townhouse choices

[bmccasland]

I'm looking at two townhouses, one on Talbot Hill (Renton), one in West Seattle - both essentially the same price rent (two arms and two legs), 1300 sq ft vs 1060 sq ft. WSeattle will be closer to the office, thus lower commuting cost, and "more trendy". Talbot Hill is a larger place, I get one more room, but further from the office, and from the satellite maps - the suburbs.

Any TE thoughts?? I'm looking at the Talbot Hill place tomorrow afternoon after work. Don't have an appointment to see the W Seattle place yet.

I don't have to make an immediate housing choice - I could let these pass by, but do need to find a place in the next month.

[Selkie]

My advice: pick the one with the shorter commute.

[NbyNW]

I think West Seattle has the advantage on shorter commute plus convenience to lots of shops & restaurants, plus beach!

Renton is indeed further out, but you might have proximity to good cycling out there.

I think it helps a lot to check out a neighborhood in advance of seeing a house/apartment. You need to be able to picture yourself spending time out and about in your neighborhood.

[ny biker]

I think it helps a lot to check out a neighborhood in advance of seeing a house/apartment. You need to be able to picture yourself spending time out and about in your neighborhood.

Agreed.

I live in a small 1BR condo. I would love to have a larger place, but not as much as I love living in a good neighborhood with a short commute.

[XMcShiftersonX]

We essentially did the same type of looking when we bought our condo. The condos were so tiny in West Seattle though and so expensive, we didn't think it was worth it. Now we live in Renton. We've been here almost 6 years. We love that our condo has enough room (1100 sq. feet. I think the condos in W seattle were like 800), and we're saving to build our own house in the Tiger Mountain area. We have amazing cycling opportunities out here. I currently work in Tacoma and my husband in Seattle, so that also works out (although I may be working in the downtown/capitol hill area soon). It depends if a commute would bother you. During the warmer months you could look into riding your bike to work. My husband does that. Driving wise, West Seattle isn't that bad. Usually traffic slows down after that exit going into Seattle on I-5, but ultimately I would say it's a 20-30 minute drive.

[withm]

Well we can't really put this in perspective without the actual mileage between work and the 2 options. If commute A is 3 miles, and B is 5 miles, that's a lot different than if A is 10 miles and B is 25 miles.....