Top 10 Hottest Housing Markets in Washington State for 2024

Now might be the best time to buy a house in Washington state.

According to market analysis from Redfin, home prices are taking a (much needed) dip, making this a great chance to score a home at more affordable rates.

This news could be just what you’ve been waiting to hear, especially if you are a first time home buyer, needing to downsize your living space, looking to relocate, or just wanting to move to a new town but still live in Washington.

Fair warning: affordable housing continues to be a crisis in many Washington cities. The demand for homes is bigger than what’s available on the market, thereby increasing the costs for buyers. What used to be a $300,000 house, for example, would likely cost you $450K+ in today’s housing market.

Surprisingly, the majority of the hottest real estate markets in the state are located in Western Washington. We can attribute this to the surrounding natural beauty of this part of the state, including scenic waterfronts, marinas, and proximity to Washington’s biggest city, Seattle.

While the “West Side” ranks amongst the prettiest places to live in Washington, houses in these markets are definitely the most expensive.

NOTE: If you are a first-time home buyer and you live in Washington state, here are a few resources to get some of the costs for down payments as low as possible:

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Washington State Housing Finance Commission

PROGRAM AVAILABLE: Home Advantage

• 620 minimum credit score
• Maximum 50 percent debt-to-income (DTI) ratio
• Annual income under $180,000

-Bankrate.com

PROGRAM AVAILABLE: House Key Opportunity

• Income limits range from $100,000 to $175,000
• The home you want to buy cannot exceed a certain amount — ranging from $345,000 to $750,000 — based on the location of the home.

-Bankrate.com

You can also get a discount on buying a home if it’s energy-efficient through the WSHFC EnergySpark program.

Now, let's take a look at the 10 hottest real estate markets in Washington state.

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