Maltby

Bordering the tranquil banks of the Snohomish River, Cathcart is a primarily rural, residential community halfway between Historic Downtown Snohomish and Woodinville. “Two of the biggest draws to that area are the excellent school district and the space,” says Kyle Wells, a Realtor with Windermere Realty who specializes in Snohomish County. “You get a little bit of country while still being close to the cities.” There are plenty of opportunities to spread out in Cathcart, with most houses sitting on at least a half-acre of land. These expansive lots, shielded by tall evergreens, provide homeowners with a sense of peace and privacy. Typical area homes include ranches, split-levels and larger Modern Traditional homes built in the ‘90s and early 2000s. Home prices start out at $500,000 for 1,000 sg. ft. floor plans and fixer-upper properties. Most homes sit within the $700,000 to $1 million range. Contemporary custom homes on several acres get above $1 million. These homes sit back on private roads and offer mountain views and luxury amenities like pools and saunas. Students are part of the Snohomish School District. Kids are zoned to start at Cathcart Elementary, which receives a B-plus rating on Niche. Then it’s on to Valley View Middle School and Glacier Peak High School, which both receive an A-minus rating and rank among the top ten schools in Snohomish County. The high school offers advanced placement classes and has a Career & Technical Education Program that prepares students for careers in fields like agriculture, business and health sciences. For the youngest learners, the preschool Clearview Montessori is a private option near many homes in the area. In between feed stores and landscaping suppliers, small eateries sit just off Woodinville Snohomish Road. Taqueria El Pollo Loco is known for authentic Mexican food, and Larry’s Smokehouse specializes in brisket and smoked salmon. And Cathcart’s shopping center, Clearview Plaza, is also home to familiar retailers Safeway and Starbucks. Part of greater Western Washington’s wine hub, Cathcart is just 8 miles away from Woodinville, known for its tasting rooms and scenic wineries. Woodinville also has big-name retailers like Target, Costco, and AMC Theaters. Nestled at the base of the Cascade Mountain Range, the community enjoys ample nature access. At the neighborhood’s edge, Bob Heirman Wildlife Park is a preserve where you can walk, bike and fish on the Snohomish River. And just across the river lies Lord Hill Park, a 1,400-acre nature conservation area traversed by hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails. “People move out to Cathcart to be away from the city,” Wells explains. “There’s not really a ton of there in terms of big entertainment.” However, local parks and nearby towns do offer smaller community-focused events. Willis D. Tucker Community Park is just northwest of Cathcart and is popular in the summer for the splash pad, farmers market and outdoor movies. Locals let their dogs play off-leash in the dog park, and kids enjoy the sand pit and playground. For good country fun, the Evergreen Fairgrounds, 10 miles away, hosts a State Fair in August, as well as horse shows and races on the Evergreen Speedway. And the small towns of Historic Downtown Snohomish and Woodinville offer local festivals and holiday celebrations. The regional Paine Field Airport is 10 miles away, and Everett is 13 miles away. Everett is home to a large shopping mall and a variety of eateries and nightlife opportunities. Those headed into Bellevue, 20 miles away, hop on Interstate 405 to drive 20 or 30 minutes into the city. Anyone commuting to Seattle is typically looking at a 45-minute drive and will tend to hit traffic on the way during rush hour.

Tucked between Interstate 405 and the Woodinville-Snohomish Road, the vast expanse of Metro Seattle exurbia that is Bothell’s North Creek community brings out the abundant natural beauty of Snohomish County. From a booming housing market to the quiet joys of natural recreation, North Creek offers homebuyers a tree-secluded haven 25 miles north of Seattle. North Creek is located within the large city of Bothell, which was founded on the banks of the Sammamish River during the 1870s. Like the urban center of Bothell, North Creek owes its origins as a residential community to the post-World War II suburban boom, during which time the growth of the interstate highway system brought with it the rapid expansion of Seattle’s suburbs into previously quiet, forested areas. While keeping up the pace of nationwide suburbanization, North Creek has managed to retain much of the nature that makes Snohomish County incredibly desirable. Within this “H”-shaped community, the eastern half remains thickly forested, while the western part of North Creek is now home to hundreds of houses serving Seattle’s vibrant housing market. North Creek’s housing stock is as diverse as its topography. Residents may live in sizeable colonials and condos, in homey cottages, in artsy Craftsman homes, and a number of other home styles, all of which tend to skew towards the upper end of the Metro Seattle housing market. Realtor Lori Dunham of The Preview Group says, “Designer colors blend with the forest views. Deciduous trees offer the best of both worlds – shade in the summer and sunlight in the winter.” Homes in North Creek tend to sell for between $400,000 and $2.5 million, reflecting the variety of lifestyles that North Creek offers to its residents. This vast neighborhood has direct access to the retail corridor along the Bothell Everett Highway, where everything from shopping centers to restaurants can be found. At the Canyon Park shopping center, shop for groceries at the PCC Community Markets supermarket. Just up the road, visit Lombardi’s for a delightful Italian dining experience. This popular restaurant serves Italian classics from spaghetti and gnocchi to pizza within a relaxed environment complete with a wine bar. North Creek makes maximal use of its wealth of nature with its parks; Dunham says that residents can “enjoy a neighborhood park just around the corner or take a stroll at the 40-acre Tambark Creek Park.” Within North Creek, itself, check out the forested walking trails and playground at Mays Pond or hike the wetland boardwalks of North Creek Park, where a fur-trapping farmstead has since been transformed into a nature preserve. Beavers, finches, deer, frogs, and even bald eagles have made this park their home, and, for just a moment, you can immerse yourself in the peace of this unique environment. Students attend the “B-minus”-rated Maltby Elementary School, the “A”-rated Skyview Junior High School, and the “A”-rated Henry M. Jackson High School, finishing strong at one of the top 25 college prep public high schools in the state. Whether you have proximity to Seattle or closeness to nature in mind, North Creek offers both of these desirable features within its expansive borders.