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Category: Industry News
Industry News
Issues & Impacts: January 2020
Issues & Impacts is a quarterly publication produced by the SEATTLE KingCounty REALTORS® to inform members about current issues and successes within your Governmental Affairs Department. SEATTLE KingCounty REALTORS® (SKCR) is ensuring that public policies support homeownership and your business’s bottom line. View the full publication (PDF, 20 pages)
Industry News
Recommended reading and listening list from staffers at Joint Center for Housing
Those who enjoy learning about housing and policies that affect supply and affordability might be interested in seeing the “faves” list of books, articles and podcasts recommended by staff members at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. In introducing the compilation, David Luberoff, the Center’s deputy director, [..]
Industry News
EXPOsed education convention returns
Northwest Multiple Listing Service will present EXPOsed, a daylong education convention for members and subscribers, at three locations this spring. Registration will open in mid-February. Participants can earn up to 6 clock hour credits, depending on the number classes attended. EXPOsed will include symposium style classes on a variety of [..]
Industry News
Graduated tax rates on real estate sales started January 1, 2020
Starting January 1, a graduated excise tax rate for real estate sales replaces a flat 1.28% state rate. The tiered tax is based on the selling price of property sales occurring on or after January 1, 2020 (ESSB 5998). The new legislation does not affect the sale of undeveloped land, [..]
Industry News
News In Brief
Seattle took the second spot in a new ranking among cities across the country with the worst commutes, according to a story in the Seattle PI. According to the study from Apartment Guide, people in Seattle lost 138 hours a year due to traffic congestion in the city. The cost [..]
Industry News
SKCR Events Calendar
Date Event Time Where Phone Jan 20 HOLIDAYOffice Closed Jan 22 WR Committees Hotel RLOlympia 425-974-1011 Jan 23 Hill Day Hotel RLOlympia 425-974-1011 Jan 29 Board of Directors 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. SKCR 425-974-1011 Feb 4 Govt. Affairs Committee 10:30 am – 1:30 pm SKCR 425-974-1011 [..]
Industry News
Washington one of few states with population growth
Washington was one of few states to experience population growth during 2019 (up 1.2%), according to newly-released estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau. Overall, the nation’s population grew by only 0.5% between 2018 and 2019 – the slowest pace in decades. Census Bureau officials attribute the meager gain to various [..]
Industry News
Builder confidence hits highest mark since June 1999
Builder confidence rose to its highest level since June 1999, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). Last month’s Index of 76 was a 5-point increase from an upwardly revised November reading. All three HMI components (current sales conditions, sales expectations, traffic of [..]
Industry News
Builders embrace IT, but hesitate to adopt construction technology
Builders tend to embrace information technology, but when it comes to construction technology they have been slow to incorporate most of the newer and more innovative options. Those findings were reported by the National Association of Home Builders, which included questions on the use of technology in its regular surveys [..]
Industry News
Drivers accustomed to driver-assist technologies tend to exhibit more distracted driving
Do drivers become over-reliant on driver-assist technologies and exhibit more distracted driving? Apparently so, according to recent research. Studies conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) found that drivers who own cars with assistance technology are nearly twice as likely to engage [..]