trip. (Salmon / Steelhead > CO & Beef > home). I just heard of a source in Eastern WA that I will try *tho I get to CO more often than Ea WA.

I would definately do your house hunting with the commute in mind. Hopefully you can work nights and get an EZ commute, more money, and fewer bosses. I would tr to get a home the Opposite direction from the major traffic flows, but not too far away. Biking might be a good option if you are working days. May folks don't mind riding in the rain, BUT the roads are ~ 16' narrower than CO. Few with paved shoulders.

You will enjoy the 'Raise' w/o state taxes, BUT be very careful about buying property and use the tables from Assessor office to find lower taxed regions (Property taxes). Mine went from $800 / yr and now $12,000/ yr on a joint I built for under $100k. I wish the assessor would write me a check for his value, as I don't have any lookers when priced at 1/2 the value. I fought it until they beat me into submission. Up the road 30 sec my taxes would be less than 1/2 (different taxing district).

Renting has its advantages in WA, as rents are not that bad. Personally, I would buy a commercial property that has living space and have my tenants pay my taxes, or, if you like country, buy an acreage with a trashed mobile home & a shop. Put a nice RV or apartment in the shop and don't bother talking to the assessor. Mean dogs and shotguns help keep him away. The counties DO use aerial surveillance to monitor building violations. Camo netting is your friend. (Especially important if you own a bulldozer / backhoe. The county is not keen on 'Construction Equipment' parked in farm / timber / rural zoning).

Thanks for the information. Natural light is definitely important, although I actually don't mind overcast weather. I would ideally like an apartment with a good amount of windows, especially some large ones in the living room.

I'm not looking to buy a house at the moment. I will rent for at least a year and then assess my situation (job wise and financially) at that point and whether to keep renting or look for a place to buy.

I will be working in the day, from 6AM to 2:30PM, so it's definitely a day job.

As for beef, yes I do like beef, although I am more of a ground beef person than a steak person. My parents and my sisters will still be in Colorado, so I will visit often.

I do love seafood though, so I am looking forward to enjoying fresh seafood from Puget Sound.

[StealthRabbit]

Do yourself a favor (since you will have a decent job)... get an apartment with a nice view of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains in the background. Within view / walking distance of Mukilteo or Edmonds Ferry terminal would be my choice. A friend had an apartment where we could watch the marine traffic, and it was a very delightful way to spend a rainy winter. + a good way to get out and about. Your summer evenings will be very enjoyable if you hop a ferry outbound right after work and come home at dusk (10PM). Using a bike, motorcycle, or 'walk on' will make this very affordable, and you can do it frequently.

[Count David]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

Do yourself a favor (since you will have a decent job)... get an apartment with a nice view of the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains in the background. Within view / walking distance of Mukilteo or Edmonds Ferry terminal would be my choice. A friend had an apartment where we could watch the marine traffic, and it was a very delightful way to spend a rainy winter. + a good way to get out and about. Your summer evenings will be very enjoyable if you hop a ferry outbound right after work and come home at dusk (10PM). Using a bike, motorcycle, or 'walk on' will make this very affordable, and you can do it frequently.

Agreed. As a kid, I spend most summer days playing at the Boys & Girls Club that was (is? ) yards from the sound in Mukilteo. The outbound line of traffic sucks at commute time, but staring out the window at the ferries, water, trees, and mountains is a great way to get lost in a gaze.

[johnnyb1990]

Just stay away from the Everett mall area...Casino Road area...and the north Broadway area and you should be fine. Silver lake area is excellent. Port Gardner area is great. My favorite area is the surrounding areas of Forest park. Evergreen way itself is not so great but there are neighborhoods stemming from there that are nice. The best area closest to Boeing would probably be something around Howarth Park.

[CarlB328]

Lynwood is fine too and just south of Everett.

[asterisk1980]

Mukilteo / South Everett / Mill Creek / Lynnwood areas are the best areas to live near Boeing. I lived in South Everett and worked at Boeing for 4 years and loved it. My condo is currently rented and the tenants love it. Are you looking for a place?