Welcome to Tacoma, Washington: gateway to the Puget Sound, guardian of the Tacoma Narrows, and known as the “City of Destiny.” The city was recently ranked as one of the nation’s most livable communities. The city is the seat of government in Pierce County, and the second largest city in the Puget Sound area, next to Seattle.  Its bustling harbor presides over the marine traffic of Commencement Bay and provides an outlet for both local and international trade and shipping, while its historic preservation program ensures that historical relics are preserved for generations to come. Tacoma’s arts and cultural centers, theater and musical groups, opera company and public art programs draw people from around the Puget Sound area and the entire Northwest region. 

Tacoma’s population hovers just under 200,000, making it a pleasantly mid-sized city.  During the mid 20th century, Tacoma’s economy experienced a downturn, and the city struggled with crime issues during the 1980's.  However, the city has made an astonishing comeback, with millions of dollars poured into a downtown renaissance in the last 15 years.  The establishment of a branch campus of the University of Washington in the downtown area further aided the city’s revival, and today Tacoma is a prosperous and forward-thinking city with only progress on the horizon.

Tacoma has a thriving arts and cultural scene.  The city’s Public Art program brings the creations of local artists onto the public stage, and city programs encourage the growth of individual working artists. In fact, Tacoma is home to a number of renowned writers, actors, and visual artists.  The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts provides a venue for national and international artists and performing companies year-round.  The Washington State History Museum and the Tacoma Art Museum, both relatively new to the downtown area, are the heart of the Cultural District.  The Museum of Glass, opened in 2002, showcases glass artwork by local, regional, and internationally recognized artists. The thoroughly modern Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, opened in 2004, has garnered much attention from businesses and organizations.

Why not become a part of Tacoma’s urban renaissance? For more information about Tacoma real estate and Tacoma homes for sale, call expert Tacoma Realtor Matt Thomson at (253) 226-7595 today.

Shopping, Dining, and Entertainment

Tacoma’s urban renewal has been accompanied by an influx of new retail, dining, and recreational establishments. Boutiques are springing up in the downtown area, offering fine men’s and women’s apparel, shoes, fine jewelry, home decor, fine art, and everything else you can imagine.  There’s also the South Hill Mall just outside the city in Puyallup, which is home to 120 specialty stores and five restaurants, as well as the Supermall in Auburn, with over 130 brand-name stores, and the Tacoma Mall, four miles west of downtown, which features 140 upscale merchants and specialty stores, a salon and spa, fine restaurants, and more. No matter what you’re looking for, you can be sure that your new Tacoma home will put you within easy reach of some of the Northwest’s best shopping venues.

Several casinos call the city home. Here, you’ll find not only the Northwest’s best gaming but also fine dining establishments, national and international entertainment acts, professional sporting events like boxing matches, and busy nightclubs.  Whether you’re an avid gambler or the occasional player, you won’t miss any of the action when you choose Tacoma real estate.

For a different sort of entertainment, attend a performance by the Tacoma Sinphonietta, a regional professional orchestra composed of 36 musicians. Concerts take place in Tacoma, and also at the Town Hall and the Rialto Theater in Seattle. The Tacoma Musical Playhouse has dedicated itself to the art of musical theater. Here, you’ll be treated to renditions of classic musicals, plus musical murder mysteries and educational programs. In the downtown area you’ll find every type of cuisine imaginable, from Creole and Cajun barbecue to Chinese, Caribbean, Indian, Mexican, Thai, Japanese and more. There are also a number of new, upscale martini bars, where you can dine, drink and dance the night away.   

The eclectic style of this evolving city draws people from across the U.S. and the world. For more information about Tacoma real estate, call Tacoma Realtor Matt Thomson at (253) 226-7595 today.

The Downtown Renaissance

Since the start of Tacoma’s cultural and infrastructure improvements in the 1990s, there has been a growing interest among potential Tacoma real estate buyers in the downtown area.  The downtown area has expanded to include Tacoma’s Puget Sound waterfront area, new public marinas, parks, and a new Tacoma Narrows Bridge. 

Along with a new public esplanade (the first phase of which was completed in 2002), Tacoma’s waterfront area will be home to Thea’s Landing, an $80 million retail/restaurant and luxury condominium development. Live-work lofts and condos are also under construction by a private company at 1933 Dock Street. The building will also feature 30,000 square feet of office space and 8,000 square feet of retail space.  Other new developments include: the Granville Building, an upscale five-story building which will feature four residential and one commercial condominium with views of Mount Rainier and Commencement Bay; The Galleria, a development of three-story residential condominiums in the Brewery District; and Crosswater Condos, a luxury waterfront development on the Thea Foss Waterway.
                                                             
Several buildings in the downtown area are undergoing renovations for what the city calls “adaptive reuse.” Historic mills, government buildings, and other structures that were no longer in use are undergoing conversion into residential, office, and retail spaces. There are luxury condominiums for sale in downtown’s beautiful historic YMCA building, spacious lofts in the Albers Mill, which is one of only a few remaining vintage manufacturing buildings, and the Cliff Street Lofts are housed in an historic building which overlooks the new Thea Foss waterway. These unique projects are transforming the face of the Tacoma real estate market, and allow prospective buyers to choose from a number of one-of-a-kind Tacoma homes that showcase individual personality. 

For more information about Tacoma real estate, call Tacoma Realtor Matt Thomson at (265) 226-7595 today.

Military Relocation to Tacoma

With Fort Lewis and the McChord Air Force Base situated in such close proximity to Tacoma, some military families may choose off-base living in Tacoma.  Imagine living in an exciting city close to some of the area’s best shopping, dining, and entertainment, just a 20-40 minute drive away from Fort Lewis, and a 20-30 minute drive from McChord Air Force Base. 

Tacoma real estate offers several housing opportunities unique to the city.  In addition to the adaptive reuse projects in the downtown area, which include condos and apartments in renovated historic buildings, there is a huge revitalization effort taking place downtown, and new construction is popping up everywhere. In Tacoma’s other neighborhoods, there are a variety of single-family homes, condos, and lofts for sale, and with the help of your Tacoma Realtor, you’re sure to find a Tacoma home that suits you perfectly.

Let an experienced Tacoma Realtor help you secure your Tacoma home. From estimating your housing payment to choosing a neighborhood and a school system, you’ll find a safe harbor with the help of your Tacoma Realtor.  For more information about Tacoma real estate and Tacoma homes for sale, call expert Realtor Matt Thomson at (253) 226-7595 today.