Ballard is a good neighborhood if you’re working downtown. Lower housing costs (compared to the rest of the city), it’s more of a neighborhood, but with some city charm and it’s just 10-15 minutes from downtown – bus or driving.

I’ll second Ballard. Also West Seattle or Beacon Hill – a little more remote, but fairly quick to downtown.

Being a lifelong city kid, I can’t say enough bad things about the suburbs :) Honestly, it’s comparable (if not more) to rent in many of the ‘burbs as it is in Seattle proper.

Suburbs are fine, especially if they’re on the bus routes. I live in Bothell, and buses run every half hour (or more often) from before 6 to after 11 between Bothell and Seattle, and at least 7 to 10 between Bothell and Bellevue (on the other side of the lake).

It really depends on what you want to buy. If it is a house, how big? Obviously, the further out you go, the cheaper it is, but the worse the commute is.

Seattle city proper is more spacious as you go north and south.

I’d also recommend Georgetown. It might look a bit on the grimier side now, but it’s been developing as well. It’s around 20 minutes south of Seattle, driving.. around half an hour by bus.

Columbia City in the southeast part of town is another still-affordable neighborhood, and it’s definitely on the upswing. There are excellent restaurants, cafes, a great bakery, and even a movie theater, and Rainier Ave runs right through it and is a bus and car arterial directly to downtown.

Don’t even think of living in the suburbs. You will hate your commute.

traffic is a bitch to the north or south.

I’d totally recommend Eastlake. I lived there myself for a few years, and if you look, there are some small-ish places that aren’t too bad on rent, and you’re close enough to downtown to bike in, which is really nice, given the high cost of parking.

Plus, you get to wake up to seaplanes taking off in the morning, and some hate it, it’s one of the things I miss most from my time out there.

I’m up North in the City (Broadview) the rent is decent and the commute is fine.
I’ve lived in Mountlake Terrace and that was fine too, as long as the commute was downtown.

Hey I do not reccomend Ballard I grew up there and know that it is hard to find a decent apt for a good price I reccomend either Greenwood Greenlake Northgate usualy has great rent and I also reccomend Lake City it is a little farther away but is a great neibourhood and has great rent i live in Greenwood and I found a 1 bed for 550 a month do good luck! You should check out the nw classifides in the Times on sunday that will give you great choices

Hi. I live in Queen Anne and love it. Like so many Seattle neighborhoods there are great shops and restaurants, charming houses, lovely views and of course coffee shops within walking distance. I work down town and my drive is about 10-15 minutes, depending upon traffic. It can be pricey, especially if you are not use to Seattle’s average rents, but I feel it is well worth it. I would say it is $600-$800 for a one bedroom or studio to start. There are so many excellent neighborhoods in Seattle: Ballard, Greenlake, Georgetown, Madrona, parts of Capitol Hill, Wallingford, Madison Park and also West Seattle. And there are good deals every where; it just takes time to find them. I recommend Craigslist.com to find good rentals.

Buying a house is a bit trickier as housing prices are seriously inflated in much of the city.

I am a bit anti-suburb as I feel you really miss the joys and vibrancy of the city. Also I don’t want to have to drive to the store or even to work if I chose not to. The bus system is really great in-city and pretty efficient from the outer areas as well.

Good luck with your interview and search and welcome to Seattle!

if you dont mind commuting about 30 miles, there is the option of North Bend, Carnation areas.
And it’s closer to Snoqualmie Pass for snowboarding if you do that.
I love Seattle itself, there are so many awesome neighborhoods. I think the Ballard area is pretty nice, and Lake City Way is nice too. Seattle itself can be spendy. I suggest you look on craig’s list and look around.
http://seattle.craigslist.org

Have a good time living in the most beautiful state in the US of A. (my opinion)