NEWS & INSIGHTS
What’s Happening
Industry News
We’re not #1
Seattle ranked in the bottom 10 of cities whose residents have not paid off their home loans, according to a new study from Construction Coverage, which reviews financial products, software, and insurance for the construction industry. Only 18% of owner-occupied homes in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area are paid off, according to [..]
Industry News
Northwest Multiple Listing Service unveils more options for house hunters to view homes
Western Washington home shoppers can now take various types of guided tours of properties, including a new “Live Stream Open House” option. Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) recently unveiled that new feature plus enhanced ways for member-brokers to promote multiple virtual tours on their listings. The enhancements, developed as part [..]
Industry News
News In Brief
Federal regulators will vote in July on whether to make “988” the number to reach a suicide prevention hotline. The Federal Communications Commission says phone service providers will have until July 2022 to implement the new number, if the measure is approved in July, as expected. Once it’s in place, [..]
Industry News
New tool simplifies utility set-up
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has simplified the process for setting up electric and natural gas service for homebuyers in their 6,000 square mile service territory, which covers much of Western Washington. The online tool may be used for setting up, stopping, or moving service. “It’s hard enough going through the [..]
Industry News
SKCR Events Calendar
Date Event Time Where Phone June 10 Affiliate Council 10 am – 11 am Zoom 425-974-1011 June 23 Gov’t Affairs Committee 10:30 am – 1:30 pm SKCR/Zoom 425-974-1011 July 6 Holiday – Closed Office For updates visit: www.nwrealtor.com and look under “Events”
Industry News
News In Brief
A measure to tax the wealthiest residents and the biggest businesses in Portland to raise $2.5 billion over a decade to address homelessness sailed to victory as final ballots were tallied last month, even as the state faces crippling revenue losses and record-high unemployment due to the coronavirus according to [..]
Monthly Market Update
Housing activity in Western Washington shows resiliency as buyers, sellers and brokers adjust to COVID-19 restrictions
KIRKLAND, Washington (June 5, 2020) – “The market has proved to be very resilient,” remarked Northwest Multiple Listing Service director Mike Larson upon reviewing the statistical report for May. “Buyers in Pierce County stepped on the gas last month after a brief, but significant, tap of the brakes in April,” [..]
Industry News
Housing could lead post-pandemic economic recovery
With the likelihood of a recession looming, a Harvard researcher believes the housing industry may be poised to help lead the post-COVID economic recovery. Daniel McCue, a senior research associate at Harvard’s Joint Center for Real Estate Research, acknowledged it’s too soon to say how far the economy will fall [..]
Industry News
Only Phoenix surpassed Puget Sound region for home price gains during March
Housing prices continue to be remarkably stable across most of the U.S., according to a leading tracker of residential real estate prices. The latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index for March – when the first impacts of the pandemic were emerging — showed prices were gaining strength, rising 4.4% annually (up [..]