Cedar & SoundReal Estate · Seattle

Independent brokerage · Ballard, Seattle

Seattle homes, bought and sold with a steady hand.

Cedar & Sound is three people, one office on Market Street, and thirteen years of helping neighbors buy their first condo, trade up to a craftsman, or sell the house they raised a garden in.

What's my home worth? See homes for sale
A two-storey craftsman home with sage-green shingle siding, tapered porch columns on stone bases and a lit front porch, set behind a lawn and mature trees at golden hour Featured · Open Sat & Sun 1–4 The Corliss Craftsman, Wallingford $1,385,0004 bd · 2.5 ba · 2,640 sq ft
  • 312homes sold since 2013
  • 14median days to sell, our 2026 listings
  • 5.0 ★from 148 client reviews
  • 48 hrsto a free written valuation

01Homes for sale

On the market this week

Every listing here is ours, so you'll talk to the broker who knows the house. Ask about any home and we'll set up a private showing, usually same or next day.

Modern three-storey Ballard townhome with charcoal and cedar siding and a glass-railed rooftop deck

New

Ballard · Townhome

Rooftop-deck townhome off NW 65th

$849,000

3 bd2.5 ba1,480 sq ftBuilt 2019

Rooftop deck with Olympic Mountain views, an attached garage wired for an EV charger, quartz kitchen and no HOA dues.

Ask about this home
Ivy-covered 1928 red-brick apartment building on Capitol Hill with bay windows

Price improved

Capitol Hill · Condo

Top-floor one-bedroom in a 1928 brick building

$529,000 $549,000

1 bd + den1 ba780 sq ftHOA $512/mo

Coved ceilings, oak floors, a den that fits a desk, and deeded storage. Healthy reserve study. Pets allowed under the HOA rules.

Ask about this home
1958 mid-century rambler in Columbia City with big picture windows and a large level lawn

Coming Nov 7

Columbia City · Mid-century

1958 rambler with a big, level yard

$715,000

3 bd1.75 ba1,620 sq ft6,200 sq ft lot

One-level living, refinished hardwoods, new roof in 2024. About 0.6 miles to the light rail station and the Rainier Ave S shops.

Get an early preview

02How we help

Buying or selling, explained in plain English

For buyers

Find the right home, and win it fairly

  • A free 45-minute consult: budget, must-haves, and which neighborhoods fit them
  • Introductions to three local lenders for pre-approval, no obligation
  • Tours within a day, plus off-market and coming-soon homes from our network
  • Pricing data before every offer, and a review of the seller disclosure and inspection reports
  • Inspection negotiation, appraisal follow-up, and a closing checklist until you have the keys

How we're paid when you buy

Before we tour, we sign a short buyer services agreement, as Washington requires. It puts our fee in writing, usually 2.5% of the price. Sellers often pay all or part of it; if they don't, it's discussed before you make any offer. No surprises at closing.

Book a buyer consult

For sellers

Price it right, prepare it well, sell with less stress

  • Free home valuation: a written comparative market analysis within 48 hours, no obligation
  • Pre-listing inspection and a staging consult, paid by us
  • Professional photos, floor plan and 3D tour; two weekend open houses
  • Weekly reports on showings, feedback and online views
  • We negotiate every offer and manage inspection, appraisal and closing

Our listing fee, simply

2.5% of the sale price, paid from the proceeds at closing. Nothing upfront. On a $900,000 sale that's $22,500. Whether to offer compensation to the buyer's broker is your choice; we'll show you how it tends to affect showings in your price range. Commissions are not set by law and are always negotiable.

Get my free valuation

03Selling with us

From first coffee to closing, about eight weeks

  1. 01

    Valuation & plan

    We walk the house, deliver your written valuation in 48 hours, and agree a price strategy and timeline.

    Week 0
  2. 02

    Prepare

    Pre-listing inspection, small repairs, staging advice and a list of trusted local trades.

    Weeks 1–3
  3. 03

    Launch

    Photos, floor plan and 3D tour go live on a Thursday, followed by open houses that weekend.

    Week 4
  4. 04

    Offers

    We compare terms, not just price: financing, contingencies, closing date and rent-back.

    Week 5
  5. 05

    Close

    Inspection, appraisal, escrow and keys. Priya tracks every deadline for you.

    About 30 days

04Market snapshot

Seattle, July to September 2026

Our summary of closed single-family sales within Seattle city limits. Want the numbers for your street? Ask for a valuation.

Median sale price
$918K
up 3.1% on last year
Median days on market
12
down from 15
Sale-to-list price
101.4%
most homes sell at or above asking
Months of supply
1.8
still a seller's market
Median sale price by neighborhood, Q3 2026
  • Wallingford$1.15M
  • Ravenna$1.05M
  • Ballard$975K
  • West Seattle$860K
  • Columbia City$790K
  • Capitol Hill condos$560K

05Neighborhood guide

Six neighborhoods we know street by street

What's nearby, what the houses are like, and what they cost. For school information, check Seattle Public Schools directly; we're happy to share the resources we use.

  • Ballard

    ~$975K

    The Locks, a year-round Sunday farmers market, Golden Gardens beach and dozens of breweries. Craftsmans, newer townhomes and condos near Market Street. Our office is here.

  • Wallingford

    ~$1.15M

    Shops and restaurants along N 45th St, Gas Works Park and the Burke-Gilman Trail. Mostly early-1900s craftsman and four-square homes on tree-lined blocks.

  • Ravenna

    ~$1.05M

    A wooded ravine park, quick access to the University District and light rail, and the Burke-Gilman for bike commuters. Tudors, craftsmans and brick bungalows.

  • Capitol Hill

    ~$560K condo

    Volunteer Park, a light rail station, and the restaurants and music venues of Pike/Pine. Classic brick condo buildings, modern mid-rises and grand older houses on the north end.

  • Columbia City

    ~$790K

    A historic main street with a weekly farmers market in season, a light rail station and Genesee Park nearby. Craftsmans, mid-century ramblers and newer townhomes.

  • West Seattle

    ~$860K

    Alki Beach, Lincoln Park, the shops of the Junction and a water taxi to downtown. View homes on the bluffs, bungalows and ramblers inland.

06The team

Small on purpose

We cap our listings at eight at a time, so the person you meet is the person who answers your calls.

  • Nora Halvorsen

    Founder & managing broker

    Grew up in Ballard, licensed since 2009, opened Cedar & Sound in 2013. Handles most of our listings and every pricing conversation.

  • Daniel Okafor

    Broker · buyers

    Former mortgage underwriter, so he reads a loan estimate and an HOA budget faster than anyone. Leads first-time buyer and condo searches.

  • Priya Raman

    Transaction coordinator

    Keeps every contract, deadline and escrow document on track, and texts you before you have to wonder.

07Client stories

5.0 stars from 148 reviews

Nora priced our Wallingford house in a slow month and we still had four offers. She explained every line of the commission before we signed anything.

Kate & Luis M. · sold in Wallingford

We lost two bids as first-time buyers. Daniel kept us calm, found a condo with a healthy reserve study, and we closed in 28 days.

Jordan P. · bought on Capitol Hill

Moving from Denver, we saw nine homes in one weekend between video tours and in person. Priya handled every deadline.

Sam & Taylor R. · bought in Columbia City

08Questions

Straight answers

Our assistant can answer most of these any time and book a call with Nora or Daniel.

How much is your commission?

For sellers, 2.5% of the sale price, paid at closing, nothing upfront. Compensation for the buyer's broker is a separate choice you make. For buyers, our fee is set in the buyer services agreement, usually 2.5%, and is often paid by the seller. Commissions are always negotiable.

Is the home valuation really free?

Yes. We visit (or work from photos if you prefer), then send a written comparative market analysis within 48 hours. There's no obligation to list with us.

Do I need a pre-approval before we tour?

Not for a first consult or a few tours. You'll need one before writing an offer, and sellers take pre-approved buyers more seriously. We can introduce you to three local lenders.

Can you help me sell and buy at the same time?

Often. Options include a contingent offer, a rent-back after your sale closes, or lining up a bridge loan with your lender. We'll map the timing with you in the first meeting.

Which areas do you cover?

All of Seattle, plus Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Edmonds and Burien. For homes farther out, we refer you to a broker we trust.

How quickly can I see a home?

Usually the same or next day. We tour weekdays until 7 pm and on weekends.

09Contact

Let's talk about your next move

Tell our assistant what you're planning: the area, your budget and your timeline. Nora or Daniel will call you back the same business day.

I'm selling I'm buying
Office
2219 NW Market St, Suite 3
Seattle, WA 98107
Phone
(206) 555-0147
Hours
Mon–Fri 9 am – 6 pm
Sat 10 am – 4 pm
Sun by appointment & open houses
Parking
Free 2-hour street parking on NW Market St; client spot behind the building