Neighborhoods

North End Tacoma

North end Tacoma is characterized by many desirable factors including a grid of streets, historic homes and buildings, mature trees, green spaces, parks, views, waterfront, neighborhood schools, housing variety and compact commercial districts. It is certainly among the most desirable places to live in the south Puget Sound region. Home prices range from about $140,000 to nearly two million. Styles are many and varied with homes built from the late 1800's to present.

North Tacoma, Washington offers many things to many people. Recently there has been an influx of home buyers moving down from Seattle, Washington. Some of these people must commute some or all of the workweek back to Seattle. Despite this fact, these buyers see real value here as well as a desirable place to live. These buyers have decided that living in Tacoma, Washington is worth the extra effort. Comparable homes in the two cities can vary by $100,000 and much more depending upon the price level in question. Tacoma offers substantially the same recreational opportunities found in Seattle, from boating on the Puget Sound, access to skiing, miles of walking and biking trails through old growth forest in Point Defiance Park. Tacoma, Washington's downtown, in close proximity to the north end, is experiencing an amazing transformation with the University of Washington's local campus, retail shops and great dining opportunities at estalished restaurants and a host of new restaurants that have emerged.

North Tacoma, Washington is commonly a target location for home buyers, however the area can further be divided into neighborhood areas. Click any of the following neighborhood areas to learn more!

Central Tacoma, Washington

One of the city's most exciting areas is central Tacoma, particularly noteworthy is the area immediately south of 6th Avenue between Orchard and Sprague. Home values in this area have increased substantially in recent years, outpacing most, if not all communities in the south Puget Sound region. Appreciation has been approximately 10% per year. This is due in large part to a high volume of homes being renovated, which brings the value up first of the renovated home itself, then for the neighborhood. Due to the dramatically improved appearance of the neighborhood, comparable home sales prices have increased when the renovated homes sell.

Traditionally the north end has been considered the higher end part of town and anything south of 6th could be expected to sell for significantly less. With more people moving to our area from Seattle and Gig Harbor, demand for high end homes has in effect pushed the boundary of the north end further south into neighboring areas. Central Tacoma, Washington has been the most pronounced example of this.

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University Place, Washington

One hundred years ago, University Place was to be the future site of Puget Sound University (now University of Puget Sound). A financial panic and drop in property values caused a change in plans and the campus was never constructed. Although the community name stuck and a century later University Place became a city. The population is roughly 30,000. Many of the homes are newer and unlike neighboring Tacoma to the north and east there are currently communities of new homes being constructed.

Recent home sales range in price from $150,000 to $800,000 and average $283,000. University Place offers scenic settings along the Puget Sound with views including the Narrows Pasage and Olympic Mountains beyond. University Place is working on plans for a pedestrian-friendly Towne Center with a mixutre of retail, restaurants and residential homes. Many buyers who are looking for homes in Univeristy Place cite excellent schools as the number one motivating factor for wanting to live here.

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Fircrest , Washington

With a (2006) population of 6,080, Fircrest is a small but charming city abutting south Tacoma and central Tacoma, as well as University Place. Running through the middle of Fircrest is a commercial core of retail, shopping, dining and office. Fircrest is home to the Fircrest Golf Club, an outstanding private 18 hole course. Additionally, Fircrest operates an extensive Parks and Recreation Program. Facilities inlcude tennis courts, swimming pools, basketball and volleyball courts, baseball and soccer fields anda gymnasium to name just a few. The residential homes of Fircrest were constructed between 1900 and the present, encompassing a wide range of styles. Some of the common styles include Contemporary, Ranch and Craftsman style homes. Recent sales range between $125,000 and $400,000 and average $228,000.