SEATTLE INSIDER

Friday, October 9, 2026

The Seattle I don't want to take for granted

Yesterday was one of those fall days in Seattle that I wish we could bottle up and save for February.

I was out having some photographs taken in a few of the neighborhoods and places I write about every week. We spent time in Volunteer Park, stopped for coffee at Volunteer Park Cafe, wandered through Washington Park, and finished up in Pioneer Square.

It was a beautiful, crisp fall day.

The first photos came back, and I couldn't have been happier with how they turned out. But more than anything, I found myself feeling incredibly grateful.

Grateful for this city, the neighborhoods, the people, and the opportunity to spend my days doing something I love.

Sometimes it doesn't take more than an hour away from your phone to remember how lucky we are to live here.

I've had a lot of those little reminders lately.

Last Thursday, I made it to the final regular Bellevue Farmers Market of the season. On Sunday, I took my family to the Capitol Hill Farmers Market. A couple of walks, some time outside, supporting local businesses, and spending time with people I love.

Nothing particularly elaborate.

But those are some of my favorite days.

I spend a lot of time thinking about what makes a neighborhood desirable. Architecture, homes, restaurants, walkability, parks, and all the other things that contribute to a place.

But I keep coming back to something much simpler.

It's how living there makes you feel.

The city is the amenity.

And fall might be my favorite time to experience it.

Let's get into it.

NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE

That idea is also behind something I've been building for quite some time.

I've spent more than two decades helping people find homes across Seattle and the Eastside. And I've learned that finding the right home is only part of the equation.

Finding a neighborhood you love matters just as much.

So I've been building a different kind of neighborhood guide. There are now 70 neighborhoods to explore, filled with the coffee shops, restaurants, parks, architecture, and little discoveries that give each place its personality.

We're also working on connecting those guides directly to the homes and condominium buildings within each neighborhood. That next piece is still in development, but the guides are ready to explore today.

Whether you're considering a move or just looking for somewhere new to spend an afternoon, I hope you'll find something useful.

​Explore the Seattle + Eastside Neighborhood Guides​

Because a great home is only part of what makes a great place to live.

MARKET FROM THE STREET
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I told you one week wasn't a trend

Last week I showed you the first sign of the condo overhang shrinking, and I warned you not to read too much into a single week.

This week made my point for me.

Seattle condos are back up to 9.0 months of supply, from 8.4 last Friday. And the move came from both directions: fewer condos closed over the past 30 days, and more sat on the market.

Houses went the other way. The single family side of the city tightened to 3.8 months.

So the two markets are pulling apart again, not coming together.

Here's what I'd do with that.

If you're condo shopping, your leverage didn't just hold. It grew. Time, selection, and negotiating room are all still on your side, and nothing in this week's data says that's ending.

If you're house hunting, don't borrow patience from the condo market. Houses are moving faster than condos as fall settles in. The good ones aren't waiting around.

And if you own a condo you've thought about selling, last week's good news took the week off. Pricing against the building, not against your memory of 2021, matters more than ever.

Source: NWMLS listing data via Tideline, pulled the morning of October 9, 2026. Seattle condominium and single family closings from September 9 through October 9, and active listings as of the pull. Months of supply is active listings divided by the trailing 30 day closing pace.

HOMES WORTH WALKING THROUGH

I spent part of yesterday in Washington Park, so it felt right to start there. Then two more, each one built around a different view: the lake, the Sound, and the skyline from across the water.

Washington Park

THE KREKOW JENNINGS HOUSE

​3825 E Highland Drive, Washington Park​
$8,750,000 | 5 bed | 7 bath | 7,210 sq ft | Built 2011 | MLS 2587686

The reason to walk through this one is the way the main floor ends: a showcase kitchen that opens onto a heated covered terrace and a flat backyard lawn, with lake and mountain views out front and Madison Park village a stroll away. Houses at this scale usually pick drama or comfort. Krekow Jennings built this one to do both.

Listing courtesy of Joan C. Bayley, Windermere Real Estate/East.

Magnolia

THE BLUFF HOUSE

​3233 Magnolia Boulevard W, Magnolia​
$3,500,000 | 4 bed | 4 bath | 5,650 sq ft | Built 1923 | MLS 2576108

The reason is the view, all 180 degrees of it. The house sits behind a gated entry on Magnolia Bluff looking straight out over Puget Sound, and the detached garage carries a DADU guest suite, so guests or a real home office don't have to borrow a room from the main house.

Listing courtesy of Tarek Z. Moghrabi, Windermere Bellevue Commons.

Clyde Hill

THE CLYDE HILL CONTEMPORARY

​9404 NE 20th Street, Clyde Hill​
$8,475,000 | 5 bed | 7 bath | 6,516 sq ft | Built 2018 | MLS 2577269

The reason is how the whole house opens up. NanaWall systems fold the living spaces out to covered terraces, outdoor fireplaces, and a pool and spa, with glimpses of the Seattle skyline and the Olympics beyond. Baylis Architects designed it, and the mature landscaping does the work of a fence.

Listing courtesy of Terry Allen, Coldwell Banker Bain.

ONE TABLE

My favorite poke in Seattle, and the guy behind it.

I had 45th Stop N Shop poke again this week.

And I'm happy to report that it remains my favorite poke in the city.

But there's another reason I wanted to share it with you.

His name is John Chung.

John is the founder of 45th Stop N Shop & Poke Bar, which started in Wallingford in 2016. He's built something genuinely unique in Seattle, taking a neighborhood convenience store and turning it into a destination for some of the best poke I've ever had.

I've gotten to know John over the years, and he's someone I really admire.

He's thoughtful, talented, and building a great team. I see him often, and he's one of those local business owners you can't help but root for.

And here's the exciting news.

John is expanding to the Eastside.

The Puget Sound Business Journal reported earlier this year that 45th Stop N Shop is planning its third location in downtown Redmond, with a new market and poke concept in the Redmond Rail District, right across from the downtown light rail station.

It's the kind of local business success story I love seeing.

Great people building great businesses, creating jobs, and adding something meaningful to our neighborhoods.

I couldn't be happier for him.

If you haven't tried it, put it on your list.

45th Stop N Shop & Poke Bar​
2323 N 45th Street, Wallingford
Also in South Lake Union at 2121 Terry Avenue

​Read about John's Redmond expansion​

IF I WERE HOME THIS WEEKEND
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A little football, a little fall, and a reason to get outside.

FRIDAY | HUSKY STADIUM UNDER THE LIGHTS

Washington hosts No. 20 Iowa tonight at 6 p.m.

I'm a Husky at heart, and there's something special about a Friday night game at Husky Stadium. If you're lucky enough to be there in person, enjoy it.

Otherwise, you can catch the game on FOX or FS1.

​UW game information​

SATURDAY | TAKE THE KIDS TO SEE THE SALMON

Salmon Days in Issaquah was last weekend, but the salmon are still returning to Issaquah Creek.

The Issaquah Salmon Hatchery is an easy family outing this time of year.

Walk the grounds, look for salmon making their way upstream, and spend a little time exploring downtown Issaquah.

You don't need a festival to enjoy the experience.

​Plan your hatchery visit​

SUNDAY | SEAHAWKS VS. 49ERS

The Seahawks host San Francisco at Lumen Field on Sunday.

Kickoff is 1:25 p.m.

Two division rivals, a Sunday afternoon, and plenty of good places to watch the game if you're not heading to the stadium.

​Seahawks game information​

WORTH THE DRIVE | LEAVENWORTH OKTOBERFEST

If you're looking to get out of town, Leavenworth is celebrating its second Oktoberfest weekend.

The festival runs Friday evening and Saturday, with music, traditional performances, food, and family activities.

If you haven't made a fall trip over the mountains yet, this could be your excuse.

​Leavenworth Oktoberfest​

AS SEEN ON SOCIAL THIS WEEK​
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A few places I've been spending time.

One of the things I've been enjoying most about Instagram lately is sharing more of the Seattle I actually experience.

Not just real estate. The coffee shops, neighborhoods, small businesses, and places where my family spends time.

A few highlights from this week:

​TAKE THE TOUR TUESDAY | QUEEN ANNE​

This week's neighborhood tour took us to Queen Anne.

Caffe Vita on Galer, historic residential streets, neighborhood shops, great restaurants, and some of Seattle's most recognizable views.

Queen Anne is an incredible example of how much a neighborhood can change from one block to the next.

​OCTOBER IN SEATTLE | THE FALL GUIDE​

I put together a guide to some of the things worth doing across Seattle and the Eastside this month.

Fall events, restaurants, weekend escapes, pumpkin patches, and a few of the traditions my family enjoys every year.

Save this one for the month ahead.

​A COFFEE SHOP WORTH KNOWING | CAFÉ HAGEN​

I stopped by Café Hagen at Dexter Yard in South Lake Union.

I love this location. Beautiful space, great coffee, and the kind of neighborhood gathering place that makes living nearby more enjoyable.

It's the sort of place I'd become a regular if I lived in South Lake Union.

​A FAMILY TRADITION | STOCKER FARMS​

We made our annual trip to Stocker Farms in Snohomish with family and friends.

Pumpkins, a little adventure for the kids, and a great excuse to get outside.

Some traditions are worth keeping.

You can see all four over on Instagram at @jeffreynoldsseattle.

HELP ME BUILD THE INSIDER LIST

I've been thinking a lot about the people behind the businesses we love.

People like John Chung, who are doing something special and making our neighborhoods better in the process.

So here's my question this week:

What's one Seattle or Eastside business you find yourself going back to again and again?

It could be a coffee shop, a restaurant, a bookstore, or somewhere completely unexpected.

I want to know about the people and businesses that deserve more recognition.

Hit reply and tell me your favorite.

I'm building a list of local places worth knowing, and I'd love to include yours.

Talk soon,

Jeff

QUICK LINKS

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For the day-to-day Seattle stuff, follow along on Instagram:
​@jeffreynoldsseattle​