西雅图及东区去哪里买豪宅 Where to Buy Beautiful Luxury Homes in Seattle and on the Eastside
在西雅图和东区购买豪华住宅的最佳地点
By Niki Stojnic May 28, 2018
This article originally appeared in the Seattle Mandarin Guide 2018 西雅图中文生活方式指南 issue of Seattle magazine.
无论您想在华盛顿湖畔买一座风景房，还是在市中心买一套独立产权的高层公寓，西雅图地区的豪华风景房无处不在。在这个城市，房价反映了快速发展的房地产市场——豪华产权公寓的起价为100万美元，独栋住宅的最低价格为300万美元。微软和亚马逊等西雅图本土生长的核心公司，加之以谷歌和脸书在内的多家硅谷公司的分公司，造成西雅图与旧金山有着越来越相似的技术背景，再加上西雅图较低的生活消费，使得人们经常把西雅图的房价和房屋存量与湾区的旧金山进行对比。苏富比国际地产的总裁Dean Jones指出，西雅图是最新一个正在经历都市化趋势的城市，这一趋势已经席卷了包括温哥华和旧金山在内的其它西海岸城市。Jones指出，作为一个最新的人口密度极高的城市，相对来说，西雅图还是一个比较”合算的城市”，而且外国人在这里购置房地产，不另收特别房产税，另外也不需付州所得税。
在西雅图，风景房和新建筑都特别热门特别抢手。房地产经纪人Anna Riley指出，”尤其是对国际买家而言，现代住宅和新建筑非常吃香，” Anna是Windermere的豪华房产部W Collection的东区（位于华盛顿湖东岸的城镇）专家。实际上，据Coldwell Banker Bain的豪华房产部的主管经纪人Thadine Bak所说，”去年的数据就已经令人感到震惊了。[在东区]我们看到，200万美元以上的新建住房的售卖数量比上年增长了80%。同年，东区的豪华风景房销售总额达到了令人难以置信的11亿美元。”
贝尔维尤（特别是Somerset萨默塞特和贝尔维尤东城区）、Medina (麦迪纳) 和Mercer Island（默瑟岛）都是有许多独立产权风景公寓和湖滨风景房的热门地带，这和房地产的大趋势一致：人们——特别是千禧一代——往郊区搬迁，寻找更大、更新的住宅，以满足不断增长的家庭需求。对于家庭而言，贝尔维尤和Mercer Island的优质学校资源有很大的吸引力。贝尔维尤的景美小学和Tillicum中学都提供普通话双语课程。
Image Credit：Benjamin Benschneider
古色古香的胡桃木镶板的书房/图书馆同Broadmoor住宅的经典乔治亚建筑风格相辅相成
在西雅图，独栋住宅的存量空前地稀少 ，豪华住宅的买家转向购买产权公寓。Riley指出：”西雅图的产权公寓非常受新搬来此定居的人群的青睐。” Madison Park、Laurelhurst和Washington Park等城区都炙手可热。
苏富比的Jones先生指出，产权公寓对国际买家还有很多附加好处，比如与独栋住宅相比有价格优势，而且还有预售这项优势。”产权公寓不但价格较低，而且在预售时段只需支付5%的头期款，而独栋住宅通常价格更高，并且有多个买家抬价竞争。”Jones指出，长达两年时间的交割过程，也是买家购买预售产权公寓的一项优势。此外，Jones还指出，这是一项很好的投资，买家很容易就可以出租这些房屋，而且与以往不同的是，由于房屋中值一直在上涨（在2016年到2017年之间增长了19%)，产权公寓的保值性也很好。
在西雅图最受期待的产权公寓之一是Weber Thompson设计的、独一无二的41层建筑Nexus，预计将于2019年开放，截至发稿时，其出售比例已达92%。One88是位于贝尔维尤市中心的一座华丽的21层玻璃建筑，由总部位于温哥华的Amanat Architect设计。在这栋大楼 里，人们可以俯瞰Cascades山脉和华盛顿湖。截至发稿时，该栋大楼已售出70%，价格从80万美元到500万美元不等，200万美元以下的公寓已经全部售光。
无论是产权公寓还是独栋住宅，人们对某些配备设施趋势的要求甚高。在大多数独栋住宅，数个宽广的开放空间无缝地融成一起，连接到户外是必不可少的。Riley指出：宽敞的大间房，由大扇滑动门或折叠门连接到供暖的室外空间，模糊了室内和室外的界限。
Image Credit：Paul Gjording/I SHOOT HOUSES
Issaquah的世外桃源，Windermere地产豪华住宅部W Collection的这座湖滨豪宅是大气奢华和亲密空间的完美结合。这座带有优雅的怀旧风格的住宅占地0.9英亩，有5个卧室和9个浴室；迷人的花园、沙滩和瀑布带来自然的感觉。附加设施包括健身房、运动场地、室内/室外游泳池、鲤鱼池和攀岩墙等。
“豪宅市场对家庭和朋友的体验非常重视，”W Collection的经纪人Michael Doyle说道，”首先是地理位置，位于市中心和靠近城市中心的产权公寓和独栋住宅，因为可以方便地进行娱乐、购物和就餐活动而受追捧。”滨水区和度假区则为富有的买主们提供了丰富的自然体验。拥有较大的地皮和临近好学校的房屋，对于有孩子的人家、以及着眼于转售的投资者而言，都是很受欢迎的。这些房屋的室内空间很宽敞、天花板较高，方便邀约亲朋聚会。”
Riley说，开放空间这一概念贯穿了整个房屋，包括厨房。在人们常常聚集的厨房的中岛上方通常设计有较大的排气罩。而可以快速地烹饪食物的蒸汽烤箱也深受欢迎。重味道厨房也很走俏——这是靠近开放式主厨房的小厨房，用来烹饪味道强烈的菜肴。它们通常有独立的通风系统，因此可以避免让开放的聚会空间充满了前一天饭菜的味道。
许多房屋现在还设计有Riley所说的”X代套房” (Gen X Suite)，也就是一个附属的或独立的单元或区域，让大家庭可以住在一起，无论是想要回家住的成年子女，或是想要住得近一点的远方亲戚，这种房屋都可以满足需求。
许多这样的住宅中，宜居的户外区域和房屋内部一样装修精致。它们的供暖设备是内置的、遮盖起来的，而不是通过加热灯供暖，供暖装置自然地从屋内延伸到屋外，这样，在普吉特湾的温和气候下，全年都可以使用。阳台和后院的活动空间同客厅一样，装有壁炉、小厨房、室内风格的家具，还有平板电视等电子设备的接口。
在Market Place Tower豪华顶层公寓的300平方英尺的阳台上将城市天际线和普吉特湾、Elliot湾及奥林匹克山脉的碧水青山白雪尽收眼底。
可持续性不再是迷你精简的城市农舍的专利，Coldwell Banker Bain首席经纪人兼豪宅部门专家John Deely表示，豪宅市场正在转向可持续采购，使用环保材料和节能配备，包括空气和水净化系统。”不久前，人们还很少考虑豪宅的可持续性和节能性，但现在的豪宅消费者则很关注系统、建材、装饰和家具是否创造了健康的生活环境、是否考虑了室内环境和建筑对人类健康的影响。”
全自动化设施和物联网已经融入在大多数豪宅之中。除了可以在智能手机或单独的设备上进行远程操作的先进安全设施和昼夜照明设计，Deely指出，”在豪华住宅的各个方面都出现了人工智能、语音指令和机器人应用程序。” 酒窖的藏酒技术将会在葡萄酒熟成的时候通知您，而且您可以很快地为这款酒配上完美的晚餐食谱。娱乐系统大多是无线的，且具有更大、更好的视觉和音质。”Deely指出了一个更令人叫妙的细节是在洗衣房里：电子猫砂箱可以通过应用程序来操作和清洁。”带有适当便利设施的产权公寓建筑，会持续成为豪华地产销售的关键因素，”Deely指出，”其中包括模拟高尔夫、儿童游戏间及宠物娱乐和美疗区域。”
Buying Tips from the Luxury Home Experts
豪华住宅专家点出的购买提示
> 提前计划。”中国买家可以在产权公寓预售时段，支付5%的定金，而交割通常发生在几年以后，这样就有足够的时间将资金从中国转移到美国。”——Dean Jones，苏富比国际地产总裁兼CEO。
> 因为房源不足，在西雅图买房可能不是一件易事。W Collection经纪人Michael Doyle指出：”由于库存少，大多数买家不仅在自己最心仪的地点找房，而且也考虑了他们第二、第三和第四可接受地带。。。如果他们的经纪人很优秀、人脉很广的话，那么他们就会得到一些还没有上市发售房产的内幕消息；不管是二手房还是新建房 。”
> 找一个专门服务您希望购买的城区或地区的房地产经纪人。”他们可以成为您的中介和向导：他们知道建筑商的历史、 非常了解这个区域、专长房屋重售，即那些需要从长远角度考虑的重要的事情。”——Lisa Whittaker， Coldwell Banker Bain全球豪华地产总监。
小贴士：苏富比提供在线中英双语”最佳实践守则”(“Best Practices”) 指南：如需该指南和其它资源，请访问rsir.com并搜索 “international buying”。 在线链接：rsir.com/blog/2018/02/as-international-buying-surges-best-broker-practices-are-more-important-than-ever
Luxe Seattle Homes By the Numbers
数字解读西雅图豪华住宅
西雅图地区的房地产专家也建议您了解该地区、尤其是您感兴趣的城区的房价和升值趋势。
升值
根据Zillow数据显示，2015年至2017年间，西雅图、贝尔维尤、柯克兰(Kirkland)和埃德蒙德(Redmond)等地的独栋住宅房价的中值增长了33.46%；产权公寓的中值增长了40.44%。无论以何种标准衡量，这些都是不错的数据，我们还可以更仔细地看看其它数据。
房价中值
西雅图 (2016–2017)
Queen Anne/Magnolia (安妮皇后区/玉兰区)： $946,000，增长5%；西雅图房价中值最高的地方。
Southeast Seattle (西雅图东南)：$613,875美元，增长20%，西雅图房价增长最快的地方。
西雅图周边地区* (2016-2017)
Sammamish (瑟马米什): $955,000，增长11%。
Woodinville (伍丁维尔)：$778,000，增长11%。
*因较大的东区城市或城区不像这些较小城市有大幅增长，所以未包含在此项统计中。
最贵的城区：Medina（麦迪纳）
2017年和2018年本地区售价最高的住宅都在这个城区：2017年为23,375,000美元，2018年为26, 750,000美元。
最贵的产权公寓：位于西雅图市中心的Millennium Tower (千禧塔)，2017年卖出的一套顶层阁楼售价为$7,500,000美元。
English Version
Where the Lux Homes Are
Best Places to Buy Luxury Homes in Seattle and the Eastside
Whether you’re looking for a view home on Lake Washington or a high-rise condo in the heart of the city, the Seattle area is home to plentiful locations for luxurious homes with great views. In the city, prices reflect the fast-moving real estate market, with condos that can start at $1 million and single-family homes $3 million and up—that reflects the fast-moving real estate market across the region. It’s common to hear price and inventory comparisons to that other city by the bay, San Francisco, thanks to lower prices in an increasingly similar tech setting, comprised of home-grown core companies, such as Microsoft and Amazon, and myriad satellites of Silicon Valley companies, including Google and Facebook. Dean Jones, principal and owner of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty, says that Seattle is the latest city going through an urbanization trend that has already swept other West Coast cities, including Vancouver, B.C. and San Francisco. As the newest city on the densifying block, Seattle is “a relative bargain,” says Jones, and comes without a foreign buyer home tax or a state income tax.
In Seattle, views and new construction are hot commodities. “There’s been a large renaissance in contemporary housing and new construction, especially for the international buyer,” says broker Anna Riley, an Eastside (cities and towns located on the east side of Lake Washington) expert with Windermere’s luxe W Collection. Indeed, according to Coldwell Banker Bain luxury division principal managing broker Thadine Bak, “The numbers from last year are staggering. [On the Eastside] we saw an 80 percent increase over the previous year in the number of new construction homes purchased above $2 million. The Eastside had an incredible $1.1 billion in total sales of luxury view homes last year.”
Bellevue (particularly neighborhoods such as Somerset and east Bellevue), Medina and Mercer Island are all popular places to find view condos and waterfront residences, which follows an overall real estate trend that has people—and millennials in particular—moving to the suburbs in search of bigger and newer housing that meets their growing family needs. Bellevue and Mercer Island’s highly-rated schools are a big draw for families as well. Bellevue’s Jing Mei Elementary and Tillicum Middle School feature Mandarin dual language programs.
In Seattle, where the number of available single-family homes is slimmer than ever, luxury buyers are looking to condos. In Seattle, “The condo market in Seattle is super popular with people coming in,” says Riley, with Madison Park, Laurelhurst, and Washington Park all sought-after neighborhoods.
Condos have a lot of additional benefits for international buyers as well, says Realogics’ Jones, such as better prices than single-family homes and the benefit of presales. “Condos offer lower price points and the opportunity to purchase during presales with just 5 percent down payment and without multiple offers like houses that are higher priced and oftentimes more competitive.” The extended two-year closing process, says Jones, is also a perk of presale condo buying. In addition, they’re a great investment, says Jones, easy and profitable to rent out, and unlike in the past, they have been holding their worth, thanks to increasing median home values, up 19 percent between 2016 and 2017.
One of the most hotly anticipated condominiums in Seattle is the unique Weber Thompson-designed, 41-story Nexus, slated to open in 2019 and as of press time, 92 percent sold. In Bellevue, One88 is a gorgeous 21-story glass structure in the heart of downtown, designed by Vancouver-based Amanat Architect, that has sweeping views of the Cascades and Lake Washington. As of press time, it was 70 percent sold. Prices range from $800,000 to $5 million, with nothing available below $2 million.
Whether a condo or a single-family home, there are a few common amenity trends that are in high demand. Sprawling common areas that blend into one another and to the outdoors are de rigeur in most single-family homes. Generous great rooms are connected to heated outdoor spaces via large sliding or folding doors, blurring the lines between indoors and out, according to Riley.
“The luxury market is placing a high value on experiences with family and friends,” says W Collection broker Michael Doyle. “Starting with location, condominiums and single-family homes both in and close to urban centers are prized for easy access to entertainment, shopping, and restaurants. Waterfront and resort locations bring luxury buyers optimizing for in-nature experiences. Homes with large lots and near good schools are popular for those with children and for those luxury investors with an eye toward resale. Spaces inside homes are wide open with tall ceilings; inviting family and friends to share in the bounty.”
That concept extends throughout these homes, including in the kitchen, according to Riley, which often feature large hoods centered over a kitchen island, where people can gather. Steam ovens, which cook food faster, are also in demand, as are spice kitchens—a smaller kitchen adjacent to the main open kitchen for cooking intensely fragrant dishes. They often have their own ventilation system, so all those open gathering spaces avoid smelling like yesterday’s meals.
Many homes now also include what Riley calls the “Gen X suite,” an attached or detached unit or area where extended family can live—whether those are adult children that come back to live at home or relatives who live far away and want to move closer.
Livable Outdoor areas are as elaborate in many of these homes as the interiors—their heat is built in, rather than via heat lamp, and covered, extending naturally from the home and making it usable year-round in the Puget Sound’s temperate climate. Decks and back yard spaces are outfitted like your living room with fireplaces, mini-kitchens, inside-style furniture and hookups for electronics like a flat screen TV.
Sustainability is no longer the sole domain of minimal urban farmhouses. The luxury market is moving towards sustainable sourcing, eco-friendly materials and energy efficient features, including air and water purification systems, says Coldwell Banker Bain principal managing broker and luxury division expert John Deely in Seattle. “In the not too distant past, little thought was given to sustainability and energy efficiency in the luxury market; but today’s luxury consumer is interested in systems, materials, finishes and furnishings that create a healthy living environment and consider the biological impacts the interior environment and buildings have on humans.”
Automated everything and the Internet of Things is integrated into most luxury homes. In addition to advanced security and circadian lighting designs, operated remotely from smart phones or by a single device, says Deely, “artificial intelligence, voice command and robotic applications are popping up in all areas of the luxury home. Wine inventory technology for your cellar will notify you when a wine has matured, and one can quickly pair that wine with the perfect recipe for the evening’s meal. Entertainment systems are mostly wireless with bigger and better visual and sound quality and are ubiquitous.” Deely notes one of the more impressive details that turned up in one home’s laundry room: an electronic cat litter box, which could be operated and cleaned via an app. “Condo buildings with the right amenities continue to be a key factor in luxury real estate sales,” he says, “including simulated golf, children’s gaming rooms and pet recreation and spa areas.”
Buying Tips from the Luxury Home Experts
—Plan ahead. Chinese buyers can make a modest 5-percent deposit on a future presale condominium but not worry about closing for several years, allowing plenty of time to move money from China into the US. —Dean Jones, owner and CEO of Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty
—The Seattle area can be a tough housing market to shop in—there just aren’t that many homes out there available to buy. “With so little inventory, most buyers are looking not just in their preferred location but in their second, third, and fourth choices,” says W Collection broker Michael Doyle. “If their agents are good and well-networked, they are getting the inside scoop on not-yet-listed inventory; both re-sale and new construction.”
—Find an agent that specializes in the neighborhood or area you are hoping to buy in. “They can be your advocate and your guide; they know the history of the builder, they specialize in the area, in resale—things that are important over the long-term.” —Lisa Whittaker, Global Luxury Director at Coldwell Banker Bain
For additional tips: Realogics offers a “Best Practices” guide online (in Mandarin and English): To find this, and other resources, visit rsir.com and search for “international buying”.
Luxe Seattle Homes By the Numbers
Seattle-area real estate experts also recommend you look at home values and appreciation trends in area and the particular neighborhoods in which you’re interested.
Appreciation
According to Zillow, median appreciation across the cities of Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland and Redmond for single-family homes between 2015 and 2017 was 33.46 percent; for condominiums, 40.44 percent. Good numbers by any measure, but here’s a closer look at some additional real estate data.
Median Home Prices
In Seattle (2016–2017):
Queen Anne/Magnolia: $946,000, an increase of 5 percent; the highest median home price in the city
Southeast Seattle: $613, 875, an increase of 20 percent, the fastest growth rate in the city
Outside of Seattle*, in neighborhoods with significant growth (2016–2017)
Sammamish: $955,000, an increase of 11 percent
Woodinville: $778,000, an increase of 11 percent
Priciest Neighborhood: Medina
The highest priced home sold for $23,375,000 in 2017 and for $26, 750,000 in 2018.
The highest-priced condo: downtown Seattle’s Millennium Tower, a penthouse sold for $7.5 million in 2017
* These are the places that had more sales than previous years. bigger eastside cities are not here because they didn’t have the growth these smaller ones listed do.