South Seattle: Own to Rent?

If you’ve ever been in the mood to play the role of landlord this could be the house for you.

Situated off a Mt Baker alley, this 1,800 sq. ft.* home offers a couple of options for use as a rental. It’s essentially two dwellings in one as both floors have all the necessary amenities, as well as separate entrances and the option to deadbolt an access door between the units.

There’s enough room inside the two-car garage to put in overhead storage but only the top floor offers interior access to the huge space. With plenty of windows and an open floor plan, the upper level makes for a spacious one-bedroom residence. The other two bedrooms are on the bottom floor, though one of them lacks a closet which means it can’t be classified as a bedroom. As if that technicality ever stopped anyone. I found the downstairs suite to be light and fairly pleasant, however, I did notice a loose baseboard and some poor decorative finishes like exposed cut tile edges lining the windowsill. I also raised an eyebrow at the washer/dryer hookup in a carpeted closet on this floor. Depending on your yen for privacy it could be a boon or a bother that to reach the downstairs entrance you have to walk all the way around the house from the front.

At $250 per sq. ft.* I imagine this place will appeal to a broad spectrum of purchasers, including folks who want it as a single family residence. For my part, I’d be practicing my moustache twirling and menacing “You MUST pay the rent.”

Price: $450,000
Beds: 3
Baths: 2
Lot Sq. Ft.*: 4,590
Last Sale Price: $39,000 (October 1997)
* Information from sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed.