Lynnwood is changing fast. Light rail reached Lynnwood City Center in 2024, and the area around the station and Alderwood mall has been rezoned and redeveloped with apartments, condos and mixed-use buildings. Meanwhile, most of Lynnwood’s neighborhoods are still mid-century and later single-family homes. Many people here are moving up from a condo or townhome to a house, downsizing from a house to something newer near transit, or moving from Seattle to Lynnwood for more space.
I’m Aaron Yoon, a broker with eXp Realty. My brand is helping homeowners sell for top dollar by solving the problems others walk away from. I work across Seattle and the surrounding area, including Lynnwood. For the full process, read my guide to buying and selling at the same time. For quick answers, see the FAQ.
The Lynnwood Market Snapshot
In Lynnwood, condos and detached homes can behave very differently, and the new supply near City Center affects the condo and townhome side the most. Look at your segment:
- Median sale price: [LOCAL STAT: median sale price, Lynnwood, source NWMLS]
- Median days on market: [LOCAL STAT: median days on market, Lynnwood, source NWMLS]
- Months of supply: [LOCAL STAT: months of supply, Lynnwood, source NWMLS]
- Sale-to-list price ratio: [LOCAL STAT: percent of list price received, Lynnwood, source NWMLS]
- Condo vs. single-family months of supply: [LOCAL STAT: months of supply by property type, Lynnwood, source NWMLS]
If you’re selling a condo and buying a house, the condo sale is usually the harder part to predict. Plan your sequence around it.
How to Buy and Sell at the Same Time in Lynnwood
Moving up from a condo or townhome
This is one of the most common Lynnwood moves. The challenge is that condo sales depend on things outside your control: the HOA’s documents, its budget and reserves, and sometimes the building’s eligibility for certain types of loans. Here’s how to prepare:
- Order the HOA resale certificate and documents as soon as you decide to list.
- Ask the HOA or management company about any known special assessments or upcoming projects so there are no surprises for buyers.
- Talk with a lender about how your condo’s building may affect a buyer’s financing options.
Downsizing near transit
Some longtime Lynnwood owners want to sell a detached home and buy a newer condo or townhome near light rail. Selling first with a rent-back (NWMLS Form 65B) is often simplest, because your sale proceeds can make your condo offer clean. If you’re buying in a newly built building, review the developer’s documents and timelines carefully.
The three standard strategies
Sell first. Lock in your sale, use a rent-back, then buy. This is lower risk when you need your equity for the purchase.
Buy first. A bridge loan, HELOC or buy-before-you-sell program may let you make an offer without a sale contingency. Costs and qualifications vary by lender and program, and terms change. Compare options with lenders.
Contingent offer. NWMLS Form 22B lets you make your purchase contingent on your sale. It carries more weight when your home is already listed or under contract.
Moving from Seattle
If you’re selling in Seattle and buying in Lynnwood, the timing of the two markets matters. Seattle condo and single-family conditions can differ from Lynnwood’s. We’ll look at data from both before deciding which comes first.
Lynnwood Neighborhoods
- City Center: The area around the Lynnwood City Center light rail station, with new apartments, condos and mixed-use development.
- Alderwood: Around Alderwood mall, with retail, apartments and nearby single-family neighborhoods.
- Meadowdale: Northwest Lynnwood toward Meadowdale Beach Park and the Edmonds border, with many single-family homes.
- Scriber Lake: Near Scriber Lake Park, close to the city center.
- North Lynnwood: Residential areas north of 196th Street SW, with mid-century and newer homes.
- Martha Lake (unincorporated): Homes around Martha Lake, north of the city, often with Lynnwood mailing addresses but in unincorporated Snohomish County.
Schools
Lynnwood is served by the Edmonds School District, which also serves Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Brier and parts of unincorporated Snohomish County. Some addresses with Lynnwood mailing addresses, especially in the north, are assigned to other districts, such as the Mukilteo or Everett districts. Confirm the assignment for the specific address with the district. For ratings and data, see OSPI and GreatSchools.
Commute and Lifestyle
Lynnwood sits near the junction of I-5 and I-405, with SR 99 and SR 525 also running through the area. Sound Transit’s 1 Line light rail serves Lynnwood City Center station, with service south through Shoreline and Seattle. Community Transit’s Swift Blue Line runs on SR 99, and the Swift Orange Line connects Lynnwood City Center with Edmonds College and Mill Creek. Check soundtransit.org and communitytransit.org for current service.
Alderwood mall is one of the region’s larger shopping centers. The Interurban Trail runs north-south through the city. Lynnwood Recreation Center, Scriber Lake Park and Meadowdale Beach Park, a Snohomish County park on Puget Sound, are local favorites. Edmonds College is in Lynnwood, and the Lynnwood Event Center hosts conferences and events.
Lynnwood FAQ
I own a condo. How do I know it will sell in time for me to buy a house?
No one can promise a timeline, but we can reduce the uncertainty. We look at current condo days on market and months of supply, prepare the HOA documents early, and price based on recent comparable sales. If the numbers suggest a slower sale, selling first may be the better choice.
Does all the new construction near light rail hurt my home’s value?
New condos and townhomes compete most directly with other attached homes. Detached single-family homes are a somewhat different market. We’ll look at the comparable sales for your property type.
I’m moving from Seattle to Lynnwood. Do I need two agents?
No. I can handle both sides, which helps keep the dates, contingencies and negotiations aligned.
Can I use my home equity for a down payment before selling?
Some people use a HELOC or bridge loan for this. A lender can tell you whether you qualify and what it would cost.
Is a contingent offer ever accepted in Lynnwood?
Yes, it depends on the property and the market at the time. Homes that have been listed longer, or sellers who are flexible on timing, are more likely to consider one.
Ready to plan your move in Lynnwood?
Every move is different. Book a call with Aaron to talk through your timing, equity and options, or get a no-obligation estimate of what your current home could sell for. No pressure, just a plan.
Aaron Yoon, Broker, eXp Realty. Market figures are sourced from NWMLS where noted. Financing information is general and not a loan offer; talk to a licensed lender about your options.
