NEWS & INSIGHTS
What’s Happening
Industry News
Rampathon program accepting applications for free reamps until March 4
Families struggling with mobility at their homes and nonprofit organizations whose clients have mobility challenges are invited to submit applications for this year’s Rampathon building project. Volunteers from the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) will build free wheelchair access ramps at selected sites. Applications, which must [..]
Industry News
Autobiography of Washington’s 16th governor debuts; self-styled conservative also known for liberal policies
One of Washington’s most respected politicians, Daniel J. Evans, has written his long-awaited autobiography. His “90 years of memories,” as he describes it, just became available for purchase at the Secretary of State’s website. The Seattle native and University of Washington alumnus is distinguished by his service in many positions, [..]
Industry News
Helping turn home searchers into homeowners
Aspiring homeowners say their number one hurdle is the down payment. Down Payment Resource (DPR), an online service that is directly integrated into the Northwest Multiple Listing Service Matrix system and client portal, provides a list of potential financial programs available for specific listings. DPR tracks and monitors homebuyer assistance [..]
Industry News
Turning trash into treasure with no strings attached
Instead of sending usable items to a landfill, why not share them with neighbors who will give them a new home? That’s the idea behind freecycle.org, a grassroots network in more than 5,300 towns in 110 countries. Combined, there are nearly 10 million members, including several thousand in Seattle and [..]
Industry News
Northwest MLS brokers tally 107,354 sales during 2021 valued at more than $75 billion
Northwest Multiple Listing Service member-brokers reported 107,354 closed sales during 2021. That marked the first time the annual sales volume surpassed 100,000 transactions. Last year’s completed sales were valued at more than $75 billion, eclipsing 2020’s figure by nearly $18.9 billion for a year-over-year (YOY) gain of almost 33.6%. Sales [..]
Industry News
News In Brief: February 2022
Originally posted on Puget Sound Business Journal, the highly competitive Bellevue-Seattle-Tacoma metro is likely to stay that way for at least another year, according to a recent study from Realtor.com that identified the 30 hottest markets for 2022. Our market landed at number 8 on the list. The study ranks [..]
Industry News
Employer offering new houses as a worker incentive
Two employees of a Florida company will receive keys to mortgage-free homes, compliments of the boss. The prizes are an incentive being offered by Jason James, CEO and founder of Mechanical One, which furnishes new developments with air conditioning and plumbing. It is his way of addressing the Great Resignation [..]
Industry News
Interest in newly-built homes is shrinking
Low inventory and rising costs are contributing to a steady decline in interest for new construction, according to the latest Housing Trends Report from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). By the 4th quarter of 2020 (after the start of the pandemic) 42% of buyers were looking to purchase [..]
Industry News
Microsoft issues progress report on year 3 of multimillion dollar housing initiative
Three years after launching an affordable housing initiative, Microsoft estimates 9,200 affordable housing units are being preserved or produced. In the same update report, the Redmond-based company said it would increase investments in land acquisition, utilize a new financing approach to acquire existing housing for conversion to middle-income housing, and [..]
Monthly Market Update
Northwest MLS brokers see signs of busy spring market despite slow January
A frigid first week of January, surges in coronavirus cases, and depleted inventory were among factors brokers from Northwest Multiple Listing Service cited for last month's slower than year-ago sales.