Washington Real Estate For Sale

Washington real estate has a median listing price of $650k. Prices of Washington real estate tend to be higher in the more urban areas. The three largest cities in the state are its capital, Seattle, as well as Spokane, and Tacoma. Seattle of King County is a coastal city known as the birthplace of rock music and notorious for its rainy weather, and more than half of the state’s population lives in or near the city. Spokane is on the state's eastern side, and Tacoma is south of Seattle. Seattle homes sell in the $800k range, while Spokane and Tacoma are more affordable, with most homes in the mid to high $400k range. 

In recent years, the most popular place to live in Washington has been a suburb outside of Seattle, known as Redmond. Redmond is set apart due to the abundance of dining experiences, the number of parks, the low crime rates, and the excellent schools. The price of real estate in this area reflects its popularity, with a median home price of $1.5 million. A similar community – with similar price tags on its homes – is to the southwest. Bellevue, too, has excellent schools and low crime and is also close to Seattle.

For Washington real estate that provides a suburban vibe with a fraction of the price of its major cities, Pullman in the southeastern part of the state might be just the thing. Homes here are listed in the mid-$400k range. Washington State University is located in Pullman, which certainly has many of the amenities you’d expect from a college town. However, it also offers plenty to do and love for families, young professionals, and anyone else looking to settle down in the home of the National Lentil Festival.

Outside of its cities, real estate in Washington’s rural communities is nestled among the state’s many forests, lakes, and rivers. These small towns are full of character, and each has something to offer potential residents. Okanogan County is home to Winthrop, a whimsical Old West-style town that inspired the first American western novel. Snohomish has a population of around 10,000 and is located along the Snohomish River. It is renowned for the quality and quantity of its downtown antique shops. Fans of Craftsman-style homes will love Cashmere in central Washington, where 1900s homes in that style are the only kind allowed in the Cottage Avenue Historic District.

For families planning to buy real estate in Washington will thrive in Sammamish. The city is known for being one of the friendliest in the country, as well as for being extremely safe, with very low crime rates. Schools here are excellent and include the highly-ranked Tesla STEM High School. Nearly half of all households include children, so your kids are sure to make friends here. 

Young professionals looking for real estate in Washington close to some of the nation's largest companies should head over to Seattle. It is a city where many major companies are headquartered, including Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, Zillow, and others, so there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of. There are also plenty of museums, performing arts spaces, and hotspots for entertainment, nightlife, and dining.

The quiet community of Gig Harbor on Puget Sound is the perfect place to retire. Its coastal beauty provides residents with stunning views, and there is plenty to do. Not only that, but over a quarter of residents are aged 65 or older, and the town has the largest number of medical centers per 1000 residents of any city in Washington.

Whatever the career you’re looking for, you’re likely to find it in Washington. One of Washington’s most distinguishing features is that its unemployment rate is among the lowest in the country. This is partly due to the industrial mega-giants that were first established in Seattle, like Starbucks and Amazon. However, there is plenty of work outside of these companies, too. The state is one of the top producers of lumber for the country, as well as the biggest producer of apples, pears, blueberries, and cherries, among other products. Manufacturing and fishing are two other important industries.

Washington real estate has access to eleven airports with commercial flights, five of which are international airports. However, most residents fly through one of two: the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) or the Spokane International Airport (GEG). 

Washington real estate is surrounded by tons of attractions to visit. From the peaks of actual volcanoes to the rocky beaches along the shore of the Pacific Ocean, there is a huge variety of natural places to explore. For example, while you can’t access the still-steaming crater at the center of Mount St. Helens, visitors from all over travel to see this historic mountain. There are also hiking trails among the peaks of Hurricane Ridge or past the waterfalls of Whatcom Falls Park. The Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge on Puget Sound is one of the country’s most important wildlife reserves for freshwater birds and fish.

If you prefer your outdoors to be a little more manicured, some of Washington’s best tourist attractions are its stunning gardens. From Manito Park in Spokane to the glass sculptures lining the walks of Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle, visitors can experience the lush verdant lawns and landscaping of beautiful gardens throughout the state.

One of the most unique must-see attractions of Washington is a working reindeer farm in Leavenworth. Visitors get to interact face to face with real, live reindeer at a farm in the middle of the quaint Bavarian town of Leavenworth.

Schools in Washington tend to start in early September, around the Labor Day holiday. The school year tends to end in early to mid-June.

● Many people, including its residents, refer to Washington as “Washington state” to differentiate it from the nation’s capital of Washington, D.C. (Both places are named after the first President of the United States, George Washington.) 

● Washington has no income tax, but its sales tax is high, ranging from 6.5% to more than 10% for each purchase.

● Not all of Washington is wet and rainy. You can expect constant drizzle in the western part along the coast, but eastern Washington is much drier. 

● If you love your dog, you’ll be happy to know that Washington is one of the most pet-friendly states in the country, and you’re likely to run into dogs in places you might not otherwise, like at the grocery store.