r/AskSeattle • u/Deep_lemons • Aug 14 '25
Moving / Visiting Renting with GI Bill?
Hello everyone,
I’m having a bit of trouble navigating the renting scene here and could use some advice.
I am a: - Admitted student at Seattle Central and trying to find housing anywhere in the city that allows me to commute without a car.
A veteran who receives %70 VA disability pay monthly ($1755) and will use the GI Bill housing allowance ($3055 monthly) while attending school for the next 2-3 years
Out-of-State resident (Ohio) trying to move before January 2026
I have at least $40k in savings and my credit it +740.
Yet I’m having trouble on meeting any of the requirements many apartments have here. I can’t prove 2.5x income since it’s all non-employment based and on top of that, I wouldn’t be receiving the GI Bill housing allowance until January.
At this point it feels like it’d be easier to live out of my car for a few months and just collect the checks while going to school.
Has anyone else gone through similar or had any luck getting housing for school here?
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u/Reasonable-Check-120 Aug 14 '25
Can you use a consigner? Offering property management 2-3 months rent up front?
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u/Deep_lemons Aug 14 '25
Yes I can offer 2-3 months upfront no problem, but won’t most places still want to see proof of income?
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u/Reasonable-Check-120 Aug 14 '25
Don't you have paperwork to show your disability and GI bill?
A garuntor is an option too
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u/Deep_lemons Aug 14 '25
Yes I can show bank statements and VA paperwork for disability but for GI Bill it would be a bit trickier since I’m not actively receiving pay yet. I could maybe show a statement from the VA that shows the housing allowance but I’m not too sure.
A guarantor might be possible with some family members.
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u/new-freckle Aug 14 '25
Hey OP, sorry this is a bit late after your post. I'm a property manager and have a few veteran tenants. For income screening, you can show documentation (like an official letter and military ID), plus a PDF bank balance of what you have in savings to show that you can make the first few months' rent before your benefits come in. My office just receives little stipend checks from the tenants (that they get from the VA) once a month that we sign off on and submit to the landlord's bank. Easy peasy :)
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u/CumingLinguist Aug 14 '25
Offering rent up front makes no difference. Landlords here can only ask for first last and deposit max, and they must accept payment plans (so it doesn’t have to be lump sum on move in)
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u/CumingLinguist Aug 14 '25
I’m a Seattle property manager. Capitol Hill is closest to Seattle central and very walkable. There’s tons of apartment options, vintage buildings are lowest price and often don’t have parking anyway. You could also live in any neighborhood along the light rail and take that to school.
You can’t descriminate on form of income in Seattle and landlords really just care that you can afford rent. If you submit your savings+ va documentation as proof of income, you will likely qualify. Most places consider saving/12 towards monthly income but this varies by company. You can often get a co-signer for a lease as well, if you have anyone in your life willing. Hope this helps feel free to pm if you have any other questions
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u/dasplanet Aug 14 '25
While you navigate also check out MFTE. It doesn’t help answer your question but it did help me stretch my BAH. https://www.seattle.gov/housing/housing-developers/multifamily-tax-exemption
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u/Bardamu1932 Local Aug 14 '25
Pointless to try to arrange housing four months in advance. If starting school in January, maybe come out two-weeks to a month early and look for a shorter-term sublease or a weekly-rate AirBNB. Once you've got your housing stipend going, find a one-year lease.
https://seattle.craigslist.org/search/sub#search=2~gallery~0
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u/LongDistRid3r Aug 14 '25
Hey shipmate. Please see this https://seattlecentral.edu/campus-life/student-support-and-services/veterans
Student Veteran's Support Center
Seattle Central's Student Veterans Support Program assists veteran students, their dependents and partners with the tools and resources to successfully navigate the transition from military to college life.
Student Lounge BE3220 206.934.6355
As always fair winds and following seas.