Get to Know the Mercerdale Community

The Mercerdale Community on Mercer Island is located west of Island Crest Way and abuts the downtown neighborhood. It is also adjacent to (but not part of) Mercerdale Park, which is an

important area for the city and for the community. The homes in the Mercerdale neighborhood are mostly 1950s/60s suburban style, and are typically moderately priced. Homes in this neighborhood sold in the last year ranged in value from $487,500 to $890,000.

Mercerdale’s moderate home prices, access to the Island’s acclaimed school district, and the proximity to several parks, makes Mercerdale a very desirable neighborhood. One highlight of Mercerdale is the Mercer Island Skate Park which is located in the south western corner of Mercerdale Park.  The concrete space was designed to entertain and challenge skateboarders of all skill levels and welcomes skateboards, inline skates and rollerblades. Restrooms and a drinking fountain are located nearby.

The well known Mercer Island Youth and Family Thrift Store is housed on the corner of Mercerdale Park. Other community events held at Mercerdale Park are Mostly Music in the Park, Summer Celebration, and the Holiday Tree Lighting. There is a stairway that connects Mercerdale to the First Hill and East Seattle communities of Mercer Island. The first stairway has 321 steps down the Mercerdale Hillside, from west to east.

The Mercerdale community was developed on a site that was important to the logging industry at the turn of the century. Near what is now 76^th Ave. and SE 32^nd in Mercerdale, there was a steam-powered logging “donkey” working to “yard the logs.” “The skid road remained for a number of years from about 32^nd and 80^th, north along the ridge, then to the northeast following the slope to what is now the swimming beach at Luther Burbank Park. Horses and oxen were used to skid logs to the lake from the donkey engine. Logs were then boomed, and towed to saw mills on the lake.”

 Currently, two homes are for sale in the Mercerdale community. Pictured to the left is a typical home in this community. The first is 3471 77^th Avenue SE. This 1420 square foot home features 4 bedrooms and 1.75 bathrooms, and is priced at $575,000. The second is at 3755 77^th Place SE. It is 2090 square feet, and has 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, priced at $699,000.  

If you would like to see the two homes available in Mercerdale, or if you would like to learn more about Mercerdale, please contact me at 206-230-0833. If you are interested in buying or selling a home in the Mercer Island, Seattle, Bellevue, or other nearby communities, please give me a call.

The Truth about the Seattle-Bellevue Real Estate Market Today

By Ken Urman, Realtor

You might have seen this article recently: Seattle home prices zipping upward, but slowdown likely.

Although this article talks about our local Seattle market, I believe it is still very skewed by national statistics and national economic factors. From my point of view, the market in Seattle is much more related to the economic fundamentals of supply and demand. Demand is very high in our area,

primarily due to a strong jobs market, many new people coming to the area, pent up demand, and traffic avoidance issues.

Amazon alone keeps bringing well paid employees to the area who want to live close to their work place. Basically, there are many people looking for housing in the Seattle area. As long as Amazon, Costco, Starbucks, Microsoft and others continue to hire and interest rates remain at a reasonable level, demand will continue.

I often say "most people need a place to live. The majority do not want to be homeless." Let me help you decipher the Seattle Real Estate market. Everyone's situation is different. Relying on news reports to help make your housing decisions may be a mistake. Please give me a call at 206-230-0833.