Redmond
Overlake
Microsoft's doorstep: light rail and the shortest commute around.
On the map
Boundary is approximate — refined per neighborhood over time.
Pacific Relocation's take
The placement for the engineer who refuses to commute.
Overlake is where we put Microsoft hires who want the shortest possible door-to-desk time — some of our placements here genuinely walk or bike to campus, and the Redmond Technology light-rail station covers the rest of the metro. The neighborhood is densifying fast: newer podium and mid-rise apartments around Overlake Village dominate the rental stock, and the dining and grocery scene reflects one of the most internationally diverse populations on the Eastside. It is the easiest soft landing we offer for clients arriving from India and China. The trade-off is that this is a workday district more than a charming one — 156th and the 520 ramps carry real traffic and noise, so we steer clients to buildings set back toward Grass Lawn or onto the village's quieter interior blocks. Families do well at the elementary level (Rosa Parks and Audubon both rate 8/10), but most true family searches still tilt north to Education Hill. Newer lease-ups cycle concessions, so winter movers can do well.
Lifestyle figures
Best of Overlake for you
Diverse / multilingual
- Overlake Village0.5 km
Densifying retail and dining node by the light-rail station — pan-Asian counters, groceries, and bubble tea.
Directions ↗Pinned on map - Asian Family Market0.7 km
Full-scale Asian supermarket on 156th serving the neighborhood's large East and South Asian community.
Urban / nightlife
- Redmond Technology Station0.6 km
The 2 Line stop at the Microsoft campus edge — Bellevue and downtown Redmond both a few minutes away.
- Microsoft Campus0.8 km
The multibillion-dollar HQ refresh and its public-facing plazas, sports fields, and Commons define the district.
Directions ↗Pinned on map
Cafés
- Mercurys Coffee Co.0.9 km
Local Eastside chain with a busy 24-hour drive-through and patio near the campus — the morning-commute fuel stop.
Directions ↗Pinned on map - Five Stones Coffee Company1.8 km
Roomy community café and roaster a short hop away, a favorite for laptop work and weekend meetups.
To buy (USD)
| Type | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 BR | 465,000 | 570,000 | 730,000 |
| 2 BR | 600,000 | 730,000 | 935,000 |
| 3 BR | 765,000 | 935,000 | 1,200,000 |
Estimated from local rents — placeholder, pending verified sale data.
Rent ranges (USD)
| Type | Low | Median | High | Δ 12mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 BR | 2,150 | 2,500 | 2,950 | ↑ 5.5% |
| 2 BR | 2,750 | 3,200 | 3,900 | ↑ 5.0% |
| 3 BR | 3,500 | 4,100 | 5,000 | ↑ 4.5% |
Source: Rentals.ca + Zumper Q1 2026, refreshed weekly via our rent worker.
Our advice
Before you sign a lease
- Tour at rush hour — units facing 156th Ave NE or the 520 ramps carry steady traffic noise the photos hide
- Newer buildings stack fees: per-pet rent, amenity fees, and mandatory utility-billing services; get the true all-in monthly number in writing
- Lease-up concessions amortize into a higher renewal — negotiate a renewal cap before signing
Pacific Relocation
Want our help finding a place here?
Book a free 30-min Discovery Call with Pacific Relocation.
Last reviewed 2026-06-11.