Washington Real Estate Trends - A New Way to Look at Washington Realty
The Washington state real estate market has grown steadily stronger over the past year, as showcased by the decreasing inventory and rising prices in Washington's 5 largest cities - Bellingham, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma and Vancouver. The average list price of single family homes rose 3.4% between November and March. The condo and townhouse market improved even more, seeing a 6% rise in average list price in the same time period.
In both the single family and condo/townhouse markets, listings are selling faster and for more than they did just a few months ago, prompting the return of bidding wars. A property's median days on the market has dropped by as much as 50% since November. This reduced inventory prompted some industry experts to forecast that 2012's national open house weekend would be less successful than those in previous years.
The Washington real estate market benefits from having so many urban centers, each with its own unique cultural and economic profile. From rural Spokane to cultured Seattle, Washington has a city to fit every lifestyle and budget.
Average single family home sale prices in Washington's five largest cities:
Washington Real Estate:
Largest Increase in Listing Price
| City | 3 mo. | |
|---|---|---|
| Kirkland, WA Real Estate | 23.94% | |
| Woodinville, WA Real Estate | 21.66% | |
| Edmonds, WA Real Estate | 19.06% | |
| Sammamish, WA Real Estate | 13.42% | |
| Arlington, WA Real Estate | 13.34% |
Washington Real Estate:
Largest Decrease in Listing Price
| City | 3 mo. | |
|---|---|---|
| Cle Elum, WA Real Estate | 11.51% | |
| Richland, WA Real Estate | 4.50% | |
| Ocean Park, WA Real Estate | 2.94% | |
| Centralia, WA Real Estate | 2.86% | |
| Leavenworth, WA Real Estate | 1.82% |
Most Expensive Washington Homes for Sale by City
| City | Median $ | 3 mo. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue, WA Homes for Sale | $1,268,368 | 3.76% | |
| Kirkland, WA Homes for Sale | $1,032,172 | 23.94% | |
| Sammamish, WA Homes for Sale | $946,721 | 13.42% | |
| Friday Harbor, WA Homes for Sale | $908,347 | 1.09% | |
| Bainbridge Island, WA Homes for Sale | $880,251 | 4.77% |
Least Expensive Washington Homes for Sale by City
| City | Median $ | 3 mo. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen, WA Homes for Sale | $149,302 | 1.89% | |
| Centralia, WA Homes for Sale | $195,376 | 2.86% | |
| Spanaway, WA Homes for Sale | $197,655 | 0.91% | |
| Longview, WA Homes for Sale | $204,037 | 0.64% | |
| Cheney, WA Homes for Sale | $208,506 | 2.44% |
Top 5 Washington Cities for Families
| City | Homes with Children |
Crime vs. Natl. Avg. |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lewis, WA Local Info | 75.00% | 0.32 |
| Toppenish, WA Local Info | 56.00% | 2.33 |
| Pasco, WA Local Info | 54.00% | 1.65 |
| Sunnyside, WA Local Info | 54.00% | 1.74 |
| Covington, WA Local Info | 53.00% | 0.94 |
Top 5 Washington Cities for Singles
| City | Unmarried | Female to Male |
|---|---|---|
| Cheney, WA Local Info | 73.00% | 52% / 48% |
| Pullman, WA Local Info | 73.00% | 49% / 51% |
| Ellensburg, WA Local Info | 71.00% | 51% / 49% |
| Seattle, WA Local Info | 69.00% | 50% / 50% |
| Toppenish, WA Local Info | 68.00% | 48% / 52% |
Largest Increase in Listing Price Methodology
This chart uses the median listing price of cities with at least 100 active property listings to calculate the largest percentage increase in median listing prices for single family homes over a three month period.
Largest Decrease in Listing Price Methodology
This chart uses the median listing price of cities with at least 100 active property listings to calculate the largest percentage decrease in median listing prices for single family homes over a three month period.
Most Expensive Homes for Sale by City Methodology
This chart uses the median listing price of cities with at least 100 active property listings to retrieve the cities with the five highest median listing prices of single family homes. In addition, the median listing prices are used to calculate the associated increase or decrease in median listing price as a percentage over a three month period.
Least Expensive Homes for Sale by City Methodology
This chart uses the median listing price of cities with at least 100 active property listings to retrieve the cities with the five lowest median listing prices of single family homes. In addition, the median listing prices are used to calculate the associated increase or decrease in median listing price as a percentage over a three month period.
Top 5 Cities for Families Methodology
This chart displays the top five cities with a population of at least 10,000 that have the highest percentage of homes with children and the lowest crime rate. Crime rate is determined by comparing each city's crime rate index against the national crime rate index, which equals 100. A number lower than one indicates less crime than the national average, while a number greater than one indicates more overall crime than the national average.
Top 5 Cities for Singles Methodology
This chart displays the top five cities with a population of at least 10,000 that have the highest percentage of unmarried people. An unmarried person is defined as someone who was never married, is separated, or divorced.