< University Place, WA Real Estate

University Place, WA Real Estate Market

University Place sits on the shore of Puget Sound just west of Tacoma, with Fircrest, Lakewood and Steilacoom as neighbors. Locals call it UP. It became a city in 1995 and is best known for Chambers Bay, the public links course on a former gravel quarry that hosted the 2015 U.S. Open. Buyers look here for Sound and mountain views, established neighborhoods, the University Place School District, and quick access to Tacoma and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

The Market Right Now

319 homes sold in University Place over the last 12 months at a median price of $685,000, or about $339 per square foot. There are 80 homes for sale now, with a median asking price of $686,000.

Homes move quickly. The median home went under contract in 12 days, and the median sale closed at 100.0% of the final asking price, with 34% selling above it. At 3.0 months of supply, the market is leaning toward sellers. For a buyer, that means being ready to act when the right home comes up: have your financing approved before you start touring, and look at recent sales nearby before you make an offer.

Where Budgets Land

The biggest share of last year's sales, 50%, fell between $500,000 and $750,000, and another 29% sold between $750,000 and $1,000,000. Choices thin out at either end: 8% sold between $400,000 and $500,000, and 7% sold for $1,000,000 and up. If your budget sits at either end, watch new listings closely and be ready to move.

The Homes

University Place is mostly single-family homes, with some condos, built mostly between the 1960s and the 1990s. The typical home has about 1,980 sq ft of living space on a 9,600 sq ft lot and was built around 1978. Bedrooms run 2 bed (16%), 3 bed (41%), 4 bed (32%), 5+ bed (9%). Older ramblers and split-levels sit alongside 1980s and 1990s subdivisions, and the hillsides above the Sound hold a mix of view homes. About 42% of homes report an HOA, mostly in planned subdivisions and condo communities.

If lot size matters, see large lot homes and homes on acreage. For the water, start with waterfront homes and Sound view homes.

Neighborhoods and Communities

Each part of town has its own feel.

• Day Island and Sunset Beach are the city's best-known waterfront neighborhoods, along the Sound near the Narrows.
• Chambers Creek and Beckonridge see the most sales of any named neighborhoods in the city. Beckonridge is a planned community with its own clubhouse and trails.
• Soundview, Curtis and Park Ridge are established neighborhoods of mostly single-family homes.
• Condo buyers often start with The Ranch at University Place, Pemberton Creek and Regency Park, or the full list of University Place condos.

Schools

Most of the city is in the University Place School District. Students go from a primary school (Chambers, Evergreen, Sunset or University Place Primary) to Drum or Narrows View Intermediate, then Curtis Junior High and Curtis Senior High School. Some neighborhoods on the city's edges are served by Tacoma Public Schools instead, so check the assigned schools for any home you're considering.

Living in University Place

Chambers Creek Regional Park runs along the shoreline beside the golf course, with miles of trails, beach access, open lawns and an off-leash dog park. Closer to home, the city has wooded spots like Cirque Bridgeport Park, the Chambers Creek Canyon trails and Adriana Hess Wetland Park. The Town Center around Market Square holds the library and city offices, and hosts events through the year. Shopping and dining cluster along Bridgeport Way and at the Village at Chambers Bay. Downtown Tacoma is a short drive, Gig Harbor is just across the Narrows Bridge, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a short drive south.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy

• Which schools serve the address? The University Place and Tacoma districts both reach into the city, so check the boundary for each home.
• Is there an HOA, and what do the CC&Rs cover? Many subdivisions and all condo communities have dues and rules on things like fences, parking and rentals.
• Is the home on sewer or septic? Most homes are on city sewer, but some older properties still use septic systems. Ask for records and an inspection.
• For waterfront and hillside homes: ask about bulkheads, slope stability and drainage, and any limits on shoreline work under the city's shoreline rules.
• For homes from the 1960s to the 1980s: check the age of the roof, windows, electrical panel and heating system, and budget for updates.

Market figures are from the local MLS as of November 2026.

Your University Place real estate questions, answered

Steven Hume knows the University Place market and can help you make sense of the homes, neighborhoods and prices you are seeing.

Steven Hume has worked in real estate since the 1990s, as an agent and as an investor who has owned and managed his own properties. He holds an MBA and has completed graduate-level real estate coursework through CCIM, and from his office in University Place he works with buyers and sellers in University Place and the communities around it.

If you are planning to sell, I can help you understand what similar homes are selling for and where your property may fit in the market. Call or text (253) 970-9965 or send me a message.