Rent a flat or a house in Seattle

The biggest hurdle is credit reference checks.  This applies not only to finding accommodation but just about anything where finances are involved.  Things have changed a lot since I last lived here and credit ratings have become very important.  Having said that, we found somewhere to live within the first couple of weeks.  We also managed to get car finance and we got a secured credit card (I recommend this for at least getting started on building credit).  We ended up in an apartment.  We would have preferred a house but apart from that it meets all our other requirements.  You may need to spend a bit more time searching to get over this hurdle and some agents will be more understanding than others.  Unlike Sydney where pretty much 100% of landlords go through real estate agents, you can find owners who let directly to tenants and I think you have a better chance in that situation if you meet and they like you.