Kenmore Real Estate Agent

Kenmore market snapshot

Over the trailing twelve months, the median Kenmore home sold for about $1,145,000 — down 0.4% from a year earlier. Homes here typically went under contract in about 12 days at roughly 99.8% of list price (around $505/sq ft), reflecting a market easing from its peak toward balance. These are rolling 12-month figures for the Kenmore market (NWMLS, June 2026).

About Kenmore

Kenmore sits along the northernmost shore of Lake Washington in King County, about 12 miles northeast of downtown Seattle and roughly 2 miles west of Bothell. The Sammamish River flows through town on its way from Lake Sammamish to Lake Washington, dividing the city into northern and southern halves and giving Kenmore its distinctive waterfront-and-river character. It is one of King County's newest cities, having incorporated on August 31, 1998.

For buyers and sellers, Kenmore functions as a north-end suburb that blends established residential streets with an evolving downtown along Bothell Way (State Route 522). Homes here are predominantly detached single-family houses, and the local market has recently favored sellers, with listings generally moving without long delays. Working with an agent who knows the individual Kenmore neighborhoods, the river corridor, and the school boundaries helps you price and position a home accurately.

Housing & homes

Much of Kenmore's single-family housing dates to the mid and late 20th century, with ranch (rambler) and split-level homes common in established neighborhoods such as Inglewood, which traces back to the 1950s. Many of these homes sit on larger, tree-filled lots along hilly streets and cul-de-sacs, and some older areas have wide street shoulders in place of sidewalks. This gives parts of Kenmore a settled, lower-density feel.

Newer construction is also part of the mix. Neighborhoods like Moorlands, near the Sammamish River, include 21st-century Craftsman- and farmhouse-inspired traditional houses, and the Uplake area near the tip of Lake Washington combines mid-century ranch homes with more modern prairie-style builds and some emerging waterfront condominiums. Along the downtown corridor, the city's zoning has encouraged multifamily and mixed-use development, so townhomes and apartments are a growing share of new supply.

Local conditions to know

Water is central to Kenmore's geography, and it shapes due diligence. The Sammamish River runs through the city, and Kenmore sits at the low end of the Sammamish watershed between Lake Sammamish and Lake Washington, so high lake and river levels can slow drainage. Swamp Creek, a tributary that joins the Sammamish River in Kenmore, is another documented source of localized flooding that can occur independently of the main river. If you are considering a property near the river, the creek, or the lakeshore, review FEMA flood maps and King County flood resources, and remember that flood risk can extend beyond the mapped 100-year floodplain.

The surrounding terrain is rolling hills formed from glacial till interrupted by flatlands near the water, so some parcels involve slopes; confirm any steep-slope or critical-area designations with the City of Kenmore before you build or remodel. Kenmore is also home to Kenmore Air Harbor, described as the largest seaplane-only passenger facility of its kind in the United States, so homes near the lakefront may experience seaplane activity. On transit, State Route 522 (Bothell Way) is the main east-west corridor, and Sound Transit's planned Stride S3 bus rapid transit line is slated to serve Kenmore along SR 522, with a Kenmore park-and-ride, when the line opens (targeted for 2028).

Getting around & local texture

Kenmore's public life centers on its Lake Washington and Sammamish River waterfront. Log Boom Park offers shoreline access, a public dock, and a connection to the Burke-Gilman Trail, which runs east-west along the lakeshore, while Saint Edward State Park spans hundreds of wooded acres on the lake and preserves the historic former St. Edward Seminary building. Rhododendron Park, centrally located along the Sammamish River, holds one of the region's largest public collections of hybrid rhododendrons and includes a public boathouse. Bastyr University, a naturopathic medicine school, occupies the grounds near Saint Edward.

The downtown area along Bothell Way (SR 522) is the city's commercial and civic core, and the City of Kenmore's comprehensive plan and downtown zoning envision a walkable, mixed-use center combining housing, retail, and public space. Kenmore is served by the Northshore School District; the district assigns schools by home address, and Inglemoor High School is one of the district's high schools located in Kenmore. Because boundaries can run through the city, verify your specific attendance-area assignment with the Northshore School District's address look-up tool before you rely on it.

What buyers & sellers weigh in Kenmore

• Most Kenmore inventory is detached single-family homes; the recent market has leaned toward sellers, so buyers should be prepared to act decisively and sellers should price with current conditions in mind.
• For properties near the Sammamish River, Swamp Creek, or the Lake Washington shoreline, review FEMA flood maps and King County flood data early; risk can extend past the mapped floodplain.
• Rolling, glacial-till terrain means some lots have slopes; confirm steep-slope and critical-area designations with the City of Kenmore before planning additions or new construction.
• Waterfront and near-lake homes may experience seaplane activity from Kenmore Air Harbor on Lake Washington.
• School assignments run by address within the Northshore School District; use the district address look-up tool to confirm the exact elementary, middle, and high school before removing contingencies.
• Downtown-area zoning supports multifamily and mixed-use projects, so buyers and sellers near Bothell Way should factor in ongoing redevelopment and new townhome and condo supply.
• The planned Sound Transit Stride S3 bus rapid transit line along SR 522 (targeted for 2028) may affect commute options and demand near the corridor; verify the current timeline before relying on it.

What makes Kenmore distinct

• Kenmore holds the north end of Lake Washington and the mouth of the Sammamish River, giving it more freshwater waterfront and river frontage than most neighboring north-end suburbs.
• It is home to Kenmore Air Harbor, described as the largest seaplane-only passenger facility of its kind in the United States.
• Saint Edward State Park, a large wooded lakefront park with the historic former seminary, sits within the city and anchors its open space.
• As one of King County's newest cities (incorporated 1998), Kenmore is actively shaping a walkable, mixed-use downtown along Bothell Way rather than working from a long-established core.
• Kenmore falls within the Northshore School District, unlike Seattle neighborhoods to the south, and shares that district with Bothell and Woodinville.

Services in Kenmore

All services

Kenmore real estate FAQ

Sources & data

• Kenmore, Washington - Wikipedia
• City of Kenmore - Downtown Plan / zoning (comprehensive plan)
• City of Kenmore zoning districts (KMC 18.15)
• City of Kenmore - Rhododendron Park
• Sound Transit - Stride S3 Line
• King County - Flooding in the Sammamish watershed
• FEMA Flood Maps
• Northshore School District - Schools & Boundaries
• Inglemoor High School - Northshore School District (GreatSchools, boundaries)