Situated at the north end of Lake Washington roughly 14 miles from downtown Seattle, Kenmore offers a central location to some of the area’s biggest employers. “We have a lot of tech that drives our economy here,” says Nate Short, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Bain who’s sold homes here for 23 years. “While Kenmore doesn’t host any of those companies, it’s within 15 minutes to Microsoft in Redmond, and it’s also about 20 minutes to downtown Seattle.” Comparably low prices also drive buyers here. “The housing market is more affordable here than in many parts of Seattle, and certainly on the east side,” Short says. “It’s a really good mix of townhomes, single-family residences and luxury properties on the lake.” Access to Lake Washington, the Sammamish River and the Burke-Gilman Trail, a bike path leading to Seattle, are additional perks, and highly rated public schools attract families to the city.
Watch seaplanes land while rowing a canoe on Lake Washington in Kenmore Terrace.
The Sammamish River flows through Moorlands providing plenty of fun outdoor activities.
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Tree-filled suburban yards and mid-rise condos
The median home sale price in Kenmore is around $1.1 million, higher than the national median of roughly $410,000 but lower than Bellevue’s median of $1.8 million. “It’s really hard to get a home under $1.5 million in the Bellevue-Kirkland area,” Short says. “Kenmore is more affordable and still gives you a great location and access to Seattle.” Single-family homes typically feature a variety of mid and late-20th-century ranch and split-level homes, common in neighborhoods like Linwood Heights and Inglewood, plus 21st-century Craftsman- and farmhouse-inspired new traditional houses in areas like Moorlands. Regardless of age, these neighborhoods have a suburban feel, with tree-filled lots along hilly cul-de-sacs. “In the northwest, we have a lot of rain, particularly in the winter,” Short says. “So you have to be careful about looking at the condition of homes, everything from crawlspaces, attics, drainage, roof condition and wood rot.” Mid-rise condos and townhouses are common in Downtown Kenmore and neighboring communities like Northlake Terrace.
Beautiful Craftsman homes surrounded by nature can be found in Moorlands.
A row of townhomes with mixed commercial use on the ground level in Downtown Kenmore.
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The Northshore School District’s top-ranked teachers
Local kids attend schools in the Northshore School District, which earns an A-plus from Niche and is ranked as having the best teachers in the state. The district has invested in its music program, building the Northshore Concert Hall at Inglemoor High, where the school’s band and orchestra ensembles perform to audiences of 750. Bastyr University in the city enrolls around 750 students in natural medicine programs, and there are several other nearby universities, including the University of Washington’s Bothell campus and Cascadia College.
UW Bothell near Kenmore, is located approximately 30 minutes from the Seattle campus.
Inglemoor High School near Kenlake Vista, ranks among the highest in Washington.
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Seattle by car, light rail or bus
Bothell Way is the main road through Kenmore, leading roughly 4 miles to Interstate 5 and 5 miles to Interstate 405. “From Kenmore, it takes a little while to get to the freeways, depending on which way you’re going for a commute,” Short says. “If you’re moving here for a job, really understand those traffic patterns before you buy.” Seattle and Bellevue are both about 14 miles away. Sound Transit’s Link light rail has a station 5 miles away where residents can park and ride, or they can take Sound Transit’s bus to a light rail station to get to Seattle. “If you want to get to the airport or downtown Seattle, you don’t have to drive and park,” Short says. The light rail’s East Link Extension, also called the 2 Line, will add light rail service from Seattle to Bellevue and Redmond in 2025. Bike lanes and sidewalks make the city friendly for cyclists and pedestrians. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, known locally as Sea-Tac, is about 27 miles away. EvergreenHealth Medical Center and University of Washington Medical Center are both within 7 miles.
Lake Washington and the Burke-Gilman Trail
According to U.S. Climate Data, the Seattle area sees an average of over 140 rainy days each year, but that doesn’t keep Kenmore’s residents stuck inside. Much of Kenmore borders Lake Washington and the Sammamish River, where kayaking, boating and fishing are popular. The city has eight parks, many with water access. The over 300-acre Saint Edward State Park is a highlight, offering forested walking paths along Lake Washington and hosting Kenmore’s Summer Concert Series. The private Inglewood Golf Club, one of the oldest golf clubs in the region, sits just north of the park. Cyclists and joggers can hop on the 20-mile Burke-Gilman Trail, which wraps around Lake Washington’s west side and connects to Seattle.
Inglewood Golf Club is just outside of the Moorlands neighborhood.
Burke-Gilman Trail in Kenlake Vista is perfect for long bike rides.
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Shopping and dining along Bothell Way
Kenmore’s restaurants and grocery stores are spread out along Bothell Way. “There are some breweries and a growing selection of restaurants, but downtown Bothell has developed into more of a central gathering place,” Short says. Bothell, only 3 miles away, has a more walkable urban core, and Short says Kenmore is looking at ways to become more of a destination. The Lakepointe Development is part of that plan. The project aims to redevelop 45 waterfront acres into a public park and commercial area; completion is currently scheduled for 2031.
Father Mulligan's Bar in Inglewood has delicious food and refreshing craft cocktails.
Safeway in Inglewood has all your grocery needs and more.
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Lower-than-average crime rates
According to data from the Kenmore Police Department, the city’s rate of violent and property crimes decreased in 2023, and rates remain well below state and national figures. The agency has 12 sworn officers and often partners with surrounding cities for initiatives like the Regional Crisis Response Agency, which deploys mental health professionals to behavior-related calls.
Despite his international upbringing, there is no place like Seattle where Kevin feels more at home. Born in Toronto, raised in Hong Kong, lived in Tokyo and New York all prior to putting down roots here in the Pacific Northwest over a decade ago – of all people, Kevin recognizes the importance in finding your home where you can make memories, foster relationships and build communities.
As a landlord managing a portfolio of rental properties within the Greater Seattle metropolitan area, Kevin embraces real estate with a passion. He prides himself on his savvy knowledge of the local market and its specific neighborhoods, which allows him to share all relevant information that may impact a client’s position, good or bad. He understands first-hand how stressful buying and selling real estate can be, and is committed to making that process easier, one client, one transaction at a time.
Kevin graduated from Yale with an economics degree and acquired his MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. His wide spectrum of professional experiences stretched across trading distressed property assets at Lehman Brothers to managing homeowner insurance products at Liberty Mutual. Kevin’s continual pursuit of education, strong business acumen and analytical mindset, along with trilingual abilities being fluent in Chinese and Japanese, are assets that benefit his client.
When Kevin is not previewing properties or conducting market analyses for his clients, he enjoys cooking with his wife and playing with his Goldendoodle puppy. Kevin also finds joy in giving back to the community through music and performance arts.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
