Kirkland Real Estate Agent

Kirkland market snapshot

Median Sale Price$1,550,000▼ 4.3% YoY

Price / Sq Ft$700▼ 6.5% YoY

Median Days on Market13▲ 116.7% YoY

Sale-to-List98.8%▼ 1.2% YoY

Over the trailing twelve months, the median Kirkland home sold for about $1,550,000 — down 4.3% from a year earlier. Homes here typically went under contract in about 13 days at roughly 98.8% of list price (around $700/sq ft), reflecting a market easing from its peak toward balance. These are rolling 12-month figures for the Kirkland market (NWMLS, June 2026).

About Kirkland

Kirkland sits on the eastern shore of Lake Washington in King County, directly across the lake from Seattle and bordered by Bellevue to the south, Redmond to the east, and Kenmore, Bothell, and Woodinville to the north. The city was named for British steel entrepreneur Peter Kirk and incorporated in 1905, making it the first city on the Eastside to incorporate.

Modern Kirkland is the product of several major expansions. It consolidated with the neighboring town of Houghton in 1968, annexed Totem Lake in 1974 and the Rose Hill and South Juanita areas in 1988, and completed a large annexation in 2011 that added the Finn Hill, North Juanita, and Kingsgate areas plus nearly 7 square miles of land. As a result, the city today spans a downtown lakefront core alongside a range of inland and hillside neighborhoods, each with its own housing character.

Housing & homes

Kirkland's housing reflects that layered growth. The oldest homes, largely vernacular and Craftsman styles, cluster in the close-in Market and Norkirk neighborhoods near the historic downtown, with scattered early-1900s houses on larger lots. Outlying areas such as Rose Hill, Juanita, and Finn Hill were originally rural, with orchards, small farms, and nurseries, before being developed for housing.

A large share of the single-family stock dates to the post-World War II decades, including mid-century ramblers built in 1950s and 1960s subdivisions, and much of the Kingsgate and Juanita area was built out in the 1980s. Newer construction adds contemporary single-family homes, townhouses, condominiums, and multifamily buildings, with a concentration of denser attached housing and mixed-use development in and around downtown and the Totem Lake district.

Local conditions to know

Because Kirkland fronts Lake Washington, several site-specific conditions matter here. The city's mapping identifies seismic and liquefaction-susceptible soils along the Lake Washington shoreline and around Juanita Bay, and steep slopes prone to erosion and landslides run along the lake and in parts of the Finn Hill area. Kirkland regulates development in these designated critical and geologically hazardous areas, so shoreline, hillside, and view lots can carry additional review requirements. Verify any specific parcel against the city's critical-areas and shoreline maps before you buy or list.

On transportation, Interstate 405 and State Route 520 provide the primary regional connections. Sound Transit's Stride S2 bus rapid transit line is planned along the I-405 corridor with a Totem Lake station, and King County Metro's future RapidRide K Line is planned to connect the Totem Lake Transit Center to downtown Bellevue. The Cross Kirkland Corridor, a roughly 5.75-mile rail-trail on the former Eastside Rail Corridor, runs through the city from the South Kirkland Park and Ride to the Totem Lake area.

Getting around & local texture

Downtown Kirkland lines Moss Bay, where Marina Park offers a public beach, moorage, and boat launch steps from shops and restaurants, and the Kirkland Urban mixed-use development anchors the central business district next to Peter Kirk Park. Farther north, Juanita Beach Park provides about 1,000 feet of Lake Washington shoreline, a seasonal swimming area, and sports courts. The Totem Lake district in the northeast is a commercial and light-industrial hub, and Google operates a campus in the city.

Outdoor options include Bridle Trails State Park, an equestrian-oriented park with miles of trails between Kirkland and Redmond, and Saint Edward State Park, a day-use park with freshwater Lake Washington shoreline that straddles Kirkland and Kenmore. Most of Kirkland is served by the Lake Washington School District, which also covers Redmond and parts of neighboring communities; portions of the city fall within the Northshore and Bellevue districts, so confirm the assigned attendance area for any specific address.

What buyers & sellers weigh in Kirkland

Kirkland spans many distinct neighborhoods (downtown/Moss Bay, Houghton, Juanita, Rose Hill, Finn Hill, Kingsgate, Totem Lake); pricing and housing type vary widely, so compare within the specific neighborhood, not citywide.
Waterfront, view, and hillside lots may sit in mapped shoreline, steep-slope, or liquefaction-hazard areas that trigger additional city review; check critical-areas maps early.
Areas annexed in 2011 (Finn Hill, North Juanita, Kingsgate) were part of unincorporated King County until relatively recently; confirm current city zoning and permit history.
Much of the single-family stock is mid-century or 1980s vintage, so budget for potential updates to roofs, systems, and finishes and review inspection findings carefully.
Proximity to I-405, SR 520, and the Cross Kirkland Corridor varies by neighborhood and affects both commute access and traffic exposure.
Planned transit investments (Stride S2 BRT at Totem Lake and the future RapidRide K Line) are relevant to long-term access; confirm current timelines with Sound Transit and King County Metro.
Verify the assigned school attendance area by address, since Kirkland is served primarily by the Lake Washington School District but also touches the Northshore and Bellevue districts.

What makes Kirkland distinct

Kirkland is one of the few Eastside cities with an extensive Lake Washington waterfront and a walkable downtown directly on the lake at Moss Bay.
The city's boundaries were assembled through major annexations, so 'Kirkland' includes both historic lakefront neighborhoods and formerly unincorporated hillside areas with very different housing.
The Cross Kirkland Corridor rail-trail runs the length of the city and links neighborhoods, parks, the Google campus, and the Totem Lake district.
Kirkland hosts sizable state parks within or on its edge, including equestrian-focused Bridle Trails and forested, lakefront Saint Edward State Park.
Totem Lake is a designated growth and commercial center positioned for planned I-405 bus rapid transit, distinguishing it from Kirkland's lower-density residential neighborhoods.

Services in Kirkland

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Kirkland real estate FAQ

Where is Kirkland and what is it near?

Kirkland is a King County city on the eastern shore of Lake Washington, across the lake from Seattle. It borders Bellevue to the south, Redmond to the east, and Kenmore, Bothell, and Woodinville to the north, with Interstate 405 and State Route 520 providing regional access.

What kinds of homes are common in Kirkland?

Housing ranges from early-1900s Craftsman and vernacular homes near the historic downtown to post-war mid-century houses, 1980s subdivisions in areas like Kingsgate and Juanita, and newer townhomes, condominiums, and mixed-use buildings concentrated around downtown and Totem Lake.

Which school district serves Kirkland?

Most of Kirkland is within the Lake Washington School District, which also serves Redmond and parts of nearby communities. Some portions of the city fall within the Northshore or Bellevue districts, so confirm the assigned attendance area for a specific address using the district's boundary tools.

What should I check before buying a waterfront or hillside home in Kirkland?

Kirkland maps seismic, liquefaction, steep-slope, and shoreline hazard areas, particularly along Lake Washington and around Juanita Bay and Finn Hill. These can add development review requirements, so review the city's critical-areas and shoreline maps and any permit history for the parcel before you buy.