Seattle Ranks #2 in Cities Where Renters Rule!

While renting might sometimes feel like you’re flushing a hefty portion of your income down the drain, as it turns out, renting might make the best financial sense for a few years. According to a reporting from Zillow’s break even horizon metric, (a system measuring the number of years it takes after buying a home is more financially beneficial than renting) Seattle ranks # 2 in the top 10 cities where renters actually might have the financial edge over homeowners.

Zillow’s results were found by taking the period of time calculated with the net cost of buying a home, and also the costs of renting that same home. The results show the average and median break even points at the city and metro areas. Seattle ranked 2nd only to NYC, and advised renters in New York City need not feel rushed into buying, unless you’ll be staying for at least 5 years, as it generally makes more financial sense to rent a flat within the city limits. The average break even point for Seattle homeowners is 4.3 years, so renting for the short term, might be the best financial option. More information on Seattle Rentals can be found here.

Shoreline Rental Available: $1,799

 

This lovely 2 bed, 1 bath rental home in Shoreline is now available! Located in a quiet neighborhood in a cul-de-sac, this rental is in a great location near shops, close proximity to a bus line, Shoreline Community College, Ronald Bog Park, among other attractions. The home sits on a large landscaped lot, with a fenced backyard, with a new deck, and hot tub! Inside the home, there are two fireplaces, hardwood flooring throughout, new tiling, and a recently updated kitchen and bathroom. This is a first time rental, and you can definitely see! For more information on rentals around the Seattle area, visit your local Real Estate Agent.

Status:	For Rent
Bed/Bath:	2&1
Price:	$1799/mo

Leschi Rental Available: $2,250

Remodeled Leschi cottage available for lease starting December 1st. The Leschi home has been updated with double-pane windows, new electrical, plumbing, and A/C to cool both up and downstairs.  Upstairs the property includes two bedrooms, a bathroom featuring a granite, tile & heated floors, and French doors opening to a deck with garden views. On the main floor, oak floors and crown molding in living and dining rooms.  The kitchen has heated tile floors, granite counters & added storage. French doors off the back of the house lead to a deck drenched in Wisteria. The daylight basement includes a third bedroom, another bathroom and laundry room. The outside includes a fenced back yard and parking for up to four cars.

The Leschi rental is located just above Leschi Park and just north of Frink Park.  Strolled down the old cable car trail through Leschi Park to Lake Washington and the Leschi business district or travel to Downtown Seattle within 15 minutes.

Address:	112 32nd Ave South
Status:	For Rent – Available December 1st
Bed/Bath:	3/1.75
List Price:	$2,250

Please contact Nate Pearson if you are interested in this Seattle rental.

Estimating Apartment Utility Costs

When you’re searching for a new rental, utility costs aren’t always the first thing that comes to mind when configuring your financing.  You’re aware you need to plan for them, but the costs aren’t always clear, so before you sign the lease, be sure to account for extra rental expenses. During the winter months, you can expect to pay between $30-50 a month for electricity, largely depending on how much you’re at home, how careful you are about turning off the lights, and how energy efficient your appliances are.

Photo Courtesy of Movingtoday.com

Photo courtesy of Movingtoday.com

If you live in a multi-unit building, there is a chance there will be no extra costs for heat, and the Landlord will have added the additional costs for heat into the cost of rent. If you’re renting a house, and have gas or forced air heating you could be paying at least $100 a month in the winter time, but the best way to determine the costs would be to ask the landlord or a previous tenant. If you don’t want to spend time trying to connect to your neighbor’s Internet for free, you’ll need to plan for $30-45 a month for Internet costs, which can be cheaper if you’re bundling with cable or a phone line. It’s also never a bad idea to look into getting renter’s insurance, especially if you’re a first time renter. You never know what can happen, and planning ahead to be safe is actually very affordable, sometimes around $150 a year. For a general rule of thumb if you leave out the cable, you can expect to pay roughly 20% of your rent in utilities if you live alone, and 10% if you’re living with a roommate.

Helpful Tips to Get the Landlord to Pick You

As a new prospective renter, you’ve probably spent countless weekends searching for the perfect rental for yourself, and finally stumble on the right one for you; only problem is, 20 other potential tenants have applied and think it’s the perfect place for them too! Are there things you can do to help yourself standout amongst the other applications? Yes of course! Zillow has provided a few useful tips to set you ahead of the rest. First and foremost, you should really only be pursuing rental accommodations that you can afford. If you go into a showing knowing the maximum rent you can afford with your income, you’re in great shape. You’re landlord needs to know that you’re capable of paying your rent, and paying it on time, so being knowledgeable of this is important at the time of viewing.
Knowing your credit history is also important, as almost every landlord these days will be doing their homework, and checking your credit score prior to giving the OK to accept your application. Credit scores generally range from 300-850, and according to Zillow, a score of 550-580 should be sufficient for a first time renter with a decent income. You can actually go online and check your credit score for free through the Federal government once a year, and you’ll want to do so before searching for an apartment so you can keep that in mind. You should also dress presentable when meeting with a potential landlord to view an apartment (remember while it may feel like you’re interviewing them for finding the right home for you, their actually interviewing you to make sure you’re the perfect fit to work with their company, and the building’s tenants too!). Be on time, and dress business casual, or dressy casual will do the trick, as the first impression on how you appear, and present yourself during this initial meeting is crucial to setting yourself apart from the rest. For other tips, and things you can do to give yourself a head-start in the rental world, visit Zillow’s Blog.

Queen Anne Rental Home: $2,550

This 4 bed 2 bath home in the Queen Anne neighborhood is just one block away from the bustling Queen Anne Ave, seconds away from restaurants,  shops, grocery stores, and Seattle nightlife. This home has an expansive living room with a gorgeous wood burning fireplace, and ample natural light. The spacious dining room has a drop down chandelier and the kitchen opens up right into the private fenced backyard. The upper level has 3 large bedrooms, and one bathroom, and the master has a small view! The basement in this unit in completely finished and has a cozy family room, bedroom, bathroom and a utility room attached. For more information on this rental, visit Ewing & Clark Inc.

		Status: For Rent Bed/Bath: Four/Two Price: $2,550

Vacationing Late Summer? Review Home Security Tips to Keep Your Rental Safe While Away

Summer is prime time for vacationers to pack up and get in the car, and it’s smart to make sure your home is secured before leaving the humble abode for an extended weekend or longer. Zillow has compiled a precautionary checklist to review before leaving your home alone, and the first item on the list is to consider having a house sitter or consulting with your friends and neighbors to see if they’re able to check on the house while you’re gone, which could be simple if you’re having someone check on your pets, or water your plants.
It might be wise for a neighbor to park in front of your home while you’re away, creating the illusion that someone is home at all times. Shutting off a main valve might be a cautious step to take before you leave to avoid any pipes leaking, which can cause extensive damage, and become very costly. You could consider putting up motion sensor lights (check with your landlord to see if this is feasible) or electrical timers for inside lighting, again you could also have your neighbors stop by and do the same thing. For other tips on securing your home, visit Zillow.

Does Your Rental Have an Ugly View? Tips For Disguising It!

The great thing about Seattle neighborhoods is that there is almost always a view of something beautiful around the corner from your home; but that can also mean that your direct view isn’t the greatest. Many rentals, especially those homes with rental basements or mother in law apartment rentals can have a view of a warped neighbor’s yard, or better yet your  unattractive neighbor’s living room, who without fail loves to do yoga in tiny neon spandex around the time your hosting happy hour. Thankfully Zillow has come to the rescue with some great ideas to disguise your unappealing view, and turn it around to something worth staring at.
Window coverings, such as curtains or shutters, especially when they’re working together can block out the background, and dress up the window area. Custom shades can run a little higher, but might be worth it for full coverage views. Also if replacing the window itself isn’t an option, a fun way to blur views is with decorative window film that is applied right to the glass, especially around the holidays! If you have a knack for plants, you could install some shelving in front of the windows and disperse with light craving plants. You could also create the same affect with a large hanging plant, or a large drooping vine. For more information on other tips to disguise your unsightly view, visit Zillow’s Tips & Advise Blog.