Ballinger Court Senior Affordable Apartments in Edmonds, WA

Pros

• Orlando is celebrated as a heart-of-gold maintenance expert who can fix any issue.
• The maintenance team is described as outstanding, efficient, and professional.
• Hana is praised as pleasant, helpful, and informative, with the building well maintained.
• Torano is described as super helpful, kind, and informative.
• Torrance is noted for helping with paperwork and being supportive and friendly.
• Ballinger Court is called a great place to live with a great location and clean, well-kept interiors and exteriors.
• The staff are credited with superior customer service and professional conduct.
• The community is described as top-notch and a wonderful place to live.
• The grounds and courtyard are described as clean and well-maintained.
• The living environment is described as safe for the elderly.

Cons

• The community manager Mae is extremely unprofessional and lies to the residents.
• There are numerous maintenance issues and ADA noncompliance, including a frequently broken front door call box and the only elevator.
• Mae had the locks changed after a resident’s mother passed away, leaving the family locked out and causing distress.
• The management billed tenants for the bio-hazard cleanup of the mother’s body in the community room.
• Being smiled at and laughed at by Mae while the mother was deceased was described as unforgivable and insensitive, and tenants fear retribution from Mae.
• Mae is described as a nightmare, with on-site staff hard to reach and often unresponsive.
• Residents report no landscaping and rising rents, describing a decline since ownership changes and ongoing accessibility issues.

Review

Ballinger Court Senior Affordable Apartments in Edmonds is best suited for independent seniors who want an affordable, generally well-kept place to live with a strong on-site maintenance team and a ready-made social community. The property sits in a convenient Edmonds corridor, and residents repeatedly note the garden spaces, welcoming courtyards, and a building that feels cared for on a day-to-day basis. The clearest value proposition is affordability paired with reliable maintenance responsiveness; residents praise the quick fixes, the hands-on attitude of the maintenance crew, and a property that remains tidy and welcoming. For families seeking predictable, courteous on-site service and a community where neighbors look out for one another, Ballinger Court delivers. It is not an assisted living facility, so residents should anticipate independence with access to occasional support through external services rather than in-house medical or daily living assistance.

Those who should consider alternatives are clearly directed by two kinds of red flags. First, anyone for whom elevator reliability and consistent accessibility are nonnegotiable should look elsewhere. Several reviews reference only one elevator and occasions when it has been out of service for extended periods, with mobility considerations clearly at stake. Second, the quality and consistency of on-site management appear to swing with who is at the helm. Positive experiences emerge when managers like Hana, Herminia, or Torano are present, but broader patterns show a manager, especially Mae, whose handling of tenant concerns, safety issues, and sensitive situations can be problematic. Families who require steady, compassionate, and transparent management, especially in emergencies or disputes, should carefully verify who is managing the property before committing. Those who expect strict adherence to all ADA protocols and flawless front-door access systems should also weigh alternatives more closely.

The strongest pro here is maintenance excellence. Individual praise for Orlando, the maintenance lead who handles everything from clogged sinks to seasonal upkeep with a steady smile, repeats across multiple reviews. This is not merely competent service; it is a defining feature that residents say makes the building feel like a well-functioning home. When issues arise, the maintenance crew is described as timely, skilled, and dependable, often moving heavy appliances, repairing fans, and sprucing up common areas in short order. That level of practical reliability directly counterbalances many ordinary housing headaches and creates a core sense of security. Coupled with this, the on-site staff that residents consistently praise, Hana, Herminia, Austin, Torrance, contributes to a culture of accessibility and courtesy, even if a manager’s demeanor can color the overall impression of the property.

Beyond maintenance, Ballinger Court offers a sense of community that many seniors prize. Residents highlight a friendly, neighborly atmosphere, a location that puts amenities within easy reach, and regular activities that give life some structure and social texture. The property is described as clean and well maintained, with interiors and exteriors that create a welcoming first impression. Even with the occasional maintenance hiccup, the recurring theme is a place where residents enjoy being part of a stable neighborhood. The grounds and common areas, the garden spaces, the courtyard, and the general upkeep, help soften the reality of living in an affordable senior community and add tangible everyday value to a resident’s routine.

The most consequential cons center on management quality and operational fragility. Independent living in this setting depends heavily on the leadership’s responsiveness and empathy, and the reviews reveal real variance. The most troubling narratives involve a manager whose conduct felt dismissive or punitive during sensitive moments, situations that erode trust and make it hard for tenants and families to feel secure. Then there are ongoing practical issues: a front-door call system that sometimes fails, an elevator that is frequently inoperable, and occasional ADA-related accessibility gaps. Rent increases in tax-credit environments, disputes over deposits, and frightening anecdotes about handling during a family member’s death are the kinds of experiences that can tilt the balance between “worth it” and “not worth the risk.” Taken together, these factors mean Ballinger Court can be excellent for some and unsuitable for others, depending on the weight placed on management consistency and accessibility reliability.

The bottom-line guidance is pragmatic and clear. Prospective residents should verify the current management team, understand the status and reliability of the elevator, and test accessibility features in person before signing. Speak with multiple residents, especially those who have lived there through administrative changes, to gauge how responsive the property truly is in day-to-day needs and in emergencies. Confirm that the front-desk and call systems are functioning and that maintenance response times meet personal expectations. If affordability, strong maintenance support, and a social, walkable environment are the top priorities, Ballinger Court represents a compelling option. If, however, steady compassionate management, flawless accessibility, and robust ADA compliance are nonnegotiable, it is prudent to compare other Edmonds-area options with a more consistently rated leadership track record. In the right circumstances, Ballinger Court can deliver a comfortable, cost-conscious home; in others, it demands careful, circumspect scrutiny before committing.

Parks

• Lake Ballinger Park (0.4 miles)
• Echo Lake Park (1.4 miles)
• Richmond Beach Saltwater Park (3 miles)
• Lynndale Park (3.8 miles)
• Log Boom Park (4.1 miles)
• Meadowdale County Park (4.5 miles)
• Saint Edward State Park (5.5 miles)

Cafes

• Woods Coffee (0.4 miles)
• Starbucks (1.5 miles)
• Starbucks (2.2 miles)
• Walnut Street Coffee (2.2 miles)
• Tazza Di Vita Espresso Stand (4 miles)
• Starbucks (4.1 miles)
• Starbucks (5.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Dick's Drive-In (0.6 miles)
• The Habit Burger Grill (1.2 miles)
• Yeh Yeh's Sandwiches (1.9 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.4 miles)
• Blazing Onion Burger Company (3.7 miles)
• McDonald's (3.8 miles)
• Seaplane Kitchen & Bar (4.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Swedish Medical Center (0.7 miles)
• Northwest Hospital (5.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• QFC Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.5 miles)
• Bartell Drugs - Ebt (1.5 miles)
• Bartell Drugs (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Fred Meyer Pharmacy (2.2 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Alderwood Mall 16 (3.6 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Moving & Storage (5.8 miles)
• Northgate Station Seattle (6.3 miles)
• Northgate Transit Center (6.3 miles)

Physicians

• Lakeshore Clinic (6.3 miles)
• Ballard Pediatric Clinic PS (7.7 miles)
• Everett Clinic (7.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Hindu Temple & Cultural Center (7.2 miles)