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Category: Industry News
Industry News
Renton’s Permit Ready ADUs drawing praise
Permit Ready Accessory Dwelling Units (PRADUs) are one way Renton hopes will help ease the region’s housing crisis, as evidenced by historic shortages in inventory and skyrocketing prices. Underscoring the need to create more inventory is Washington’s last place ranking among 50 states when comparing the number of housing units [..]
Industry News
Employer offering new houses as a worker incentive
Two employees of a Florida company will receive keys to mortgage-free homes, compliments of the boss. The prizes are an incentive being offered by Jason James, CEO and founder of Mechanical One, which furnishes new developments with air conditioning and plumbing. It is his way of addressing the Great Resignation [..]
Industry News
Interest in newly-built homes is shrinking
Low inventory and rising costs are contributing to a steady decline in interest for new construction, according to the latest Housing Trends Report from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). By the 4th quarter of 2020 (after the start of the pandemic) 42% of buyers were looking to purchase [..]
Industry News
Rampathon program accepting applications for free reamps until March 4
Families struggling with mobility at their homes and nonprofit organizations whose clients have mobility challenges are invited to submit applications for this year’s Rampathon building project. Volunteers from the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) will build free wheelchair access ramps at selected sites. Applications, which must [..]
Industry News
Autobiography of Washington’s 16th governor debuts; self-styled conservative also known for liberal policies
One of Washington’s most respected politicians, Daniel J. Evans, has written his long-awaited autobiography. His “90 years of memories,” as he describes it, just became available for purchase at the Secretary of State’s website. The Seattle native and University of Washington alumnus is distinguished by his service in many positions, [..]
Industry News
Helping turn home searchers into homeowners
Aspiring homeowners say their number one hurdle is the down payment. Down Payment Resource (DPR), an online service that is directly integrated into the Northwest Multiple Listing Service Matrix system and client portal, provides a list of potential financial programs available for specific listings. DPR tracks and monitors homebuyer assistance [..]
Industry News
Turning trash into treasure with no strings attached
Instead of sending usable items to a landfill, why not share them with neighbors who will give them a new home? That’s the idea behind freecycle.org, a grassroots network in more than 5,300 towns in 110 countries. Combined, there are nearly 10 million members, including several thousand in Seattle and [..]
Industry News
Microsoft issues progress report on year 3 of multimillion dollar housing initiative
Three years after launching an affordable housing initiative, Microsoft estimates 9,200 affordable housing units are being preserved or produced. In the same update report, the Redmond-based company said it would increase investments in land acquisition, utilize a new financing approach to acquire existing housing for conversion to middle-income housing, and [..]