Washington Real Estate

Many people are attracted to the State of Washington because of its beauty and versatility. From its beautiful and sometimes rugged coastline to the high desert of the eastern part of the state, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The Washington real estate market is as varied as the state's many offerings.

For the individual or family who likes what big cities have to offer, Seattle is a beautiful city with many employment and recreational opportunities. Within easy driving distance to the Washington coastal beaches to the west and the mountain ranges with their offerings of ski resorts to the east, Seattle also has an eclectic mix of entertainment opportunities within its city limits.

The median price for a home in Seattle for the quarter ending in December of 2009 was just under $375,000. This reflects a decline of 10.4% from the previous year. However, the sales prices of homes in Seattle have shown an increase of 29% over the last five years.

Farther south in the state, and across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, is the Vancouver/Clark County area. Although much smaller in population than the Seattle/Tacoma/King County region, Vancouver and Clark County, with its close proximity to Portland, offers the advantages of living near a big city while still having a somewhat "small town" atmosphere to it. Vancouver/Clark County is also close to the beautiful and scenic Columbia River Gorge, as well as the coastal beaches.

Home prices are less expensive in this area than in the Seattle area. For the first month of 2010, the median home price was just under $220,000. Clark County still has some rural properties and communities within easy commute to Vancouver and Portland.

The Cascade Mountains divides the state into two distinct and separate sections - the east side and the west side. Weather is wetter and the winters milder on the west side than it is on the east side. The climate is hotter and drier in the summer and colder and snowier in the winter on the east side.

Washington real estate prices on the less populated east side vary from the median price of $118,000 in Spokane, the largest Washington city east of The Cascades, to the least populated county in the state, Garfield, which has a median home price of slightly under $100,000.

Washington Real Estate Listings

Washington Real Estate Market