Part 3: Plan B Neighborhoods That Still Win Long-Term
So… you love Queen Anne (or Madison Park, or Montlake, or insert premier neighborhood here), but inventory is thinner than a Seattle sunbeam in February and prices are premium-plus. You’re not dying to pay $750 a square foot for a townhome with no yard, or an older cottage on a very cozy 3,600-square-foot lot.
Welcome to Plan B — not “second best,” just more house, more personality, and still a smart long-term play.
Fremont / Wallingford — “The Center of the Universe”
(Self-proclaimed, of course.)
Just over the historic Ship Canal Bridge from Queen Anne sits Fremont, Seattle’s waterfront, artistic, proudly weird cousin. This is the neighborhood with a 20-foot troll under the Aurora Bridge eating a VW Bug (as one does), countless art studios, and a population that takes creativity very seriously — sometimes while wearing very little. Yes, the Solstice Parade is the one where the parade outfit is… body paint. Think Amsterdam, but with better coffee and fewer canals.
Fremont is also home to Adobe and a strong tech presence, which helps explain why prices stay stubbornly high and inventory remains, shall we say, anorexic.
Next door is Wallingford, quieter, a bit more buttoned up, and famously home to Dave Matthews while he raised his twins. Both neighborhoods sit on the north shore of Lake Union, near Gas Works Park, with an easy extra 10–15 minute commute to downtown. Translation: still very livable, very walkable, and very competitive.
Ballard / Sunset Hill / Crown Hill — Nordic Roots, Real Yards
Follow the Ship Canal west to the locks and you land in Ballard, Seattle’s historic Norwegian and Swedish stronghold. This is where the fishing boats from Deadliest Catch head out to sea, and where the neighborhood vibe is equal parts salt air, flannel, and very good bread.
Ballard’s downtown has been fully revived with shops, excellent restaurants, classic (and newly elegant) movie theaters, and a true neighborhood feel. Head toward Sunset Hill or Crown Hill and you’ll find larger lots, more breathing room, and prices that often make former Queen Anne shoppers breathe a sigh of relief.
Add Shilshole Marina, waterfront parks, and one of Seattle’s favorite summer beaches, and it’s easy to see why people land here and stay. Bonus: no I-5 required. Your blood pressure will thank you.
The Big Picture
All of these neighborhoods avoid major freeway dependence, offer manageable commutes by car, bus, or bike, and are connected by the Burke-Gilman Trail — which runs from Ballard and Fremont through the University of Washington and well beyond. Translation: you can actually enjoy your commute instead of aging a year per mile.
In many cases, these areas offer larger lots and more house for the same price as downtown-adjacent premier neighborhoods. The further north (or south) you go, the more bang for your buck — and hours you’ll spend going 20 miles on the freeway.
Bottom Line
Plan B isn’t a compromise. It’s often the smarter move, especially if you want space, personality, and long-term appreciation without selling a kidney.
For exact price differences, crime patterns, homelessness data, average age of homes, and what actually trades well over time, call or email Seattle Premier Properties before guessing wrong.
Because in Seattle real estate, where you buy matters — but why you buy there matters even more.
