Moda Apartments

Great location, very modern and urban building. Great views from the condo I’ve rented. I highly recommend this place.

If I could give them a zero I would… I’m currently a resident and the staff is really unhelpful. The sweet woman I liked no longer works there and she initially was the one who prompted me to sign a lease. Think twice about living here… they are also sneaky about fees and leasing.

Really regret that I still gave this apartment a try even though I saw bad reviews about Moda, since it is close to where I work. I made a mistake and a bad choice. I don’t suggest anyone to move in here and I am looking for other apartments to move in now. All this apartment care is to get money out of your pocket. I was charged over $ 100 late fee 10 days after I move in without any notice and it can not be removed. Yes, they don’t tell you that you have a bill to pay in advance, instead, they wait until they can charge you and then tell you that you missed a payment and they charged a late fee which will never be removed. Guess what? They even sent me an email blaming me! Saying they found me logged into my account the second day I moved in and I should find that I have to pay my bill when I logged into my account! I told them there’s no balance there and they didn’t dare to reply my email! Haha! Go enjoy that $ 100 you robbed from me. I am out. Hope others don’t make the same mistake.

Lived 2013 – 2014
Bed bugs came in from an apartment boarding mine — or so said the exterminator. I still had to pay for everything, including some incredibly worthless and expensive «surveys.» I’m sure that’s standard policy, but I sure felt like I was getting screwed over. No one ever told me what chemicals /​poisons were used on my apartment — other than they were «probably organic.» I get that this happens more often now, but acting like you care about the residents would be a plus.
I think the office head has since moved on, but I can’t imagine ever wanting to deal with them again. Rude, disorganized, poor communication techniques were the norm.
Loved the location, even loved my scorching hot apartment, but between the bugs coming through the walls, and the office team, I’ll never set foot in another Equity building.
One star for Equity, would give four for the building otherwise. No issues with billing.

I just want to say my final billing issues was fixed. Chris, the Moda agent, helpfulled clear everything up and it was all taken care of rather easily. I don’t blame the people at Moda, it was more a back office issue. In the end, my bill for early termination was a lot less than I thought it would be. I still recommend it to those moving into Seattle as a great downtown location.

We lived in Moda for one year. It was fun, pretty quiet (or we were lucky with good neighbors), parking was crowded but compact car could fit.
We wanted to stay by rent increase was way to high (almost +$ 200).
I am giving 1 stars for the way they treat us after we wanted to leave. We cleaned apartment and it was in the same condition but they still took they whole deposit, surprisingly cleaning carpet costs $ 252 and our deposit $ 250. Coincident? I don’t think so. ALSO, cleaning apartment should not be expensed on deposit, it’s wear and tear and what they did was against the law, but we didn’t have time to argue with them.
So it’s nice when it’s good, when they don’t need you they will trick you. Thanks Rick and Samantha!

Moda aparments was wonderful until Equity Residential took over.
All of the reviews on here that discuss the unpleasant demeanor of Rick are spot-​on.
He is combative, argumentative, and refuses to accept reponsibility for problems.
After being trapped in one of the elevators he attempted to bill me for the charges.
I had to have my brother Jake Karczewski (an attorney in WA state) step in and let him know they would be countersued for my injuries sustained in the elevator failure. It took the threat of a lawsuit to get them to stop the threats but finally they relented.
The management will try to get away with billing you for anything humanly possible for the sake of making a buck, and they were very close to being taken to court for their constant egregious acts. Someone else mentioned a bill for a floor repair-​sounds about right.
If you like high crime, fire alarms, rent increases, drugs, prostitution, a dirty rooftop infested with fecal matter and urine, unsafe elevators, aggressive panandlers, unbearably hot summers, cold winters, constant bus/​traffic/​fight noise, insecure parking lots, a gym with equipment from the 1990s, the worst property management known to man and repeated attempts to take money from you, this is the place for you!

I lived here in 2009 with my sister for a year.
The managers were so nice when you tried to check out the apt.
But once you moved in, they just didn’t care about you anymore.
I moved out to a bigger apt with my sister and her bf in 2010.
But I came back in 2012 Sep. Living in a studio with My bf because moda has great location and fair price. Moreover, they have changed the company! The whole apartment has become alive !
they have bigger chilling area now.
people there were nice, the managers always had their smiles on. There’s always some notes in the elevator telling us what’s up.
This little tiny thing has made Moda become a sweet warm cute apt.
I had a really good time living here like a lot better than the first time.
I was really sad that I had to move out :(
Moda gave me a lot of memory :) I hope to see it growwww!

First of all, all the one star reviews probably occurred around the time Moda was acquired by Equity. People generally dislike change so that probably explains the low reviews.
I lived in Moda for about 5 months before transferring to another Equity apartment without having to break my lease (that’s one of the pros with Equity since they have a lot of properties in the downtown area). Considering its great location, its rate is hard to beat and the staff is amazing. If you are new to the city with a tight budget but want all the amenities, Moda is a great place.
Here are my favorite things about Moda: Great location, great prices, has a bus stop right in front which makes it easy to commute, has one of the best rooftops, newly installed kitchen appliances, large shower head, large washer and dryer, barbecue parties, and AMAZING STAFF (shout out to Chris and Katie!).
Things to keep in mind: During the summer months, the apartments can get very warm. Also if you are a light sleeper, I recommend a room facing away from 3^rd avenue.

I was having a difficult time finding apartments in Seattle as I am searching while still living in another state. I just signed with Moda apartments for a few reasons:
1. Equity has relatively positive reviews
2. Equity seems to own a lot of the properties that caught my eye
3. Moda was very cost effective for myself as I was searching for a smaller/​cozier place. It has pretty great amenities and generally looked more stylish compared to my college apartment.
4. The leasing consultant (Katie Hoynes) I worked with kept in touch during my searching process without bombarding me with emails/​spam. All of her emails felt personal and not just a copied form. Once I did inquire about a specific apartment she was super prompt in getting back to me with any information I wanted/​needed. Knowing I wouldn’t be able to tour an apartment, she sent me photos of the place I would be renting without me needing to ask for them.
I felt a lot of properties in Seattle were not taking me very seriously and would take forever to get back to me simply because I was searching remotely. However, Moda was on top of their stuff. I appreciated that they didn’t keep me waiting for days on end just to answer a question.
Once I move into Moda and experience the ‘living’ part of it, I will be sure to update my review.

Where to begin… I have lived here at Moda for almost a year. Reflecting on my year here I have much to review. Everything was great, until the building was bought out by another company. The new manager of the building was all talk when I spoke with them about changes that needed to be made. Promises were made to get various items fixed and/​or replaced. All of those promises were broken.
Maintenance may be quick to come to your apartment for repairs but 99% of the time they won’t fully fix your problem. Leaking underneath my sink has been ‘attempted’ to be fixed twice now and STILL leaks. In fact, it leaks more than it did before it was fixed. Also, the broken faucet hasn’t been fixed after two maintenance visits.
The parking garage (if you choose to pay $ 100+ per month) is often too full. The company that monitors this garage gives out tickets for ‘parking over the line’, even though you’re paying to park there. You will never get a warning for the first time. Almost every resident here has complained about being ticketed for parking over the line when they had barely been over the line at all…
The inside of the units may have granite counters and look fabulous but the quality is terrible. The fake wood floors scratch extremely easily, and you will lose your security deposit for this! The units are tiny for the amount you have to pay, and the new management raised the prices. Th fire-​station behind Moda is loud and you will definitely here loud sirens a minimum of 3 times each day and night. Lastly, the buildings fire alarms constantly go off in the middle of the night! If you aren’t ok with being woken in the middle of the night by sirens or fire alarms stay away from here!
The office staff will not work with you and will treat you like a criminal if anything happens and you have to pay rent late. Even if you have no past history of rent problems. They are unreasonable, inconsiderate, and impossible to deal with. They do not care about the well being of the residents here. The only thing the staff and the company owning this building care about is making any extra money they can off of the residents.
I highly recommend passing up Moda and looking elsewhere in belltown for your apartment. You can find much better value anywhere else! Your experience here may be ok at first but if any problems arise during your stay here you can not only expect no type of help but for the staff here to treat you terribly while denying they can’t do anything about any of the issues that you have. The way business is done here is unfair and unjust. I will be filing a complaint with the better business bureau.

Moda is like living in a college dorm, containing mostly younger people. Even the quality of the appliances and general building is worse than the dorms I stayed at when I was in school. It’s great for people with pets. Lots of animals roaming the premises, often in hallways without leashes.
Pros: Very convenient location, great first apartment for someone new to the city. Very responsive maintenance. They will deliver packages to your suite, and change light bulbs for you at no extra cost. Overall the rental staff are great. The units are somehow very well insulated. Even in the winter, there were very few days where I needed to turn on the heat. Utility bills were consistently cheap.
Cons: Noisy, especially if you have a unit facing the alley, but maybe this is typical of any apartment in downtown. Expect waste removal trucks dragging large containers anytime from early morning to late at night.
Overall, I’d recommend it.

I apparently made the fatal mistake of trying to (gasp) rent an apartment! We went in to the leasing office and were told to wait in the lobby with an incredibly disdainful look. Apparently their one-​on-​one staff meeting was more important. 10 minutes later and we’re allowed to come back in (no apology… not so much as a freaking «hello».)
I tested the lady by smiling and saying hi, thanking her for her time (I do typically find it’s rather difficult for people to be so rude if you’re being nice). Nope… I was met with a «Sit there and I’ll be there in a minute». Um… is there a hidden camera?
Typical questions were met with unhelpful answers. When we dared to ask to actually see units that were available (photos on craigslist etc.) The disdain continued. «Why don’t you rent out your condo first and then come back.» Seriously? I’m not moving unless I have a place lined up lady. I get you hate your job. And me as an extension. But if this is a taste of what’s to come, I’d much rather rent elsewhere.
Note to leasing agent: It would be fantastic if you could even attempt to not scowl at customers. I know this is a reach, but try use the word «hello» in a sentence. Perhaps show apartments to people wanting to rent apartments. I’m pretty sure you’re paid on commission… you might make more money that way.
Maybe the charming leasing agent got fired; or maybe you’re persistent than I and will actually get to see an apartment. Good luck with that :)

I absolutely love it here and the staff have been so helpful and accommodating. I moved here across the country and had many things shipped. The staff had no problems accepting all of my large and many many packages before my arrival. They even had my bed waiting for me in my apartment the day I arrived.
I was looking at a few other places in the area and am so happy I went with Moda. Toye was so helpful and very quick to respond to all of my message and questions. I was not able to visit the area to take a tour of the apartments or the unit I was looking at. I was very surprised that they were able to send me tons of pictures of a very similar unit as other places I contacted only pointed me to their limited generic photos online. Richard, the property manager, even called me a couple weeks after I had settled in to make sure everything was going well and that I was happy with my new apartment. The amazing service from the staff is really what drove me to pick Moda.
The unit is small but perfect size for me. I work from home and there is plenty of room for a work, sleep and living room areas. The furnishing are above and beyond what I saw available from other apartments in the area in this price range. In the studios you have all wood style floors, granite in the kitchen and bathroom, nice high end stainless appliances and track lighting. A very great place to call home.
The location is fantastic, just a couple minute walk to City Target, Pikes Place, Whole Foods and the Seattle Center. Dan’s Grocery is great for picking up a few items that you may have forgotten at the big box grocery stores. There is also a Rite Aid very close by. It feels like every other suite in the buildings around here is a restaurant or bar, so there is always something new to try.
The roof area is awesome, great views and very comfortable lounging available. There is a sink and a couple gas grills for some outdoor cooking. I can’t wait until I can bring my dog here early next year so we can spend some time at the dog park up there. The newly renovated lounge downstairs is nice too. Large kitchen area with dining table and bar for dinner parties, a pool table and lots of couches with a TV. The gym has all of the necessary equipment one would need and is never crowded on my daily visits.
Overall I am very satisfied with Moda and hope this review helps anyone looking to call this their new home!

I just turned in my keys today as my boyfriend and I found a place in Lower Queen Anne (better for our commutes).
My unit was small, but I didn’t need much. Beautiful apartment, the way they are put together is awesome (new stainless steel appliances, gorgeous countertops, cool sliding door to bedroom). My view was of the courtyard of the brick apartments right next door, and there was a man who clearly had COPD but he either moved out or died, so I only had to put up with the incessant hacking for the first month of two.
The management and maintenance team are absolutely the best– this is what I will miss most! They threw a fantastic 4^th of July rooftop BBQ (complete with free food and beer– what??), they responded to my request to have my washer looked at within an hour (and replaced the agitator the next morning), and were more than accommodating whenever I received a package and was unable to pick it up (they would actually drop it off in my unit with my permission!).
Location was incredible. I could walk to get groceries at the market (and now City Target, woo hoo!), to work in downtown Seattle, all my favorite bars/​restaurants, and the Ride-​Free area is directly outside of the building.
CHEAPEST UTILITIES EVER. I did at least one load of laundry a week, and ran my dishwasher just as often and my W/​S/​G was never more than $ 27. Electric? Even less! $ 10 was the most I paid… yes, even during «Snowpocalypse». My unit was cozy and warm all winter long :)
Moda FTW!

An Apartment Community built for the Young Professional that wants convince over space. Moda is smack dab in the Middle of Belltown. This means it officers a great location when it comes to going to local bars and restaurants but also close to maybe some unsavory characters in the neighborhood. I’ve lived in my Studio for about a year now and I really like living in Belltown. You’re close to a lot of the amenities that Seattle has: Space Needle, Belltown and Lower Queen Anne, The Waterfront, Downtown and Pike Place market are no less than a 20 minute walk away. There is key controlled Parking in the building and ample Buses that pick up in the front of the building or the Bus Tunnel is only a 10 minute walk away.
The Unit’s themselves are on the small side, you’ll be paying around 2 dollars a square foot, but you get Washer/​Dryer in the Apartment, Dishwasher and Garbage Disposal. The main area of most of the apartments will be laminate that looks like hardwood and the bedrooms will have carpet. The Bathrooms will have nice tiling in them. Also the building has been under new management for about a year now (Equity Apartments) and they’re making some additions for the building that will make it more inviting. They’re making an entertainment room, creating a bigger gym and community «party» area with in the year. Also the building will be implementing Elevator control Soon.
Overall I think Moda is designed for the people who want to give up space for convince. It can be pricey but if you’re a social butterfly who wants to live with other social butterflies (just wait until summer comes) then this apartment community is for you.

I LOVE MODA!!! Ive made soo many friends!
I mean come on… it has its own dog park!
Come on dog lovers join us!!!
The thing that I love most about living here… is that it’s close to everything!!! I have a corner market open 24 hours, I have incredible hang out spots a block away form my door. I can eat anything I’m craving… either delivery or restaurant. I can walk over to the Seattle Center. I have Pike Place Market at a walking distance as well. I conclusion!!! I LOVE MODA!

This place is way too pricey for what they have to offer. The living space is very small & the rent they want is way to high. They wanted 1200 for a 328 sq ft apt when I can get a 600 sq ft apt down the street for the same price. It really sucks cause I really thought this was a nice looking place when I saw it online. Buyer beware.

Ah trendy Belltown. How I love you. From your pizza, to your sushi to your quirky people. To live here is to live close to the heart of the city… just don’t do it here, at Moda. Moda recently went through a management change and it has been a disaster. Residents have ceased to be people and the feeling that one is now a walking wallet with eyes.
Lets talk perks first. Moda has many amenities that you will find all over Belltown– interesting food, easy connectivity to downtown (mostly). It’s easy to get to, it is walkable. Moda itself has a nice rooftop deck that can be relaxing. Moda does tout their granite countertops, their wooden floors (which scuff at the drop of a hat) and their recreation space. The common room is nice– the «gym» consists of two treadmills– only one that usually works– a couple of bikes and a set of hand weights. There is better if you care out there, folks. If you care about granite and wood floors, you can find that anywhere in Belltown.
Okay, let’s talk cons. Equity took over and the feeling has become draconian– they are heavy handed with the residents and when they get their rent money. If you are not on what they define as «on time» you will be slapped with a 10% of rent late fee and threatened with a note of eviction on your doorstep. Even people who are always on time will find management inflexible and unwilling to compromise should you have any difficulties or delays.
Equity’s first act was a rent hike that was well over one-​hundred dollars for most studios and one bedrooms, and closer to two hundred dollars for the two bedrooms. The units here are smaller than most anything you will find in Belltown– many of them are smaller than your typical hotel room, but you’re still paying at least 900.00 for them.
The air flow is terrible– these units get hot quickly and with the alleyway just behind, on hot days with stagnant air flow they STINK from all the garbage. If only that was the only problem the alleyway has– it is not uncommon to witness drug busts, assaults and forms of prostitution back there.
As mentioned before, Moda has a serious design flaw with it’s smoke detectors. If you live here– especially in a studio– do not plan to make much use of your kitchen. In many cases, the smoke alarms are situated so close to the oven that they will go off over anything– even a little water on the burners. It is routine around here to have a fire alarm at odd hours at least once a month– I believe our record is two in a single week.
I want to specifically speak to those of you who are coming into the South Lake Union area and the tech boom there. I want to be clear here. The walk is walkable– it’s about ¾ of a mile to SLU. There is NO direct bus service that goes to South Lake Union from Belltown.
Finally– Belltown lacks an easy-​to-​walk-​to grocery store, so if that is an issue to you, be warned. You will be on a bus or in a car unless you want to walk at least a mile there (which I personally do, though remember this is Seattle and it rains… a lot).
Ultimately. If Belltown’s trendiness, it’s bars, it’s pizza, it’s sushi appeals to you, then come. But understand you have larger units, better prices and better management found elsewhere in Belltown compared to Moda. For what you get, it is simply overpriced and not worth it.

I loved living at Moda, mostly.
I was in the ride free bus zone to downtown, in walking distance of almost everything, had cheap and secure parking, had a gym, my own washer and dryer and dishwasher (and wood floors and granite counters), tons of storage space (one huge walk-​in closet and a smaller closet in the kitchen) and had an awesome view. I rarely, if ever, heard my neighbors and my apartment stayed warm without ever turning on the heat. The roof also had free wifi, a fire pit, a mini dog park and again, a killer view.
I liked the management too — they were friendly, had somebody there until 6pm and on weekends, hosted parties for the residents, signed for packages and emailed when they arrived and even brought them to my door on occasion.
I did not particularly like the shoebox sized apartment though (330 sq ft studio!) and the high rent. I didn’t like the three fire alarms we had over the summer, which forced me outside at 6am in my robe on a workday. I also was really disappointed when my rent was raised about $ 100 after my year long lease was up. Oh, and the parking garage is way too small and my car has the damage to prove it.