LAURELHURST & WINDERMERE These up-scale communities in Seattle contain many Lake Washington waterfront homes and mansions with private docks and impressive views of Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains. They are close to the University of Washington and downtown Seattle. For those without a private dock, the marinas on Lake Union are close by. Like most of Lake Washington's waterfront communities, the homes are large and well maintained. Waterfront homes range from $2 million up. Water view homes start at around $500,000.