When Ralina Joseph moved to Seattle for an assistant professorship at the University of Washington two years ago, she hoped to live in a home near campus.

But housing prices prevented her and her husband from finding a place close by. They eventually bought a home in Jackson Park, about 10 blocks south of the Shoreline border.

"We were happy to be able to buy our house," said Joseph, who works in the UW's Department of Communication. Still, it's not as convenient for the mother of two to travel from home to work, particularly for evening events on campus.

The UW is in the early stages of determining how to help faculty members find affordable housing. With its recent purchase of Safeco Tower and surrounding properties last year, officials are floating the idea of building housing for faculty members on two University District parking lots that were included in the deal.

"Obviously there's a need, and everybody recognizes that," said UW spokesman Norm Arkans. "Affordable housing for faculty and staff is something that we've been thinking about."

But officials have not settled on a specific solution, he added.

The UW recently formed a real estate foundation with a five-member board, which includes President Mark Emmert. The foundation will look strategically at real estate that could be bought or developed for the university.

"It's something that we hope will benefit the university for years to come," said Executive Vice President Weldon Ihrig.

Other officials are determining how to dole out space in the newly named UW Tower, which the university will occupy beginning next year. They intend to move administrative staff from the main Seattle campus to the building and free up space for academic uses.

The university also is trying to decide what to do with property it owns at Warren G. Magnuson Park, called Building 9.

There are no official proposals for faculty housing. "All of this is like a dream right now," Arkans said.

Faculty housing could be an incentive for attracting new professors, particularly those who are considering jobs at other campuses in less expensive areas.

The median price of a home in Seattle was $379,990 last month, according to the most recent numbers from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

At the UW, a new assistant professor earns $67,105 a year, an associate professor earns $72,759 and a full professor earns $101,891, according to the university's most recent data.

Affording a home in Seattle can be more difficult for young faculty members.

Many have just completed their doctoral work before arriving at the UW, and they might not have the savings for a down payment -- or they may have debt from graduate school.

Other universities around the country -- particularly those in expensive real estate markets -- have developed faculty housing or loan programs.

The University of California-Berkeley, in the costly Bay Area, has a 75-condominium complex with caps on the equity buildup so it remains affordable to faculty. It also has units that faculty members can rent for short-term stays. And the university offers below-market rate mortgages.

"Without this housing support we just aren't competitive," said Jan deVries, vice provost for academic affairs and faculty welfare.

"Almost every major university in the country -- when they're competing in the national, international market -- (has) to give some thought to housing."

Increasing the number of faculty members who live near the UW could revitalize the University District neighborhood, which is dominated by students.

Susan Gaylard, an assistant professor in French and Italian studies, bought a home in Wallingford with her partner last fall. Living close to campus enables her to spend more time there and easily dash back if she needs a book from a library.

The couple were able to afford the home because Gaylard's partner, a programmer, makes considerably more than she does at the UW.

"If that were not the case, there was no way I would be in the market now or at any time, I think," she said. "What people don't realize, we don't actually earn that much and we arrive without any savings because just getting through grad school is a struggle. ... We're extremely excited to hear about the university's plan."

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