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Category: Industry News
Industry News
Can housing resuscitate dead malls?
Will housing be the salvation of malls? According to some reports, it is happening across the country and around Washington state, but with varying approaches. Once dormant or dead malls are being revitalized and repurposed to include mixed-use development. The transitions have been happening for years, if not decades, but [..]
Industry News
State Capitol campus abuzz with new garden
Nine organizations collaborated to create a 1,000 square foot demonstration garden on the Washington State Capitol campus. The project with eight learning stations, was completed in June. It marks the first garden on the campus with an intentional educational component. The Capitol Campus Pollinator Garden, open every day, was designed [..]
Industry News
Developers rethinking amenities as consumer preferences shift
Trend tracking research from The New Homes Trends Institute (NHTI) indicate what consumers want in master planned and rental communities is changing, requiring developers to rethink their offerings. Researchers identified three low cost, high impact amenities that merit consideration as add-ons: Concierge and rental services Amenities that facilitate working from [..]
Industry News
Housing Connector marks milestones in assisting the unhoused
Heralding their tool as a win-win example of what can happen when businesses join forces with communities around a shared vision, the founders and initial supporters of Housing Connector are celebrating recent milestones. Housing Connector is a business-to-business nonprofit that functions as the bridge that connects private multifamily property owners [..]
Industry News
White House “Housing Supply Action Plan” draws praise from housing industry leaders
An ambitious Housing Supply Action Plan unveiled last month by President Biden aims to close the country’s housing supply shortfall within five years. Using a combination of legislative and administrative initiatives, the plan — which the administration called the most comprehensive “all-of-government” effort in history — drew a generally positive [..]
Industry News
Africatown project underway for affordable housing with Afrocentric inspired amenities, community spaces
Construction of a long-anticipated development encompassing 126 affordable housing units and flexible, Afrocentric inspired amenities and community spaces is underway in Seattle’s Central District. The seven-story structure culminates years of negotiation and planning coupled with unique financing to create a project that addresses affordability, displacement, and gentrification in the area. [..]
Industry News
Builder confidence sinks amid growing affordability challenges
Growing affordability challenges are causing builder confidence in the housing market to erode, according to the National Association of Home Builders. NAHB believes these challenges are growing. The latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Marketing Index (HMI) showed an eight point drop in builder confidence for newly built single-family homes in May, [..]
Industry News
Existing home sales shrink, price appreciation grows
Existing home sales around the country continued to slide in April, falling to the lowest level since June 2020. Analysts at the National Association of Home Builders attributed the decline to rising mortgage rates and higher home prices, stating that combination is pricing out first-time and young buyers. Citing data [..]
Industry News
Mandatory education on Fair Housing now in effect
Real estate licensees in Washington must complete a new 6-hour Fair Housing course under a law that went into effect on June 1. Additionally, only pre-approved schools or instructors may offer the mandatory course titled “Washington Real Estate Fair Housing (6-hr) (3-hr).” This is the only course approved to date. [..]