The Seattle real estate market is facing mixed signals, with some indicators pointing towards an improvement in the economy and others suggesting continued decline. According to a March 4, 2010 article in the Puget Sound Business Journal, “Last month, there were 2,621 pending home sales in King County, up from 2,211 a month earlier. According to the Northwest Multiple Listing Services, the average home sale price in King County rose to $429,288 last month from $420,536 a month earlier, although the median price (half sold for more, half sold for less) dipped to $343,500 from $350,000 in January.” According to that piece, “In all 21 Western Washington and Central Washington counties surveyed by the NWMLS, the number of pending sales jumped to 6,590 in February from 5,579 in January, and the median price rose slightly to $260,000 from $259,904 a month earlier.”

The average price of Seattle homes for sale declined slightly between the end of 2009 and 2010, according to a March 30, 2010 blog post in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The article noted that “Despite modest gains in most parts of the country, home prices in Seattle dropped 0.6 percent from December to January on a seasonally adjusted basis and 6 percent from a year ago, according to the latest Standard & Poor’s/Case Shiller 20-city home price index.” The piece, posted by Gerry Spratt, continued to say that “Nationally, prices were up 0.3 percent, led by a strong rally in the California market…The increase was the eighth consecutive month-over-month gain. But not all observers are confident that the recovery will continue.”

This same trend was also observed by a March 30, 2010 article in the Puget Sound Business Journal, which found that “The one-year decline in home sale prices in Seattle was the third worst in the U.S. in January, according to a new study. Only home sale prices in Las Vegas and Tampa, Fla. fell more during that time. In the year from January 2009 to January 2010, home prices in Seattle fell 6 percent, according to the latest monthly report that tracks home prices in 20 major U.S. cities…Seattle’s level fell to an all-time low of 145.09 in January, down 1.7 percent from December’s previous all-time low…”

Whenever you read about Seattle, you will come across the nickname “The Emerald City” -  this is a name highly deserved, thanks to Seattle’s lush, green surroundings. It is a coastal city with a harbor port, and is situated in the state of Washington; interestingly, it is also the largest city in all of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States in terms of land mass. Around ninety five miles out from Seattle you can find the Canada – US border.
If you just want to relax and explore the city, as well as seeing some of the famous landmarks your friends and family will undoubtedly ask you about when you return home, you should take the time to visit the world famous Space Needle – it is what many people from out of town associate most with Seattle, in part because it featured as part of the logo for popular TV show “Fraiser”, and in the background of “Grey’s Anatomy“, as well as in the movie “Sleepless in Seattle”, which is widely consider one of the best known movies of our time. Surrounding the famous Space Needle is the Seattle center, which houses a whole plethora of different events, as well as a few culturally diverse experience including “Folklife” and “Bite of Seattle”. You should also try and find time to visit the Columbia Center, which is a massive 76 stories high, making it the tallest building in the region, the Washington Manual Tower, which is the city’s second tallest skyscraper, the Fremont Troll, the Pike Place Market, the Seattle Central Library and of course the Starbucks Center, which no trip to Seattle is complete without.
Of course, visiting Seattle is not only about appreciating all of the tall buildings – the city, often called “Rainy City”, has a whole lot more to offer than that. The atmosphere of the countryside in Seattle, full of lush greenery, is something that one can only truly experience by spending a day wandering aimlessly and marveling at their surroundings, perhaps with a camera. If you are planning on taking photographs while on your vacation to Seattle, a picture or two of the magnificent volcanic Cascade Range in the early hours of the morning is a must – it is one of many Seattle views that no one should miss out on. Queen Anne Hill and the views from the Space Needle itself are also perfect for photographs, and just for admiring the panoramic scenes you have found yourself encircled by. There are also spectacular water front views to enjoy as well as houseboats and seaplanes to ride, given the opportunity. If you are a fan of water sports, you will certainly be spoilt for choice here.
The weather in Seattle is relatively mild and certainly wet during the winter, although summer sees it become rather dry. Rain falls for roughly 225 days each year in the city, so it is best to bring an umbrella. The population of Seattle is 23rd out of all of the United States, although it is steadily increasingly each and every year, largely thanks to the good number of stable employment opportunities here. One of the most peaceful, academic and naturally beautiful cities in America, Seattle is a great choice for your next holiday, or, if you are lucky, your next home.

Affectionately nicknamed “The Emerald City”, Seattle is a place surrounded by the astounding natural beauty of clear waters, snow covered mountain ranges and lush, green countryside. The city’s skyscrapers rise up and stand tall in the middle of all this wonder, giving it a look not dissimilar to that of a jewel. In recent times Seattle has enjoyed a real boost in popularity, and as such it is now one of the Pacific Northwest’s most loved holiday destinations. With all of this amazing natural beauty surrounding it, Seattle is a prime choice for nature lovers and those who simply want to experience beautiful views of the great out doors while still enjoying the modern conveniences of being located in the city.

Seattle is one of the most literate cities in America, with 47.2% of its inhabitants holding a bachelors degree, and 93% having their high school diplomas. There are a total of 58 different public schools here, as well as the world famous University of Washington. Seattle is also home to Seattle University, Art Institute of Seattle and Cornish College of Art, all of which add to the high educational standards of the city.

Job opportunities is the city are near limitless and remain very stable, in fact Seattle’s job opportunities play a key role in maintaining the city’s growth and stability. As other big cities struggle with economic difficulties that have a negative impact on their rates of employment, Seattle has a very stable job market and a bright outlook for the future. There are several employment opportunities in the city for both part time and permanent jobs, and as a result has been voted as one of the most job friendly cities in America.

The mayor of Seattle, Mayor Greg Nickels, is highly committed to “Building strong families and healthy communities”, so you can be sure that the communities here are very well equipped and ready to accommodate for everyone with various different centers and programs. Another high point of community here is easily visible when looking at the Mayor’s Customer Service Bureau, which is very highly respected for the voice it gives individuals, letting them make their views known. Another part of Seattle that is incredibly admirable are the Neighborhood Services Centers; all of them are used to link us each individual community with Seattle’s government. The Neighborhood Matching Fund and Office for Education are also some of the wonderful programs available to the communities of Seattle; they both assist the youth of the city in becoming academically successful and provide funding to assist with general community improvements.

With the surrounding natural beauty, world class academic programs, stable employment and incredible government support for local communities, it is no wonder that Seattle’s housing market is among the top ten in America. If you have plans to either to relocate or to find a good city for an investment property, Seattle is one place you cannot afford not to at least look into. The current real estate crisis brought on by economic uncertainly has barely made a dent in Seattle; with the stable market here it is the perfect place to invest.

In Seattle, one can admire the diverse cultures represented in a number of different fine restaurants that serve various cuisines from every corner of the globe. If you are a fan of seafood then Seattle’s dining will be right up your ally, with seafood being especially popular here and thus served at a great many dedicated eateries, including the famous Jacks Fish Pot. Crab Pot Restaurant and Bar, Ivar’s Salmon House, Crush and the Metropolitan Steak House are all worth a visit if you can make the time. There is also some fabulous Thai food in the downtown area of Seattle as well as Cantonese and Chinese restaurants, or Asian cuisine at the Thai Tom, or Mexican dining at the Agua Verdi restaurant in the city. Anyone who appreciates experiencing different foods from around the globe will certainly appreciate all of the dining opportunities offered to them in Seattle, especially the Canlis restaurant, which has all kinds of dining under one roof.

Seattle has always placed a high value on preserving art and culture, which they city values and treasures. Thanks to the people of the city ensuring that arts and culture keep a place of pride here, they play a part in every day life throughout Seattle. If you would like to experience the arts here, especially the fabulous performing arts, you are able to pay a visit across the Second Avenue, where you will find the Seattle Art Museum as well as the Benroya Hall, which houses the Seattle Symphony; it is considered the United States’ greatest orchestras. While visiting, you will find a hole plethora of activities and events being staged not only here but also at the Seattle Center, where McCaw Hall shows both the famous Seattle Opera as well as the magnificent Pacific Northwest Ballet. If you can find the time to take a trip to the Seattle Art Museum as well you wont be disappointed – there are over 23,000 pieces to appreciate there. You could also consider the Seattle Asian Art Museum, which is very highly acclaimed both nationally and abroad. Finally there is the University of Washington with its two fine art museums; the Henry Art Gallery and the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, both of which are not to be missed for art lovers.

If you are visiting Seattle there will be no shortage of entertainment available for you to enjoy. Those of you who consider fine dining the best way to experience a city will be able to enjoy all of the fresh food at the Pike Place Market, which is famous for the high quality of local produce it supplies; a public marketplace full of numerous stands with a huge variety of foods, it is especially popular in the summer time when you can find a number of native berries, wonderfully fresh salmon, locally produced organic fruits and vegetables, Dungeness crabs and of course a wide selection of artisan cheeses. There is also no shortage of night life opportunities in Seattle, with plenty of chances to go to bars, pubs and clubs, all conveniently located in Pioneer Square. You are always ensured a great time with plenty of fun and excitement, alone or with your friends, including lots of dancing and great music played by live bands. Another big entertainment area is the Ballard, which is full of live music venues, bars and old taverns perfect for having a drink with friends.

If you are looking to experience the best that Seattle has to offer in terms of entertainment, then you can visit during the annual Seafair Summer Festival. Both July and August are some of the best times to enjoy the entertainment offerings of Seattle, as there are plenty of street fairs and concerts during this time; although they are also some of the busiest months of the year for the city you will still have plenty of fun, even if you have to share it with a crowd.

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Originally uploaded by candid.

Seattle Department of Transportation has this handy list of the 20 Steepest Streets in Seattle.

The Queen Anne area claims a lot of these climbs, no surprise.

Mix and match this list with the 5 highest points in Seattle if you want to test our your Outback’s 4wd for the first time.

Here are the top 3 on the steep list.

of our fine Queen Anne retail shops up the block from Peso’s. The consignment children’s clothing store is gone, Monkey Love Rubber Stamps has moved from a smaller shop to a larger one, wiping out the overpriced paperstore off the block and the sweet boutique filled with purses, kama sutra products and cute clothes for skinny women is gone as well. I will miss the smiling face of that store manager, she was always

very sweet.

Now, Liberty Tax Service has swooped in. I wonder if we’ll see a cheesy mascot of theirs roaming the street in a few weeks. Take a look at flicker (search keywords: liberty, tax) and be afraid. I wouldn’t want to see Lady Liberty drunk stumbling out of Chopstix.