Green Lake

Reminiscent of New York’s Central Park, Green Lake is one of the most highly desirable neighborhoods in the Seattle real estate market, with commute times to downtown Seattle of only ten to fifteen minutes.

Green Lake is a popular recreation spot for local residents and Seattleites alike. The lake has a 2.8-mile trail around the lake which is used for biking, running, and inline skating. On the lake itself you can swim, canoe, kayak, and windsurf. There is also an indoor swimming pool, as well as tennis courts. It is very family friendly and picnics are abundant in summertime.

On the North end of the lake you will find cozy coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants and the local library. Other neighborhood amenities include the Evans Pool, Bathhouse Theater, Green Lake Community Center, and a Pitch and Putt Golf Course. Woodland Park Zoo borders the lake to the Southwest.

Bounded by Wallingford to the South, Greenwood and Phinney Ridge to the West and Roosevelt to the East, Green Lake is prime Seattle real estate and home prices reflect the unique feel of the neighborhood and its amenities.

Homes in the area are predominantly single-family, including some Tudors and bungalows, many which maintain their original details and charm although several new condo and townhome developments have been completed in the last few years.

“Whole Foods” and “PCC Market” are close by to provide your organic grocery and produce requirements.

Green Lake is one of the true gems of the Seattle real estate market.

Downtown Seattle

The downtown Seattle real estate market includes the areas around Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, and the Waterfront. It is bordered by another popular area, Belltown, to the north.

The Belltown neighborhood has recently experienced a rebirth, becoming one of Seattle real estate’s new, trendy areas in the city with numerous cafes, bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. A number of new, amenity-rich apartment and condominium properties have recently been built with many others in various stages of development.

The areas around Pike Place Market are popular with tourists as well as locals. Seattle real estate here can be very pricey, as many of the luxury condominium buildings and apartment high-rises claim some of the best views of Elliott Bay.

You can watch the famous “fish throwing” at Pike Place Market, and pick up some fresh produce or flowers. The original Starbucks coffee house is also located in Pike Place Market

Pioneer Square and the International District have unique, vibrant atmospheres that accompany their rich histories. Many of oldest Seattle real estate buildings are located in Pioneer Square and are home to the numerous cafes, galleries and nightclubs that dot the streets.  The International District has some of the best restaurants and locally-owned shops in Seattle.

Seattle’s stadiums for the Mariners and Seahawks lie just at the south end of these neighborhoods and are walkable from downtown.

Mercer Island

Mercer Island is home to many of Seattle’s affluent residents and is arguably the most desirable neighborhood in the Seattle real estate market. It is an urban island located in the center of Lake Washington, giving easy access to both downtown Seattle and the Eastside’s “technology corridor” via the I-90 floating bridge. This area is primarily a single-family neighborhood with a quiet, almost rural feel. Mercer Island is home to many parks, wooded hills and some of the best views in the area.

On the north end of the island, shops, restaurants, artwork and benches line the streets of the quaint downtown business district. This area is also where the primary concentration of apartments and condominiums is situated.

Boaters will feel right at home on Mercer Island with some of the best waterfront homes in Seattle real estate. Access from the island on Lake Washington to the Puget Sound is made easy via the Hiram Chittendon Locks.

Mercer Island’s old-fashioned Summer Celebration is a favorite local festival held during the second weekend in July. Clowns, fireworks, jugglers, crafts and more appeal to residents.

More than 475 acres of parks grace the island, including one that runs on top of the I-90 West tunnel. This 22-acre park creates one of the most expensive and unusual stretches of interstate in the country.

Queen Anne

Queen Anne is one of the more affluent neighborhoods in the Seattle real estate market.
Situated on Queen Anne hill just north of downtown Seattle it offers spectacular views over the city and Mount Rainier to the South, Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains to the West and Lake Union and the Cascade Mountains to the East.

Upper Queen Anne comprises predominantly single family homes in the “Queen Anne” traditional design with many period homes having been remodeled whilst keeping the traditional feel of the homes. The old Queen Anne high school is an architectural landmark and has recently been converted into “loft like” condos.

Lower Queen Anne borders onto Belltown in downtown Seattle and there you will find lots of bars, cafes, and restaurants offering everything city living has to offer. Lower Queen Anne and East Queen Anne, overlooking Lake Union, are where you will find most of the Seattle real estate condos and apartment buildings.

Kerry Park on West Highland Drive boasts the most spectacular view of downtown Seattle, the Space Needle, the ferries running across Puget Sound, Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains.

Queen Anne offers a choice of quiet leafy suburb living or a sophisticated downtown condo lifestyle and with a short 5 minute commute to the downtown commercial district makes it one of most desirable and expensive neighborhoods in the Seattle real estate market.

West Seattle

West Seattle is a popular neighborhood in today’s Seattle real estate market and is just a short commute from downtown across the West Seattle Bridge. The main commercial district in is situated at the top of the hill, at the intersection of SW Alaska St. and California Ave. SW. Known locally as “The Junction” this area is filled with shops and cafes.

The Admiral and Belvidere neighborhoods are situated in the north part of West Seattle and are some of the more affluent neighborhoods in the West Seattle real estate market. This area boasts a number of interesting shops and restaurants with scenic views of downtown Seattle and the Olympic Mountains.

West Seattle’s prized possession, Alki, is one of Seattle real estate’s favorite summer hot spots. It is an area situated along the north and west sides of the peninsula and features a long, breezy beach that can feel like a tropical resort on sunny days. The views of downtown Seattle, the Islands and the Kitsap Peninsula with mountains in the background are spectacular on clear days.

Along the southwest slope, Fauntleroy is a private residential area that offers its residents unmatched views of the Puget Sound, Vashon Island, and the Olympic Mountains and Peninsula.

Bainbridge Island

Bainbridge Island is a unique place in the Seattle real estate market with a colorful history. In 2005 CNN Money Magazine rated the island as the #2 Best Place to live in the US and it also has an excellent school district.

The island is 27.78 square miles, with 48 miles of shoreline and is a popular bedroom community for people working in downtown Seattle. Bainbridge residents prefer the 35 minute scenic ferry ride to sitting 35 minutes in freeway traffic on the “mainland”. Those of you watching “Greys Anatomy” will have seen the Bainbridge ferry many times during the shows episodes.

In terms of Seattle real estate, Bainbridge Island comprises mainly single family homes on larger lots and is a place where residents are committed to preserving the Island’s sense of community and its green spaces - agricultural land, forests, parks and trails. A small number of newer condos and townhomes have been completed around island main town of Winslow.

Islanders value the sense of country living, the friendly, small-town business community, and quick access to Seattle’s business and cultural resources. Large retail is not present on the island and the emphasis is on maintaining the island feeling.

Bainbridge is very arboreal with stately firs and cedars, scenic bays dotted with small boats, views of the snow-capped Olympic Mountains to the west and majestic Mt. Rainier to the east. This makes it one of the most scenically beautiful neighborhoods in the Seattle real estate market.

It has a thriving local artist community and over 1,000 home based businesses call Bainbridge home.