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.
While the real estate market in Seattle’s Eastside cooled down somewhat a few years ago, things definitely picked up over the past couple of years. In fact, the housing market in the Eastside has been pretty competitive this past year, and is expected to be acceptably healthy in 2026.
Here’s a look ahead at 2026 housing market trends and forecasts for Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, and other cities that make up the Eastside.
Before we look at the latest real estate trends, we should define some geography. What is Seattle’s “Eastside,” exactly?
This is a common term for cities that fall within the Seattle metro area but are located to the east of Lake Washington. Primarily, this includes the cities of Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, Issaquah, Newcastle, and Mercer Island.
The number of homes for sale is very tight right now in Seattle and the surrounding King County. More specifically, there is barely a 2.5-month supply of homes available for sale. Such a tight inventory is driving home prices up and is creating much more competition among homebuyers, and the situation is going to continue into 2026.
While housing market conditions can vary from one area to the next, all of these cities shared some things in common as of January 2026:
Bellevue and Sammamish are two of the most expensive real estate markets in the Eastside and across the broader Seattle metro area. As of January 2026, the price in Seattle is $837,800, and the median home value in Bellevue is $1,446,855, as per Zillow.
But Mercer Island tops them all and is something of an anomaly. The median price in that real estate market was about $2,233,631 as of January 2026.
The median home values in Issaquah and Kirkland were $1,117,966 and $1,220,898, respectively, as of January 2026. That makes them comparable with Seattle itself in terms of pricing.
As far as forecasts go, most housing reports and forecasts (at least those that we have read) suggest that Seattle’s Eastside real estate market will be healthy in 2026.
Related: Seattle Conforming Loans Limits & FHA Loan Limits for 2026
Mortgage rates have been on a steady rise over the past few years, but have recently started on a downward trend over recent months. As of January 2026, the 30-year-fixed rate mortgage rate is 6.15%, according to Freddie Mac.
Further, rates are expected to continue dipping throughout 2026. Hopefully, this will make taking out a mortgage more affordable for buyers in the Seattle area.
If you are curious about mortgages in Seattle or are considering applying for one, we have the answers for you. Sammamish Mortgage is a local, family-owned company based in Bellevue, Washington. We have been serving the entire state since 1992, as well as the broader Pacific Northwest region, including Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Idaho, and California. We offer many mortgage programs for our clients and handy online tools, like our mortgage calculator. Please contact us if you have mortgage-related questions, get pre-approved for a mortgage, or to get the application process started!
Whether you’re buying a home or ready to refinance, our professionals can help.
{hours_open} - {hours_closed} Pacific
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.
Adjust the parameters based on what you want to track