How much for a 'starter' home in Seattle? Today So Far

• Dolly Parton is coming to TVW.
• Even more support for getting Seattle's Cinerama up and running.
• A person needs to earn about $142,000 annually if they want to buy a "starter" home in Seattle.

This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for Aug. 4, 2023.

Quick hits

• They once faced housing insecurity themselves. Now they help other Seattleites find stability
• Hear it again: How roller skating and DIY concerts bring generations of Washingtonians together
• A new U.S. agency is a response to the fact that nobody was ready for the pandemic

You better set an alert to tune into TVW on Aug. 15. No ... seriously ... TVW.

I know TVW is has a bit of a CSPAN vibe and caters to politics nerds in Washington, but on Aug. 15 at 2:30 p.m. it will be all about Dolly Parton.

Back in the 1990s, Parton started a literacy program called "Imagination Library." It's provides free books to kids up to age 5. That program is expanding in Washington state, which is why Parton is paying a visit. TVW will have a fireside chat with the country star. Parton will also perform. Read more here.

There is now even more support for getting Seattle's Cinerama up and running. Next Tuesday, the Seattle City Council will vote on whether to give a $1 million grant to the theater to help with startup costs. According to Councilmember Andrew Lewis, who is behind the grant proposal, the money is an investment in downtown Seattle.

After shutting down in 2020, the future of Cinerama was in limbo until last May when SIFF took it over. That move provided hope that Seattle's beloved movie theater would not perish. Read more here.

A person needs to earn about $142,000 annually if they want to buy a "starter" home in Seattle. That's Redfin's latest assessment of starter homes in the area. This is far more expensive than the national numbers — a $64,000 annual salary for a starter home.

This is just one interesting data point that Redfin has published recently. I compiled a few into this blog post. Among them is another observation the real estate company has made while looking into its own user data. While homebuying migrations have gone down a bit this year (when a person leaves their current city to buy a home in another city, perhaps out of state), but there are some notable trends. Las Vegas, Nevada, and Phoenix, Arizona. top the list of cities where folks are moving. The number one city where folks are moving to Phoenix from is Seattle. In other words, Phoenix is getting the most outside homebuyers from Seattle.

Redfin doesn't provide too many details beyond that, like demographic data. Part of me wonders if a lot of these folks are snowbirds. When I lived on a boat, my "neighbor" was only a liveaboard during Northwest summers. He spent the rest of the year (the cold months) in Arizona. I also have relatives who purchased RV plots down there and travel from Washington every so often. An RV plot is quite different than a house, but still, it's property on the market. Whoever is making the move to Arizona, Redfin notes that they're likely finding home prices about half of what they are in Seattle. Read more here.

AS SEEN ON KUOW

Veronica Tausili has been caring for her mom full-time since early 2020. They speak with KUOW's Eilis O'Neill who covers Washington state's new long-term care tax. (Courtesy of Veronica Tausili)

DID YOU KNOW?

Do yourself a favor and go pet a dog. It's good for you.

NPR reports that even brief interactions with dogs have considerable positive health effects on humans. And apparently, it's quite a positive for dogs, too. One professor of psychiatry commented that, "I think it is safe to say that animals are beneficial to our mental and physical health."

Of course, folks are different, and not all dogs are friendly, but overall it seems that puppy interactions promote less stress and higher cognitive function. So there you have it. If you need a little pick me up, go find a dog park.

ALSO ON OUR MINDS

Hyundai and Kia recall nearly 92,000 cars and urge outdoor parking due to fire risk

Hyundai and Kia are recalling nearly 92,000 cars in the U.S. over concerns that the electronic controller in the oil pumps can overheat and cause fires. Both automakers have asked owners to park their vehicles outside and "away from structures" until repairs can be made.

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