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Category: Industry News
Industry News
Kirkland unveils new programs to create more housing options
Kirkland unveiled two new programs in its quest to create more housing options within the city. Last month, the growing Eastside city became the latest municipality in King County to add a pre-approved Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (DADU) program that offers a faster, more affordable, and simplified way to create [..]
Industry News
Issues & Impacts: April 2023
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
Industry News
News In Brief – May 2023
As if we needed another reason to be grateful to live in this precious corner of the Pacific Northwest, Seattle was just ranked 2nd on the list of healthiest cities in the country. Personal finance website WalletHub released its 2023 report on the healthiest and unhealthiest cities. The study was based on [..]
Industry News
Local, national events will commemorate Fair Housing Month
April marks “Fair Housing Month” as various groups commemorate the 55th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968. For REALTORS®, the occasion “signifies a recommitment to advancing equitable opportunities and expanding homeownership.” The National Association of REALTORS® has a dedicated website for Fair Housing Month, where [..]
Industry News
King County Assessor updates Realtors on efforts to refresh website, cut costs and obtain tax relief
During an information-packed presentation to members of the Governmental and Public Affairs Committee of the Seattle King County REALTORS®, King County Assessor John Wilson explained what his office does, how property values are set, how property taxes are calculated, differing values in a sampling of cities, and exemptions for seniors. [..]
Industry News
Seattle startup offers home maintenance program for first-time homeowners
Homeowners, particularly first-timers, in six residential communities in Seattle can be part of a proof-of-concept test for a newly-launched company that provides twice-yearly home inspections and a digital platform to create a checklist for home maintenance and upkeep. The startup, Onder, was co-founded by former Expedia director David Krieger, he [..]
Industry News
Housing associations host policymakers for bus tour of Missing Middle housing, speech by urban designer
Cottages, alley homes, townhouses and other well-designed, attainably-priced examples of our housing future were showcased last month during a “Missing Middle Housing Bus Tour.” Stakeholders from jurisdictions throughout King County joined representatives from organizations involved in the housing industry last month for the half-day tour and luncheon program featuring an [..]
Industry News
Urban planner from firm on forefront of Missing Middle Housing shares insights with policymakers, housing advocates
Following a tour of various examples of Missing Middle housing, policymakers from jurisdictions around King County joined advocates from various housing organizations, including Realtors, to hear remarks from Mitali Ganguly of Opticos Design. Ganguly, an architect and certified planner, joined Opticos in 2017. That firm, founded in 2000, is recognized [..]
Industry News
News In Brief
A new report from the Washington State Department of Commerce found that the state needs to add 1.1 million homes over the next 20 years to keep up with expected population growth. That averages out to more than 50,000 new units a year and Commerce said half of those homes need [..]