Seattle Is the Nation's Hottest Housing Market… Still

Can you count to 15?

That's how many months the City of Seattle has worn the increasingly heavy crown of hottest U.S. housing market. The median home in Seattle now costs more than $718,000, a 16.2 percent rise over the last 12 months according to Zillow. The Seattle-based real estate company does predict the city's massive gains to simmer down to just 5.7 percent over the next 12 months.

Still, 15 months is an impressive streak. And that got us thinking—which streaks have we beat as the nation's fastest-growing residential market in the country, behind first- and second-place losers Las Vegas and San Francisco?

Lance Armstrong recorded seven straight Tour de France victories from 1999 to 2005. I forget what happened after that.

Retired NBA center Chris Dudley once missed 13 straight free throws in a row, one of which included an air ball.

Pro surfer and Baywatch alum Kelly Slater won 11 world surfing championships, including five in a row from 1994 to 1998.

Okay, maybe we're not quite at legendary status yet, but hey, give it time.

The Seattle-based epicenter of explosive home prices has for some time been distributing its affluent ash across the region, covering the greater Puget Sound landscape with extravagant home prices and happy homeowners—and despondent home buyers. But that's life in the Pacific Northwest right now.

Even while Amazon looks to expand its lush landscape and make traffic stand still elsewhere, plenty more workers will be testing our rich soil in the coming months and maybe years, though they'll be paying a hefty price for a spot in our Emerald garden.

Where might one find their dream home in the foggy future?

MBAKS member Quadrant Homes, for one, is looking to build 63 single-family residences near Laurelhurst on the 17.8 acres currently housing the Talaris Conference Center. If all goes according to Quadrant's plan, the homes would be hot property, with individual lots averaging 5,500 square feet upon which homeowners could enjoy high-end residential living and easy access to everything.

While we wait, we can keep counting months and finding new records to compare to…

By Cameron Poague, Bothell Kenmore Reporter

There's an expression that says you should enjoy the small things in life.

Going outside and enjoying a walk on a sunny day, for example. Or getting to work or school and back without assistance or inconvenience. For too many, these tasks are burdensome and dangerous. For a few, getting safely to and from their homes has become downright impossible.

By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

The Office of Financial Management (OFM) has posted its annual population update, which shows continued growth in the Puget Sound region. As of April 1, 2021, King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties added 66,200 people. According to The Seattle Times, the Seattle metropolitan area, which includes King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties, now exceeds 4 million people.

The Builders Bulletin is intended to provide a convenient way to track housing in our market and includes information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, State of the Cities Data Systems, Office of Financial Management, and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

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