Uptown Seattle Blog

Seattle Real Estate

April 22, 2010 // 1 Comment »

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…”

Posted in Real Estate

Seattle City Guide

October 19, 2009 // No Comments »

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.

Posted in Seattle