Real Estate Blog

UPPER KITTITAS COUNTY – If you look beneath the branding over the last decade, few would argue families with homes at Suncadia master planned community are taking root as a community. The story of this community is more than the aerial photo that defines the place.

The photo shows only a fraction of the resort community’s neighborhoods. Within them are networks, organizations, causes and clubs homeowners have brought to life that give Suncadia the profile of a townspeople.

The energy of the place is unique. Few second-home communities can approach the 46 percent of Suncadia owners who call themselves “frequenders” (spending two to three nights most weekends there). Proximity to the Puget Sound makes the weekend commute easy and heightens a sense of

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Imagine a real estate market that allows you to access Seattle’s workplaces and schools while owning a new home with more land, recreational amenities and mountain access. Sound too good to be to true? Not according to Sean Northrop, the founder of Trailside Homes.

Trailside Homes

Open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mondays–Fridays at 316 W. First St. and 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays–Sundays at 370 Snow Ridge Drive, Cle Elum

Prices: From $500,000 to the $1 millions

Information: 509-674-8190 or exploretrailsidehomes.com

Located 60 minutes east of Issaquah off I-90, Trailside’s communities are designed for people seeking access to an urban job market as well as a relaxed mountain lifestyle, he says.

“Collectively, our team has called the central Cascades home

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Officials at Suncadia say that the four-season resort community is first and foremost about families

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But until recently, the nature of the properties available at Suncadia has meant that making the resort home — either as a primary residence or a vacation property — was out of reach for many Pacific Northwest families.

Detached homes at the resort typically start around $800,000 — a price point that precluded some families from purchasing there. Condominiums have been available as more-affordable alternatives, but they are not suitable for families who want the convenience of a front door, and easy in-and-out access to the Suncadia lifestyle.

Two new Suncadia neighborhoods are working to change that with an attainable in-between option. New

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Thinking of making your next home a custom-build? Here’s what to consider before you commit.

Six months after moving into their new home, Steve and Jane Nelli are still astonished every time they walk in.

“Our great room, with its panoramic view of the golf course. It’s just … impressive, every time. It came out exactly the way we envisioned – no, better actually,” Steve says.

The Nellis’ home at Suncadia Resort, which was built by Lynn Romans of WoodRidge Custom Homes, was the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work – and what felt like thousands of decisions.

“That was a surprise, as a first-time home builder,” says Steve. “How much work it was. How many decisions you have to make. From the big stuff like cabinetry and flooring to the

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There’s something extra special about Nelson Farm in the fall. When the leaves start to turn and the air gets a little crisper, it feels like it fits the old farm perfectly.  You and your family are invited to come experience the autumnal ambiance for yourselves at Suncadia’s celebration of fall, which takes place during the first two weekends in October.    The Harvest Festival, now in its 11th year, is a free, family-friendly event featuring live entertainment, a merchant market, a pumpkin patch, a 1,000-bale straw maze, pony rides, wagon rides, arts and crafts, carnival games and more. For adults, we’ll also be hosting our 5th annual Big Dirty Run, food trucks, a beer garden and our hearty Brewmaster Dinner.    This year we’re…

Summer is always a frenetically fun time at Suncadia. The whole resort is abuzz with activity, and the pleasantly familiar Suncadia soundtrack plays on loop: water splashing, bike spokes spinning, children squealing with glee. Golf balls being driven, tennis balls being served. At night, the peaceful rhythm of crickets and cicadas chirping. This summer, the sound of the rushing Cle Elum River has been especially noticeable after last winter’s heavy snowfall.

And this year, there was a bit of extra noise that accompanied the familiar summer soundtrack – that of construction and development. Not that we minded one bit. It’s the sound of progress – of a Suncadia that’s booming; a community that continues to grow and welcome new families into the

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Chances are you’ve heard the term ‘glamping’ (glamour + camping) by now. It means different things to different people, depending on your threshold for ‘roughing it’. For some, glam camping means sleeping in a regular tent, only on an air mattress thicker than three inches. For others, it means a full-on resort – all the high-thread-count luxuries of a hotel, but with campfires and canvas walls.

We recently wrote a story about glamping for the Seattle Times, in which we got to the bottom of glamping – where it came from, why you should do it, and where you can do it in the Pacific Northwest.

Of course, our favorite glamping spot is and will always be Sasse Mt Outpost, Tumble Creek’s private glamping facility. If you’re a member of the Tumble

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We recently had the opportunity to write a feature for the Seattle Times that highlighted Nelson Preserve—Suncadia’s newest neighborhood—and the exciting enhancements that are in progress at the historic dairy farm at Nelson Preserve.

In introducing Nelson Preserve to Seattle Times readers who didn’t know about the neighborhood (or even about Suncadia), we wanted to zero in on what makes it such a special place. What makes buying a second home at Nelson Preserve appealing?

The enhancements to the Nelson Farm—and particularly the farm pool, set to open in time for summer 2017—are certainly a big draw, but it’s much more than that.

Then it came to us: balance.

Something residents of Nelson Preserve tell us is that they love how the neighborhood

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