How does Central Business District compare with Seattle, Washington overall?

Central Business District, Seattle, Washington is priced about 20% above the city median and has walkability of 100. It records a gross yield of 4.6, education in the 85th percentile, a Red Flag score of 54, and prices down 6.4% over the past year.

What are the main market signals for Central Business District, Seattle, Washington?

Central Business District, Seattle, Washington combines walkability of 100 and education in the 85th percentile with a gross yield of 4.6. It is about 20% above the city median and 97% above the state median, while prices fell 6.4% over the past year and the Red Flag score is 54.

Neighborhood

Central Business District

Seattle, Washington US

Central Business District, Seattle, Washington is a higher-priced neighborhood with a gross yield of 4.6 and a Red Flag score of 54. It trades about 20% above the city median and 97% above the state median, while prices fell 6.4% over the past year. The main strength is walkability of 100 and education in the 85th percentile; the main limitation is the higher Red Flag score of 54.

AI Summary•Updated May 2026

Area

0.26 mi²

ZIP Code

98101

County

King County

State

Washington

Redfin — median sale & volumeZillow ZORI — asking rentFEMA National Risk Index v1.20OpenStreetMap — POIFBI UCR — state crimeEPA — radon zonesEPA FRS / BTS — hazard screeningUS Census ACS / TIGER 2024

Verified Price · Median Sale

$681,798

YoY-6.4%

Gross Rental Yield

4.6%

Listed rent · ZORI annualized

Red Flag Index

Moderate

54 / 100

Walkability Score

100

Walker's Paradise

OpenStreetMap POI density · national percentile

Education Score

85 / 100

Excellent · better than 85% of U.S. districts

Pre-pandemic SEDA (2018/19) · district proxy

AI Score

Fair

DistrictScore attractiveness · national model

Central Business District Property Prices & Rental Yield

Verified Redfin sale data and Zillow ZORI asking rent for Central Business District, Seattle.

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Market Economics Snapshot

May 2026

Metric	Value	YoY
Median Sale Price	$681,798	-6.4%
Price / Sq Ft (Verified)	$694/sqft	-13.4%
Asking Rent (Median)	$2,629/mo	-1.1%
Gross Rental Yield	4.6%	—
Liquidity Score	20 / 100	Low
Homes Sold (Period)	37	-24.5%

Is Central Business District Safe? Natural-Hazard Risk

FEMA National Risk Index composite across eight hazards, plus inherited Washington crime context.

Red Flag Breakdown

54 / 100

Moderate Risk

Composite is weighted by expected impact — frequent low-damage hazards (hail, wind) weigh less than flood or wildfire.

Earthquake100Very High

Flood80Very High

Heat60High

Tornado40Moderate

Wildfire20Low

Strong Wind20Low

Hail20Low

Hurricanen/an/a

7/8 hazards scored · FEMA NRI v1.20

Crime (state-level): Washington averaged 27.9 crimes and 3.3 violent per 1,000 residents (-13.0% YoY) in 2024(FBI UCR). Compare the state to the country, not states as a ranking — full Safety & Crime data lives on the state page.

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Tract-level hazard heatmap & parcel detail with Pro

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See all eight FEMA hazard scores — free with a DistrictScore account.

What Stands Out AI Insight

Highly walkable neighborhood — score 100/100

Dense amenities — 299 dining & 28 grocery options nearby

Earthquake risk is Very High (100/100)

Flood risk is Very High (80/100)

Insights are generated from Central Business District's live DistrictScore metrics.

Central Business District Environment & Safety

Satellite PM2.5 air-quality history, FBI UCR crime trend (Washington-level, the finest official aggregation), EPA radon potential and point-source hazard screening.

Washington Crime Trend

FBI UCR

20132024

All crimes / 1k

Violent / 1k

Year	Crimes / 1k	Violent / 1k	YoY
2024	27.9	3.3	-13.0%
2023	32.5	3.6	-12.5%
2022	37.5	3.8	+11.9%
2021	33.7	3.4	+12.1%
2020	30.3	2.9	+0.9%
2019	30.3	3.0	—

Reported at the state level — the finest official US crime aggregation; Central Business District inherits the Washington figures.

Radon Potential

EPA

Zone 3

Zone 3 — Lowest potential · Central Business District

EPA radon zones estimate indoor radon potential county-wide (Zone 1 highest, Zone 3 lowest). Testing is recommended in all zones.

Environmental Hazards

EPA / BTS

Superfund (NPL)3.3 kmModerate

Industrial odor1 nearbyVery High

Aviation noise48 dBVery Low

Point-source screening near Central Business District: EPA Superfund National Priorities List & Facility Registry (2026), BTS aviation noise (2020, 24-hour average level). Superfund shows distance to the nearest listed site; odor shows detected sources within the screening radius. Only detected sources are listed; the bar shows severity vs. all U.S. neighborhoods.

Walkability & Amenities in Central Business District

Amenity density and pedestrian access from OpenStreetMap points of interest.

Walkability & Amenities

OpenStreetMap POI

100

Walker's Paradise

Walkability Score

28

Grocery

299

Dining

4

Schools

3

Universities

12

Hospitals

5

Pharmacies

19

Parks

17

Rail Transit

3

Coworking

POI counts are amenities within Central Business District's boundary plus a 400 m walk buffer. Rail transit excludes bus stops.

Central Business District vs Seattle vs Washington

How Central Business District benchmarks against its city and state medians.

Benchmark vs City & State

Across Central Business District, the median sale price sits about 20% above the median for Seattle neighborhoods and about 97% above the statewide median. Gross rental yield is 4.6%, against 2.8% for Seattle neighborhoods and 4.0% statewide. Over the past 12 months, prices fell 6.4%. Transaction liquidity sits below the median for Seattle neighborhoods and below the statewide median.

Area	Median / Sq Ft	Gross Yield	Liquidity
Central Business District	$694/sqft	4.6%	20
Seattle	$578/sqft	2.8%	34
Washington	$352/sqft	4.0%	32

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Buying Property in the US as a Foreigner

Federal & Washington tax facts for non-resident buyers, plus the latest local market news.

Buying as a Foreigner

US Tax & Ownership

Applies to everyone7

Capital Gains (Federal)

Long-term capital gains taxed federally at 0/15/20%, plus a 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax on higher incomes (2026).

Property Tax

Property tax: ~0.74% average effective rate (statewide average; set and collected locally).

State Income Tax

No state income tax — rental income is not taxed at the state level.

State Capital Gains

No general income tax; the 7% capital gains tax exempts real estate.

Transfer Tax

Real estate transfer tax: REET graduated 1.1-3% (mansion-style).

Assessment Cap

No Proposition 13-style assessment cap; property is reassessed at market value.

Mansion Tax / Rent Control

Statewide rent control caps rent increases (HB 1217; 9.683% max for 2026); transfer tax is mansion-style.

US citizens & tax residents6

Primary-Home Exclusion

Selling your main home: exclude up to $250k of gain (single) / $500k (married) if you owned and lived there 2 of the last 5 years.

1031 Like-Kind Exchange

A 1031 like-kind exchange defers capital gains tax on investment property; 45 days to identify, 180 to close. Real estate only.

Depreciation Recapture

Residential rentals depreciate over 27.5 years; on sale, recaptured depreciation is taxed up to 25% (Section 1250).

Mortgage Interest Deduction

Mortgage interest is deductible on up to $750k of home debt. The SALT cap rose to $40,000 for 2025-2029 (reverts to $10k in 2030).

Opportunity Zones

Opportunity Zones are now permanent (2025): reinvested capital gains get deferral plus a basis step-up, and are tax-free after 10 years.

Rental Income (Resident)

Rental income is reported on Schedule E; passive-loss rules (Section 469) limit deducting rental losses against other income.

Foreign buyers (non-residents)5

FIRPTA (Foreign Sellers)

FIRPTA: the buyer withholds 15% of the gross sale price when a nonresident sells US property. It is an advance deposit, not the final tax.

Non-Resident Capital Gains

Nonresident sellers pay US capital gains tax (generally 15-20%) on the net gain via Form 1040-NR; FIRPTA withholding is credited.

Non-Resident Rental Tax

Nonresident rental income is taxed at 30% of gross by default, or on net income at graduated rates via a Section 871(d) election (W-8ECI).

Estate Tax (Non-Resident)

Nonresidents get only a $60,000 US estate-tax exemption (vs $13.99M for residents); US property above it is taxed up to 40%. Treaties may help.

ITIN Requirement

Nonresidents without an SSN need an ITIN (Form W-7) to file US tax returns, claim FIRPTA refunds, and report rental income.

Talk to a US real-estate tax advisor

FIRPTA, ITIN & Washington property-tax guidance for foreign buyers

Latest Seattle Real-Estate News

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Guaranteed Rate • Jun 18, 2026

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Eye On Housing • Jun 18, 2026

U.S. commercial property prices hit record as deal patterns shift

Altus Group • Jun 18, 2026

Central Business District Real Estate FAQ

Central Business District, Seattle, Washington shows a gross yield of 4.6 and a Red Flag score of 54. Pricing is about 20% above the city median and 97% above the state median, while prices fell 6.4% over the past year.

Neighborhoods near Central Business District

Compare Central Business District with nearby neighborhoods in Seattle.

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