Seattle's real estate market was among the most volatile in the country between 2020 and 2024 — surging to extraordinary heights during the pandemic years, then correcting sharply as tech layoffs and rising interest rates hit the market simultaneously. Heading into 2026, the picture is meaningfully clearer.
The tech employment floor
Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta remain among the world's largest employers, and Greater Seattle remains their primary home. The 2022–2023 tech layoff cycle was painful but ultimately limited in scope — headcount at the largest Seattle tech employers has recovered and, in several cases, exceeded prior peaks. This employment base creates a durable floor for housing demand that most U.S. metros simply don't have.
No state income tax — a permanent advantage
Washington has no state income tax, which means Amazon and Microsoft employees earning $200,000–$500,000 in total compensation are taking home significantly more than equivalent earners in California, New York, or Massachusetts. This purchasing power advantage sustains demand across King and Snohomish counties at price points that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Where the market stands in 2026
The Eastside (Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland) has recovered most strongly from the 2022–2023 correction, driven by Amazon's Bellevue campus expansion and Microsoft's continued Redmond investment. Seattle proper has been more mixed — urban neighborhoods with transit access (Capitol Hill, Fremont, Ballard) remain competitive; outer neighborhoods have been slower.
Days on market across King County are back below 20 for well-priced, move-in-ready homes — a signal that the correction period is largely behind us.
What Seattle sellers should know
Pricing is more nuanced than it was in 2021. Overpriced homes now sit. But well-priced homes in desirable locations are still generating multiple offers, particularly from Amazon Bellevue and Microsoft buyers who are active year-round.
The agent you choose matters enormously in this environment. Agents with active relationships in the corporate relocation pipeline — HR contacts at Amazon, Microsoft, and Google — can reach buyers before they hit Zillow. List on RealtorFinder to receive competing proposals from Seattle-area agents who will tell you specifically how they reach that buyer pool.