When it comes to weather, many of us aren't tolerant. If we have any choice as to where we're going to live, most of us would avoid rainy climates. But many relocating families and individuals to the Seattle area don't seem to mind such weather. While it rains often here, the sun has been known to shine occasionally. But more important, many longtime residents as well as recent transplants to Seattle are swearing they'd never live anywhere else. Despite a high cost of living, the city's scenery -- particularly its forests and surrounding mountains -- outweigh everything else in the minds of many residents. And Seattle's pervasive laid-back attitude is a refreshing change of pace from the adrenaline rush of other metropolitan centers.

Located on Puget Sound, Seattle was founded in 1851 as a lumber town In 1884 when the railroad arrived, the city grew by leaps and bounds. Today, it's the largest city in the Northwest, and it's likely to maintain that status as it continues to attract more new residents every year.

Seattle is loyal to the arts and has fostered the growth of a diverse assortment of museums and local music groups. The city's cuisine is varied, stressing local seafood and Oriental cuisine. Newcomers find that the city's atmosphere to be casual. While flannel isn't really in its heyday here anymore, "anything goes" is still the motto in Seattle -- particularly in the cooler months.

Any profile of Seattle would be remiss if it didn't mention the fact that contrary to popular belief, it doesn't always rain in Seattle. The sun shines, and sometimes snow falls, as well. That brings the opportunity for such pasttimes as backpacking, hiking, skiing and mountain-climbing. The advantage of experiencing regular rainfall, however, is that the city is covered in an abundance of lush, green forests. Seattle's nickname, in fact, is the Emerald City. This beautiful landscape, combined with a healthy economy, has spurred an influx in the city's population. Seattle is known as the nation's "Silicon Forest," a reputation developed first and foremost by the presence of Microsoft (chairman Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda, call Seattle home, and their custom-built, high-tech palace is nearly as big as the city itself).

If you're planning a trip to Seattle, some recommended stops on your tour include: The Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, the Seattle Space Needle, the Pacific Science Center, Klondike Goldrush National Historical Park, Seattle Underground City Tour, Washington Park Arboretum, Pike Place Market, and Seattle Art Museum. The Underground City Tour has a particularly interesting history: On June 6, 1889, an assistant of James McGough accidentally started what would become the Great Seattle Fire. After the fire, the city rebuilt and elected to raise its roads to a level above the first story of already existing buildings, thus creating an "underground city" that today is the subject of a fascinating tour. The Pike Place Market is a historical artifact in an otherwise modern, high-tech city. The market is comprised of several shops, local artists, restaurants, fresh fish and vegetable stands, restaurants, and a rummage sale room where many great finds are located. Street musicians entertain visitors daily. The market is open year-round, and in the spring, an annual street fair celebrates this natural abundance, and the number of vendors reaches its annual high.

Seattle faces one particular negative side effect as a result of its recent population growth: traffic. Lots of traffic. (To get an idea of how much we're talking about, head to the Washington State Department of Transportation's Web site">, where you can take a look at traffic backups in real time. The city continues to cope as major corporations like Microsoft, Boeing and Starbucks bring more new residents to the city on a daily basis. Local Realtors say that many families experience a bit of "sticker shock" upon their arrival in Seattle, as they discover somewhat smaller homes for higher prices here.

According to Seattle Realtor Patty Smith, the average time spent by a single-family home on the Seattle market in 1998 was 48 days, compared to last year's average of 51 days. A total of 1,797 homes were sold and closed in Seattle in the last six months, compared to last year's total of 1,735. The average selling price for those homes was $346,609, a 7.51 percent increase over last year's average price of $322,402. Approximately 1,645 listings are currently available in Seattle, a 39.17 percent increase from this time last year, when the number of active listings stood at 1,182. The average asking price of current Seattle inventory is $498,381.

As the above-listed figures indicate, Seattle's residential real estate market continues its upward climb. Inventory is more plentiful than in other cities, homes command high prices, and businesses continue to grow and prosper in the Emerald City. That's the recipe for the city's continued reign as the Northwest's most prosperous urban center.

Published: December 28, 1998

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