Seattle Neighborhoods: Magnolia

Although Magnolia is only a short distance along Elliott Bay form downtown Seattle, you will feel like you are a long way from a major city.  The well-heeled residents of early days Seattle escaped to the hills of Magnolia and Queen Anne when downtown Seattle began to spread north up along First Hill.  And who could have blamed them! Magnolia feels very relaxed and has an aura of isolation (in a good way). And if you really want to get away from it all, try the magnificent Discovery Park.  Magnolia is spotlessly clean and manicured and you would be hard pressed to see a scrap of paper blowing in the wind. If you are looking for a neighborhood with lots of wild ‘n’ crazy nightlife and shopping options and 3am dining, Magnolia is probably not the right neighborhood for you.

Magnolia realty has sweeping views of the Puget Sound and Olympics and, for the very fortunate, views of downtown Seattle, the Space Needle and Mt. Rainier as well. If you want to get a taste of the Seattle fishing industry, you can visit Fisherman’s Terminal and watch the boats unload their catch or buy some fresh fish at the indoor markets.  A more apt name for this area may have been Madrona but someone on Captain Vancouver’s ship (presumable he was on his way north at the time) misidentified the huge madrona trees growing on the bluffs as magnolias and the name stuck ever since. Compared to almost all other Seattle neighborhoods, Magnolia is the most residential, with a relatively small level of commerce.

Magnolia forms a hilly peninsula that lies northwest of downtown and is the second largest Seattle neighborhood. It is surrounded by Elliott Bay to the south, the Puget Sound to west, Salmon Bay / Ship Canal to the north and Interbay to the east. On the other side of Salmon Bay lies Ballard.

Magnolia Real Estate

Magnolia real estate boasts some magnificent homes, particularly along its south and southwestern area, overlooking the great Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains. The most sought after and hence most expensive, properties are located either high along the top of the bluffs along Magnolia Boulevard or down below on Perkins Lane that is feet from the water. Towards the eastern end of Magnolia Boulevard, homeowners are further spoiled with views of downtown Seattle and Mount Rainier. The land rises up form Magnolia Boulevard with every house clamoring for a view of the water. A good Magnolia real estate agent will be happy to show you the neighborhood.

There are many other fine residential streets in Magnolia, particularly Viewmont Ave, and you pretty much can’t go wrong no matter where you live in this neighborhood. Architectural styles include colonial, Tudors, Victorian, Cape Cod, Spanish, craftsman, ramblers, bungalows as well as contemporary design homes.

Magnolia has seen an increasing number of condos and townhomes in recent years, attracting younger buyers. Many of these are concentrated along Gilman and Thorndike Avenues and around the Village area. If you have any questions regarding homes in Magnolia or would like to view a particular property, please click here to contact me.

Median* home prices for Magnolia single family homes, Magnolia townhomes and Magnolia condos for last six months of 2009 (will be updated quarterly). 

*Where median price is the price at half the homes sold at below that price and half the homes sold above that price.

Price ranges for Magnolia single family homes, Magnolia condos and Magnolia townhomes based on the MLS sales data for the last six months of 2009 (will be updated quarterly).

If you would like more information or have any questions regarding Magnolia real estate, please contact a Magnolia real estate agent.

Magnolia Real Estate Map

Best of Magnolia

The best way to get a real sense of any neighborhood is to get out and walk around. Magnolia is a stroller’s / walkers / joggers paradise. Talk this walk and you will get an excellent feel for just how good a neighborhood this place is.

Part 1:  The Bluffs, above and below.

Start at the commercial center of Magnolia located at McGraw and 34^th Ave known locally as “the village”. Compared to most neighborhoods, the commercial heart of Magnolia is small but does have some great little stores including the Magnolia Bookstore and the Upper Crust Bakery.

Head south on 32^nd Ave, which becomes Clise Place.  You will soon be at the junction with W. Howe Street and arrive at Magnolia Park, which like most of this walk, has fantastic views of the sound, the mountains and downtown Seattle. This park’s big trees protect you from the wind and so is a good place for picnics and watching dramatic sunsets.

At the junction of Howe and Clise, head west over the bridge and then south on Magnolia Boulevard, one of Seattle’s best streets both in terms of the views and the homes. If possible, come on a clear day when the views are WOW! However, on a cloudy day, it’s still a great place to stroll. All the homes are located on the north side of the street with grass and plenty of seats to take in the vistas on the other side. Continue along Magnolia Blvd high above the sound until you reach the Magnolia Blvd Viewpoint. If you are OK with climbing back up, take the stairs down to Perkins Lane with homes right next to the water and, as expected, a step up in price. This is one of Seattle’s most enviable addresses.

Half way along Perkins Ave you will come to a set of stairs that will take you back up to the Magnolia Blvd a at Glenmont Lane. Head north on Glenmont so you can get a taste of homes away from the bluff. Turn east on 42^nd Ave and then along Rosemont Place which will take you back to McGraw St. and the start of your trip. You are now free to treat yourself to a beverage of your choice and some nosh. May I suggest the Upper Crust Bakery or The Village Pub.

Part 2.  Discovery Park.

Discovery Park, at over 500 acres, is Seattle’s largest park and is located in the NW corner of Magnolia. It has it all: forests, a maze of trails, meadows, two miles of driftwood beaches, the sound’s oldest lighthouse, wildlife (a cougar closed down the park for a few days in 2009), the remnants of a military base, an Indian cultural center and needless to say, excellent vistas. Fort Lawton stood guard over the Puget Sound in the early 1900’s and became a major recruiting center for World War II. In the 1960’s the Department of Defense wanted to locate an anti-ballistic missile site there but fortunately, public outcry saw the area becoming a public park.

There are two main trails, the Beach Trail and the Loop Trail. The beach walk is my favorite and takes you along the top of the bluff, followed by a steep drop to the beach, around the West Point Lighthouse (currently being restored to its former glory) and back up to the top. The lighthouse separates two stretches of beach with the south facing one usually being more windy and wild. Once you turn the corner, the west-facing beach can be nice and calm and has less people (not that either get busy) and a good place to sit and take in the views and listen to the water. A great stress reliever. For more information on Discovery Park and its trails visit http://www.seattle.gov/tour/discov.htm