Relocating to Amazon Bellevue: tower, townhome, or house, and the commute each buys
The Downtown Bellevue row is a condo median and carries dues on top of the mortgage.
Three housing types, three commutes
Tower condo: walk
Townhome or smaller house: Crossroads and Factoria
House on a lot: Kirkland via I-405
What each option costs
| Area | Median sold | Typical range | Days on market | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Bellevue | ||||
| Crossroads | ||||
| Factoria | ||||
| Kirkland |
The Downtown Bellevue row is a condo median and carries dues on top of the mortgage. The other three rows are mixed or house medians. Compare monthly cost, not just price. The Bellevue hub holds the neighborhood, school boundary and condo pages if you want to go further before a call.
Due diligence for a tower purchase
A condo is a share of a building and its finances. The inspection covers your unit; the paperwork covers the other ninety percent of what you are buying. Four items decide whether a tower unit is a sound purchase.
The resale certificate
Reserves and the reserve study
The reserve study estimates when major components fail, such as the roof, elevators, envelope and garage membrane, and what they cost. Compare the reserve balance to the study's recommended funding level. A gap there is a future special assessment with your name on it.
Rental caps
Many buildings limit the share of units that can be rented, or impose a waiting list. If there is any chance you will hold the unit as a rental after a future move, confirm the cap and the current count before you offer.
Dues and what they cover
Financing with equity compensation
Amazon compensation leans on restricted stock units that vest over time. Whether a lender counts unvested or newly vested RSUs as income is not uniform: some count a history, some count only cash already received, some discount the share price, and some exclude equity on jumbo loans. Lenders differ. Get this answered in writing during pre-approval, from more than one lender, before you tour. If you plan to sell shares for the down payment, talk to a CPA about timing first.
From offer letter to keys
- Written buyer brokerage services agreement. Washington requires it before a broker provides services.
- Tours. Northwest MLS First Look, launched September 4, 2026, holds a home for up to 21 days before it goes Active; the seller controls showings and IDX visibility, and member brokers can see it.
- Offer, inspection, resale certificate review, appraisal.
Questions buyers ask
Q1What is a resale certificate and why does it matter?+
It is the association's disclosure package for a condo sale: budget, reserves, assessments, litigation and rules. Washington law entitles the buyer to it and the contract gives a review period. It is where special assessments and rental caps show up before they cost you money.
Q2Do RSUs count as income for a mortgage?+
Lenders differ. Some count vested history, some count only cash received, some discount the share price, and some exclude equity on jumbo loans. Get the answer in writing during pre-approval from more than one lender.
See the homes other buyers won't see on Zillow
Northwest MLS First Look gives member brokers up to 21 days of access before a home goes Active. Tell me your price range and target neighborhoods and I'll build a tour around them.
Request a private tourRequest a private tour
Northwest MLS First Look gives member brokers up to 21 days of access before a home goes Active. Tell me your price range and target neighborhoods and I'll build a tour around them.
Next steps
Keep moving forward