As it was recently announced that the Fed would finally lower the inflation rate, many people might think it is the best time to move in the past few years. One city in particular comes up when discussing some of the best places to live especially as a homeowner. This city of course is Seattle, the jewel of the Washington state. Whether you are someone to move to Seattle or somebody who already lives there, there are many things you should know before you become a homeowner or if you have recently become one. So here is a short guide to some of the most important things to know about living in Seattle and owning a home in this beautiful city.
Competitive housing market
It is important to understand that when we talk about Seattle, we are talking about a city that has seen a very important growth in population over the past few decades. In fact, since the early 2000s, the population of Seattle has risen by almost 200,000 people and is showing no sign of lowering. This massive influx of people of course has made the housing market much more competitive which means that for potential homeowners it can be a very difficult thing to tackle especially if it is your first home purchase. Nonetheless, Seattle is a beautiful city, and you shouldn’t be scared off from situating yourself near Seattle or within Seattle itself considering that the housing market is pretty competitive all across America. What a good realtor you will be able to situate yourself in your chosen neighborhood within the city.
The importance of neighborhoods
Whether you moved into Rainier Beach or Greenwood once you spend enough time around your neighborhood you will find out pretty quickly that every single neighborhood in Seattle has a very unique feel. This is why if for example you ask one of your neighbors for a restaurant suggestion or what’s the best dry cleaning services in Seattle, chances are they will recommend something that is in their neighborhood. That much becomes even more apparent when we talk about West Seattle since it is separated from the rest of the city by the river. Many people see going to West Seattle as they nice place to go out because it houses the city’s only beach which is very popular of course in the summer.
Cost of Living
This is by far one of the most important things to know if you are somebody moving to Seattle from outside the city. It is no surprise to most people that Seattle is well known for having a very expensive housing market which means that compared to most other cities it is very expensive to purchase a home in Seattle. While the prices are not exactly comparable to the high prices of the big city centers in California the reality is that if you are planning to live in Seattle you will have to adjust your lifestyle to fit the increased cost of living. Generally, when we talk about a comfortable salary to live in Seattle, we are looking at something close to $85,000 a year or more. When we look at the cities requiring the highest salary to live in Seattle though only ranks 27th.
Adapting to the Climate
If you’re moving in from a southern state, you might be surprised to see that most Seattle residents don’t own an air conditioner. This is very important because it means that since the Seattle climate is pretty temperate it doesn’t require you to make sure that your home is well fitted out with things to weather cold winters and warm summers. Even then if you are very sensitive you might be able to find the services of an HVAC business that can provide you with a proper setup of an air conditioner for your home. Generally, most people who move to Seattle find themselves easily adapting to the Seattle climate which is generally pretty comfortable. It is important to remember as well that since the energy bills might be a bit higher in Seattle living without an air conditioner will help you save a few dollars.
Reselling
If you are somebody who’s planning to move eventually and have to resell in mind you should know that there are many factors of affect the prices of homes in the greater Seattle region and within the Seattle centers as well. Since there have been a lot of updates to the construction code within Seattle the building year of your home will have a massive impact on its value on the market. Not only that but if you are planning to put your house on the market you should check in with the realtor to know what time of the year is best since there are times that are more likely to allow you to get a better price.
