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If you’re getting ready to move on from Seattle Central College and step into Seattle’s world-famous tech industry, you’re just one of many young professionals doing so. Whether attending our beloved college or not, Seattle's evolving tech hub is chock-full of cutting-edge companies attracting a tsunami of young professionals like you to the area.

But that influx is bringing its own set of challenges, particularly within housing. There’s a massive demand for housing that offers convenience, functionality, and quality without completely breaking the bank.

The good news is that solutions are being delivered thanks to dramatic increases in new construction investment and development. But first, let’s look at how the tech expansion has affected the city’s housing demands. 

Seattle's Tech Boom and Its Impact on Housing

The tech boom, which started here in Seattle in the 1990s and has shown no signs of slowing down, has undoubtedly affected the housing market. As more and more young tech workers have flocked to the city, it’s become clear that the existing housing stock is in dramatic need of updating and replacing.

But development has been slow despite the affluence of the area. As demand for modern living spaces at affordable price points has soared, availability has dwindled. In fact, Seattle is grappling with a current deficit of almost 30,000 affordable units. Available inventory is supremely tight at just 1.86 months of supply in homes for sale.*

It’s against this backdrop that Seattle residents voted to approve a $1 billion housing levy to tackle the affordable housing crisis within the city. The move should help to bolster the availability of homes that meet the expectations of young professionals like you, seeking properties that deliver high degrees of quality, functionality, and modernity while remaining attainable.

Speaking of which, let’s explore what you might be looking for in a home when the time comes for you to start your search. 

Housing Preferences of Young Tech Professionals in Seattle

As a budding tech worker in Seattle, you will likely have specific needs when finding somewhere to call home. Far beyond a roof over your head, you’ll be looking for a place that caters to your fast-paced lifestyle. You’ll want to minimize commuting to and live somewhere that optimizes that crucial work-life balance.

You’ll probably appreciate modern amenities, too. Blazing-fast internet, smart home tech that can automate parts of running your home, and energy-efficient features to be kind to the planet and keep utility bills down. And even better, if you could have all that in a community of like-minded people you can connect and engage with during your downtime.

While these places have existed in Seattle for many years, they haven’t exactly been affordable. As a young professional, you’ve got to be realistic and balance your wants and needs with the practicalities of your financial situation. And while premium living spaces like these have previously been selling for $1 million-plus, the good news is that modern housing developments are helping to bridge the affordability gap for first-time buyers.

Brand-new homes are being constructed to provide the perfect balance of a modern, comfortable lifestyle while remaining financially attainable. 

Modern Housing Solutions in Seattle

As you start your search for your new home in tech-worker-friendly neighborhoods, you might want to consider new construction homes. These homes, offered by leading Seattle home builders such as LGI Homes, give you the features you need to live a contemporary lifestyle while remaining very affordable for the region.

You can secure a spacious 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home with a 2-car garage in a master-planned community in the low $500s. Not only will this home suit your lifestyle now, but it’ll grow with you as your needs and preferences change, including having children should you wish to do so.

New home builders like LGI Homes focus on constructing homes with a focus on energy efficiency and smart home technology. Being part of master-planned communities means the latest and greatest advances in utilities and infrastructure, including hyper-fast broadband connections.

These communities also allow you to socialize and form bonds with professional peers and benefit from amenities such as basketball courts, conservation areas, children’s playgrounds, dog parks, and community gardens. In short, away from work, you’ll have everything you need on your doorstep.

While not all Seattle new home builders offer the same features as standard, LGI Homes also offer what they call a CompleteHome™ package, which gives you state-of-the-art stainless steel Whirlpool® appliances, Moen® faucet, Kwikset® door hardware, programmable smart thermostat, and all kinds of other equipment that means all you have do is unpack your belongings once the keys are in your hand. Perfect as a young professional who has yet to accumulate many personal effects while renting. 

A Practical Choice for Seattle's Young Tech Professionals

As you transition from Seattle Central College into the city’s booming tech industry, it won’t be long before you search for a place to call your own. While some older properties may fit the bill for your lifestyle preferences, they are in short supply and not necessarily affordable either.

So don’t be reluctant to look at new construction properties. They’re bursting features, and perhaps more crucially, they perfectly straddle the line between modern living and affordability. Builders like LGI Homes and others offer well-designed spaces in communities that offer the balance of work, leisure, and connectivity you crave while remaining within a budget matching your early career earnings.

So don’t despair if you've recently trawled Zillow for your perfect first home and been disappointed. Instead, broaden your horizons and consider all your options as you embark on your professional journey in Seattle.

*Additional Sources: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/seattle-weighs-tripling-property-levy-to-ease-housing-crisis-1.1994588
https://www.noradarealestate.com/blog/seattle-real-estate-market/