2025 Greater Seattle Housing Market: Why This Is A Better Time For Long‑Term Buyers
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to buy in Seattle or the Eastside, this might be it. The Greater Seattle housing market in 2025 looks very different from the peak pandemic years. Prices are still high, but inventory is up, competition has cooled, and buyers finally have more time and options. At the same time, population and job growth in Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond continue to support long‑term home values. For data‑minded buyers, this is a more balanced – and arguably better – moment to enter the market.
Inventory Is Up, Prices Are Calmer: A Shift Toward a Balanced Market
Local market reports and portals show a clear shift in supply:
- Seattle’s for‑sale inventory is up roughly 20% year over year, depending on sub‑market and property type.
- On the Eastside, several cities have seen inventory jump by 50% or more compared with last year in some 2025 snapshots, as listings accumulate and days on market lengthen.
Median sale prices have mostly moved into a “slow growth or flat” pattern rather than the double‑digit spikes seen in 2020–2022. That means:
- More choice in neighborhoods, home types, and price points.
- Less pressure to bid far over asking or waive every contingency.
- A shift from “speed at all costs” to “negotiation and fit.”
These are signs of a more balanced market.
Population And Jobs Still Support Demand
State and regional data confirm that demand drivers haven’t gone away:
- Washington’s Office of Financial Management estimates Seattle’s 2025 population at just over 800,000, adding roughly 18,000–19,000 residents in a single year and marking the third straight year of strong growth.
- A Puget Sound Regional Council brief estimates the metro area has surpassed 4.5 million residents, with growth concentrated in job‑rich cities like Seattle, Bellevue, and Redmond.
This “population + high‑income job base” is what supports long‑run housing demand and home values, even when the market is cooling in the short term. For long‑term owners and buyers, that’s the structural reason the region remains attractive.
ADUs, DADUs And Middle Housing: More Options On Each Lot
House Bill 1337 (ADUs)
- Allows 2 units (attached + detached) on many residential lots.
- Reduces parking and owner-occupancy restrictions.
House Bill 1110 (Middle Housing)
- Enables duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and cottage clusters in previously single-family zones.
- Aims to create 1M new homes statewide by 2044.
Why it matters:
- Buyers can plan for multigenerational living.
- Investors can build equity through rental income.
- More diversity of housing types in great school districts.
These changes don’t make Seattle “cheap,” but they do move policy toward more supply and more variety instead of scarcity.
Why 2025 Is A Better Market For Serious Buyers
Putting the data together, the 2025 Greater Seattle story looks like this:
- Inventory is significantly higher, especially on the Eastside.
- Price growth has cooled and, in some areas, dipped slightly, but without a systemic collapse.
- Population and jobs continue to grow, supporting long‑term demand and equity.
- ADU and middle‑housing reforms are slowly expanding what’s possible on each lot and increasing future housing options.
Greater Seattle is still a high‑income, high‑cost region, but it’s no longer a market where buyers must sprint and overpay just to participate. Instead, it’s becoming a market where thoughtful buyers can:
- Compare multiple homes instead of chasing every new listing.
- Negotiate on price, inspections, and closing terms.
- Think strategically about ADUs, DADUs, or smaller “middle housing” as part of a long‑term housing and wealth plan.
For long‑term, equity‑focused buyers, 2025 Greater Seattle offers a rare combination: a more balanced, less frantic market inside a region whose population, jobs, and policy reforms still point toward strong demand over time.
Ready to Explore Your Options?
I offer personalized strategy consultations for Seattle and Eastside buyers. In 30 minutes, we’ll:
- Clarify your goals, timeline & must-haves
- Identify neighborhoods that match your lifestyle and/or investment criteria
- Review current market dynamics
- Create your tailored game plan
Schedule your complimentary appointment here.
Let’s find a home that helps you live well and build wealth in 2026.
Author: Emily Gothmann, Real Estate Advisor
Email: [email protected]
Text/Call: 425-292-8080
