WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION ; Seattle Neighborhood Tour

Welcome to the Seattle Junction. This corner of West Seattle goes by many names; the Alaska Junction, the Seattle Junction, or even just simply The Junction. The Junction is a favorite spot of many Seattle residents and tourists alike because it celebrates Seattle artistry, it has some of the best food and coffee shops in the city, and the many events that are hosted year round really bring a buzz to the area.

West Seattle Junction Neighborhood

The Junction sits in the heart of West Seattle, less than five miles from downtown as the crow flies. Currently, the West Seattle bridge is undergoing repair work, and so commute times to downtown are extended. But West Seattle feels like a city within a city. It is home to Alki Beach - Seattle's most popular beach - the West Duwamish Green Belt - Seattle's largest contiguous forest - and affords the same conveniences and personality of Seattle that make it what it is.

Hotwire Coffeehouse

Any tour of a neighborhood of Seattle should include a stop at a local coffeehouse. The Junction has some of the best coffee shops in the city. One of the best options in the area for a dose of caffeine is Hotwire Coffeehouse. Their brick building is classy but petite, but that's not a problem as the outdoor shaded seating in the patio is the easy choice when catching up with a friend over one of their specialty drinks. Any of their house specials are going to be good, including the fitting Junction Latte - which is flavored pistachio and Irish cream - and it's good!

Many of the local shops in the area, including Hotwire, are an ever-changing wall of canvases made by local artists; and that's because The Junction likes to celebrate the creativity of its community and the wider area. There's no better way to take in some of these excellent works than at the monthly West Seattle Art Walk.

West Seattle Art Walk

During the West Seattle Art Walk many of the independent businesses in The Junction showcase, talented local artists. Many of these businesses stay open late on the Art Walk nights, so grab a map and get inspired. And be sure to support the local artists and businesses while you're out enjoying the evening.

Easy Street Records

Speaking of local businesses, The Junction is home to a couple of Seattle's favorites; the West Seattle Bowl and Easy Street Records, which is one of the last remaining record stores in the city of Seattle. This West Seattle staple has thrived since his foundation in 1988 by being flexible in its offerings. Not only does it sell records, and a lot of good ones of that, it also offers in-store live performances, which has seen artists such as Pearl Jam, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and Kings of Leon grace its stage.Not only that, in 2001, Easy Street Records opened a full-service cafe next door, which has since become a Seattle brunch time favorite. And you can't read their list of menu items without a chuckle. Choices such as the Soundgarden burger, the Green Day salad, or the Let It BLT.

A la Mode Pies

The Alaska Junction is home to a ton of great food options, and that includes plenty of bakery delights for the sweet tooths of you out there! A la Mode Pies has a couple different locations across Seattle. They offer two hour pie making classes from their experts, which includes plenty of tasty samples! It makes for a great date night. Or stop by at any time and try something different but equally delicious from the seasonally-rotating menu.

West Seattle Junction Real Estate

Now, let's take a look at the local real estate market, starting with the Seattle city averages. According to Redfin, in May, 2021, the average home price for sale within Seattle area was $816,000, which was a whopping 17% higher than what it was in May, 2020, but also saw an increase of 80% in the number of homes sold between May, 2021, and May, 2020, as well.And the numbers for West Seattle are even more staggering with a 23% increase in the home values from May to May, as well as a 98% increase in the number of homes sold. But the good news is the average home price of West Seattle is still slightly below the city average, despite seeing stronger growth; and with the way the home prices are trending, the best time for you to buy is as soon as you can. You'll no doubt save a lot of money. Contact Seattle's Mortgage Broker today to speak with a loan officer who lives and works in the area and can offer expert-level guidance for your home purchase or refinance.

Uptown Espresso

As mentioned before, West Seattle has some great coffeehouses. Another local gem is Uptown Espresso, who are famous for their self-proclaimed velvet foam, which tastes just as good as it looks! They now have six locations across Seattle, which is no mean feat to stand out enough to grow against the backdrop of the city that's famous for its coffee. Visit on a Sunday morning and you can stop by the beloved West Seattle Farmers Market. If you do end up calling The Junction home, you'll love being able to grab your fruit and vegetables on a weekly basis straight from the farm. If you decide that you do want to call West Seattle home or any other neighborhood in the area, please give us a call or schedule a Zoom meeting. And take a look at some of our other Seattle neighborhood tour videos on our YouTube channel.