Moving closer to Redmond’s major employers can transform your day. If you work at Microsoft or nearby tech hubs, you probably want a short commute, great amenities, and a home that fits your lifestyle. In this guide, you’ll see where condos, townhomes, and single-family homes cluster around job centers, how the new light rail changes commuting, and what price signals to expect. Let’s dive in.
How employers shape housing
Microsoft’s headquarters spans hundreds of acres on Redmond’s west side, anchoring development near Overlake and the SR 520 corridor. The scale of this campus drives demand for nearby multifamily, townhomes, and transit-proximate living for tech workers. You can get a feel for its size and influence from Microsoft’s campus overview on news.microsoft.com.
The City of Redmond formally concentrates higher-density housing in two urban centers: Downtown and Overlake. That is where you will see most mid-rise condos and apartments, plus new mixed-use projects near transit. The city’s neighborhood and planning pages outline these hubs and surrounding areas on redmond.gov.
Quick neighborhood guide
Downtown Redmond
If you want a walkable lifestyle with restaurants, retail, and rail access, Downtown clusters mid-rise condos and market-rate apartments near Redmond Town Center and the Central Connector trail. New multifamily has followed station openings and retail growth. For a snapshot of the urban core and station context, see the local guide on Experience Redmond.
What to expect:
- Condo and apartment living with easy access to shops and dining.
- Higher price points than the city median in some recent snapshots.
- Direct light rail access at Downtown Redmond Station.
Overlake and the Redmond Technology corridor
Overlake sits beside Microsoft and the Redmond Technology Station, so it is the top pick for short, multimodal commutes. The city redesigned zoning here to enable more capacity in an “Urban Multifamily” designation and to focus growth around transit. That points to more condos, stacked flats, townhomes, and mixed-use apartments over time. Review the city’s zoning consolidation for Overlake on redmond.gov.
What to expect:
- Multifamily and townhomes close to Microsoft.
- Transit-first planning and evolving retail services.
- A fast walk, bike, or rail commute to major employers.
Marymoor Village and Southeast Redmond
Southeast Redmond has emerged as a strong hybrid choice if you value green space and bike access with a reasonable commute. Townhomes and apartments have clustered near Marymoor Park and the rail station, with trails connecting to the broader Eastside network. Marymoor’s amenities and trail system are detailed by King County Parks on your.kingcounty.gov.
What to expect:
- Newer mixed-use, townhomes, and mid-rise apartments.
- Direct access to Marymoor Park and regional trails.
- Short bike or one-stop rail rides into Overlake and Downtown.
Education Hill, Grass Lawn, Bear Creek, North Redmond
If you want a yard and a traditional neighborhood setting, these single-family areas ring the urban centers. Commutes are longer but predictable, and many buyers choose these neighborhoods for lot size and neighborhood feel. The Lake Washington School District serves Redmond; always verify attendance areas through the district’s boundary maps.
What to expect:
- Predominantly single-family homes with larger lots.
- Quieter residential streets and suburban character.
- Car commutes or feeder bus trips into Overlake and Downtown.
Nearby Eastside options
Many buyers also compare Bellevue and Kirkland pockets with Redmond. You can gain different trade-offs across housing type, price, and commute access to Eastside jobs. Your choice often comes down to how much you prioritize a short commute to Overlake or flexible access to I 405 and SR 520.
Commute options that matter
Driving: SR 520 and I 405
SR 520 is the primary corridor between Redmond, Bellevue, and Seattle. I 405 is the main north–south route on the Eastside. Both see heavy peak congestion. To set expectations, use the Washington State DOT’s corridor dashboards and plan for reliable, 95th-percentile travel times rather than best case. Explore the commute-time and reliability context on wsdot.wa.gov.
Light rail: the 2 Line changes the map
Sound Transit’s 2 Line (East Link) opened its initial segment in April 2024 between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology. In May 2025, trains extended to Marymoor Village and Downtown Redmond. This creates true rail-proximate living in Overlake, Marymoor, and Downtown, and it shifts last-mile planning for many neighborhoods. Agency documents summarizing the system and safety planning are available from Sound Transit on soundtransit.org.
Practical tips:
- If you can walk 10 minutes to a 2 Line station, your day-to-day reliability improves.
- If you are outside walking range, plan a bike or feeder bus connection.
- Expect bus routes to keep evolving to feed stations as ridership grows.
Buses, feeder service, and transfers
Sound Transit express buses and King County Metro routes connect neighborhoods to Overlake and Downtown stations. The agencies have coordinated route changes to support rail expansion, and they continue to refine patterns as trains take over longer hauls. For policy and route-change context, see Metro’s East Link coordination notes on the King County Metro blog.
Bike and trail commuting
Redmond’s trail network gives you a credible bike or bike-plus-rail commute. The Sammamish River Trail and Marymoor connectors link neighborhoods and the tech corridor with safe routes. Marymoor Park functions as a key hub for active commuting. King County’s overview of park rules and amenities includes trail connections on your.kingcounty.gov.
Prices, rents, and what to expect
City-level snapshots from February 2026 show Redmond’s median sale price around $1.5 million, with wide variation by neighborhood and home type. Downtown Redmond has recently posted higher-than-median pricing for its urban micro-market, while Overlake’s medians have come in below Downtown in some months. Southeast Redmond has shown lower medians than the city average, and North Redmond has trended higher in certain periods. Treat these as signals, not guarantees, because prices move month to month.
If you are renting, recent snapshots suggest many one-bedroom apartments in Redmond and adjacent Eastside areas fall in the low-to-mid $2,000s. These numbers fluctuate based on building, lease timing, and incentives. If timing your move is critical, build in a window to track listings across platforms and neighborhoods.
How to match your priorities
Use this quick framework to narrow your search:
If you want the shortest Microsoft commute:
- Target Overlake and areas within a short walk or bike to Redmond Technology Station.
- Focus on condos, stacked flats, and townhomes near transit.
If you prefer walkable urban living:
- Look in Downtown Redmond for mid-rise condos and apartments.
- Weigh a slightly higher price signal against reduced car dependence and rich amenities. Check station proximity on Experience Redmond.
If you need a yard and more space:
- Explore Education Hill, Grass Lawn, Bear Creek, and North Redmond.
- Confirm your school attendance area on the district’s boundary maps.
If you want a park-and-trail lifestyle with a balanced commute:
- Consider Marymoor Village and Southeast Redmond townhomes and apartments.
- Plan a short bike or one-stop rail ride to Overlake or Downtown.
If budget is the main driver:
- Broaden to nearby Eastside suburbs and compare commute reliability on WSDOT’s dashboards.
New supply and zoning signals
Redmond’s long-range planning directs more housing into Downtown, Overlake, and Marymoor Village. Overlake now includes an Urban Multifamily designation that increases residential capacity near stations, with some areas allowing significantly taller buildings. This points to more condos, townhomes, and apartments where daily life can center on transit, trails, and short commutes. See the city’s zoning consolidation summary on redmond.gov.
What this means for you:
- Expect more options close to stations over the next 3 to 10 years.
- Urban-center inventory should diversify, from studios to larger family-oriented flats and townhomes.
- Transit-proximate homes will likely remain competitive because of commute savings and convenience.
Put it all together
If your goal is a short, reliable commute to Overlake or downtown Redmond, center your search on rail and frequent bus corridors. If you want more space and a yard, look to the single-family ring and plan for a car or feeder-bus commute. If you want the best of both, Marymoor and Southeast Redmond balance trails, park access, and short hops to job centers.
When you are ready to compare neighborhoods, timelines, and trade-offs, connect with Team Ginn for a focused Eastside strategy and on-the-ground guidance.
FAQs
Where are condos and townhomes close to Microsoft’s campus?
- You will find the highest concentration in Overlake and Downtown Redmond, where city planning encourages multifamily near transit; review urban-center zoning on redmond.gov.
Will the 2 Line light rail shorten my commute to Overlake?
- For many origins near stations, yes. The 2 Line now serves Redmond Technology, Marymoor Village, and Downtown Redmond, which reduces car dependence; final door-to-door time depends on your walk, transfers, and origin. See Sound Transit documents on soundtransit.org.
How bad is peak traffic on SR 520 and I 405 if I drive?
- Both corridors are congested during peak hours. Use WSDOT’s reliability metrics and plan for 95th-percentile travel times rather than best case; check the dashboard on wsdot.wa.gov.
Which Redmond neighborhoods have more single-family homes?
- Education Hill, Grass Lawn, Bear Creek, and North Redmond are predominantly single-family. They are suburban in feel with longer commutes into Overlake and Downtown.
How do I verify which schools serve a specific Redmond address?
- The Lake Washington School District publishes current attendance boundaries and maps; confirm your address on the district’s boundary maps.
