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Category: Industry News
Industry News
“Regular people” can invest in new fund for affordable housing
Seattle’s largest nonprofit provider of affordable housing became the first such group in the country to raise money through federal crowdfunding regulations for affordable housing when it unveiled its Building Opportunity Fund last month. Bellwether Housing’s effort, launched in collaboration with Tech 4 Housing, aims to raise $4.5 million in [..]
Industry News
Momentum building for B2R
“There is a consumer rental demand that is driving these institutions to want much greater levels of inventory of this product,” said Gerald Ellenburg, CEO of ERC Homebuilders, in an interview with CNBC. “They are learning or have learned that new inventory is a much safer and more official rental [..]
Industry News
Nominations for Friend of Housing awards are due July 12
Know any affordable housing champions? If you know deserving candidates who are making communities and families in Washington state stronger through affordable housing, nominate them for a Friend of Housing Award. They could be among the honorees at this year’s Housing Washington conference on October 1 in Tacoma. Friday, July [..]
Industry News
REALTORS host housing briefing for candidates to promote working together for stronger communities
Changing the narrative was a common theme at the 2019 annual Housing Issues Briefing presented by Seattle King County REALTORS® for candidates seeking public office. The event at Bellevue’s Meydenbauer Center drew more than 100 participants. With a focus on “working together to build stronger communities,” SKCR president Rich Bergdahl [..]
Industry News
Issues & Impacts
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, 17 pages, 372KB)
Industry News
WSU researchers develop eco-friendly alternative to Styrofoam insulation
Researchers at Washington State University have developed a plant-based material that for the first time outperforms Styrofoam for insulation. Additionally, they developed a simple, environmentally-friendly manufacturing process to make the foam using water as a solvent instead of other harmful solvents. WSU said the researchers are now developing formulations for [..]
Industry News
Realtor.com editors release guidebook for home buyers
Editors at realtor.com have released their first book, a 125-page guide for first-time home buyers. The book, titled “The Essential First-Time Home Buyer’s Guide,” was written to help prospective homeowners navigate the home-buying process, from the search to financing and negotiating – “all with a real estate agent’s help, of [..]
Industry News
Buyers’ perceptions on affordability may be improving
Buyers’ perceptions about their ability to afford a home may be shifting, albeit slowly, in a positive direction, according to the latest Housing Trends Report. Prospective home buyers are asked to estimate what share of homes available in their markets they believe they can afford. For the first quarter of [..]
Industry News
Fed Reserve economists discuss constraints on housing activity
Although the U.S. economy is “in a good place” following recent periods of turmoil and uncertainty, one of the missing pieces of the expanding economy has been housing, according to economists who spoke at a recent Federal Reserve press briefing. John Williams, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank [..]
Industry News
Home buyers are “better off,” but market is heating up
KIRKLAND, Washington (June 6, 2019) – The housing market in western Washington may not be as hot as it was last spring, but it is heating up, suggested one industry leader in commenting on the latest statistics from Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Matt Deasy, president of Windermere Real Estate/East, Inc. [..]