Graham is a small town in rural Pierce County, about 10 miles south of Puyallup, 9 miles southeast of Spanaway, and 25 miles southeast of Tacoma. To the west is Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Graham is known for its small-town charm, impressive property values, breathtaking views of Mount Rainier, and as the host of the Pierce County Fair every August.

Graham Real Estate

There is an abundance of new construction in Graham. This comes from the Southward growth of Puyallup and the South Hill area. Brand new homes start from the high $100,000 for a smaller 3 bedroom 2 bath. It is hard to find an older home in Graham, as the market is predominately new construction right now. Graham can be a relatively short commute using back roads to the east gate. Make sure to watch out for traffic on Meridian Rd!

Early development in Puyallup centered around agriculture. Today the downtown still has an old historic feel with wide streets and a large, central park. On weekends from May through October, Puyallup returns to its beginnings with a Farmer's Market in Pioneer Park.

The Western Washington Fairground is home to the Puyallup Fair, the largest single attraction held annually in Washington, and one of the 10 largest fairs in the world.

Puyallup Real Estate

Puyallup, especially the South Hill area, has very affordable homes for sale. South Hill has several new neighborhoods where you can find new homes starting in the $100,000s. If you are looking for higher end, there are a few neighborhoods offering larger lots and higher square footage with an amazing Mt. Rainier view.

In downtown Puyallup, around the fairgrounds, you will find many older homes built craftsman style and an occasional newly built home.

Tacoma's past includes being the terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad, the gateway to Mt. Rainier, and a bustling port on the shores of Puget Sound. Present-day Tacoma is still a bustling port, a regional center for international trade with Pacific Rim nations, and a renaissance city with a renewed spirit and rebuilt downtown core. Throughout it all, Tacoma has never lost sight of, or faith in its nickname, "The City of Destiny."

Visitors and real estate seekers will find Tacoma to be a mix of hard-working waterfront and refined downtown.

Tacoma Real Estate

Tacoma has a wide range of housing and pricing. Downtown and along the water you can find higher priced condos and townhouses including brand new construction. South Tacoma you will find more reasonably priced older homes with a few newly constructed homes and neighborhoods. Depending on traffic, Tacoma can be between a 15 to 30 minute drive to Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

For more than a century University Place has developed and prospered as a desirable residential community for nearby Tacoma. Today the city boasts breathtaking views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains to the west, 14 city-owned parks, and one of the lowest crime rates in Pierce County.

University Place Real Estate

University Place has a combination of newer developments and older mature neighborhoods. The price of homes can be relatively expensive compared to the surrounding area. However, University Place has a reputation for being a desirable place to live.

The Lakewood area has enjoyed close ties to the Army since Fort Steilacoom was built in 1849, and later when Camp Lewis (now Joint Base Lewis-McChord) opened in 1917. Lakewood began taking on an identity of its own during the economic boom times after the Great Depression and later World War II. Commercial centers, a hospital, a public library, schools and colleges were built. In 1995, citizens voted to incorporate as the City of Lakewood. Today Lakewood is the fifteenth largest city in Washington and the second largest in Pierce County. Nearly 57,000 residents and 1,100 businesses call Lakewood home.

Lakewood Real Estate

Lakewood has a wide range of real estate available. Homes available on American Lake can range from $600,000 and more. In other areas, older homes that may need improvement or perhaps under foreclosure can be in the low $100,000. Housing is fairly evenly divided between renters and owner-occupied units in Lakewood.

Spanaway as we know it today began in 1890 as a resort for tourists from the population centers in Tacoma and Seattle. Spanaway received more attention and visitors when Mt. Rainier National Park was created in 1899. Today, travelers reach Mt. Rainier via State Route 7, the "Mountain Highway," which still runs through Spanaway.

Those who stop or shop for real estate in Spanaway will find a small city with parks, breathtaking views of Mt. Rainer, and recreational opportunities in the nearby mountains and lakes.

Spanaway Real Estate

Purchasing new and newer homes in Spanaway can be done fairly cheaply. The real estate boom of a couple of years ago led to big new development and residential construction in and around Spanaway. Most homes are on moderate lot sizes. Many lots are now owned by banks and can be purchased at reasonable prices.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord is the number-one preferred duty location in the US Army. It is home to 30,000 active duty Army personnel, 2,800 Army reservists, 3,600 active duty Air Force personnel and 2,300 Air Force reservists and National Guard. An additional 17,000 Army troops are deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. Approximately 15,000 civilian contractors work on the base.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord area Real Estate

Rich in history, surrounded by the natural wonders and beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and adjacent to communities with strong support for our nation's military personnel, Joint Base Lewis-McChord has been a highlight of thousands of careers. It's no wonder why so many military personnel choose to call the Northwest home after they separate from service. JBLM supports 49,500 family members and 29,000 military retirees in the area.

DuPont is located just outside the Joint Base Lewis McChord gate and is comprised mainly of newer homes. Most residents have a quick commute to either Tacoma, Olympia or Lewis McChord. However, some work in DuPont at State Farm Insurance or Intel.

Dupont Real Estate

Most families purchasing a home in DuPont will buy a home built after 2000 as this is when DuPont's master planned community began construction. The average home price in DuPont is in the high $200,000, making it a bit more of an expensive option than Lacey or Olympia just to the south. DuPont has the convenience of being located just off exit 118 and 119 on Interstate 5. There is currently no grocery store in DuPont!

Roy is a small town in rural Pierce County near its southern border with Thurston County. Settlers began arriving in the 1840s. In 1884 co-founders James McNaught and Dr. Samuel Warren platted the townsite and named it for McNaught's son, Roy. The City of Roy was incorporated in 1908.

Today Roy occupies 1.5 miles of Highway 507 connecting rural Thurston County with Pierce County and other points north. Roy celebrates its rural, western heritage every year with not one but three rodeos - the Junior Rodeo in May and Pioneer Rodeos in June and again on Labor Day Weekend.

Roy Real Estate

Homes for sale in Roy have a rural feel and can be on larger lot sizes. There are a couple new construction neighborhoods currently in Roy. The rest of the available homes are moderately priced and usually fairly new. Roy is a short drive to Joint Base Lewis-McChord traveling through the east gate via highway 507.

Yelm is a traditional small town with just less than 10,000 residents. The city has been growing quickly in the past several years both for residential and commercial real estate. Currently, there is one main road that travels through Yelm. However, the Yelm bypass loop is in the works and will create a business loop around the city alleviating some of the congestion during peak commute times.

Families living in Yelm generally work at Lewis McChord and commute about 20 minutes through the East gate or drive to Lacey or Olympia, also about 20 minutes.

Yelm Real Estate

The majority of the homes for sale in Yelm are newer construction. Yelm has recently annexed hundreds of acres to the South West which will be used for new residential and commercial in the coming years. There are several new residential developments with the city limits offering very affordable pricing. You can purchase a 3 bedroom new home for well under $200,000 or a larger 3000+ sq ft. new home in the mid $200,000's.

The city of Lacey is a rapidly growing community located just North of Olympia and about 6 miles south of Joint Base Lewis McChord. Lacey has a population of about 40,000. Many residents are employed by Lewis McChord or the state of Washington.

Lacey Real Estate

There are many options for Lacey real estate. You will find mostly newer construction homes for sale. However, there are some older neighborhoods around the downtown area if you prefer a more established feel with perhaps a larger yard. The homes for sale in Lacey start in the high $100's and go up from there with many real estate choices available within the $200,000 to $300,000 price range. Lacey is quickly expanding with the help of new developments such as the Lacey Town Center project.

Tumwater is located just south of Olympia along the I-5 corridor with a population of about 18,000 and about 25 minutes from Fort Lewis and McChord. Tumwater is home to many government offices, the Olympia airport and is also the original home of where Olympia beer was once brewed.

When Interstate 5 was first built, it went directly through the old downtown of Tumwater. Since then, Tumwater has expanded on either side of I-5. Tumwater still has many established neighborhoods with some of the oldest real estate in Washington. For example, Tumwater hill which overlooks Capitol lake and just a few minutes from downtown Olympia. Tumwater does have new construction homes for sale in the outlining areas of the city limits.

Tumwater Real Estate

Prices range from the high hundreds on up with the average home price somewhere in the 240's, making Tumwater a reasonable choice for first time home buyers.

As the Washington State capitol, Olympia is home to many government employees. It is located south of Lewis-McChord by 15 miles and is neighboring Lacey to the north and Tumwater to the south. Olympia has a population of about 45,000.

Olympia Real Estate

Olympia real estate will include some new construction and many older, more established neighborhoods. Around the capitol campus you will find many older craftsman and sometimes historical homes for sale. These can get a bit pricey, but you are paying for location and convenience. New homes for sale are generally found on the outskirts of Olympia. West Olympia, home of the Capitol Mall and the Olympia Auto Mall, has the highest concentration of new residential and commercial real estate. From major department stores in the mall to the quirky little shops downtown on the water, Olympia offers a vast array of shopping and restaurants including the famous Olympia farmer's market.

Olympia homes for sale are generally a bit more expensive than its neighbors of Lacey and Tumwater. Average home price is in the mid $200,000.