<p>“Somerset Hill is also an area that you might want to look in and around for housing”</p>
<p>If you have a spare million hanging around, it’s a wonderful neighborhood. Best sunset views in the city.<br>
But wait - if you get to know people there, some have lower level “nanny flats” that they might rent out. I know someone who’s basement apartment has spectacular city and sunset views. (Not currently for rent)<br>
How long will you be in the Seattle area?</p>
<p>westcoastmom, thanks for that info. </p>
<p>This move could be permanent.
It’s actually a long story…H’s job has been not-so-stable for a while…at least he’s been feeling that way. He works for a small, family-owned business and the owner has already demoted one person and given that job to his sister. This summer he’s bringing his daughter in. So I had to really get serious about finding something for myself…especially in case his job is gone.
It’s a great job, good money (for me, anyway!) with great benefits. We’re just going to have to see how it goes with where we all end up.</p>
<p>DrDrewsmom - dragonmom is talking about the west side of Somerset Hill - take a look around the east side of Somerset Hill.</p>
<p>DrDrewsmom: I’ve lived on the Eastside for 25 years, and I agree with those recommending that you try to live ON Mercer Island. Traffic has gotten much worse the last five years and is supposed to get even worse as more people are moving into the area. I would say that if you live on MI, you will save yourself at least an hour a day in commute time, plus the increase in gas cost. Wouldn’t you like to enjoy that extra 5+ hours per week and avoid the stress of the lake commute? That seems smart to me. Take the smaller apartment on MI and occasionally drive over to Bellevue or Issaquah or Seattle for events and shopping.</p>
<p>As a side note, I fail to see how Factoria and Crossroads are crime-ridden. Sure, it appears a little sketch at night, but I haven’t heard of anything. Most of the crime that goes down to my knowledge is, for example, marijuana deals at Crossroad Park at night.</p>
<p>OK, one more question about the so-called crime-ridden areas of Factoria 
Would you consider it about equal with Federal Way? More “dangerous” or less?
It’s sounding like if I did find a place in Factoria/Crossroads that I’d probaby want to have my car garaged every night…
We had some troubles like that in Federal Way sporadically; but nothing so bad that I wouldn’t consider living there.</p>
<p>Similar to the less desirable areas of Fed Way. Fed Way has a wide range from really nice to not so nice. I’m not saying Factoria is Lakewood or Casino Rd. in Everett. It’s just not as nice as most of the East Side. Plus the traffic stinks.</p>
<p>barrons, I hate to admit this, but when H and I were newlyweds and had no money (…as if we do now!!!) we lived on Casino in Everett. Yikes. Is it any coincidence that I’ve never had any desire to ever go back to that city. Not even to stop on my way through it!</p>
<p>It’s probably way worse now than 20 years ago. The rising tide has not lifted that area yet. The rest of Everett is actually improving.</p>
<p>That’s scary, because it was bad enough 19-20 years ago!! I know there are good areas in Everett…I just didn’t live in one of them so my memory of the place is not good :)</p>
<p>Since parts of the " east side" rival parts of " Santa Barbara", which admittedly I haven’t traveled much, and I am not sure what word describes it, but it is the " resortiest" place I have ever been that didn’t have snow on the ground, I think that saying * Factoria or Lake Hills or Crossroads* isn’t as * deluxe & shiny* as some other parts of the eastside, is accurate, but ya gotta think about what you are comparing it to.</p>
<p>Then again my daughter attends a high school, where there are open drug deals ( not by students) in the parking lot of the gas station down the street.
( & I attended elementary school in Bridle Trails and while I didn’t see drug deals in the 60’s on my way to school, there often was an exhibitionist, sitting in his car on the powerline road next to the playground that the kids had to pass by 
)</p>
<p>Crossroads is actually much improved over what it used to be. I think Ron Sher has done a great job making it into a community mall- rather than just someplace to go buy underwear & greeting cards.</p>
<p>Traffic around Factoria is still pretty messy, but I usually go the Mercer Island bridge from Ballard to visit my mom who lives in old Bellevue ( I also used to live in south Bellevue- just take the Bellevue way exit)
The influx of immigrants working at Microsoft and other companies has also added greatly to the options since I moved away in 1983.
Thai, Vietnamese & Indian food is all over the place- they even have regular cricket games at Marymoor park!</p>
<p>While the I-90 corridor to the east of MI is more tolerable than some other freeway driving in the area, it can also come to a grinding stand still many afternoons. Getting to and from Factoria might not be quite as bad and there are quite a few apartments in that area. Plenty of smaller, older houses in the area as well, so if you prefer a single family dwelling you may be able to find an affordable house. Getting to and from Crossroads during commute time could prove challenging but let me know if you chose that route - I pride myself on knowing all the back roads of Bellevue.</p>
<p>As someone else pointed out, be a little creative with your MI search. There are any number of funky small cottages that pop up for rent, as well as the odd duplex. Shorewood is supposed to be quite nice and I think they may be expanding. There is a building boom “downtown” which will prove interesting. There will surely be more rentals there, but I’m guessing pricier than Shorewood since it’s all brand new- but that’s a guess.</p>
<p>I can’t help you but want to send best wishes and congrats on your new job!</p>
<p>soozie,
thanks for the good wishes :D</p>
<p>also, Westcoastmom I sent you a PM.</p>
<p>I lived in Shorewood short-term while my house was being remodeled. I found it to be very pleasant compared to most apartments because of the available lawns and the small buildings. The apartment also had hardwood floors and was much less “generic” than what you usually find in an apartment complex.</p>
<p>UPDATE:</p>
<p>Island life…</p>
<p>Well the new job is going REALLY well. I am totally loving it. Also, I moved to the north end of the island June 30th so my commute is about five minutes. Yay!
I did tour Shorewood a second time but ended up finding a different place which was a better price. So it’s all good.
Thanks for all the recommendations :)</p>
<p>DrDrewsmom
Glad to hear all ended (or is beginning) well!
I’d like to steal the thread if that’s okay. My son just moved to the Bellevue/Redmond area. He is staying someplace else short term and commuting, but is looking for an apartment in the Bellevue/ Redmond area and finding it tough. There are places available, but rents have skyrocketed in the last few years. Any suggestions on alternatives?</p>
<p>There are a good number of condos for rent. You can get a bit better deal although renting to a young kid would never be my first choice.</p>
<p>sorry, this is rather off topic but i had to chuckle a bit when someone mentioned “gang-activity” in factoria. i went to high school in factoria, and there were never any gangs nor break ins. my high school, which only allows students from the factoria area, were full of college bound prepsters. nooo gangs of any sort.</p>
<p>the area around factoria is rather diverse, as it’s the main commercial district of southern bellevue. from half a million dollar homes in newport hills to multi-million dollar homes in lakemont - factoria is a typical milddle to upper middle class commercial district. the traffic may be bad, and the strip malls may not look as nice a swanky downtown, but raging crime in the streets of factoria?? it just makes me laugh.</p>