Relocating to the
Eastside for tech

The Eastside — the cluster of cities east of Lake Washington — is arguably the most tech-dense, family-friendly place to land in the Pacific Northwest. It pairs major employers, top-rated schools and real nature with one big financial perk: Washington has no state income tax, which meaningfully changes your take-home versus California or New York.

Know the employer map

Where you work should anchor where you look. The big campuses:

• Microsoft — Redmond (with light rail now connecting it to Bellevue and Seattle).
• Amazon — a fast-growing footprint in Downtown Bellevue, plus the Seattle HQ across the lake.
• Meta & Google — offices around Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland.
• Startups & the rest — concentrated in Bellevue and along the Bel-Red corridor.

Commutes are shaped by three arteries — SR-520, I-90 and I-405 — and increasingly by the 2 Line light rail now running across the Eastside.

Neighborhoods by campus

• Work at Microsoft (Redmond)? Look at Redmond, Sammamish and Kirkland — with Bridle Trails and parts of Bellevue close behind.
• Work at Amazon (Bellevue)? Bellevue, Mercer Island and Kirkland put you minutes from the towers.
• Commuting to Seattle? Mercer Island (on I-90 and light rail), Kirkland and West Bellevue keep it short.
• Remote or hybrid? Sammamish and Bothell trade a longer commute for more space and value.

See how they compare on price, days-on-market and vibe on the interactive market map →

The money: comp, RSUs & financing

Tech compensation is rarely just salary. Lenders can factor bonus and vesting RSUs into what you qualify for — with the right documentation — so your true budget is often higher than base pay suggests. If you're moving from abroad or on a visa, foreign-national and ITIN loan programs don't require a long U.S. credit history. And with no state income tax, more of that comp stays with you.

Schools matter more than the house

On the Eastside, the assigned school district can drive home values as much as the home itself — and districts split within cities. Sort out your must-haves early using the Eastside school-district guide →, and always confirm the assignment at the exact address.

The relocation timeline

Most relocating buyers don't fly out every weekend. They tour on video, work from a shortlist, and travel only for finalists — coordinating temp housing, seller rent-backs and school enrollment around a start date. The step-by-step version lives in the Relocating buyer's roadmap →.

A relocating buyer's honest take

Love: short commutes to world-class employers, excellent schools, real outdoors, and no state income tax.

Consider: it's competitive and moves fast — the buyers who win are pre-approved, clear on their district, and ready to act. Doing that homework before you arrive is the whole game.