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Angel Richardson
housing
Studio apartments in Highlands -options?
Hey everyone, Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that.
2 upvotes
12 Replies
Ruth J.
great question, following
40 upvotes
Edward L.
seconding this
40 upvotes
Caroline Scott
noted, appreciate it
39 upvotes
Ava Ruiz
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 13 years ago from Baltimore and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Lakewood. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in construction. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
Housing: Buying is tough right now, renting is more reasonable. We're paying /mo for a 4-bed in Lakewood. It's better than expected for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in construction. If you're in healthcare you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 13 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: surprisingly good. Tons of options if you like farm-to-table.
Happy to answer more specific questions..
34 upvotes
Hunter
thanks for sharing
32 upvotes
Logan J.
Not gonna lie, the first year was rough. But once you find your neighborhood and your people, I have mixed feelings honestly. Give it a chance - it might surprise you..
32 upvotes
Leonardo Wilson
Great question. I'll try to be comprehensive here.
I'm a contractor who relocated here from San Diego about 1 years ago. The main reasons were family and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are competitive, gas is solid.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. No regrets on my end..
I'm a contractor who relocated here from San Diego about 1 years ago. The main reasons were family and a job opportunity.
Pros I've experienced:
- Nice parks and green spaces
- Decent public transit for the size
- Good airport with direct flights
Cons that are real:
- Rising rent and home prices
- Bugs and humidity in summer
Financially, we've found it solid compared to where we came from. Lots of new construction which should help. Groceries are competitive, gas is solid.
Socially, it's not perfect but it works for me. No regrets on my end..
31 upvotes
Eli Mendoza
Gonna give a different perspective here since most replies seem tough.
I've been here 13 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
I've been here 13 years and I'm still on the fence after all this time. The thing nobody mentions is nightlife. It's established and it affects daily life more than you'd think.
That said, the traffic is legit. And if you're into hiking, this place is average.
Neighborhood matters A LOT here. The Meadowbrook side vs the West side are basically different cities. Make sure you visit both before deciding.
Definitely worth checking out..
30 upvotes
Diane G.
As someone who grew up here, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. A lot has changed in the past few years though. school system used to be much pricey but now it's average.
30 upvotes
Jayden Gutierrez
hmm interesting perspective
26 upvotes
Ethan Myers
Real talk - this place is not for everyone, and I think that's OK.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely better than expected and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (East) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
If you value community vibe, you'll love it. The nightlife is genuinely better than expected and I've found I wouldn't want to live anywhere else right now. My neighborhood (East) is manageable and I feel safe walking around at night.
But if you're coming from Seattle, be prepared for the culture shock. cost of living is completely different here. And Not a lot of cultural diversity.
My advice would be to visit for at least a week before committing. Rent first, don't buy. And explore multiple neighborhoods - they're all different.
22 upvotes
Stella Phillips
The food scene here is tough. Tons of great Asian places. it's not perfect but it works for me.
21 upvotes