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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Pacific Northwest has a lot going for it when it comes to lifestyle and Bellingham, Washington, located 80 miles north of Seattle, is the perfect example. Oh, pardon me. B’ham Washington. For a minute there I lost my cool and, above all else, one must maintain one’s cool in B’ham.
If you like pretty scenery, art festivals, rain, seafood, coffee, and rain, you’ll love living in B’ham. It rains about eight months out of the year but when the weather clears and the sun shines, Bellingham is one terrific city.
North Bellingham
North Bellingham communities include Cordata, and an area that is seeing a bit of a population boom lately. You’ll find a mix of new homes and commercial and industrial areas. The Meridian ‘hood is a lot like Cordata but, because it is closer to Interstate 5, it’s more convenient for commuters. Another area in the northern part of the city is Barkley. It has an “urban village” vibe going on with a mixture of industrial, commercial and residences. The northwest side of B’ham is mostly residential with not a lot of apartments.
South Bellingham
Edgemore, in southwest B’ham is a residential area. Most of the homes have incredible views and sit on tree-lined streets. South, another neighborhood in south B’ham is a woody area with scattered single-family homes. It might be worth living here, though, just so you can tell your friends back home that you live at the base of Chuckanut Mountain.
East
A good place to apartment hunt on the east side of town is the Puget neighborhood. There are lots of apartments in the area. There’s an awesome sports complex in the neighborhood that draws crowds of B’hammers. It features an aquatic center, indoor ice and soccer facilities, a baseball field and a bike jump park. While you’re checking out Puget, head north to the Roosevelt neighborhood where you’ll find more apartment complexes. This is a good area for the commuter, as it’s located on Interstate 5.
West
Western Bellingham has a lot to offer the apartment hunter. The Birchwood neighborhood has several complexes but most of the apartments and condos are located in the Lettered Streets neighborhood and near Northwest Avenue and W. Maplewood. One of B’hams neighborhoods, South Hill, sits on Bellingham Bay in the southwest part of the city. This is primarily a residential neighborhood but if you head south, you’ll find plenty of apartments and condos in the Fairhaven neighborhood.
The rental process here is much like renting in other cities. Most owners ask for a deposit and there may be some non-refundable deposits, such as for cleaning when you move out, credit check fees and money to protect the owner from damage your pet may cause. You may also be asked to pay the last month’s rent when you move in.
Landlord/tenant laws in Bellingham require that the tenant provide the landlord with a 20 day notice before moving out, when renting on a month-to-month basis.
There ya have it. Welcome to B'ham! View Bellingham City Guide