I am curious to what you consider '"upscale"? My brother was visiting me from Dallas, his impression of what was really nice and upscale was much different than mine.

The same goes for word decent. Perhaps the best way to look for a neighborhood is to define it in terms of location, price and number and types of amenities that you would like.

There are quite a few options in the neighborhoods between Kent and Central Seattle. Using google street views is a good way to look at a neighborhood, without driving. If you are interested in central or south Seattle neighborhoods I wll be glad to give you some advice on the facts of the specific micro neighborhoods.

Jonathan,

Not sure exactly what you are looking for as far as size, style, price etc. But a great 2 bedroom townhome (like new) just became available in the Ashburn community where I live. Location is just south of Valley General Hospital in Renton, just off 167. Great location to commute from and gated community. Let me know or jump on blog to look at my listings that are in Ashburn and you can get a feel for the neighborhood.

Good luck, Gary

What are your "needs?" Probably best to start with your wish list and price range and work backward from there.

There are so many great neighborhoods; it'll be hard to choose! Kent is fine, Renton is fine, what do you like? Suburban? Urban? Do you want to be close to restaurants and shops? Entertainment? You will come to learn that Seattle (and the surrounding areas) have many neighborhoods that you'll love to call home.

Welcome!

Jonathan,
You're going to love Seattle. I moved here in the mid-90s from Boston and will 'never' go back. That said, the south area of King County (and Pierce County) are seeing the most issues related to short-sales and foreclosures when it comes to the local housing market. Communities challenged with real estate issues are likely to be hardest hit when it comes to local services. You will want to give that careful consideration when identifying your new home's location. I would also recommend researching the local school systems. You're welcome to visit my website and use the report module http://www.residentialpro.com/index.cfm/page/10556/Research_… to see how schools are ranked. Once you nail down a few options I can provide you more detailed information. Try looking at Craigslist http://seattle.craigslist.org/ for rental properties. While commuting can be a real hassle here, traveling in the opposite direction of rush hour traffice can help. Knowing some alternate routes other than highways will also go a long way. I do have an introduction to Seattle with map I can send you once requested on my website. You are moving to a vibrant area when it comes to medical research and health care. Good luck with the move.
Steve

Hello Jonathan,
There are many nice upscale neighborhoods to choose from in the Greater Puget Sound area. Without knowing your criteria it’s hard to say. If you would like you can checkout my website to help you with this search go to http://rainapierce.yourkwagent.com Good luck and have a great day!

Jonathan,

Congratulations on your new sales position and move to Seattle. My suggestion would be to do an area tour when you get into town next to familiarize yourself with the different neighborhoods and locations in your sales territory. From there you can figure out which area(s) you like and start looking for a place meeting your needs. Since you are looking to rent I know that Seattle Apartment Finders http://(www.seattleapartmentfinder.com) does area tours and can help with locating a rental property for you. They do a good job and previous clients of mine have been happy with their services.

I also offer area tours to out-of-town clients coming to the Seattle area when looking to purchase a new home. If there is anything else I can be of assistance with please let me know. Best wishes to you with your new job.

Kent and Renton to the north have very varied neighborhoods, at reasonable prices, so you should be able to find something in one of those two cities that suits your needs.