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Washington voters will likely be asked this November whether local governments should be barred from placing new taxes on soda or other grocery items. The Spokesman-Review reports that backers of Initiative 1634 turned in more than 291,000 signatures on their petitions to the secretary of state’s office in Olympia Thursday [..]
Industry News
Annual survey profiles changes in Realtor population
Membership in the National Association of REALTORS® grew by 6 percent from 2017 to 2018, with most of those members (83 percent) saying they are homeowners, according to NAR’s 2018 Member Profile. The latest survey also indicated new entrants (those with less than two years of experience) edged up from [..]
Industry News
“Up” house not coming down after all
Although the storied “Up” house in Ballard was saved from coming down, its ultimate fate is still not certain as property owners proceed with redeveloping the 2.5 acre site where the quaint bungalow sits. In response to rumors that were circulating in mid-April about the impending demolition of the storied [..]
Industry News
Seattle tops 61 other cities as “Best to Live in”
Seattle edged out Virginia Beach, Virginia and Austin, Texas in a “Best Large Cities to Live In” ranking by WalletHub. The personal finance website compared the country’s 62 largest cities using 56 key indicators of attractiveness, including quality of public schools, life expectancy, job opportunities and property taxes. The metrics [..]
Industry News
Leading policy expert on “equitable green economy” to keynote 2018 Built Green conference
Built Green®, the holistic green home certification program of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties, is holding its annual conference on September 13 at the Lynnwood Convention Center. Participants can choose sessions from four tracks during the daylong event. Featured keynoter is Vien Truong, national director of [..]
Industry News
New report comparing wages and housing costs finds gaps
Washington has the 7th worst shortfall between average renter wage and two-bedroom housing wage, according to the 2018 Out of Reach report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC). The new report compares Housing Wages in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, plus Puerto Rico and more than [..]
Industry News
Seattle startup uses multiple data sources to uncover underutilized properties in quest to improve housing supply
CityBldr, a Seattle startup, aims to “unlock the development potential of communities,” and much more. It uses proprietary technology and big data to help property owners understand their property’s highest and best use, and promises to bring stakeholders together to create win-win solutions. Last month, the company announced it would [..]
Industry News
REALTORS offer timely tips to “work smart, stay safe”
September is officially observed as REALTOR® Safety Month, but the National Association of REALTORS® reminds its members to take extra safety precautions when previewing, showing and attending open houses. “Stay aware, be empowered 24 / 7 / 365” is the overarching advice. Even though only 20 percent of members have [..]
Industry News
45,000 newcomers move to Seattle each year
Seattle was the destination for more than 45,000 newcomers who relocated here each year from 2012 to 2016, and many of them are affluent, according to an analysis by columnist Gene Balk, the “FYI Guy” at The Seattle Times. While the perception may be they’re all tech workers, the reality [..]