Your Auburn Real Estate Agent

Auburn Real Estate Agent: Emily Cressey

By Emily Cressey, Broker, HomePro Associates at Keller Williams Greater Seattle. Updated October 2026.

I have worked in Auburn for years, and I have seen the good, the great and the occasional challenge. I am getting ready to list another Auburn home soon, so I have been spending a lot of time down here lately.

People still think of Auburn as semi-farmland. It is not. It has new neighborhoods, a revitalizing downtown and some of the best value left in King County.

What is your home worth? Enter your address and I will prepare a free value report for you, by hand, not a robot.

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What It Is Really Like to Live in Auburn

Here is my honest look at Auburn, Washington.

What Is Auburn Really Like?

Auburn sits in the Green River Valley between Kent and Tacoma, straddling King and Pierce Counties. Mount Rainier looms over the valley on clear days. The city has a historic downtown, a Sounder train station, the Muckleshoot Casino, The Outlet Collection and Emerald Downs racetrack. Neighborhoods range from older homes near downtown to newer master-planned communities on the hills.

Emerald Downs and Family Fun

I do not bet on the ponies, but I love bringing my family to Emerald Downs and letting the kids get up close to those big, powerful animals. If you were ever a horse-crazy girl, like I was, you will get it. One of my clients was even invited to see a corgi race there.

When my kids were young, I loved parks with splash pads, because I did not have to get in the water to supervise them. Les Gove Park in Auburn has one, along with the White River Valley Museum and the Auburn Senior Activity Center nearby.

Mount Rainier in Your Backyard

Auburn is one of the closest King County cities to Mount Rainier National Park. I go with my kids and my mother to see the wildflowers, and friends of ours from church have summited it. Be prudent if you hike there. The mountain is beautiful, but it deserves respect.

Auburn Neighborhoods and Homes

• Lakeland Hills: a master-planned community on the hill with newer homes and parks.
• Lea Hill: established neighborhoods east of downtown, close to Green River College.
• West Hill: homes with valley and mountain views.
• Historic Downtown: older homes close to the Sounder station and Main Street.

I recently stopped by the MainVue World of Model Homes after an Auburn listing appointment, and there is a lot of new construction going in. New builds are worth a look, but I always recommend an independent inspection.

How I Help Auburn Sellers

Many Auburn buyers are coming from Seattle, Bellevue and Kent looking for more space. I market your home to them, show off the views and the commute options, and price it against the right part of town, because Lakeland Hills, Lea Hill and downtown are different markets.

If you are selling a family home or an inherited property, I can coordinate cleanouts, repairs paid at closing and everything in between.

How I Sell Your Home: The A-PLUS Method

Every listing I take follows the same five steps. It is the system I wrote up in my free A-PLUS seller guide, and it is how I keep a sale organized when life is anything but.

Buying in Auburn

Auburn is a good fit if you want more space for your money and can handle a longer commute. On a recent trip, it took me about 45 minutes to drive from downtown Seattle at lunchtime. At rush hour, plan for more. Test the drive before you buy.

For a deeper look, read my guide to living in Auburn.

Auburn Real Estate Questions

Is Auburn a good place to buy a house?

For many buyers, yes. Auburn offers newer homes and more space than most King County cities. Commute and neighborhood variation are the main trade-offs.

How long is the commute from Auburn to Seattle?

About 45 minutes without traffic and well over an hour at rush hour. The Sounder train runs from the Auburn station to downtown Seattle on weekdays.

Which school district serves Auburn?

Most of Auburn is in the Auburn School District, with some areas in the Kent or Federal Way districts. Confirm for each address.

Is Auburn in King or Pierce County?

Both. Most of Auburn is in King County, and Lakeland Hills and the south end are in Pierce County.

What other areas do you serve?

I serve King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties, including Auburn, Kent, Des Moines and Renton.