Heed the Call of the Water
The beautiful landscapes of the Pacific Northwest aren’t complete without our water views. From in-city waterfronts along our lakes and the majesty of the Puget Sound, to island living and vistas along Washington’s scenic port towns, there’s nothing like finding a piece of shoreline to call your own.
Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty has observed over two years of waterfront transactions, from January 2019 through March 2021 across Western Washington’s most sought-after destinations.
By first looking at transactions by county we will start to look at price points generally, as well as the time on the waterfront homes are on the market, and larger trends that indicate which times of year are ideal to enter the market as a seller or buyer. Following a year where we’ve seen such significant price growth, increase in demand coupled with short time homes are on the market across the region, one thing is certain—that working with a Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty waterfront expert in order to achieve your goals, whether you’re buying or selling a primary residence, second home, or remote getaway, is an absolute necessity.
Snohomish, King, Pierce & Kitsap County
Island shorelines to winding inlet drives and in-city beachfront, King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap County are dense with waterfront opportunities. And while all four counties have occasionally experienced dips in their median sales price, as seen in the graph on the right, the investment in these properties continues to climb. In Kitsap County in 2020, the number of homes for sale peaked in August, but in the other three counties May, June, and July, in 2019 and 2020 saw the most available inventory on the market. Interested buyers started their search in late spring and continued through early fall, so for sellers, a marketing plan that readies your home for sale, prepared for you by a Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty expert, will position you to capture attention and secure an outstanding offer.
BY THE NUMBERS
The most expensive waterfront home sold in Kitsap County was on Bainbridge Island and closed at $7,600,000 in 2021, and was represented by Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty brokers.
Gig Harbor, located in Pierce County, is a waterfront gem—11 percent of the town’s single-family homes are ideally set along the Sound.
Vashon Island, located in King County, and a 45-minute ferry ride from Seattle, boasts full-time residents and vacation homes, and 26 percent of the residential homes there are located on the Puget Sound.
Waterfront homes in Snohomish County spend less time on the market than those in Pierce and Kitsap County, and often, buyers flock to waterfront homes in Snohomish County more quickly than homes in King County.
