The San Juans are destination waterfront, and the buyer here is choosing a way of life as much as a home. The first thing to understand is access: some properties sit a short ferry ride from Anacortes, others are water-access-only or reached most easily by floatplane, and that single distinction shapes both lifestyle and value more than almost anything else. The islands each have their own character, San Juan more developed around Friday Harbor, Orcas more rugged and dramatic, Lopez more pastoral and quiet, and the right match depends on how remote you actually want to feel. As with all saltwater, bulkhead condition and tidelands belong at the top of the diligence. Per foot, the islands often represent real value against Lake Washington, in a setting nothing on the mainland can match. If you have someone who wants to fly up and spend a day looking at the water, this is exactly the kind of trip I love to put together.