Comments on: How difficult is it to find a good rental in Seattle? http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/ Seattle's Leading Resource for Real Estate Information Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:05:28 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Dawn Glover http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-340763 Dawn Glover Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:48:53 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-340763 I have been a happy renter here for 18 months now. Alot of the people I know would like to sell their homes but can't. I was a home owner for 20 years and my husband and I are really enjoying the freedom of renting, it's actually less expensive than buying. We are moving in Sept and will be saving about 20% in rent because there are many rental homes eastside on the market now. I have been a happy renter here for 18 months now. Alot of the people I know would like to sell their homes but can’t. I was a home owner for 20 years and my husband and I are really enjoying the freedom of renting, it’s actually less expensive than buying. We are moving in Sept and will be saving about 20% in rent because there are many rental homes eastside on the market now.

]]> By: Sense, Common http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-325600 Sense, Common Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:53:31 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-325600 Home ownership is the #1 factor that separates the lower from the mid to upper mid class. The easiest, most reliable, most tested manner of accumulating wealth begins with land acquistion. Get with the program people! Home ownership is the #1 factor that separates the lower from the mid to upper mid class.
The easiest, most reliable, most tested manner of accumulating wealth begins with land acquistion.
Get with the program people!

]]> By: Rhonda Porter http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-242707 Rhonda Porter Sun, 13 Jan 2008 02:25:54 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-242707 Your friend is lucky she has generous parents! ;) I moved out at 18 and rented my first apartment when my Mom made me pay her rent. Your friend is lucky she has generous parents! ;) I moved out at 18 and rented my first apartment when my Mom made me pay her rent.

]]> By: Karen http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-242654 Karen Sun, 13 Jan 2008 00:46:13 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-242654 Very interesting thread ... my best friend back in Chicago suburbs is in her mid-20s and still lives at home. She mostly has been because she does not believe in renting, to her it's throwing her money away. But as you all mentioned there are pluses and minuses to both buying and renting. And while I'm renting, I have a roommate who owns her place so I live in a townhome that has a "soul" and I pay nowhere near $1,000 a month. If I had a mortgage to deal with I'd be in dire straits. With the recession etc., I'm not sure how many years it will take me to buy a place, even though I am saving a bit of money living with a roommate. It's so sad how expensive it has become to like now-a-days. Another one of my friends back home, who resides in the South Chicago suburbs, recently got married and they are barely making ends meet with a $1,600 month mortgage for a townhome in a severely undeveloped area. Crazy scary to me! Very interesting thread … my best friend back in Chicago suburbs is in her mid-20s and still lives at home. She mostly has been because she does not believe in renting, to her it’s throwing her money away. But as you all mentioned there are pluses and minuses to both buying and renting.

And while I’m renting, I have a roommate who owns her place so I live in a townhome that has a “soul” and I pay nowhere near $1,000 a month. If I had a mortgage to deal with I’d be in dire straits. With the recession etc., I’m not sure how many years it will take me to buy a place, even though I am saving a bit of money living with a roommate. It’s so sad how expensive it has become to like now-a-days.

Another one of my friends back home, who resides in the South Chicago suburbs, recently got married and they are barely making ends meet with a $1,600 month mortgage for a townhome in a severely undeveloped area. Crazy scary to me!

]]> By: Samael http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-241325 Samael Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:54:18 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-241325 I have some "soul" for sale. Add it to any normal rental and you're immediately more at home. I'm also buying soul, if anyone has one to sell. For 100 real estate professional souls I can make sure Seattle is never negative YOY again! I have some “soul” for sale. Add it to any normal rental and you’re immediately more at home.

I’m also buying soul, if anyone has one to sell. For 100 real estate professional souls I can make sure Seattle is never negative YOY again!

]]> By: Gordon Stephenson http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-240987 Gordon Stephenson Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:06:45 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-240987 Our company, Real Property Associates, Inc., has a division that specializes in single family and small multi properties. From time to time, some "soul" to be found there. Most in greater Seattle. Current inventory, always changing, at: http://rentseattle.com/ Also good options from other small prop mgrs: http://sagengroup.com/currentrentals.cfm http://davepoletti.com/?page=listings Small, "non-mega corporate" rentals are a fragmented biz, lots of "by owners" (mostly by owners), but you can still find some good options if you dig a little. Our company, Real Property Associates, Inc., has a division that specializes in single family and small multi properties. From time to time, some “soul” to be found there. Most in greater Seattle. Current inventory, always changing, at:
http://rentseattle.com/

Also good options from other small prop mgrs:
http://sagengroup.com/currentrentals.cfm
http://davepoletti.com/?page=listings

Small, “non-mega corporate” rentals are a fragmented biz, lots of “by owners” (mostly by owners), but you can still find some good options if you dig a little.

]]> By: tj http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-240739 tj Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:58:52 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-240739 Ardell said, "Many owners just like to have a good tenant and hold the properties more for appreciation in the land values than to make a big/bigger “profit” on the rent." I think this is right on. In 1999 the developer had tried to sell the home without succes before resorting to renting it out to cover as much as possible of his expenses. The other homes we rented when appreciation was rampant and the owners probably valued good tenants more than trying to get max rent since appreciation outpaced the full rental income anyway. Ardell said, “Many owners just like to have a good tenant and hold the properties more for appreciation in the land values than to make a big/bigger “profit” on the rent.”

I think this is right on. In 1999 the developer had tried to sell the home without succes before resorting to renting it out to cover as much as possible of his expenses. The other homes we rented when appreciation was rampant and the owners probably valued good tenants more than trying to get max rent since appreciation outpaced the full rental income anyway.

]]> By: ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-240491 ARDELL Tue, 08 Jan 2008 02:51:16 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-240491 Alan, I don't think $1,150 has "soul". Alan,

I don’t think $1,150 has “soul”.

]]> By: ARDELL http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-240490 ARDELL Tue, 08 Jan 2008 02:50:23 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-240490 tj, My house has LOTS of "soul" and soul music as well :) Sounds like we're neighbors. You should stop by some time. I bet the price differential has something to do with where in Kirkland. Huge price differences from Moss Bay to West of Market to the Highlands, vs. Houghton, etc...then there's Juanita and Kingsgate on the opposite extreme. Many owners just like to have a good tenant and hold the properties more for appreciation in the land values than to make a big/bigger "profit" on the rent. tj,

My house has LOTS of “soul” and soul music as well :) Sounds like we’re neighbors. You should stop by some time. I bet the price differential has something to do with where in Kirkland. Huge price differences from Moss Bay to West of Market to the Highlands, vs. Houghton, etc…then there’s Juanita and Kingsgate on the opposite extreme.

Many owners just like to have a good tenant and hold the properties more for appreciation in the land values than to make a big/bigger “profit” on the rent.

]]> By: Alan http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-240408 Alan Mon, 07 Jan 2008 22:06:34 +0000 http://raincityguide.com/2008/01/06/how-difficult-is-it-to-find-a-good-rental-in-seattle/#comment-240408 I'm renting a 2/2 1200 sqft condo near Microsoft for $1150. They should be able to find a very nice place to live in that price range. I’m renting a 2/2 1200 sqft condo near Microsoft for $1150. They should be able to find a very nice place to live in that price range.

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