The pace of the housing market gained momentum in May, bringing an uptick in open house traffic and offers. A drop in interest rates and increased inventory were great incentives for buyers. Despite the increase in supply there is less than two months of inventory available – half the national average and far short of what is considered balanced. Industry experts are predicting a strong market as we segue into summer.

Eastside

>>>Click image to view full report.

The median price of a single-family home on the Eastside was $928,800 in May, down 3% from the same time last year and virtually unchanged from April. With a booming economy that continues to grow, news of Amazon’s expansion in Bellevue, the latest Microsoft acquisition and plans for a $1.2 billion office park in Redmond, demand for housing on the Eastside is unlikely to decrease any time soon.

King County

>>>Click image to view full report.

Home sale activity in King County was brisk in May. According to a Windermere analysis, 7 out of 10 properties sold last month had 15 or fewer days on the market. More than half of the homes sold at or above list price. The median price of a single-family home was $700,000. While down 4% from the same time last year, that price was up about $22,000 from the previous month. Home to the fastest growing economy in the country,  King County is expected to draw even more buyers to the area this year.

Seattle

>>>Click image to view full report.

Seattle employment continues to grow faster than in most of the country.  This has made the city a top location for workers, particularly millennials.  Demand has put a strain on available homes, reducing the supply to just seven weeks of inventory available. May home prices in Seattle were lower than they were a year ago, but showed a healthy increase from the previous month. The median price of a single-family home was $784,925 in May, down 5% from a year ago and up $30,000 from April.

Snohomish County

>>>Click image to view full report.

In May, the median price of a single-family home in Snohomish County was $499,950. That number remains unchanged from a year ago, and also unchanged from March and April. Despite a 44% increase in inventory, the supply of homes for sale in this area is even tighter than in King County.  Brokers report that buyers are being drawn from King County and willing to trade a longer work commute for more affordable housing.

This post originally appeared on GetTheWreport.com.

April brought good news for homebuyers. Inventory increased, prices continued to moderate and mortgage rates remained low. While buyers have more choices, there is still less than two months of inventory on the market. Demand is expected to remain strong as we head into the prime spring real estate season.

Eastside

>>>Click image to view full report.

The median price of a single-family home on the Eastside was $927,500 in April, down 2% from the same time last year. The economy here remains robust, particularly in the tech sector. After snapping up substantial real estate in Bellevue earlier this year, Amazon announced in April it would lease two more towers. Buyer demand and scarce inventory are keeping the Eastside market competitive.

King County

>>>Click image to view full report.

With the number of homes for sale in King County up 78% over last year, buyers have more choices and a bit more time to make a decision. However, there is still less than two months of inventory, half the national average. The median price of a single-family home in April was $690,000. That figure was down 5% from the same time last year, but up from the $677,725 median price in March.

Seattle

>>>Click image to view full report.

With one of the strongest economies in the nation, demand here remains solid. While the number of homes for sale continued to rise, there is just five weeks of available inventory, far short of the four to six months that is considered balanced. The median price of a single-family home in Seattle hit $754,000 in April, down 8% from a year ago and up slightly from the prior month.

Snohomish County

>>>Click image to view full report.

In Snohomish County, the median price of a single-family home fell by 1% from a year ago to $500,000, the same figure posted in March. A 57% increase in inventory combined with low interest rates have created a strong beginning to the spring market.

This post originally appeared on GetTheWReport.com

This Lakeridge home, with its classic mid-century walls of glass facing a panoramic water and mountain view, is on the market for the first time since 1966. You could be the second owner ever, for the price of $645,000.

The home

Built in 1966, this home has all the hallmarks of mid-century modernism. In fact, 1073 Forest Ave. S is so well preserved, it’s hard to believe it’s not still 1966 inside it.

There are 2,690 square feet here, with three bedrooms and 1 3/4 bathrooms.

In the living room is a stone hearth with long stone bench for close-up coziness. The angled ceiling features dark wood beams. In this room, the “wall of windows” effect has the most drama, as the orientation of the home creates an almost unobstructed view of the waterfront.

There’s also a deck for taking in that view.

The kitchen, seriously ready to host the best Mad Men party ever, is vintage and immaculate. It’s eat-in nook offers a picture window overlooking the lake.

At the basement level of this home, several additional rooms await, currently staged to maximize the step-back-in-time affect. These could be bedrooms, an office, a rec space — really anything a new owner wants them to be. There’s also storage on this level.

The property 

This property includes a 5,338 square foot lot and a two-car garage.

The location, in Lakeridge, where a house like this asks $240 per square foot (well below Seattle’s average of $521 per square foot).

The Deal

The home has been in the careful hands of one family since it was built. To be the next family to caretake this piece of history, bidding starts at $645,000.

See the full listing here. 

Anna Marie Erwert writes from both the renter and new buyer perspective, having (finally) achieved both statuses. She focuses on national real estate trends, specializing in the San Francisco Bay Area and Pacific Northwest. Follow Anna on Twitter: @AnnaMarieErwert.

Read the original article from Seattle Pi here.