Seattle Apartment Hunting Report

Purpose: Find new housing for Will and Roxanne
Move Date: April 1, 2026
Report Generated: February 17, 2026
Last Updated: February 17, 2026

Search Criteria

Requirement	Specification
Location	Seattle, WA
Budget	~$1,200/month
Size	Studio or 1 bedroom
Priority Amenities	Parking, in-unit washer/dryer

Sources Checked

Platform	Status	Notes
Zillow	✅ Complete	Broad feed, good filtering
Apartments.com	✅ Complete	Strong discovery list, amenity filters
Craigslist	✅ Complete	Real inventory, higher scam risk
HotPads	✅ Complete	Good for recent listings
Facebook Marketplace	⏭️ Skipped	No reliable public data without login; high scam risk

Strong Fits (Closest to Criteria)

Listing	Rent	Size	Parking	Washer/Dryer	Location	Risk Level
2215 Eastlake Ave E #102	$1,200	500 sqft studio	Not listed	On-site laundry	Eastlake	Low-Med
Del Roy Apartments, 25 W Roy St #104	$1,200	451 sqft studio	Street parking	On-site laundry	Lower Queen Anne	Low-Med
Bode Westwood, 2222 SW Barton St	$1,200	314 sqft studio	Street	In-unit ✓	Westwood	Med
Zillow Search: Under $1,200	$699-$1,200+	Studio/1BR mix	Varies	Varies	Seattle-wide	Low
Apartments.com: Studios Under $1,200	$826-$1,200+	Studio/1BR mix	Varies	Varies	Seattle-wide	Low

Secondary Options (Over Budget or Weaker Fit)

Listing	Rent	Trade-offs
Altaire at Jackson Park	$1,325	+$125 over budget, but includes parking and newer building features
Bode Uptown / Queen Anne	$1,425	+$225 over budget, has in-unit W/D and central Queen Anne location

Notes & Warnings

Scam Awareness

Craigslist: Real inventory but higher scam risk. Never pay before an in-person tour and lease verification.
Suspiciously low prices: Flag any listings significantly below market rate.
Red flags: Requests for payment/deposit before showing, poor listing details, landlords who won't meet in person.

Budget Hard Cap Strategy

If $1,200 must be a hard cap:

Prioritize HotPads, Zillow, and Apartments.com
Apply filters:
- Size: Studio / 1BR
- Max rent: $1,250 (captures near-budget options)
- Amenities: In-unit washer/dryer, parking (included or off-street)
Avoid Craigslist unless verifying through trusted management companies

Next Actions (Execution Checklist)

Contact 5 strongest listings within 24 hours
- 2 HotPads listings (Eastlake, Lower Queen Anne)
- 3 from Zillow/Apartments.com filtered feed
Request full cost breakdown from each:
- Base rent
- Utilities (gas, electric, water, sewer, trash)
- Parking (if available)
- Move-in specials or discounts
- Security deposit, pet fees, application fees
Schedule 3 tours this week
- Prioritize listings with transparent fee sheets and verified management
Reject any listing requesting application fee or payment before showing

Active Feeds (Refresh Regularly)

Report maintained in /home/will/lab/flynn/.planning/apartment-hunting-report.md

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