Seattleites know that we affectionately put West Seattleites (like myself) in their own special category. West Seattle feels different from its mainland namesake. It’s separate, has a long stretch of beach with surrey covered buggies going up and down its shore in the summertime. It retains its small neighborhood feel, while still being close to downtown Seattle. Those of us who have the pleasure of living in West Seattle love when others talk about how difficult it is to get in and out, because we want to maintain the special secret that is the BEST part of Seattle. We know that there are LOTS of ways to get in and out of our fair part of the city, it's not a problem at all.
That was, of course, until West Seattle’s main connection to Greater Seattle, the West Seattle Bridge, was closed last month. With the announcement yesterday that the bridge will be closed until 2022, West Seattleites are being proven wrong about our ongoing claims that getting in and out isn’t that hard (though the water taxi is still open and it’s a lovely way to get to work downtown, just ask my husband. He sees seals and otters on the daily!)
So, what does that mean for the housing market? The way I see it, it could be a blessing in disguise. You want a small neighborhood feel while remaining close to the airport, city, and the waterfront? West Seattle! You want to buy an investment property at a discount and have it suddenly soar in value in just a few years time? West Seattle! Want to sell your WS home at a premium now before shutdown ends and move over to another area in Seattle? West Seattle! No matter which way you shake it, the news of the bridge shutting down for the foreseeable future doesn’t have to be terrible news.
In terms of Real Estate: Bushwick can help! As I said, I (Crystal) live in West Seattle and am an expert on our neighborhoods, values, and tips and tricks for navigating this new reality of social distancing and a closed major arterial.
Please reach out if you're in need of some real estate advising. Better yet, leave a comment here and we will be in touch!
