Купить дом.

Want to buy a house in the Seattle area? You’ll need stockpiles of cash in the bank, endless free time and a masochistic streak.

OK, maybe it’s not quite that bad.

Still, the region’s housing market is one of the hottest in the country. Prices are up. Inventory is selling fast. Your dream home could draw dozens of competing offers. It will likely sell for more than the list price, maybe even to an all-cash buyer.

So frenzied is this sellers’ market that some buyers can barely get in to see a home before someone else snags it.

“We’re halfway through our appointment, we’re gushing about how we want to make an offer and the Realtor gets an alert that they accepted an offer earlier today,” recalled recent buyer Alice Cryer. “We were standing in the house.”

Along the way, buyers are expected to make quick decisions with high stakes.

Что происходит с рынком жилья? Предлагается дом за 2 миллиона баксов, покупатель предлагет 2,5 миллиона и т.д. лишь бы опередить другого желающего. С чего бы такой ажиотаж. 

Beyond the list price

Across the Puget Sound region, homes frequently sell for more than their list price as buyers compete for a limited number of houses for sale. The homes below were sold in 2021. Can you guess how much each sold for? Click or hover over each house for the answer.

TACOMA
Listed: $585,000

• 2,089 square feet

• 4 bed/1.5 bath

• 1914 Craftsman

• New appliances

Sold: $665,000

$80,000 above list price

Photo courtesy of Robert Brittingham

HILLMAN CITY, SEATTLE
Listed: $769,000

• 1,320 square feet

• 3 bed/3.25 bath

• Mudroom

• Detached studio

Sold: $820,000

$51,000 above list price

Photo courtesy of Dan Farmer

LYNNWOOD
Listed: $439,900

• 1,583 square feet

• 3 bed/3 bath

• Townhouse

• Sunny deck

Sold: $481,000

$41,100 above list price

Photo courtesy of Nichola Gerlach

SPANAWAY
Listed: $429,999

• 2,171 square feet

• 3 bed/2.5 bath

• Quarter-acre lot

• Large deck

Sold: $460,000

$30,001 above list price

Photo courtesy of Victor Molina

FIRST HILL, Seattle
Listed: $610,000

• 964 square feet

• 2 bed/1 bath

• Condo

• 2 balconies

Sold: $610,000

Sold at list price

Photo courtesy of Brian Huie

KENT
Listed: $574,000

• 2,760 square feet

• 4 bed/2.25 bath

• Family room

• Fenced backyard

Sold: $593,000

$19,000 above list price

Photo courtesy of John G Wilbanks Photography

QUEEN ANNE, SEATTLE
Listed: $2.05M

• 3,080 square feet

• 4 bed/2.5 bath

• Rooftop deck

• Two-car garage

Sold: $2.225M

$175,000 above list price

Photo courtesy of Redfin

KIRKLAND
Listed: $565,000

• 1,000 square feet

• 2 bed/1.75 bath

• Condo

• Newly remodeled

Sold: $565,000

Sold at list price

Photo courtesy of Nolan Green