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The Pacific Northwest (PNW) continues to attract home buyers with its natural landscapes, economic prospects, and high quality of life. Whether you’re moving within the area, relocating from another state, or buying your first home, purchasing property in the PNW offers plenty of opportunity—but careful planning is required.
This Pacific Northwest home buying guide will cover reasons to buy in the region, the current real estate market, top cities to consider, and loan options available to finance your home.
The PNW includes Washington, Oregon, and parts of Idaho. Here are 4 reasons to call the PNW home.
The region is rich in lush forests, glistening coastlines, soaring mountains, and lively cities like Seattle and Portland. It’s a great place for both nature enthusiasts and dwellers.
Major employers, like Amazon and Microsoft, call the PNW region home. Amazon’s original headquarters is located in Seattle, specifically within South Lake Union, Denny Triangle, and downtown. Amazon has also expanded its presence in Bellevue, just a short distance from Seattle, making the city a key hub for the company.
The PNW region boasts a temperate climate, with mild winters and comfortable summer temperatures.
Residents of the PNW region don’t have to go far to attend a top-rated post-secondary school. The University of Washington, Oregon State, Boise State, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and UCLA are just some prestigious names available to students in the region.
The real estate market in the Pacific Northwest remains competitive. Specifically, the region’s housing market is characterized as follows:
Consider these key markets when buying a home in the Pacific Northwest:
*Average home prices as per Zillow as of June 2025.
Living in the Pacific Northwest comes with unique mix of advantages and challenges:
Pros:
Cons:
Depending on your income, employment status, and credit history, several mortgage loan programs are available:
Currently, mortgage rates in the Pacific Northwest are as follows, based on a $600,000 loan for a primary single-family residence and a credit score of 800+:
*Rates fluctuate quickly. Please check our rate quote page regularly for up-to-date figures.
Navigating the Pacific Northwest housing market requires strategic planning. Here are a few Pacific Northwest real estate tips to help you balance affordability with buying the perfect home.
Getting pre-approved for a mortgage can pinpoint your price range and make you a more attractive buyer. During the pre-approval process, the lender will verify your income, down payment, credit score, and debt-to-income ratio. These factors are used to determine your loan eligibility, loan amount, and interest rates.
Document checklist for mortgage pre-approval:
Find a real estate agent with experience in your city or neighborhood. A local expert will understand the specifics of the local market, including pricing and seller behavior. They’ll also have their finger on the pulse of properties that will become available before hitting the market, giving buyers a leg up on the competition.
If you prefer being close to big city centers, but your finances aren’t strong enough to cover sky-high home prices, consider areas just outside core cities. For instance, Tacoma and Federal Way offer more space with lower price points while still being relatively close to Seattle.
Consider including an inspection contingency in your offer, even in a hot market. Given the region’s moist climate and heavy precipitation, issues such as roof damage, mold, or foundational problems may be hidden risks that an inspector can uncover.
A local PNW mortgage company, like Sammamish Mortgage, will have a better understanding of regional specifics and can provide in-house underwriting and faster closings compared to national lenders.
Yes, despite high prices in some areas, now is a good time to buy a home in the PNW. Buyers who are prepared with their finances and team of experts can find good opportunities and ensure a successful transaction.
Buyers typically put down 5% to 20%, depending on their finances and the loan program.
The PNW is characterized by moderate temperatures but plenty of rain. Look for homes with good drainage and newer roofs to protect your investment.
Some of the best places to buy a home in the Pacific Northwest include Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Boise, and San Francisco.
Many areas in the PNW currently favor sellers due to low inventory, while other areas are more balanced. If you’re considering buying or selling, check local market trends in the city you’re considering buying in to help you make a more informed buying decision.
Lenders generally require a minimum credit score of 620, though other factors, like income and down payment, can affect the exact score required.
Oregon is usually cheaper to live in than Washington. Currently, the average home price in Oregon is $507,501, while in Washington State, the average home price is $611,301.
Washington is generally more affordable than California. Housing is a significant factor — Washington’s average home price is $611,301, while California’s home prices average $787,508.
Property taxes in the PNW vary by state and county, though they can be substantial, particularly in urban areas.
The Pacific Northwest offers excellent cities for remote workers. Some top picks include Seattle, WA, Bellevue, WA, Bend, OR, and Portland, OR.
Sammamish Mortgage offers a variety of loan programs for first-time home buyers to help purchase a first home with very little down. We work to ensure mortgage payments meet the unique needs of first-time buyers and have helped thousands of clients buy their first homes.
Sammamish Mortgage works with borrowers in several PNW states, including Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
Sammamish Mortgage provides live mortgage rates online with no personal information required.
Whether you’re looking for an urban condo in Seattle, a Victorian home in Portland, or a craftsman home with mountain views in Idaho, the Pacific Northwest offers something for everyone. But being successful in this market means being prepared. That means getting your finances in order and working with local experts.
If you’re looking to buy a home in the Pacific Northwest region, we can help. At Sammamish Mortgage, we offer various mortgage options for home buyers with various needs in WA, OR, ID, CO, and CA. Visit our website to get an instant rate quote, or call us today to have your mortgage questions answered!
Whether you’re buying a home or ready to refinance, our professionals can help.
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No Obligation and transparency 24/7. Instantly compare live rates and costs from our network of lenders across the country. Real-time accurate rates and closing costs for a variety of loan programs custom to your specific situation.