Local Real Estate - Washington

Quick Facts:

• Capital: Olympia
• Largest City: Seattle
• Population (2000): 5,894,121
• Area: 71,342 sq mi

Climate:

Split by the Cascade Range, the western and eastern regions of the state have very different climates. Western Washington features an oceanic climate with relatively mild temperatures, thanks to warm Pacific Ocean currents. While the region doesn't quite live up to its rainy reputation, the weather is dominated by drizzling rain and dense cloud cover for most of the year. Summer, however, is generally sunny and dry. Eastern Washington's weather is characterized by little rainfall, chilly winters, and hot summers.

Economy:

Industries that contribute significantly to Washington's economy include:

• Agriculture (apples, cherries, pears, hops, wine, etc.)
• Aircraft manufacturing (Boeing)
• Software development (Microsoft)
• Online retailers (Amazon.com, Drugstore.com, Expedia.com, etc.)
• Biotechnology
• Electronics (Nintendo)
• Lumber and wood products
• Tourism

In 2005, Washington's per capita income was $42,702, or 17th in the nation. The state's total gross product was 14th in the U.S., at $268.5 billion. 

Major Employers:

• Boeing
• Cingular Wireless
• Costco
• Microsoft
• University of Washington
• Weyerhaeuser
• Amazon
• Google
• T-Mobile
• UPS
• Starbucks Coffee
• Tully's Coffee
• Lockheed Martin
• Honeywell
• Fluke
• Terex (Genie Industries)
• Washington Mutual
• Ports of Tacoma and Seattle
• US Airforce, Navy & Army

Recreational Activities:

Washington's population is generally an outdoor-loving lot, lured by the abundance of recreational activities in the surrounding waters and mountains. The Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges provide ample opportunity for hiking, camping, mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding. Kayaking and boating are popular activities in Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands, and on the Pacific coast. In 2005, Men's Fitness magazine ranked Seattle America's Fittest City (the ranking dropped to a still-respectable number 8 in 2006).

Major Cities in Washington:

• Bellevue (109,569*)
• Bellingham (69,057*)
• Everett (88,850*)
• Olympia (42,514*)
• Seattle (536,946*)
• Spokane (192,777*)
• Tacoma (191,934*)
• Vancouver (155,488*)
• Yakima (79,517*)

*Population based on 2000 U.S. Census data

Government Links:

• State of Washington

Other Washington Resources:

• Search Zillow for Washington homes
• More Zillow information on Washington real estate