Bellevue, Washington is the premiere location in the Puget Sound area of Washington State for business and quality of life. Bellevue began as a rural area of farms and orchards and access to Seattle was limited to driving around either end of the 25-mile long Lake Washington or ferry boat across the lake. In 1940 the Lacey V Murrow Memorial floating bridge was opened to traffic between Seattle and Bellevue and this opened up the possibility to live on the Eastside and work in Seattle. In 1963 the Governor Albert D. Rosellini Bridge, the second floating bridge, was added and made it even easier to commute between Bellevue and Seattle. 
Today Bellevue is the center of commerce on the Eastside. The downtown area is rapidly turning into a big city as construction of high-rise buildings is going on throughout the downtown area. Fortunately, Bellevue has not lost touch with it's quality of life orientation and many residential units are being constructed in and near the downtown area. So, if someone chooses to live in the downtown area there are many choices. However, if a person prefers a more traditional, suburban environment Bellevue real estate includes many neighborhoods with their own unique personalities. These include Enatai, Beaux Arts, Woodridge, Somerset, Crossroads, Overlake, Meydenbauer, Newport Hills, Newport Shores, Bridle Trails, Wilburton, Factoria and Eastgate. Bellevue is the heart of the Eastside—that area east of Lake Washington—the lake that separates Seattle from the rest of Washington state. The area that is considered the Eastside begins with Renton to the south, and continuing north includes Newcastle, Issaquah, Sammamish, Redmond, Kirkland, Bothell, Kenmore and Woodinville. All of these communities enjoy the benefits of the Puget Sound influence: lots of moisture, moderate temperatures and lush vegetation. The folks around here have to constantly remind themselves that people drive from all over the country to see what we live with all the time. Bellevue is the business center of the Eastside and is known for the quality of life it provides for all of its citizens. Having grown up in recent years the city has been able to avoid a lot of the problems of older cities and planned for parks, pedestrian traffic and a vital downtown life. Bellevue is the home of Belsquare, a regional shopping mall that invites shoppers from all over the region. And, in recent years, many housing options have been planned into the long-range development plans for the city. In short, it is a very livable city. Many people are now choosing to live in downtown Bellevue. But it’s not all about the downtown. Bellevue contains many little communities within the city. These include the posh areas that border Lake Washington like Clyde Hill, Medina (where Bill Gates built his home), Evergreen Point, Hunts Point, Yarrow Point, Beaux Arts and Newport Shores. As you move east from the lake you encounter Woodridge, Somerset, Newport Hills, Eastgate, Lake Hills, Spirit Ridge, Crossroads, and Overlake just to name a few. Each of these communities was built in a specific timeframe, has its own personality and represents a distinct way of living. Because Bellevue grew up after World War II housing responded to the demand of the time—to have a house and a yard—what became known as suburbia. Most of the homes in Bellevue feature good-sized yards which allows them to show off the beautiful landscaping possible in this climate. You won’t find many homes with just a flat lawn and some foundation plantings. Rather you will find a plethora of plants including the ever-present, blossom-laden rhododendrons unique to this part of the world. Bellevue has a reputation of being a city of expensive homes and there are many very nice homes throughout the city. Fortunately, there are also many homes that are affordable and anyone who wants to live in Bellevue for its quality of life, easy commute to anywhere in the Seattle area and great public schools should take the time to explore the possibilities. Today, the population of the city contains senior citizens who bought their homes many years ago and have continued to enjoy living there; young, upwardly mobile professionals who work in the thriving software industry spawned by Microsoft, engineers and technicians who build the Boeing planes and immigrants who are drawn here because of the fantastic opportunities. If you want to live in one of the premiere spots in the United States Bellevue has to be on your list because of its lifestyle, education and opportunity. 
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