Relocating to Microsoft: Redmond, Bellevue or Kirkland, and what each costs
Before light rail, a Microsoft commute meant SR 520, I-405 or a bus. Now there are three ways in, and each one points at a different set of neighborhoods.
The 2 Line changed the map
Before light rail, a Microsoft commute meant SR 520, I-405 or a bus. Now there are three ways in, and each one points at a different set of neighborhoods.
By rail: Overlake and Downtown Redmond
By rail: Bellevue
By car: Education Hill and Kirkland
What each neighborhood costs
Trailing-90-day sold data. Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile.
| Neighborhood | Median sold | Typical range | Days on market | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overlake | ||||
| Downtown Redmond | ||||
| Education Hill | ||||
| Downtown Bellevue | ||||
| Rose Hill, Kirkland | ||||
| Houghton, Kirkland |
Read the rows by housing type before you read them by price. Overlake, Downtown Redmond and Downtown Bellevue medians are condo-weighted. Education Hill, Rose Hill and Houghton are house medians. A condo median below a house median is not a discount; it is a smaller home with an HOA. The Redmond hub and the Redmond home-buying guide go deeper on the Redmond rows.
Financing with stock awards
Microsoft compensation includes stock awards that vest on a schedule, and most relocating buyers intend to use them. Whether a lender counts that equity as qualifying income is not standardized. Some count a vesting history, some count only shares already sold to cash, some apply a haircut to the share price, and some exclude equity entirely above the conforming loan limit. Lenders differ, and the answer moves your approved price. Get it answered in writing during pre-approval, from at least two lenders, before you tour.
Selling shares to fund a down payment is a tax question first. Talk to a CPA about the timing, then tell your lender where the money is coming from so it can be documented at closing. A relocation bonus already deposited is the simplest funds source a lender will see.
From offer letter to keys
Rent first or buy on arrival
The written services agreement
Washington requires a written buyer brokerage services agreement before a broker provides services. It comes before the first tour, states compensation and term, and describes what the broker will do. Read it before you sign.
First Look
Northwest MLS launched First Look status on September 4, 2026. A home can stay in First Look for up to 21 days before it goes Active. The seller controls showings and whether the listing appears on public IDX sites, and member brokers can see it. For a buyer flying in for a single weekend, First Look homes are the difference between seeing what is public and seeing what is coming.
The sequence
- Written services agreement.
- Tours, including First Look homes in your price range.
- Offer, inspection and appraisal. For a condo, resale certificate review.
Questions buyers ask
Q1Which neighborhoods reach Microsoft by light rail?+
Overlake and Downtown Redmond on the Redmond side, and Downtown Bellevue on the Bellevue side, all on the Sound Transit 2 Line. Kirkland has no station and stays a car commute.
Q2Do Microsoft stock awards count toward a mortgage?+
Lenders differ. Some count vesting history, some count only cash already 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.
Q3Which school district covers Redmond, and which covers Bellevue?+
Lake Washington School District serves Redmond and Kirkland. Bellevue School District serves Bellevue. Attendance boundaries are set by the districts; verify the specific address before you offer.
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