S eattle, Washington is a breathtakingly beautiful city surrounded by water. To the west lies saltwater Puget Sound; to the east, freshwater Lake Washington; in the middle, Lake Union. Everywhere, the backdrop is water. Seattle's vigorous maritime heritage began when the Klondike Gold Rush established it as a major Pacific port in the 1890s, and it is still going full force ahead. Fisherman's Terminal is a successful commercial fishing port, the Port of Seattle is fundamental to marine trade, and the urban waterfront is bustling with commercial, retail and tourist ventures. Ferries crossing Puget Sound and seaplanes lifting off from Lake Union support an thriving island culture in the San Juans, on Vashon and Bainbridge, and two floating bridges spanning Lake Washington carry travelers east to west. Always listed in "Most Romantic Things to Do in Seattle" is taking a ferry ride ... anywhere.

With a population of 563,374 residents, Seattle is a leading center for advanced technology in aerospace, computer software, bioinformatics, genomics, telemedicine, electronics, medical equipment, and environmental engineering. The region's single most important employer is Boeing, which is the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world and consistently one of the top three exporters in the United States. Seattle is also home to REI, Eddie Bauer, Nintendo, Starbucks, Amazon.com, RealNetworks and Microsoft. Some of the world's most dynamic new companies are spinning out of the Puget Sound area, which is naturally the nation's leader in internet business start-ups, but also a leader in business start-ups in general. There is a palatable sense of entrepreneurship here. The median household income is $72,200.

The local cultural scene continues to blossom with nationally respected opera, ballet, art galleries, museums, festivals, and theater. In fact, Seattle boasts more theaters than any comparably sized US city, and the number of total performances ranks second only to New York City. Seattle is one of only six American cities with resident major symphony, opera and ballet companies. Music ranges from a dynamic club scene to a vibrant jazz community to the internationally acclaimed Seattle Symphony. Experience Music Project showcases popular music with a one-of-a-kind mix of interactive exhibits, unique artifacts, and live performance, all in an amazing building designed by Frank Gehry. Whether your interests run to contemporary or traditional art, aviation, Asian art, Nordic cultures, native cultures or history, Seattle's many museums offer something for everyone. Seattle's International Film Festival, held annually mid-May to mid-June, is the largest film festival in the entire country. In Seattle, art is the lifestyle.

The housing market in Seattle is diverse and exciting. Choices include single-family homes in a wide variety of styles, luxury gated communities, investment properties, waterfront lots, town homes and condominiums. In Seattle the average sales price for a single-family detached home is $439,000. The average sales price for condominiums is $235,000.

Since the premier unveiling of Safeco Field in 1999, Seattle has transformed into a baseball town. The game's sole single-name superstar - Ichiro - has had a major role in this, as well as Seattle hosting the 2001 All-Star Game. But baseball is by no means the only game in town. Seahawks Stadium, just north of Safeco - with the same great skyline and water views - hosted its inaugural game in August 2002 and is already established as a prime venue with state-of-the-art facilities for both football and soccer. KeyArena, anchored at Seattle Center, is home to the Seattle SuperSonics; the WNBA professional women's basketball team, the Seattle Storm; and hockey's Seattle Thunderbirds. Horse racing at Emerald Downs, minor league baseball with the Everett Aquasox and Tacoma Rainiers, PRCA Rodeo, and a host of other spectator and participatory sports are some other reasons Seattle's environment is irresistible.

Seattle's mild winters and cool summers enable year-round outdoor activities. High temperatures in July average about 75° F (24° C), while low temperatures in winter drop below freezing an average of only 15 days per year. Average yearly rainfall in Seattle is 36.2 inches (92 cm), compared to 19.5 inches (50 cm) in San Francisco, 34.5 (88 cm) in Chicago, 39 inches (99 cm) in Washington, D.C. and 40.3 inches (102 cm) in New York City.

Among the most popular urban attractions are the Seattle Center and the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, the Hiram Chittenden Locks, Woodland Park Zoo, Tillicum Indian Village, Seattle Aquarium, waterfront, lakeside and sound beaches, Pioneer Square, International District, and local wineries and breweries. Outdoor activities include boating, fishing, golf, water sports, hiking, biking, mountain climbing, and skiing. In addition to being situated on the shores of two large lakes and Puget Sound, with remote wilderness less than an hour away, Seattle is flanked by two major mountain ranges (Olympics and Cascades), with Mount Rainier in full view.

Many acclaimed local chefs have placed Seattle squarely on the international cuisine map, and the list of names is growing all the time including Tom Douglas, Kaspar Donier, Thierry Rautureau, Kathy Casey, Jim Drohman, Scott Staples, Christine Keff, and Tamara Murphy. Their new style of cooking is eclectic, exciting, and world-class. Their use of the freshest seasonal ingredients, harvested locally or grown especially for a restaurant, is stimulating and daring cuisine that is distinctly Seattle. The local bounty is splendid: salmon, shellfish, sweet onions, mushrooms, stone fruits, berries and asparagus. Given its close proximity to the Pacific Rim, Seattle's collaborative cuisine also takes full advantage of Asian ingredients and embraces the city's many cultural influences to craft cutting-edge fusions and colorful works of art.

Seattle is a rich and exciting cosmopolitan city. With access to a strong and vibrant economy, affordable housing, and a thrilling culture, Seattle is a perfect place to live, work, retire or raise a family! If you are considering moving here, or would like more information, please feel free to request a "free relocation package" today!