Have you heard of the infamous Montlake Spite House in Seattle? Shaped like a small slice of pie, the house is squeezed onto a 3,000-square foot lot in Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood. At its narrowest end, it’s just 55 inches wide. And it just sold for over $700,000.
Read on for all the lore behind this quirky Seattle house!
The Spanish Revival-style house in Montlake was built a century ago, and its origins are not known for certain. The most widely-accepted story is that the small sliver of a house was built next to the main house after a contentious divorce; another story attributed the structure to a neighborly dispute. Most of the stories agree that the spite house was built to block someone else’s view.
The Montlake Spite House is 860 square feet split between two levels. On one side it is 15 feet wide, which narrows to just 55 inches on the other. It sits on a 3,000-square feet lot.
The house recently went on the market for the first time since 2019. It was listed at $799,000 and ultimately sold this month for $745,000. Despite its small size and awkward layout, potential buyers may have been enticed by the chance to own a unique piece of Seattle history in a desirable location.
Here is an excerpt from the listing description:
The perfect condo alternative with a fenced yard and an income-producing unit boasts a new roof, new paint, new water heater, new W/D, updated kitchen, hardwood floors, and stylish bathrooms. Bright main floor (430 sq ft) offers a living room, bedroom, bath, and kitchen. The lower level (430 sq ft) has a family room, bedroom, laundry, bath, and separate entrance—ideal for guests, Airbnb, or an ADU. Enjoy alley access, 2+ off-street parking spots, and a prime Montlake location near UW, Café Lago, Oxbow, and Fuel Coffee.”
If you’d like to see what the inside looks like, you can watch a video tour on YouTube:
What do you think? Would you want to own the Montlake Spite House?