West Seattle dream homes

Sunday afternoons often make us think of … real estate, perhaps because of the “open house” signs flowering on almost every corner, especially on the most famous streets of WS. We all know about Alki Avenue and Beach Drive and their incredible view homes — but if you don’t wander far off the main arterials, you might not know much about the other “streets of (WS) dreams.” In particular, this afternoon we are thinking about Sunset Avenue — a view-drenched blufftop street in north WS that you could consider to be a bit like a WS version of LA’s famous Mulholland Drive.

Sunset Ave parallels Alki Ave for quite a while, but if you look toward it from the shore, it’s hard to see anything but an occasional house from Sunset or other bluffside streets poking over the condo-tops:

Sunset wandered onto our radar screen during a real-estate search, where we encountered three homes for sale there right now: “The Castle” at 1545 Sunset ($1,595,000); a somewhat newer home at 1429 Sunset ($1,590,000); and a chance to buy into this neighborhood for less than a million, at 1532 Sunset ($959,000). Which WS street do you dream of living on?

Admiral Janeway September 2, 2007 (5:18 pm)

I heard there was once a house located next door to The Castle. The house and the lot slid down the hillside decades ago. Can anyone confirm?

GenHillOne September 2, 2007 (6:31 pm)

Yikes, for a million-five, that second one needs a “little” updating ;) To each his own, but in that price range, I’ll take a smaller place right ON the beach so I can smell and hear the waves. I guess my street of dreams comes with kelp!

Jan September 2, 2007 (7:00 pm)

I found it interesting that the photo gallery of “The Castle” had no pictures of the INSIDE of the home. I would think that’s what buyers would be interested in. You can park next to it and see what the view is.

I have been in WS for 32 years, and don’t remember a house sliding down the hill from up there. I do know that the next house south of there had some slide problems and had to spend a lot of money to shore up the hillside. Numerous houses along there have had to do that. In a previous life, I cleaned houses when my daughter was little. I had 3 clients on Sunset, and 2 of them had to shore up their hillsides behind their homes. Not a cheap proposition, for sure. I sppose ir should be “buyer beware”…hehe..

Jan September 2, 2007 (7:03 pm)

that should say..”I suppose it should be “buyer beware”…dyslexic fingers :)

Christopher Boffoli September 2, 2007 (8:20 pm)

GenHillOne: Don’t forget….along with the kelp at seaside you get loud-pipe motorcycles, glass-pack muffler tuner cars and the deep bass boom of a lot of insecure young men. Oh yeah, and don’t forget the gang fights. Maybe the top of the hill has its merits.

ms_f September 2, 2007 (8:54 pm)

I think this was my “dream home.” It probably has the best views in West Seattle, in my opinion (above Hamilton Viewpoint). It must have sold. The “tear down” was on the market for $1 M or so awhile ago. Web site: http://www.primediagroup.net/1114Sunset/

IsleWrite September 2, 2007 (9:42 pm)

Having lived on both Sunset and “upper Alki” in my life, I can speak from experience. There have been slides…not sure about next to “The Castle,” but there were slides YEARS ago just north of all three Sunset-area listings. As kids we were spooked by the old foundation that was visible down the hillside, through the blackberry bushes. Living on Sunset, you’d better like your neighbors–you’re likely to be waving at them and hearing their conversations as you enjoy your view from next door. The house in the $900 range is on a small triangle block and the tiny backyards of the three homes abut each other. If you like more privacy, there are nearby areas in WS that have more land, extreme privacy, and amazing views. Keep your eyes peeled on the “upper Alki” area in the next week or so if you’re in the market….

t September 2, 2007 (10:43 pm)

Bizarre that the realtor for the Castle just took some snapshots with schmutz on the lens, typically houses in that price range are a little better marketed. And I agree the second place is a fright.

Soupytwist September 3, 2007 (9:19 am)

Just walking down Sunset is lovely. The homeowners there that I’ve spoken to are always delightful. I think it seems like a wonderful neighborhood with a good sense of community.

And I like the second place – it’s got all of the great wood paneling, and the silvered cedar siding is gorgeous in real life!

Cruiser September 3, 2007 (11:29 am)

My street of dreams….maybe where people say hi and mean it:))

The House September 3, 2007 (3:34 pm)

Olympics, Cascades, Puget Sound? Who needs those when you have views of Westwood Village? I’ll start the bidding at $1.5 million.

hopey September 4, 2007 (11:45 am)

@ms_f: looks like 1114 Sunset SW sold in June for a cool $1.65M.

http://www5.metrokc.gov/reports/property_report.asp?PIN=9272200555

mrwillow September 4, 2007 (5:57 pm)

admiral janeway, Yes, there used to be a house there. As I recall, it was a 2 story, colonial “type” , 2 story brick home About 1957-59, we had an “El Nino”, (not called that then), (Pineapple Express), and down it went. Don’t believe anyone got hurt, (at work), but life is tough, if you live on a steep hillside.

Gina September 4, 2007 (6:49 pm)

And the Realtor has Sealth listed for the High School in the area. He must think that there is a view of Westwood Village from there.

ms_f September 5, 2007 (8:37 pm)

hopey, interesting re sale of 1114 Sunset. It sold a couple years ago for 970,000, and was sold again this June for $1.65 M. It looks like it was sold to a developer who tore the little old house down and had an architectural plan done. There’s no house there yet! Who knows what the FINAL tab will be.

Sorry, comment time is over.