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Category: Industry News
Industry News
Sammamish singled out as a ‘Best Place to Live’
Sammamish was the only city in Washington state, and one of only three cities in the Northwest, to earn a spot on MONEY’s 50 Best Places to Live rankings. The city, with approximately 65,000 residents, was ranked No. 9. Frisco, Texas placed first. For more than 30 years, MONEY has [..]
Industry News
Majority of new houses are part of a homeowners’ association
More than two-thirds of newly built single family homes in both the West and South are in a Homeowner Association, according to a report from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Across the U.S., 61 percent of new single family houses were in an HOA, up from 46 percent [..]
Industry News
Survey reveals declining brand loyalty
Shoppers may set out to buy a particular brand, but three out of every four (76 percent) said they are likely to change their mind as they shop, according to a new survey on brand loyalty. Survey respondents were asked to rank various factors they consider when making a purchase. [..]
Industry News
“Fix-up” Costs Before Sale & 1031 Exchanges
It is common for many Washington real estate investors to make repairs, updates, and improvements to enhance a relinquished property in preparation for listing with a real estate agent or broker. A commonly asked question by investors in Washington is, “Can I be reimbursed from the 1031 exchange for the [..]
Industry News
Housing affordability challenges prompt researchers to consider altering methods for measuring spending
Researchers at The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies explored altering a widely used metric to better account for “notable changes” in various factors. The typical gauge has been based on allocating 30 percent of a household’s income for shelter, a figure the Housing Center uses for analyses in its [..]
Industry News
WSU team in demo phase on unique drywall blocks made from upcycled construction debris
Washington State University professors and students are collaborating with contractors to repurpose construction debris as drywall blocks for a unique building system. Known as a Drywall Waste Block, they’re designed to transform low-value construction waste into a material that could substantially cut the cost of building a home. The team [..]
Industry News
Confusion around E-DUI law persists as citations, fatalities rise
Drivers might agree cell phone use while behind the wheel is unsafe, but most are not changing their behavior, even with some alarming statistics and the passage of a strict E-DUI law. A study by the King County Target Zero Task Force revealed a majority of drivers are still reluctant [..]
Industry News
Facebook pledges improved ad policies in response to HUD discrimination complaint
Prompted in part by a discrimination complaint filed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Facebook announced changes to its real estate advertising policies. Concurrently, the National Association of REALTORS® issued a statement supporting HUD’s aggressive enforcement of the Fair Housing Act. HUD’s complaint alleged Facebook’s advertising platform enabled [..]
Industry News
Stopgap vote continues short-term funding for flood insurance
Congress passed a seventh stopgap extension to the National Flood Insurance Program much to the relief of thousands of current and potential homeowners. The Senate approved the measure by an 86-to-12 vote, sending it to President Trump for his signature just hours before the Aug. 1 deadline. Realtors applauded the [..]
Industry News
New Department of Local Service formed to serve King County’s unincorporated areas
Unincorporated areas of King County, where a quarter-million people live, are the intended beneficiaries of a new department County Executive Dow Constantine proposed earlier this year. Starting January 1, 2019, the new Department of Local Services will be tasked with improving the delivery of services in rural areas as well [..]