Seattle-area mortgage payments cost nearly double the rent

Victor K • June 17, 2023

A group of miniature people standing on top of wooden blocks.

Seattle has seen a recent paradigm shift in the homeowner vs. renter debate in the recent past. A few years earlier, Seattle dwellers could afford to buy a home without adding extra beef to their monthly budget. Therefore, they opted for paying the mortgage as opposed to rent without breaking the bank. However, the recent past trend shows that people are moving back to the renting model due to higher than ever mortgage rates. Owning a home in Seattle now comes at an 88% premium, meaning the median monthly mortgage payment costs 88% more than the monthly rent for the same home.

The affordability crisis for buying property is largely due to the increase in mortgage rates. The average rate o a 30-year fixed mortgage does not stand at 6.6% which was 3% in 2020 and 5% in the 2021-22 season. In an expensive market like Seattle, where a housing shortage has driven prices up, higher rates lead to substantial increases in monthly payments, making buying a home less affordable.

According to data analysis, the median monthly mortgage for Seattle residents is $6040 as compared to $3208 which is the average rent for the same home making it almost half the amount. Various research modes have been used for this analysis and more often than not, the same numbers are reached by firms like Zillow.

The financial leap required to afford a home can be even more extreme for many people. The median two-bedroom apartment in the Seattle area rents for $1,726, and even couples spending $2,500 for a two-bedroom apartment in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood would face a significant increase in monthly costs to buy a home instead of renting. This has affected the housing market as well dropping the pending home sales in King County by 28%.

Therefore, it is recommended that potential homeowners should explore other avenues like down payment assistance or securing a lower mortgage rate by paying more upfront. Some experts call for government influence in balancing the market so more people go towards buying homes vs. renting them.

Another concern for the future is a rise in rents in the coming future. The rising cost of buying a home can lead to more people going for the renting option. This harms the renting market disturbing the supply-demand ratio, resulting in more increase in monthly rent averages. All in all, the downside of all these factors is the increase in difficulty for people willing to settle in Seattle, financially and emotionally.

As a conclusion, the housing market in Seattle is becoming more difficult to survive in. The gap between monthly rent and the monthly mortgage is increasing every month, causing the gap to widen even more. This is making more potential buyers convert into rent dwellers. This is a trend that should be ideally going in the opposite direction. However, it is a fact that the average rent will increase in the future as more people are turning to rent.

Furthermore, if you want to know more about the housing market, be it renting, leasing, purchasing, or renovating, United Seattle is the go-to place for you to visit right away.

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Multi-Trade Subcontracting for ADUs: Why General Contractors Choose United Seattle

By Victor K • July 23, 2025

Seattle has not only seen a boom in the ADU construction but also a requirement for commercial subcontractor Seattle that specialize in ADU construction has gone up. Setting up ADUs is not as costly as a DADU but it requires time and skill. Generally, the GCs outsource these projects to construction management subcontractors like United Seattle for a number of reasons. The foremost reason is the trust people at United Seattle have earned for all GCs and homeowners they have worked for. However, the trust does not come easily but with dedication and hard work. Some of the USPs of this great company are listed which are not their self-proclamation but genuine reviews from people who have worked with United Seattle over the years. Experienced In ADU Construction United Seattle and its experts have been in the middle of the whole ADU construction/designing boom since the very start. Not only do the experts have all the requisite technical knowledge but a deep insight into the permit process as well removing lags from your project even before the first brick is laid down. Because they are seasoned in ADU workflows, it helps the clients save time, money and client frustration.

Step-by-Step: What It Takes to Build a Detached ADU in Seattle in 2025

By Victor K • July 21, 2025

With the pro-construction laws being enforced in Seattle, all commercial subcontractor Seattle and GCs are extremely happy. This is because of the updated ADU codes in 2025. For a GC, DADU offers a steady stream of income. More of it when these small projects are outsourced to an able commercial construction subcontractor Seattle, like United Seattle . Today, we look at some of the phases of the DADU construction where the paths of a GC and commercial project management Seattle cross, creating the perfect balance for the ideal construction subcontracting services Seattle. What Is A Detached ADU Or DADU? A detached ADU or DADU is a standalone living space made on a property that already has a primary building. There are a number of advantages associated with a DADU, which include, but are not limited to:- · Increased living space for family members and/or home office. · Potential for additional income through long/short-term rentals. · Enhanced property value. Now let’s move on to a generic breakdown of the phases involved in the construction process for a building subcontractor Washington to work upon. If the plans are made before the phase time, the construction goes hassle-free increasing your free time, lowering your cost and increasing your market reputation, all at the same time. Pre-construction Phase Laying the correct groundwork is the ideal start for any DADU project for a commercial subcontractor Seattle. GCs require a commercial construction subcontractor Seattle that can dive into the planning phase and come up with as many details as humanly possible. By planning some of the key aspects of the construction, a building subcontractor Washington can surely eliminate all later disputes/delays in the project.

A man and a woman are looking at a laptop on a construction site.

Maximizing Profit on ADU & DADU Projects: Tips for a Commercial Subcontractor Seattle

By Victor K • July 16, 2025

Any commercial subcontractor Seattle will tell you that there is a low-hanging fruit in the Seattle construction market called ADUs and DADUs. The construction and permit process is much simpler than an altogether new project. This is mostly because the main structure is available and all you have to do as a commercial construction subcontractor Seattle is manage the process for your clients. The profit is there to be made but we dive into a topic seldom taught in design school. This deals with maximizing profit through small changes as a commercial building services Washington. However, we need to get some of the basics right before we fall into the details of the money-saving / making process. DADU vs. ADU One major advantage of a DADU is that it is a separate living space and can be used for parents growing teenagers or college-returning kids. It can also be rented out making it a money-making option. These are also great office spaces and workspaces since they offer privacy from the main house. However, making a separate structure requires considerable investment and structural changes. In the case of an ADU , an existing space can be simply renovated to make it workable. Budget and current structure can be a big factor in going for an ADU rather than a DADU.' DADU benefits: - Increased living space for family members and/or home office. - Potential for additional income through long/short-term rentals. - Enhanced property value. ADU benefits - Potentially higher Return on Investment compared to DADUs for resale. - Opportunity to upgrade home's electrical, windows, insulation, heating, and plumbing, resulting in improved energy efficiency. - Potentially more flexibility compared to size-restricted DADUs. - Suitable option if the home does not meet the city's requirements for DADU, such as lot size or setbacks.

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