NEWS & INSIGHTS
What’s Happening
Monthly Market Update
Reduced inventory motivates increased home prices
A slight decrease in interest rates has raised cautious optimism.
NWMLS In The News
Interest Rates, Low Inventory Continue to Affect Area’s Housing Market
Industry News
Builder incentives contributing to sales resilience
With home prices growing twice as fast as incomes and mortgage rates at a 23-year high, few are surprised that housing activity has slowed. What may be surprising is sales of newly built homes are bucking the trend and showing remarkable resilience, according to reports from John Burns Research & [..]
Industry News
Builders call for more predictable permit process to ease housing crisis
Under the theme “Local Permitting Changes to Make Home Happen Now,” the keynote speaker, a panel of local officials, and representatives from the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) emphasized the importance of a timely, predictable, and fair permitting review process. Their remarks were made during the [..]
Industry News
Enhanced septic records search tool will ease siting of ADUs
King County recently unveiled a new septic records search tool that enables Realtors to view septic system and Group B water system records on file with Public Health – Seattle & King County. The streamlined tool was developed with assistance and input of the On-site Sewage/Septic System Technical Advisory Committee, [..]
Industry News
White House outlines incentives to repurpose vacant buildings for housing
Developers and building owners may be able to leverage billions of federal dollars to convert vacant office properties into residential uses under guidelines the White House unveiled late last month. The wide-ranging guidelines include actions by the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the General [..]
Industry News
Issues & Impacts: November 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
Seattle among 5 “least affordable metros”
With an overall score of 114.568, the Seattle region landed fifth on a ranking of “least affordable metros,” topped only by #1 San Francisco, #2 San Diego, #3 Honolulu and #4 New York. Los Angeles ranked #6. The analysis of the nation’s 100 largest metros was published last month by [..]
Industry News
Tacoma Habitat building first innovative carbon home in U.S.
A first-of-its-kind home using zero-carbon concrete will be part of a small Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity project in Gig Harbor. The nonprofit housing organization is partnering with the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s (NRMCA) Build with Strength coalition and others on the innovative three-home development. For qualified renters who [..]