Bellevue

This is where Amazon and Microsoft brought thousands of new employees to the Eastside, where Overlake Medical Center anchors a growing healthcare corridor, and where I-90, 405, and 520 meet to make almost anywhere in the city a short drive. I work across Bellevue's pockets, from established, renovation-heavy streets to newer luxury construction, and I know which ones fit which kind of buyer.

Lake Hills

Just south of Crossroads Mall, most homes here were built in the late 1950s and early '60s, and right now a good number of them are being renovated or rebuilt one street at a time. Prices run $1.2 million to $2.5 million, depending on how far that renovation wave has reached a given block. What you get is Bellevue's convenience without downtown's density: established streets, bigger lots than you'll find closer to the core, and quicker access to I-90 than to 405. I listed and sold a Lake Hills home on SE 5th Street this year, so I'm not describing this market secondhand.

Clyde Hill

Clyde Hill is the one people ask about most after Lake Hills. It's close to the mall for shopping, with quick access to both 405 and 520, so a straight shot over to the Seattle side is easy on 520. You're minutes from downtown Bellevue's restaurants and entertainment, and a number of Clyde Hill homes carry water views.