Archive
Category: Industry News
Industry News
Scholarship named to honor legacy of REALTOR® Margo Wheeler
To honor distinguished REALTOR® and community volunteer Margo Wheeler, the Seattle King County First Citizen Foundation will award a $5,000 scholarship in her name to the highest ranked high school scholarship applicant. Ms. Wheeler, a beloved leader and a managing broker at the John L. Scott Real Estate|Tacoma University Place [..]
Industry News
Cross-sector cooperation, zoning reform among actions needed to ease state’s housing crisis
Action is needed now to address housing affordability in Washington and the worsening problem of inadequate supply. “Action should begin with zoning reform as the foundation to build upon. From there, a comprehensive portfolio of short- and long-term policy solutions is required to fully address the crisis,” a new report [..]
Industry News
Local architect, urban planner among speakers at D.C. housing symposium
Housing innovation, emergent private sector programs, and nonprofit programs, and projects were spotlighted during the 2023 Housing Supply Symposium hosted by the Terner Center & Labs. Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies and the National League of Cities supported the half-day hybrid event held in Washington, D.C. and online. The [..]
Industry News
Habitat group unveils homeownership program to assist local Black families
Up to $50,000 in debt for qualifying homebuyers who plan to buy a Habitat for Humanity home may be paid off, thanks to a newly launched program of Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties. The limited assistance, intended to help anyone who meets certain criteria, is focused on helping [..]
Industry News
Builders use buydown incentives to attract buyers
Three of every four home builders are buying down buyers’ mortgage rates, according to a survey by John Burns Real Estate Consulting. Builders are paying the costs up front by prepaying some of the buyers’ interest on the loan, thereby effectively reducing monthly payments and making the purchase more affordable. [..]
Industry News
Web app tracks Seattle’s proposed and permitted projects
Describing their creation as a “modern alternative to the Notice of Proposed Land Use boards” found at construction sites, the founder of Seattle in Progress, Ethan Phelps-Goodman, says he believes Seattle can lead the way in creating a city that is more livable, equitable and sustainable. “We believe that the [..]
Industry News
Northwest MLS tallies impressive achievements during 2022
Northwest Multiple Listing Service notched some impressive numbers during 2022. Its “Year in Review” report summarized various achievements spanning myriad services in the 26 counties it serves. A tally of system usage included 20 million Matrix sessions, 6.7 million TransactionDesk sessions, and 5.4 million Realist sessions. Showing Time and Authentisign [..]
Industry News
Drivers here not the worst, but also not worthy of bragging rights
Probably no one who has driven around Puget Sound or many other regions around Washington state would argue that traffic can be unpredictable. In fact, many may prefer expletives to describe it. Study after study confirms those negative perceptions: It could be worse. Hawaii has the dubious distinction of being [..]
Industry News
News In Brief
Out of all 50 states, Washington has been listed as the best state to retire in, according to research by Global Residence Index. The research used seven key factors to rank each of the 50 states, and Washington ranked in the top 10 for five of the seven factors. Air quality, [..]