Not everyone wants to be a renter in Seattle. Lowe Enterprises Real Estate Group SVP Suzi Morris tells us people who choose to buy instead of rent are making a commitment to a place with staying power and the right lifestyle over time. Location is an essential part of the decision, but amenities are important too—they should meet homeowners’ needs without creating undue financial burden on an HOA, she says.

Overall, it’s the nexus of all of these factors that creates each person’s buying equation, Suzi adds. Lowe Enterprises is betting its new condo development, Luma in First Hill, will offer the necessary nexus. Luma, which started offering VR tours via an Oculus headset last year, now has model units open (pictured). Among other things, the property is a block from the new streetcar line, and units are larger than typical apartments. Averaging more than 900 SF, they are "large enough to live in over time," Suzi notes.