West Highlands

Seattle is an area that scratches the itches of seemingly any homebuyer, whether seeking a vibrant downtown area or a misty, quiet mountaintop. This is one of the reasons it's such an expensive housing market, which means buyers often trade one thing on their lists for another. But in the Issaquah neighborhood of West Highlands, you don't have to compromise on things like views and proximity to shopping to stay within your budget. "One of the big draws of this area is its access to Interstate 90," says Managing Broker for the Agency NW Real Estate Matthew Jensen, who sells homes in West Highlands. "This is a community where buyers can come for a good value, comparatively speaking to, for example, Bellevue, because it's a bit farther away from Seattle yet already has all these amenities to offer."

Roughly 15 miles southeast of downtown Seattle, Issaquah is located at the south end of Lake Sammamish, where a valley formed by three evergreen mountain peaks stretches southward. West Highlands sits just above the valley on a plateau on the other side of Interstate 90, lending stunning views of downtown Issaquah and Cougar Mountain to neighborhood homes whose views are not obstructed by thick rows of cedar and pine. Many of the homes in West Highlands are new builds, often exhibiting a variety of styles, but most often small single-family homes and town houses that adopt a neo-colonial or contemporary look. "It's a nice mix of different styles and motifs," says Jensen. "The more contemporary design is something that's only been around now for about 10 years. Prior to that, it was a lot of Craftsman's." West Highlands is rather affordable concerning its distance from one of America's most expensive housing markets. The median for a single-family home is around $390,000, although in some rare cases a property in West Highlands can sell for as much as $1.2 million.

Niche ranks Issaquah School District as the 5th best in Washington State. Clark Elementary receives an A from Niche thanks to experienced teachers who work with an average ratio of 14 students per teacher. Issaquah Middle also receives an A rating from Niche thanks to its excellent teachers who, on average, hold more than 14 years of experience in the field. Finally, Issaquah High receives an A-plus rating from Niche and continues setting students up for success even after graduating through its College and Career Center, which guides students through career development programs and college application assistance.

West Highlands keeps its residents safe and well-connected with several alternative transportation options, such as charging stations for electric vehicles, paved walking trails and separated bike lanes. "Buyers like the interactive element of this community because it's filled with friendly neighbors and parks," says Jensen. "We not only have everything from tennis courts to basketball courts, but we also have biking parks." Though not in the neighborhood, the trailhead for Grand Ridge is roughly 3 miles outside of town, offering extensive trails for mountain biking and long-distance hiking. But there are also parks in town. The small but cozy Vista Park is where people often gather to play volleyball while children watch and jeer from the nearby jungle gym. On your lunch break, grab a seat on a bench at the Community Pillars, a plaza in town where locals go to chat and people-watch.

One block south of the neighborhood, along Park Drive, residents can find a whole host of amenities for shopping and dining waiting to be visited. On rainy days, crowds line up below the retro marquee of the neighborhood's Regal Theater to catch a movie. After that, they argue with friends about the movie they watched over a Cadillac Margarita from Agave Cocina and Tequila. But if you would rather not fill up on popcorn and tequila, you can get all your groceries from a Safeway location in Grand Ridge Plaza before swinging into BevMo! for a bottle of wine to close out the day with.

Written By

Tom Jakob

Photography Contributed By

Noah Lubin

Video By

Zoe Sarris