Discovering Ballard Washington

If you are considering a move to or around the Seattle, Washington area, you will want to see what the charming community of Ballard has to offer.

About Ballard

What was once a small fishing community in the northwest area of Seattle has grown into a stylish city hot spot for trendy restaurants, bars, coffee shops, live music venues and a wide array of shopping.

Ballard weather is often rainy and cloudy through the fall and winter months. Known for its rainfall, the Seattle area averages about 38 inches of rain per year. However, snow is minimal, with an average of just five inches per year.

The spring and summer months are mild in the Pacific Northwest. It is rare to have summer temperatures above 90 degrees and the average in July is right around 76 degrees.

The Ballard neighborhood official boundaries are Crown Hill to the north, Lake Washington Ship Canal to the south, Green Wood, Phinney Ridge and Fremont to the east and Puget Sound's Shilshole Bay to the west.

Home buying

With a dense suburban feel, this neighborhood has grown into a flourishing space for residents to embrace historic homes, as well as new and updated homes.

With an average home price of $866,000, homes are listed and sold quickly in the Ballard area. On average, homes sell within a week of being listed making it a rather competitive market. The area is highly desired because of the employment opportunities offered locally, highly rated public schools and the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

At any given time there are roughly 10-20 listings in Ballard but it also depends on the supply and demand and the current market so these figures can change often. Homes range from a one-bedroom, one-bathroom condominium with 869 square feet to a beautifully updated duplex, built in 1924, with 2,460 square feet. Be sure to check with new listings for more accurate numbers. 

Unique restaurants

• Hot Cakes: A dessert restaurant on historic Ballard Avenue, serving coffee, desserts, pastries and lunch. Whether you're looking for molten cakes, cookies and ice cream, coffee or a boozy milkshake, this specialty dessert bar is sure to please.
• Portage Bay Cafe: This breakfast and lunch eatery features local, organic foods in a vibrant, warehouse type space with funky, trendy and fun decor.

Shopping Opportunities

• Baleen: An affordable family-run jewelry shop, specializing in quality, handmade jewelry.
• Ballyhoo Curiosity Shop: Located in the historic district of Ballard, this unique shop is a mix between a natural history museum and antique shop. It offers an array of unique and unusual gifts and artifacts, from fossils to wood carvings to jewelry and more.
• Horseshoe: This small business boutique is a fun clothing store that offers women's clothing, gifts and jewelry by local artists.

Outdoor Recreation

• Golden Gardens Park: Located along the beach of the Puget Sound, this park features breathtaking views of the water and the Olympic Mountains. There are two wetlands, a short loop trail and restored beach, as well as areas to hike through forest trails, play on sandy beaches, and fish from the pier or boat launch.
• Ballard Locks: This Seattle tourist attraction is free to visit and fun to experience as the locks at the end of Salmon Bay raise and lower water levels to allow boat traffic to traverse through, without mixing fresh lake water and the saltwater from the Puget Sound, while also supporting the local habitat through the fish ladder.

For more information on your Seattle move, or to assist with neighborhood selection, please contact us at My Seattle Home Search.

Start Your Ballard Search Here

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