How can I help?

brightplace uses ai, verify answers
Union Bay 1 of 8

Union Bay

$1,780 – $3,237/mo

  • Studio–2 bedrooms
  • 1 bath
  • 473–876 sq ft
  • 9 units available
526 Yale Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109

As of October 12, 2026, Union Bay in Seattle, WA has 9 apartments for rent from $1,780 to $3,237/mo. Studios start at $1,780, one-bedrooms at $2,049, and two-bedrooms at $2,749. The average asking rent has fallen 9.1% since June 24, 2026, from $2,455 to $2,231.

Floor plans

3 floor plans · 9 available units · Prices checked October 12, 2026

Studio

Studio • 1 Bath • 473 – 675 Sq Ft

Starting at $1,780/mo

4 available unitsPriceSq ftAvailableOpen unit
108$1,780586Oct 12
211$2,087473Oct 31
109$1,810508Dec 11
106$1,890675Dec 11

One Bedrom One Bath

1 Bedroom • 1 Bath • 615 – 723 Sq Ft

Starting at $2,049/mo

3 available unitsPriceSq ftAvailableOpen unit
206$2,049723Oct 12
310$2,089615Oct 12
506$2,388723Nov 16

Two Bedroom One Bath

2 Bedrooms • 1 Bath • 876 Sq Ft

Starting at $2,749/mo

2 available unitsPriceSq ftAvailableOpen unit
505$2,749876Oct 12
205$3,237876Oct 13

See all 24 units listed at Union Bay, including ones no longer available.


Rent history

Over the past year, the average asking rent at Union Bay has ranged from $2,189 to $2,571. The current average is $2,231, down $224 (9.1%) from $2,455 at the start.

Prices reflect the average advertised rent across units listed as available each day (111 days observed).
MonthAverage asking rentLowest – highestUnits listed
Oct 2026$2,216$1,780 – $3,2379
Sep 2026$2,216$1,780 – $3,2379
Aug 2026$2,255$1,575 – $3,29313
Jul 2026$2,435$1,575 – $3,39313
Jun 2026$2,485$1,688 – $3,39313

Fees & lease terms

  • Rent

    $1,780 – $3,237/mo
  • Earliest move-in

    Oct 12

Cost to rent here

The all-in monthly cost by apartment size, and how the rent compares across the Seattle area.

Lowest-priced apartment: Studio at $1,780

$2,026/mo

$246/mo above the advertised rent

  • Rent

    $1,780

  • Electric, gas, water

    est.

    $166

  • Internet

    est.

    $66

  • Renters insurance

    est.

    $14

  • All-in monthly

    $2,026

By apartment size

SizeRent fromAll-in monthlyIncome to qualify
Studio$1,780$2,026$64,080/yr
1 bedroom$2,049$2,313$73,764/yr
2 bedrooms$2,749$3,098$98,964/yr

Landlords commonly look for a monthly income of three times the rent, about $64,080 a year for the $1,780 studio. The median renter household in Seattle earns $88,103 a year.

Compared with the Seattle area

The median one-bedroom at Union Bay asks $2,089 a month, 17% above the Seattle area's typical one-bedroom asking rent of $1,790. Typical asking rents across the area are down 1.2% from a year earlier.

SizeMedian asking rent hereSeattle-area asking rentSeattle rent paid
Studio$1,850—$1,672
1 bedroom$2,089$1,790$1,899
2 bedrooms$2,993$2,049$2,404
Area asking rent: typical rent asked for a new lease across the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro, Apartment List Rent Estimates, August 2026.Rent paid: median rent including utilities across all renter households in Seattle, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
Rows marked “est.” are averages for this area scaled to the apartment, not quotes from the property. The income figure is a common screening rule, not this property’s requirement.

Amenities

  • Bbq Grills

  • Controlled Access/Gated

  • Elevator

  • Fitness Center

  • Outdoor Firepits

  • Package Receiving

  • Parking Garage

  • Pet Area

  • Rooftop Terrace

  • Storage Units*

  • Disposal

  • Fireplace*

  • Patio/Balcony*

  • Quartz Countertops

  • Stainless Steel Appliances

  • Vinyl Plank Flooring

  • Walk-In Closets*

  • Washer/Dryer


Amenity photos

  • Gym
  • Roof deck
  • Pet wash

Location

526 Yale Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109


Resident reviews

3.4
Overall rating
Positive
Mixed
Neutral
Negative
Management3.9
Building Quality4.3
Location4.9
Amenities and Shared Spaces4.1
Maintenance4.2

Union Bay offers a convenient South Lake Union location with spacious units and secure parking, but residents report significant challenges with management responsiveness, maintenance coordination, and billing accuracy. Construction noise has been a recurring issue, and deposit refund processes have caused frustration for many departing residents. While some praise individual staff members and the building's amenities, inconsistent management transitions and communication gaps undermine the overall experience.

Management responsiveness and communication are inconsistent, with residents reporting frequent unresponsiveness to emails and calls, delayed resolutions to maintenance issues, and billing errors. Staff turnover is a recurring problem, with management changing multiple times and creating gaps in service continuity. While some residents praise specific staff members for going above and beyond, systemic issues with office availability, lease documentation, and move-out processes have created frustration and financial disputes for many tenants.

The building shows mixed physical condition with both well-maintained and aging elements. Noise from external construction and thin floors between units is a recurring concern, though some residents report quiet interiors when windows are closed. Elevator and appliance reliability issues appear periodically, and water leaks have affected some units. Maintenance responsiveness varies significantly depending on management tenure, with some periods showing quick repairs and others experiencing extended delays.

Union Bay Apartments offers excellent downtown location convenience with easy walking access to Pike Place Market, Capitol Hill, and the U District, plus quick freeway access via I-5. The property features secure gated parking and proximity to transit options including buses and streetcar service. Residents consistently praise the quiet, safe neighborhood setting and nearby amenities, though some note limited grocery store access within immediate walking distance and occasional area construction activity.

Residents appreciate the property's downtown location, secure parking, and in-unit laundry, with positive feedback on responsive maintenance and staff courtesy. However, recurring concerns include aging building infrastructure, maintenance delays on structural issues like roof leaks and water damage, package security vulnerabilities, and limited amenities relative to rent. Experiences vary significantly based on management transitions and maintenance responsiveness.

Maintenance response times are generally quick, with staff often addressing requests same-day or next-day. However, some residents report incomplete repairs requiring multiple service calls, and occasional challenges with follow-through on water damage cleanup and appliance issues. Staff professionalism varies, with some maintenance personnel receiving high praise for responsiveness and going above expectations, while communication and coordination between management and maintenance has been inconsistent.

Summaries are written by AI from reviews residents posted on public review sites such as Google and ApartmentRatings. Each topic shows how many of those reviews discuss it.

Getting around

Very Walkable

Excellent Transit

Very Bikeable


About this property

Situated just minutes from downtown Seattle, Union Bay offers well-appointed apartments and a wide variety of amenities in a vibrant and walkable South Lake Union setting.

  • Building

    Apartment
  • Total units

    74

Nearby schools

SchoolTypeLevelDistance

Bright Horizons Child Care Center-S Lk Union

Private · Preschool
PrivatePreschool0.1 mi

Hutch School

Public · High
PublicHigh0.1 mi

Lake Union Child Care Center

Private · Preschool
PrivatePreschool0.2 mi

Cascade Children's Corner

Private · Preschool
PrivatePreschool0.3 mi

Rainier Beach Community Child Care Center

Private · Preschool
PrivatePreschool0.7 mi

Queen Anne Community School

Private · Elementary
PrivateElementary0.7 mi

Queen Anne Community School

Private · Elementary
PrivateElementary0.7 mi

Queen Anne Co Op Pre-School

Private · Preschool
PrivatePreschool0.8 mi

Whole Child Learning Center

Private · Preschool
PrivatePreschool0.9 mi

The Center School

Public · High
PublicHigh1.0 mi

Contact & management