Comments on: A Street on the Brink: Calling All Urban Pioneers http://blog.redfin.com/seattle/2008/09/a_street_on_the_brink_calling_all_urban_pioneers.html Redfin Seattle Sweet Digs Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:35:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: rick.williams http://blog.redfin.com/seattle/2008/09/a_street_on_the_brink_calling_all_urban_pioneers.html/comment-page-1#comment-4935 rick.williams Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:06:09 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/seattle/2008/09/a_street_on_the_brink_calling_all_urban_pioneers.html#comment-4935 Like I said, you got to have a thick skin. Personally, the big draw back for me is the busy street, not the area's reputation. Only 20% of Seattle homes have children--so for the majority of us, kid-friendly isn't such a big issue. (Though I know for parents it's pretty much the only issue. But that's their baggage--and I'm not toting it.) And you can always build a fence to keep your pets contained. As to the crime, I've lived just a couple blocks away for years without once being shot, raped, or robbed. Crime in this 'hood tends to be targeted--not random acts against anonymous folks. (For that, you really need to go to the burbs.) For those of us who relocated from larger cities like NY, Chicago or LA, the 900 block of 23rd seems a perfectly safe urban street. For those just in from Vashon, maybe not so much. Afterall, it's all relative. One man's bad neighborhood is another's entry into a high-priced market. The area also easily supports rentals,even now--and the hood is only going to get better. Being close to Seattle University, the UW and Seattle Central Community College means there's lots of students looking to rent. Given rental prices for homes in the vicinity, the monthly rent could actually cover the mortgage payment. (Fidning a rental property that pays for itself in a neighborhood I'd actually live in is not so very easy.) So while these bargains may not be for everyone, they do work for some of us. And those folks get to save lots of money. Like I said, you got to have a thick skin. Personally, the big draw back for me is the busy street, not the area’s reputation.

Only 20% of Seattle homes have children–so for the majority of us, kid-friendly isn’t such a big issue. (Though I know for parents it’s pretty much the only issue. But that’s their baggage–and I’m not toting it.) And you can always build a fence to keep your pets contained.

As to the crime, I’ve lived just a couple blocks away for years without once being shot, raped, or robbed. Crime in this ‘hood tends to be targeted–not random acts against anonymous folks. (For that, you really need to go to the burbs.)

For those of us who relocated from larger cities like NY, Chicago or LA, the 900 block of 23rd seems a perfectly safe urban street. For those just in from Vashon, maybe not so much.

Afterall, it’s all relative. One man’s bad neighborhood is another’s entry into a high-priced market.

The area also easily supports rentals,even now–and the hood is only going to get better. Being close to Seattle University, the UW and Seattle Central Community College means there’s lots of students looking to rent. Given rental prices for homes in the vicinity, the monthly rent could actually cover the mortgage payment. (Fidning a rental property that pays for itself in a neighborhood I’d actually live in is not so very easy.)

So while these bargains may not be for everyone, they do work for some of us. And those folks get to save lots of money.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://blog.redfin.com/seattle/2008/09/a_street_on_the_brink_calling_all_urban_pioneers.html/comment-page-1#comment-4932 Elizabeth Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:08:35 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/seattle/2008/09/a_street_on_the_brink_calling_all_urban_pioneers.html#comment-4932 Happily, I have both darting pets and newly mobile children, so I am not tempted by these. I'm more interested in those duplexes in Eastlake by I-5 that I pass every day on the way to the gym! About the same price, and you get the peace of mind that comes with no recent shootings... Happily, I have both darting pets and newly mobile children, so I am not tempted by these.
I’m more interested in those duplexes in Eastlake by I-5 that I pass every day on the way to the gym! About the same price, and you get the peace of mind that comes with no recent shootings…

]]> By: Gene http://blog.redfin.com/seattle/2008/09/a_street_on_the_brink_calling_all_urban_pioneers.html/comment-page-1#comment-4930 Gene Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:17:29 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/seattle/2008/09/a_street_on_the_brink_calling_all_urban_pioneers.html#comment-4930 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2900 sq feet... but not a good place for kids/pets. That just screams "deal" to me - I mean, what could go wrong? Resale will be killer (maybe even literally!). 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2900 sq feet… but not a good place for kids/pets. That just screams “deal” to me – I mean, what could go wrong? Resale will be killer (maybe even literally!).

]]> By: Ken http://blog.redfin.com/seattle/2008/09/a_street_on_the_brink_calling_all_urban_pioneers.html/comment-page-1#comment-4928 Ken Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:09:44 +0000 http://blog.redfin.com/seattle/2008/09/a_street_on_the_brink_calling_all_urban_pioneers.html#comment-4928 This is very interesting. Though I have to say, as a newcomer to Seattle, that nearly half-a-million dollars for a home on a noisy, transitional street gives me serious sticker shock. Even at 50% of the local cost per square foot, that price tag is pretty hard to swallow! This is very interesting. Though I have to say, as a newcomer to Seattle, that nearly half-a-million dollars for a home on a noisy, transitional street gives me serious sticker shock. Even at 50% of the local cost per square foot, that price tag is pretty hard to swallow!

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