Houston to Seattle (Bellevue, Woodland, Roosevelt: apartments, for rent, big house)

[Dika]

Hi all. I hope I could get some help or direction here. We (I) are thinking about moving to Seattle area from Houston. My ex husband has been offered a relocation from the big company everyone knows of.

I don’t need a big house, will be looking for an apartment and ~500 sq. Ft. would probably be enough. Budget ~$2000. We would need 2 apartments in close proximity. Commute is not important as we work remotely and travel. I travel a lot so don’t want to pay too much for rent as apartment will be empty a lot of times. It could be in Seattle or Bellevue or other cities That would fall under the criteria of good schools/high energy. Think New York or Paris vibe. I lived in Paris and loved it so I’m looking for sort of a close substitute in the US as I can’t be permanently based in Europe at this time.

We will be moving with a 7 year old that will be going to elementary school. So a good school is very important. Im not looking for a cold “rating only” school, rather for good teachers that nurture the whole child. Looking for public not private schools. Obviously a safe neighborhood as I will be living with a child, so preferably no homeless addicts around.

I’d be looking for an area that is walkable to grocery stores, bakeries, cafes, etc. Basically somewhere I wouldn’t really need to drive although I don’t mind it occasionally (I have to drive everywhere in Houston and hate it).

As a 38 yo single person I’m looking for a safe city neighborhood with high energy, liberal, lots happening, walkable, pleasant to look at (rare in Houston). I’m not a suburbs type of person.

I’ve heard that summers are gorgeous and in winter I hope it will be bearable as I snowboard.

I’m very tired of vast boring place that Houston is, of the unbearable heat, of the politics and rednecks, of the lack of cultural events, arts. The city is just plain ugly.

Does that exist in Seattle area?

[Arcos]

Apart from the ‘not too much in rent’, Seattle has you covered.

[As Above So Below...]

Originally Posted by Dika

I’m very tired of vast boring place that Houston is, of the unbearable heat, of the politics and rednecks, of the lack of cultural events, arts. The city is just plain ugly.

Honestly curious as to where you lived in Houston that you couldnt find cultural events or the arts because Houston does very well in those categories. Rednecks? I cant imagine you were living close to the city center. Its a crazy diverse city.

But yeah its hot, not very walkable, and the state is red.

[CrazyDonkey]

Yes, it exists, although perhaps not up to "Paris" standards, but definitely better than Houston. Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford, Ravenna/Roosevelt, Queen Anne (Upper/Lower), Capitol Hill/First Hill, North Admiral/Alki.

[Hemlock140]

There are four of my team at work, all early 30s that live within a block of each other. Their apartments are all in the area of 15th and Market, in the Ballard neighborhood. Anything you would want is walkable in that neighborhood. I'm not sure which elementary school that feeds to but we know someone whose kids go to West Woodland Elementary and are very happy with it.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

There are four of my team at work, all early 30s that live within a block of each other. Their apartments are all in the area of 15th and Market, in the Ballard neighborhood. Anything you would want is walkable in that neighborhood. I'm not sure which elementary school that feeds to but we know someone whose kids go to West Woodland Elementary and are very happy with it.

That or Adams Elementary or Licton Springs K-8. Further north: Loyal Heights Elementary or Whittier Elementary.

Ballard has the Ballard Locks & Fish Ladder and Golden Gardens Park/Beach, both of which are great for kids. Woodland Park Zoo, Green Lake, Gas Works Park, Discovery Park/Beach, and Carkeek Park/Beach are not far away.

[Dika]

Originally Posted by Arcos

Apart from the ‘not too much in rent’, Seattle has you covered.

I’m so happy to hear that! I’d go down in square footage as a trade off

[Dika]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

Yes, it exists, although perhaps not up to "Paris" standards, but definitely better than Houston. Ballard, Fremont, Wallingford, Ravenna/Roosevelt, Queen Anne (Upper/Lower), Capitol Hill/First Hill, North Admiral/Alki.

Yes I realize that matching Paris is a tall order but I’m really hoping to find something similar in the US. I’m not sure if I can find it but at this point I’m just trying to escape Houston and as you said Seattle would definitely be better.

I started researching Ballard and watched a video about it. The guy called it “Seattle sweetheart” it seems safe and walkable. No homeless there right? The schools look good too. I could find a few smaller places that are okay I guess and would fit my price range. (Everything is bigger in Texas so I’m used to bigger apartments and cheaper prices but yeah there is a reason it is more expensive in Seattle).
I’m overseas now and we are planning a trip to Seattle to check it out within the next few weeks and I’ll definitely go see the areas you mentioned.

[Dika]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

There are four of my team at work, all early 30s that live within a block of each other. Their apartments are all in the area of 15th and Market, in the Ballard neighborhood. Anything you would want is walkable in that neighborhood. I'm not sure which elementary school that feeds to but we know someone whose kids go to West Woodland Elementary and are very happy with it.

Thank you for the recommendation. West Woodland Elementary looks good and has great reviews. The area also looks pretty urban and walkable. I didn’t see any homeless addicts on the streets in the video reviews I just watched Is that area considered a suburb? If I go further south towards DT would it get less and less safe?

[Dika]

Originally Posted by As Above So Below...

Honestly curious as to where you lived in Houston that you couldnt find cultural events or the arts because Houston does very well in those categories. Rednecks? I cant imagine you were living close to the city center. Its a crazy diverse city.

But yeah its hot, not very walkable, and the state is red.

When I was in my 20s I lived in Galleria, then in Rice U area bordering West U (Boulevard Oaks if you know). Lately I lived smack in the middle of the City Center as I was trying to find some life in the city.

Houston is full of strip malls, it’s like a one huge sprawling suburb. Doesn’t have much in terms of its appearance, nature or architecture.

Culturally it’s not on par with the big European cities or New York. Im not really interested in Rodeo or sports events… yeah There is just not much going on culturally.
Houston is really not diverse, it’s just segregated. Latinos stick with Latinos, Asians with Asians, etc. There is no real diversity in the city sadly. There is no real blend of people and cultures and no real acceptance of differences. And the city lacks energy that comes out of it.
People are also very religious, which is not my cup of tea I would much rather prefer secular city like Seattle.

One good thing is that food if good and inexpensive which might explain why there are so many obese people in the city and in the state…