Close Enough to UW, Far Enough from the Frat Houses

Seattle home shoppers gave their click fingers a workout with this University District craftsman: $500,000 list price, 1,790 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, built in 2001. It would make a great home for a UW professor who wants to minimize commute times. The gray and fern green paint blend into the Seattle landscape like neon pink does in Miami. Sobering to say the least, and very fitting for a professor.

The house has curb presence. Built on a small lot, the developers had little choice but to build up. It looms over 25th Avenue. All too often we see homes sold by overeager sellers that command a premium because of lot size or a partial view of something not so spectacular. The houses themselves are really lame of course. This Sweet Dig is not one of those. Everything is nice and new. I bet the place doesn’t smell. It’s in a good location. Mom’s Diner is just down the street with some of the best pancakes in town.

University District’s median list price is $699,500. The neighborhood’s average $/sq ft is $287, slightly higher than the $279/sq ft of today’s Sweet Dig. It sold for $352,500 back in May of 2003, an appreciation of 43% in three years.