Ballard was settled by Danish and Finish immigrants in the mid 1800s and continues to 
 
 
 
 
maintain its' Scandinavian, small town qualities.  It has been one of Seattle's favorite 
neighborhoods for years and within the last ten years, has become a trendy, happening area for 
locals.  It is a hot spot for restaurants, entertainment, boutiques, galleries and a monthly art 
walks.
 
Ballard is home to my favorite theater, the renovated Majestic Bay Theater; also to the 
Ballard Locks and Golden Gardens Park and Beach.
There are several smaller neighborhoods:  Sunset Hill and Loyal Heights have Puget Sound view 
homes.  Whittier and Salmon Bay are more affordable.  In the right market condition, 
new listings sell quickly here.  In the 20's, 30's and 40's, Ballard's homes were built to last.  
Currently, prices range from $200,000 to $2,000,000.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Broadview is a quiet residential neighborhood, tucked away in Seattle's northwest corner 
and many locals have never even heard of it.  It is one of my favorite neighborhoods because 
I find it very charming.
 
Really, not that far from downtown, its' western boundary is the Puget Sound; northern 
is NW 145th street; Greenwood Avenue N is the eastern boundary and south is 
NW 105th Street and Carkeek Park. 
 
On the western edge of Broadview is a bluff, overlooking the Sound and below runs the 
BNSF Railway.  Also located here is Carkeek Park which offers more than 6 miles of trails.  A 
pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks takes you to the sandy beach with views of the 
Olympic Mountains. 
 
Despite its low-key demeanor, the neighborhood is not small.  13,000 residents live here and 
turnover in the neighborhood is relatively low.  Residents stick around which has built a strong 
sense of community.
West of Third Avenue Northwest, and along the 
waterfront, are the more-expensive homes, many 
with large lots and Puget Sound views.  East of Third, 
up to Greenwood, buyers can find 
smaller, more affordable homes.  

Just west of Greenwood between 110th and 120th, are
a couple of my favorite Seattle streets.  Beautifully 
designed from Seattle's pilot Street Edge Alternatives 
project, are curving, natural landscaped roads with 
sidewalks and improved drainage systems.  


The northwest side of Broadview holds one of Seattle's 
best-kept secrets, Llandover Trail, a 9-acre "open 
space" at 145th and Third Northwest.  This is an escape
 into nature with Native Animal and Plant Species such as owls, eagles, mountain beavers and 
old-growth trees.
 
Broadview is also home to E.B. Dunn 
Gardens and can be toured Thursdays-
Saturdays, by advance reservation.
 
Many buyers love the open floor plans of 
Broadview's mid-century homes.  Currently, 
two bedrooms (without a view) are selling 
from $225,000 to $347,000, three bedrooms 
(again, without a view) are $400,000 to 
$440,000, and 4 bedrooms run from 
$427,000 (without a view) to 630,000 (with 
a view).
 
 
 
Okay, I didn't even know about this neighborhood before I became a Realtor.
Cedar Park is a hill rolling up from Lake City Way (west) down to Lake Washington (east).  
The southern boundary is NE 125th and the northern boundary is NE 145th.  The steep hills and 
very little traffic toward the lake make for excellent bicycle hill training! 
 
This residential area has no retail or business except on the border of Lake City Way.  The Burke 
Gilman trail runs through Cedar Park, although there are no entrances to the trail available from 
this neighborhood.  East of the trail are waterfront homes. 
 
The two plus acre park in this neighborhood, appropriately named, Cedar Park, was created with 
the help of several neighborhood volunteers.
 
This neighborhood has the most affordable, nice water view homes in North Seattle.  Prices 
currently range from $374,000 to $710,000 for three bedrooms and four bedrooms run from 
$372,000 to $764,000.  Lakefront properties sometimes sell in the low one millions and recently 
have sold for over two million.
 
 
 
 
Driving North on I-5, just before the Northeast 145th Avenue exit, you see a big green space.  
That's Jackson Park golf course.  It is also a small neighborhood located north of NE 125th 
and Roosevelt, east of I-5 (and 5th NE), south of NE 145th and west of  15th NE.  
 
The 160 acre Jackson Park golf course 
takes up most of the neighborhood.   The 
golf course has been around since 1928 and
was renovated in 2001 to allow Thornton 
Creek to flow through in a more 
environmentally friendly way.  Rumor has it, 
Tiger Woods has even golfed here, with a 
record score of 65.
 
Southeast of the golf course is a community p-patch 
garden and a couple of wooded areas with trails for 
walking.  The rest of the neighborhood includes single 
family homes, a condo next to the golf course and a 
couple of apartment buildings,  There is a Starbucks in 
the neighborhood as well as a couple of other small 
businesses.  Easy access to the express bus route and 
freeway make this a really easy neighborhood to 
commute from.  Most homes were built in the early 
1950's with few newer homes sprinkled in.  Three to 
five bedroom homes are currently selling between 
$375,000 and $465,000.
 
 
 
 
Seattle's Licton Springs neighborhood sometimes referred to as North College Park and 
frequently called Green Lake is located west of 
Northgate, north of Green Lake (NE 85th Street), east 
of Greenwood and Aurora (Highway 99) and south of 
Haller Lake.
 
The name refers to the natural spring located in the 
northwest area of Licton Springs Park.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Licton Springs was once a healing center for Native Americans, who constructed sweat lodges and
bathed in the mineral waters of the springs.  After pioneer David Denny built a cabin near the 
springs in 1870, hundreds of settlers drove for miles to immerse themselves in the spring water 
and in the mud.  The springs site remained a picnic area until 1935, when E.A. Jensen bought the 
site and built a spa. Then thousands flocked to the springs to take the waters and dunk in the 
thermal baths. In 1960 Seattle voters approved the site as a park, and the City bought the 
springs in 1961.
 
The park still exists with swing sets and fun hop scotches, bridges
 crossing over a creek, and large grassy areas.
 
Today, the residential area has mixed single family and 
townhome residences with a few apartment buildings.  There are 
well over 300 Townhomes and new townhouses are continuing to 
be built.  Two bedrooms are currently selling from $280,000 to 
$325,000 and three bedrooms run from $325,000 to $425,000.  
The area is holding their 
value fairly well.
 
 

Northgate's Thornton Place is a breath-taking, beautiful 5 acre village with walkways

meandering through green spaces and across the exposed Thornton Creek.  The creek has been

under cover for over 40 years and the developer, Lorig, worked with the City to improve and

naturally filter storm-water runoff bound for Lake Washington. The newly designed Thornton

Creek serves as an improved filtering system for drainage often polluted by oil and pesticides.

121 Condos have been built at Thornton Place and move in

dates are currently set for June.  The preview center is located

just off of NE 103rd and is open 11am - 6pm daily.  The MLS

currently lists studios (600 square feet) at $300,000.  One

bedrooms start at $370,000 and two-bedrooms start at

$466,000.  Recent new incentives have just been added! They

have some great incentives to check out here. 

Aljoya is the ERA Living senior housing building.  143 units are

slated to open this summer as well.  Their preview center is

located south of the project on NE 100th Street.     

And the big building with no windows is the

highly anticipated new 14 screen cinema and

IMAX theater due to open this MEMORIAL

DAY WEEKEND!  Seattle north-enders have

been without a nearby movie theater

(besides the deteriorating Oak Tree) for

decades.  This is exciting!  The cinema will

include stadium seating, high-back rocking

seats, and digital surround sound in all 14

auditoriums, as well as an IMAX screen and

the sound system.

 
This neighborhood is near and dear to my heart because as a teenager, I walked up and down the 
hills delivering the Lake City Journal Newspaper to the residents.
The Olympic Hills neighborhood has peaks and valleys surrounding a steeper slope north to
south and is located east of 15th Avenue NE, south of NE 145th, west of 30th Avenue NE and 
north of NE 125th.
 
The community is very quiet and a caring residential spot with a few businesses along the edge.  
On 15th Avenue northeast, across from the Jackson Park golf course is the Caroline Tavern, a 
friendly place to stop for after golf beverages.  Other buildings include an elementary school, a 
church, a bank, and the library.  
 
West of the hill sit many 1950's rambler style concrete block houses.  On the hill and east are 
several charming homes.  Built mostly in the 1950's and some as early as 1926, there are a few 
newly built townhouses as well.  Two bedrooms range from $260,000 to $299,000, Three 
bedrooms $280,000 to 376,000 and four bedrooms run from $395,000 to $486,000.
 
 
Another north Seattle neighborhood not well known is Pinehurst. 
 
Determined by the very active Pinehurst Community Council the boundaries are NE 130th Street 
to the north, NE Northgate Way to the south, I-5 to the west, and Lake City Way to the east. 
  
Geographically, the eastern area slopes east and many homes enjoy a great territorial view.  
East of 15th NE, is the Pinehurst Green Grid  with a model natural drainage system.  The grid is 
12 beautiful, meandering, tree-lined streets and the project incorporates new sidewalks, 
roadways, and landscaping with native and non-native plants to enhance the pedestrian 
experience.  
 
The western area of Pinehurst borders Northgate Mall on the north boundary and many 
businesses outline the arterials. 
 
Two bedroom homes are currently selling from $288,000 to $300,000, three bedrooms start from
$282,000 to $365,000 (no recent sales on 4 bedrooms) but 5 bedrooms run from $325,000 to 
$577,000.
 
Victory Heights is bordered on the west side by 5th Avenue, north by Northgate Way, 
east by Lake City Way and south by 90th or 95th Avenue NE.
It became part of Seattle in 1954.  The neighborhood was named after the Victory Highway which
 is now Lake City Way.  Northgate Mall sits on the west side.  The new Northgate Library and 
Community Center has its' home here as well.
There are a couple of things I love about this neighborhood:
First Thornton Creek meanders through and there are a couple of green areas designated by the 
city including Thornton Creek Park #2.  This is a lush, cool, secluded woodsy spot with a path 
taking you to a surprising urban oasis.
Secondly, Victory Heights is a pretty, old-fashioned neighborhood with mid-sized one-story 
homes built in the 30's, 40's, and 50's.  The town homes, and condos that are  transforming 
many Seattle neighborhoods have not made it to Victory Heights yet.
It is still possible to find a nice small home on a quiet street for a great price in Victory Heights.  
Homes range from $400,000 - $800,000.
 
 
Wedgwood has no official agreed-upon borders. The unofficial boundaries are:  North —  
NE 95th Street;  East  — 45th Avenue NE;  south — NE 75th Street; and West — by a route coming 
north from NE 75th Street along 25th Avenue NE, then jogging due west along NE 85th Street and
snaking up Lake City Way NE to NE 95th Street.
 
It is a well liked neighborhood for many reasons, one being it is in a pocket near more expensive 
neighborhoods.  Two bedroom single family residences currently are selling from $283,000 to 
$450,000, three bedrooms from $408,000 to $540,000 and four bedrooms from $500,000 to 
$1,050,000. 
 
Another reason for its' popularity is the schools have a good reputation for high academics and 
parent involvement.  And the easy access to I-5 and the 
520 Bridge make it within minutes to Downtown Seattle 
and Bellevue. 
 
Dahl Park is on the western border; The Burke-Gilman Trail 
and Magnuson Park are just a few blocks east.  "Downtown" 
Wedgwood has all the necessary amenities and more: Two 
grocery stores, a Post 
Office, banks, gas stations, 
a Seattle Public Library, 
a dry cleaner, yoga studios, 
hair salons, a variety of 
churches, a bakery, a 
community p-patch garden 
and even Seattle-based 
Top Pot Doughnuts.  
 
 
The Fiddlers Inn, a cozy, live music venue sits near the Northern 
boundary. 
 
Some Neighborhood Trivia includes:
The Wedgwood neighborhood is named after the English bone 
china-maker of the same name.
Started sometime in the 1960's, the P-patch garden is the oldest 
community garden in Seattle.
The Wedgwood neighborhood branch library is the largest branch 
library and the 2nd busiest public library in the city.