Madison Park Rental Home: $5,650/Month

*Synced from Seattle Luxury Rental Blog
This lovely one level Madison Park home sits in the quiet Canterbury location near Madison Park Shops, restaurants and parks. Amenities include easy access to Downtown, freeway and the Eastside. Beautiful finishes include oak floors, cathedral ceilings, and a new kitchen with family room. The fenced garden boasts lovely plantings and hot tub. This spacious home has an attached two car garage that also includes a large workshop. Gardening included. Prospective tenants will need first and last month’s rent, plus one month’s rent for the security deposit. If you’re interested in this or other Seattle rentals, contact your local real estate agent today!

Status:	For Rent
Bed/Bath:	3/2.5
Price:	$5,650/Month

Proposed Bill - 90 Days Notice for Rent Increases

*Synced from Seattle Luxury Rentals

Most renters have probably experienced it – opening your mailbox to find a notice that your rent is going up. Often, increases come in $50 or $100 increments, but in Seattle’s booming rental market, some are seeing their rents rise by $1,000 or more at a time. Most renters can’t absorb these exorbitant hikes, and Washington State’s Landlord Tenant Law only requires landlords to give 30 days notice for rent changes (60 days in the City of Seattle), giving tenants a short window to find a new home. But according to Crosscut, Washington State Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle) is planning to introduce legislation that would require landlords across the board to give 90 days notice if they raise rents by more than 10 percent. The notification period for increases of 10 percent or less would remain at 30 days. For renters who don’t have much cushion in their savings account, this would give them more time to save up enough cash for move-in fees such as first and last months’ rent and a security deposit. According to King-5, the Rental Housing Association of Washington will fight the bill.
Kohl-Welles will also introduce legislation to prohibit landlords from discriminating against potential tenants on the basis of their participation in a government assistance program such as Section 8, which provides rent vouchers for households making 30 percent or less of the area’s median income. The bill would be aimed at landlords who either prohibit those in such a program from applying for housing altogether, or who don’t give them equal consideration with those not enrolled in an assistance program.
If you are interested in renting in the Seattle area, contact your local real estate agent today.

Renting is Half as Affordable as Buying in the U.S.

*Synced from Seattle Luxury Rental Blog
If you’re a renter, think about the amount you write on that check every month. Is it inching toward 30 percent of your monthly income? According to a new report by Zillow, gone are the days when mortgage rates made home ownership prohibitively expensive and renting was the affordable option. They report that the average renter in the U.S. is spending 30 percent of their monthly earnings on housing, and Seattle renters spend a little more than 30 percent, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal. Owning a home can cut that percentage in half, as homeowners pay only about 15 percent of their monthly income on their mortgage. Historically, renters have paid about 25 percent of their income toward rent.
Rents in Seattle are up a staggering 21.5 percent over the past five years, and with incomes only having grown 10.4 percent over that same span, renters are increasingly burdened with monthly housing costs. With mortgage interest rates hovering around 4 percent, first-time buyers in the U.S. are only spending an average of 17.5 percent on housing, even with many only paying a 5 percent down payment. Zillow says that even if interest rates rose to 7 percent, buying a home would be more affordable than it has been historically.
So, if you are looking to save on monthly housing costs, start saving those pennies for a down payment! If you are interested in real estate in the Seattle area, contact your local agent today.

Madison Park Rental Home: $2,450/Month

This gorgeous end unit next to Madison Park Beach and the Park is now available for rent! This home sits above the lake itself, with lots of windows and a spacious deck. Features include beautiful views of Lake Washington, mountains, and Madison Park. The home has two bedrooms, and one and a half baths. It is in close proximity to restaurants and shops, and a bus line to Downtown. Amenities include washer and dryer in the unit, and one car parking in secure garage. For more information on Seattle rentals, contact your local real estate agent today.

Status:	For Rent
Bed/Bath:	2//1
Price:	$2,450

Madison Park Rental Home: $4,500/Month

*Synced from Seattle Luxury Rental Blog
This three bed three bath Madison Park home is a perfect location, is now available for rent! Three bedrooms are located on the 2nd floor & 2 baths. The Office features views on the 3rd floor, and master bedroom has 3/4 bath and a fireplace. On the main floor, you’ll find an updated kitchen, family room, dining room, living room, & powder room. The yard space is truly amazing! There’s a large deck off the kitchen and family room, and two side patios on the South side of the home. The laundry room is located in the basement, and there is a two car garage parking off the alley. *Looking for a short term lease – 3 months* All rooms are furnished except one bedroom. For more information on this, or other Seattle rentals, contact your local real estate agent today.

Status:	For Rent
Bed//Bath:	3//3
Price:	$4,500/Month

Eastlake Rowhome Rental: $3,250/Month

This  3 bed 2.5 bath London-style rowhouse in the desirable Eastlake neighborhood is now available for rent. Many upgrades include slate entry, hardwood floors and slab granite counters and chef quality appliances. Features such as a beautiful kitchen with breakfast bar, separate dining room, sunken living room with fireplace and 10ft ceilings offer attractive living. Luxurious top floor master suite has five-piece bath, large walk-in closet and view deck. Light & bright end unit with beautifully landscaped front yard. Minutes to Downtown and walking distance to Amazon & South Lake Union. If you’re interested in this, or other Seattle rentals, contact your local real estate agent today!

Status:	For Rent
Bed/Bath:	3//2.5
Price:	$3,250

Queen Anne Luxury Rental: $4,950

*Synced from Seattle Luxury Rentals Blog
This romantic three level 2 bed, 2 bath  “Tower” Apartment was built in 2011 with views of Elliott Bay, the Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. This rental comes with a spacious 1 car garage (with the possibly of additional parking available). Features include travertine baths, stunning views, and a beautiful gourmet kitchen. The 500 sf deck is partially covered with views and a fireplace. Extraordinary landscaping includes waterfalls, terraces & boulders. If you’re interested in this or other Seattle rentals, contact your local real estate agent today.

Status:	For Rent
Bed/Bath:	2//2
Price:	$4,950

Make Your Rental’s Bedroom Feel Like A Retreat

*Synced from the Seattle Luxury Rentals Blog
With customization options at a minimum, apartments often never quite feel like home for many renters. Living with your landlord’s choices for wall colors, flooring materials and finishes can leave renters feeling dissatisfied with their surroundings. But there are some things you can do to make one of the most important rooms in the apartment – the bedroom – feel less like a hotel and more like your own restful and relaxing retreat. Using some inspiration from the designers at Zillow, here are some ideas:
To start with, overhead lighting in apartment buildings is usually not the most flattering, but since you most likely can’t change the main fixture in your rental, invest in table lamps or floor lamps to give your bedroom a nice glow.  Stylish lamps can often be found inexpensively at stores such as Target or TJ Maxx.
Giving walls a fresh coat of paint is one of the cheapest and simplest ways to personalize your bedroom, but many landlords are not ready to let you wield a paintbrush of your own. Check in with them first, and if you get the go-ahead, a soft grey or classic white will give you a serene space that is also a blank canvas for the rest of your personal touches.
Once you’ve painted, pick up some new bedding in your favorite color palette to add some interest to the room. Along with a nice set of sheets (Target also carries inexpensive sets that feel much more luxurious), you have an opportunity to make a statement with your duvet cover and unique throws and pillows.
Can’t paint your walls? Paint your furniture! Take an old, tired dresser, give it a good sanding and dress it up with whatever color paint you’d like. Paint the whole thing, just the legs, just the top, it’s up to you! Heavy, dark furniture tends to weigh a room down, especially if there is little natural light, so adding some color in the form of furniture can be a major upgrade and is budget friendly.
Now you’ve got some ideas, so get decorating!
If you are interested in renting in the Seattle area, contact your local real estate agent today!

Walkability Score- What is it and why does it matter?

*Synced from Seattle Luxury Rental

Walkability- it’s a word that some of you may be familiar with already, and one that real estate marketing often uses. But what exactly does it mean?
Used by Walkscore.com, it’s intended definition is to indicate how easily and readily connected a property is to the neighborhood and community around it. For instance, is the nearest grocery store within easy walking distance? Or would it be necessary to drive there?
The higher a property’s Walk Score (or Transit Score or Bike Score) on a scale of 1-100, the more connected the neighborhood is with the property. Take this chart example. But what makes a community walkable?

• A center: Walkable neighborhoods have a center, whether it’s a main street or a public space.
• People: Enough people for businesses to flourish and for public transit to run frequently.
• Mixed income, mixed use: Affordable housing located near businesses.
• Parks and public space: Plenty of public places to gather and play.
• Pedestrian design: Buildings are close to the street, parking lots are relegated to the back.
• Schools and workplaces: Close enough that most residents can walk from their homes.
• Complete streets: Streets designed for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit.

Now, why is this score important? It’s generally known that those who walk more, whether it’s just a few steps or hundreds of steps a day are generally healthier than those who don’t. By walking more, not only do you get outside, but you also use your car less, and thereby reduce your carbon footprint. If you were able to find a property in a highly walkable area, you might be able to forgo the car altogether!
And here’s some great news: Seattle is rated as one of the most walkable cities in the U.S.! With a Walk Score of 71, a Transit Score of 57, and a Bike Score of 64, Seattle is the 8th most walkable city, with it’s most walkable neighborhoods being Downtown, the Denny Triangle, and Pioneer Square.
How important is the walkability of the neighborhood to you when looking for a new property?

Meadowbrook Condo Rental: $2,295

*Synced from Seattle Luxury Rentals Blog
This immaculate and spacious townhome in a quiet residential neighborhood-not directly on arterial, is now available to rent! Thoughtfully designed & constructed and luxuriously appointed, this residence is a step above your typical townhome. All 3 bedrooms are good sized and have an attached bath. Large, open kitchen with maple cabinetry, stainless appliances and slab granite countertops. Slate entry, gas fireplace & extensive use of ceramic tile. There is also a small fenced patio off lower level suite. One car attached garage. For more information on this or other Seattle rentals, contact your local real estate agent today.

Status:	For Rent
Bed//Bath:	3//3
Price:	$2,295

Eastlake Condo Rental: $3,599

This elegant 2 bed, 2.5 bath condo unit in the Tramonti condominium is now available! The unit also includes a den and has views of Lake Union and Downtown Seattle. From its sophisticated aesthetics to its steel and concrete structure, this home offers the finest materials and design. Features include freshly painted interior, an amazing open floor plan with European hardwoods, 9.5 foot ceilings, and a gas fireplace. The kitchen also contains stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops. This condo has over 30 feet of roof top deck with full Western Views! If you’re interested in this, or other Seattle rentals, contact your local real estate agent today.

Status:	For Rent
Bed/Bath:	2/2.5
Price:	$3,599

Trendy Rental Perks 2014

*Synced from Seattle Luxury Rentals Blog
If you’re on the prowl for a new rental home, chances are you’re looking for amenities such as new kitchen counter, hardwood flooring and more than one bathrooms, but there are also other perks to living in a shared community that renters today should consider when searching for the perfect rental. From basic perks like an on-site laundry facility and parking to fitness centers in the building, each renter should consider which amenities they’d like to have included with their rental home. Living in an apartment these days doesn’t mean you have to forfeit a yard or BBQ space; private backyards are becoming more commonplace in first level units, and are much larger than your standard unit’s patio. If this is something you’d enjoy (or your furry friend would enjoy!) you’ll typically see a price increase anywhere from $150-$200.
Like many Seattleites, I like to start my morning with piping hot latte – and it just so happens many of the apartment buildings in the area have an on-site cafe located in the lobby for your convenience. Is you morning workout important? Look for a building with an on-site community gym or a lovely pool (pictured right at the Olive 8), or if you like a nice summer BBQ, look for a building with a shared rooftop terrace. If you’re searching for a nice rental for you and your furry friend, pet friend amenities used to be difficult to find, but are becoming more commonplace in neighborhood buildings. Full-service pet spas and doggy-daycare  are located in many buildings for your convenience and your companions pleasure! Whatever your needs may be, it’s important to consider building amenities when searching for your next rental home. For more information on Seattle rentals, contact your local real estate agent today.

Queen Anne Condo Rental: $2,800

Photo Courtesy of queenannehighschool.com

Synced from Seattle Luxury Rentals Blog

This stunning top floor condo with panoramic views of Capitol Hill, downtown, and Puget Sound is now available for rent! This unit in the former Queen Anne High School Building offers an open floor plan with a high-end kitchen, hardwood floors, huge windows, and original slate chalk board from when this unit was a music classroom! Spacious master bedroom, + second bedroom or office, 1 full and 1 half bath, storage unit, and 2 assigned parking spots (one covered and one uncovered). Queen Anne High School is listed on the historical registry, a truly wonderful rental experience. For more information on this or other Seattle rentals, contact your local real estate agent today.

Status:	For Sale
Bed/Bath:	2/1.5
Price:	$2,800

West Seattle’s Blake Apartments to Begin Construction Soon

According to the folks over at the West Seattle Blog, Indigo Real Estate Services has announced that plans for the 5020 California SW apartment complex are scheduled to begin construction in January 2013, and their aiming to be open for tenants the summer of 2014. That means for those West Seattleites who have anxiously been waiting for 5 or so years for  an update on the former Spring Hills project: the Blake Apartments are back on!
The Blake was named after the most visible island that can be seen from the building rooftop deck, the complex will also offer views of the Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains for its residents. The Blake will be an upscale, pet friendly establishment, with 101 units including two story town homes, studios, 1 bed 1 bath, and 2 bed 2 bath apartments. It will have 87 underground parking stalls, and a secure indoor bike storage, with a greater ratio for tenant parking than most complexes in the Junction. For more updates and information on the Blake, submit your contact information today.

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.