King County warming up to condos. (condominiums)(Special Report: Real Estate Quarterly)

In Seattle area, sales of new condominium units are starting to outpace the sales of new homes

A few years ago, Roger Bass turned down a job offer in New York City, but the dream that made him pause to even consider the offer lingered on.

"I thought about what it would be like to experience life living in the center of the city and how enjoyable it would be. Then I realized I didn't have to leave Seattle to experience that," said the head of University Prep Academy.

He liked the idea so much that he sold the three-bedroom house in Magnolia where he lived for 22 years and bought a one-bedroom condominium in Continental Place, built in the 1980s at First Avenue and Blanchard Street.

"I have a small apartment in the south of France and I wanted the ability to go there quickly and easily and not worry about yards and house sitters," Bass said.

Bass isn't alone, local real estate experts say. In fact, he represents one of the prime target markets for condo developers: executives and empty-nesters eager to get away from the hassles of home ownership.

That eagerness is exemplified by the fact that net sales of new condominiums outpaced sales of new single-family homes in King County during the first three …