611 S Orchard St, Tacoma
Sold $420,000
3 Beds
1 Bath
1,080 Sq Ft
6,000 Sq Ft Lot
Maybe you’ve been living in Tacoma for years and feel ready to transition away from renting—feel ready for some outdoor space, room to let the dog run, a sunny patch for tomatoes and sunflowers, somewhere to store the kayak—or you could be moving here from out of town and need a solid place from which to explore the city. Start your Tacoma homeownership story in this central single-level home with Tacoma Boys grocery to the west and Valhalla Coffee to the east.
Oak hardwoods extend from the living space into all three bedrooms. Tile flooring covers the kitchen and bath. The third bedroom makes for a perfect work-from-home space and ductless heating and cooling provides comfort year round. One step leads down from the kitchen to a laundry room and straight out to the private, fully fenced back yard. A favorite feature of the home, the yard offers a patio for summer dining, lawn for play, plenty of room for gardening, a shed for storage and a gate from the driveway into the side yard for boat or RV parking.
This location is a launchpad for everything Tacoma offers; get to Proctor for shopping and the farmers’ market or the heart of 6th Ave for coffee and happy hour in 5 minutes by car. Reach downtown by bus, bike, or automobile. Get to Point Defiance Park for the beach, zoo, rose garden, and trails in 10 minutes. Or, head west to Titlow Park for the beach, birdwatching at the lagoon, sunset views, trails, and the playground in 8. You’re starting to get the picture.
Continue on for the video tour, photos, details, and a list of 20 local favorite destinations and services nearby.
Single Level Living
Living Room
Eat-in Kitchen
3 Bedrooms
Full Bath
Laundry Room
Grounds
Lawn in Front & Back
Paved Off-Street Parking
Fully Fenced Back Yard
Private Back Patio
Garden Shed
Gate from Driveway to Side Yard for Boat/RV Parking
Living Room
Park in the driveway and prepare to make yourself at home. A sunset orange door smiles from the front porch. Oak floors welcome you as soon as you step inside. And hardwood floors, like good light, change the entire quality and character of the place where they’re present. If you love area rugs, bold and patterned, or subtle and soft, you’ll find many good spots for them here where oak and tile stretch underfoot. The ductless mini-split heating and cooling unit is mounted on the wall for all-season temperature control. A west-facing window lets in the afternoon light. The front door lets in friends, and this living room invites you to take a seat and stay awhile.
Eat-in Kitchen
Step from the living room into the kitchen, and from the kitchen reach the laundry room and the back door—but not yet, that’s getting ahead of ourselves. Pause here to notice the stone counters and backsplash, tile floor, original cabinets, and the practical double-basin ceramic sink. The dishwasher, refrigerator, and an oven-range are all present and accounted for. A pantry closet to the right of the fridge adds convenience, and a little eating space is available along the north wall.
Primary Bedroom
The primary bedroom, the largest of three, is set on the north side of the home with hardwood floors, a ceiling fan for extra airflow (don’t forget about that mini-split ductless heat pump for heating and cooling though), and windows facing north and west. White walls and wood floors are an open canvas for the room you want to create.
Full Bath
The full bath stands on the south side of the house in the hall between the second and third bedrooms. Finished with tile flooring, a subway tile shower/tub surround, and a privacy glass window, this room also offers a built-in linen closet. Enjoy the round wooden mirror for texture and interest, and added storage in the vanity cupboard under the sink. Along with the linen closet in the bathroom, there’s a closet in the hall right between the bathroom and front bedroom.
Front Bedroom
The second bedroom faces west onto Orchard with the same pretty oak floors and simple white walls found throughout the home.
Back Bedroom/Office
The third and final bedroom is located in the back southeast corner of the house and includes the largest closet. A shelf running the length of the closet provides a spot for stashing boxes of seasonal items. Any of the three rooms could function well as a work-from-home office, creative studio, or other flex space if you just need one or two for sleeping.
Laundry - Mudroom
We brought it up before, but now it’s time to take a look at the laundry room. A step leads down from the kitchen to this utility area with a washer, dryer, and water heater in a row. Cabinets above the washing machine can hold laundry detergent as well as all your other cleaning supplies. The homeowners hang their bike in here and tuck camping gear on the shelves. There’s a shed in the garden for tools, so you won’t need to fit those inside the house. This is also a great spot for a pet’s food and water bowls, and a handy area for wiping boots, feet, and paws before scampering into the kitchen.
Grounds, Patio & Parking
The back yard has been a highlight of life at this home, especially during these pandemic years when fresh air, a bit of space, and room to move are perhaps even more appreciated than before. This 6,000 square foot lot includes off-street parking, lawn, and landscaping in front with a fully-fenced private yard in back. (The lot is bordered by city works on the east, so there are no neighbors against the back fence line, giving it a quiet feel.) Bring an outdoor dining set or lounge chairs to the patio. Set up yard games. Light the grill. Build raised beds or plant more trees and flowering shrubs along the back fence. Work or play or relax. You’ll probably end up doing all three.
A gate from the driveway into the side yard on the north wall of the home creates an opportunity for RV or boat parking. The side yard on the south is fenced on the street side and includes a gate into the main back area allowing it to be separated from the rest of the back yard—it’s a good outdoor storage spot, a great place to keep a kayak for those beach parks nearby.
Overall, this yard is a welcoming place for people and pets. Right now, it’s pretty low-maintenance—simple, open, and green with a lawnmower and a set of shears just about enough to keep it in order. Keep it that way or go wild planting and growing and landscaping. It’s up to you.
Location
This single level home is set just off 6th Avenue in Central Tacoma between Tacoma Boys to the west and Valhalla Coffee Co. to the east. That the location provides easy access to the 6th Ave business district doesn’t come as a surprise, but the truth is you can get all kinds of places from here with ease. Head north to reach Metropolitan Market in 5 minutes, the Proctor Farmers’ Market in 6.
Go west to Titlow Park when a beach walk, sunset view, or summer sprayground play time sounds right.
Go west and land at Titlow Beach in under 10 minutes for wooded trails, birdwatching at the lagoon, walks by the saltwater, summer afternoons at the sprayground play area, and beautiful sunset views. It’s also 10 minutes to downtown Tacoma, to REI, and to Point Defiance Park. Reaching a place like Point Defiance in 10 minutes is no small thing. Bike or jog the 5 Mile Drive, spend the day at the beach, tour the gardens, wander the miles of looping trails, visit the Zoo & Aquarium, or just park and soak up the sound and smell of the trees. Keep an eye (and ear) out for owls and eagles. You’ll likely see squirrels, raccoons, deer, seals, and maybe—if the time is right—even an orca.
Image from Tacoma Boys - Stocked with tons of produce, a butcher counter, and fish market along with sweets, dry goods, drinks, and flowering baskets. Open all day every day and just 2 minutes away!
Image from Da Tiki Hut - Get away to the islands less than 1/2 a mile from home for a plate lunch or some loco moco.
The homeowners have loved how bikeable this location can be. There’s so much within just a couple of miles, and it’s exhilarating to leave home and cross the Narrows Bridge by bike, or cycle over to Valhalla for coffee (unless you’re crossing the street for coffee at Cutters Point—it’s so close you may as well leave the bike behind). When you’re driving, this location allows you to skip the highway and freeway and just get around on surface streets. Working downtown? Catch the bus at 6th & Orchard every 30 minutes and head straight there.
Take a look at our list of 20 local destinations to get an even better idea of where this home fits in the neighborhood and wider community.
20 Favorite Local Destinations & Services Within 1.5 Miles
Image from Valhalla Coffee Co. - Locally roasted, brewed fresh, and just over 1/2 a mile from home. Walk, roll, or ride over to get the day started.
(Travel times here are calculated for travel by car.)
Groceries & Supplies
Tacoma Boys: 0.4 miles, 2 minutes
McClendon Hardware: 0.8 miles, 3 minutes
Fred Meyer: 1.2 miles, 4 minutes
Image from Morgan Family YMCA - Find community at the Y with its pool, exercise classes, open gym, and special summer programs less than a mile from 611 S Orchard.
Dining, Drinks & Treats
Cutters Point Coffee: across the street!
Da Tiki Hut: 0.4 miles, 1 minute
Beer Star: 0.5 miles, 1 minute
Valhalla Coffee Co.: 0.7 miles, 2 minutes
Sushi Tama: 0.7 miles, 2 minutes
The Red Hot: 1.5 miles, 5 minutes
La Cà Bar: 1.5 miles, 5 minutes
Parks & Activities
Jefferson Park: 0.6 miles, 2 minutes
Morgan Family YMCA: 0.8 miles, 4 minutes
Tower Lanes: 0.9 miles, 4 minutes
Swasey Branch Tacoma Public Library: 1.3 miles, 5 minutes
Cheney Stadium: 1.5 miles, 4 minutes
Schools
Silas High School: 0.5 miles, 2 minutes
DeLong Elementary School: 0.6 miles, 2 minutes
Tacoma Community College: 0.8 miles, 2 minutes
Jefferson Elementary School: 0.9 miles, 3 minutes
University of Puget Sound: 1.3 miles, 4 minutes
More Information From the Listing Agent
Come see this Central Tacoma home in person to get a feel for the layout, style, size, and location.
And feel free to call or text me, Michael Duggan, at 253-226-2787. I’ll be happy to answer your questions about this property, or talk with you about Tacoma and the local real estate market in general.
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