15 Homes So Opulent, King County Has Special Category For Them

MERCER ISLAND, WA - Thirty-thousand square-feet of total living space. Sixty-seven full bathrooms, 68 bedrooms. A combined value of $570 million. These are the King County's most exceptional properties.

There are just 15 homes in the Seattle area that are so grandiose, so extravagant, and so out-of-reach that the King County Assessor has created a special grade for them called "exceptional properties."

The homes are owned by the usual suspects: Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Howard Schultz. Some are owned by lesser known but eminently wealthy individuals, and some owners are hidden behind limited liability companies.

King County created the "exceptional" category over 10 years ago so the county could more uniformly evaluated properties so opulent, they don't often get sold.

"Exceptional quality homes are a step above and have been identified has being the very best residences in King county. They represent the very best of materials and craftsmanship, and are often one-of-a-kind properties," the assessor's office told Patch.

King County began sending out 2019 tax bills on Feb. 14, and most bills will drop by about 1 percent. It's an appropriate time to tour the county's 15 "exceptional" properties so you can see how your tax bill compares. Keep in mind: tax bills are relative to home value and vary by city. Some cities in King County saw taxes increase in 2019 (including Medina, Bellevue, and Shoreline) and rates decreased in some cities like Seattle and Mercer Island.

Here are the homes ranked for least to most expensive:

1631 Roanoke Way, Mercer Island

• Owner: James P. Edwards
• Appraised value: $17,609,000
• 2019 tax bill: $132,249.43
• Tax rate: $7.51 per $1,000 of assessed value
• View of Seattle skyline: Average
• Square feet of indoor pool: 940

6435 77th Avenue Southeast, Mercer Island

• Owner: Paul Allen (located next to his three other properties)
• Appraised value: $20,420,000
• 2019 tax bill: $153,343.17
• Tax rate: $7.51 per $1,000 of assessed value
• Jet ski lift: Yes
• Dock square feet: 1,700

120 Lake Washington Boulevard East, Seattle

• Owner: 120 LWBE LLC
• Appraised Value: $20,844,000
• 2019 tax bill: $173,480.96
• Pool area size: 1,150 square-feet

95 Northwest Park Drive and 97 Olympic Drive Northwest, Shoreline

(these two houses are next to each other)

• Owner: Christopher R Larson
• Appraised value: $26,522,000
• 2019 tax bill (combined): $304,664.84
• Tax rate: $11.49 per $1,000 of assessed value
• Value of child's playhouse on property: $24,000
• Square feet of underground parking: 7,000

3019 60th Avenue Southeast, Mercer Island

• Owner: AMLA Holdings LLC
• Appraised value: $27,780,000
• 2019 tax bill: $208,628.10
• Tax rate: $7.51 per $1,000 of assessed value
• Number of tax bill appeals: 6 since 1991

7939 Overlake Drive West, Medina

• Owner: Nathan Myhrvold, former Microsoft CTO, founder of patent firm Intellectual Ventures, author of "Modernist Cuisine"
• Appraised Value: $30,711,000
• 2019 tax bill: $243,530.74
• Lake Washington view: Excellent
• Mt. Rainier view: Good

2019 Evergreen Point Road, Medina

• Owner: Jon A. Shirley
• Appraised value: $42,214,000
• 2019 tax bill: $334,741.78
• Tax rate: $7.93 per $1,000 of assessed value
• Tram value: $80,000

801 Evergreen Point Road, Medina

• Owner: Aspen Ventures LLC
• Appraised value: $48,499,000
• 2019 tax bill: $384,577.40
• Tax rate: $7.93 per $1,000 of assessed value
• Square feet: 24,130
• Waterslide: Yes

923 Evergreen Point Road, Medina

• Owner: Cascade Trust
• Appraised value: $79,221,000
• 2019 tax bill: $628,179.90
• Tax rate: $7.93 per $1,000 of assessed value
• Year "gate cottage" was last remodeled: 2011

6611, 6451, and 6555 West Mercer Way, Mercer Island

(all three of these homes are located next to each other on the west shore of the island)

• Owner: Paul Allen
• Appraised value (all three): $92,155,000
• 2019 tax bill: $692,080.96
• Tax rate: all three $7.51 per $1,000 of assessed value
• Nuisances: Traffic noise

1835 73rd Avenue Northeast, Medina

• Owner: Bill Gates
• Appraised value: $131,239,000
• 2019 tax bill: $1,040,643.56
• Tax rate: $7.93 per $1,000 of assessed value
• Total square feet: 48,160
• Number of boat lifts: 3
• Value of "green" roof: $1.1 million

1500 42nd Avenue East, Seattle

Last but not least (and out of value order) is the Madison Park home of possible presidential candidate Howard Schultz. The former Starbucks CEO's home differs from the others on the list because it's located inside the Reed Estate, a private community of 12 mansions. But of all those mansions, Howard Schultz is the only "exceptional" property.

• Appraised value: $30,995,000
• 2019 tax bill: $263,866.29
• Tax rate: $8.29 per $1,000 of assessed value
• Square feet: 24,160
• Value difference between next most expensive Reed Estate home: $11,020,500
• Price when Schultz bought in 1996: $5.9 million