NEWS & INSIGHTS
What’s Happening
Industry News
Characteristics of recent home buyers unveiled in NAHB study
First-time buyers accounted for 37 percent of all households that purchased homes in the past two years, according to findings in the 2017 American Housing Survey. That was a slight drop from 39 percent from the prior period. The National Association of Home Builders analyzes data from the biennial survey [..]
Industry News
House hunting pet owners place high priority on spaces for pets
~WIN~ a DIY catio plan for your beloved cat or your client’s. The successful bidder at the April 18 REALTOR® Wine & Spirits Auction in Bellevue will receive a certificate for a Catio Spaces DIY Catio Plan (bidder’s choice of style). Real estate brokers are keenly aware of the priority [..]
Industry News
Heavy snowfall ices February housing activity around Western Washington
KIRKLAND, Washington (March 6, 2019) – Seattle’s snowiest month in 50 years had an obvious chilling effect on February’s housing activity, agreed officials with Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Statistics for last month show pending sales dropped nearly 14 percent compared to the same month a year ago. “The winter weather [..]
Industry News
NAR launches new branding campaign to distinguish REALTORS, reinforce members’ pride, and demonstrate value to consumers
Informed and inspired by a Code of Ethics that dates to 1913, the National Association of REALTORS® unveiled a new campaign centered on the theme, “That’s Who We R®”. In announcing the integrated campaign, NAR said it “aims to reinforce the value of Realtors® as advocates for property owners, engaged [..]
Industry News
News In Brief
The number of homes available for sale in Seattle is increasing at the second-highest rate in the country as the red-hot real estate market of the past few years begins to cool, says a new report. The report, by real estate marketing site Zillow, found that there were 3,324 more [..]
Industry News
SKCR Events Calendar
Date Event Time Where Phone 5/13-18/19 NAR Meetings Washington, DC 425-974-1011 5/23/19 First Citizen Banquet 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm Fairmont Hotel, Seattle 425-974-1011 5/27/19 Holiday – Office Closed 6/4/19 Housing Issues Briefing 11:30 am – 1:30 pm Meydenbauer Center 425-974-1011 For updates visit: www.nwrealtor.com and [..]
Industry News
Consultants ponder merits of social media for homebuilders
In a recent “New Home Insights” podcast, the senior VP at John Burns Real Estate said he believes most builders are effectively using social media to drive sales, but added, “I believe that social media has become a major reason that buyers are not purchasing a new home.” Will Wehrli, [..]
Industry News
Real estate researchers reveal “secret sauce” of top selling master planned communities
Developers of the top 50 master-planned communities work hard to create “the perfect combination of attractive amenities, proper product segmentation, and creative, targeted marketing,” according to researchers at John Burns Real Estate. Jody Kahn, senior VP and Devyn Bachman, senior research analyst, identified four “must-haves” for successful masterplans: A range [..]
Industry News
Washington homeowners pay 12th highest real estate taxes in U.S.
Homeowners in the state of Washington pay the 12th highest real estate taxes per year, according to an analysis by the National Association of Home Builders. The federation, whose members construct about 80 percent of the new homes built in the U.S., found property tax rates differ substantially across the [..]
Industry News
Seattle University president who “always shows up” named 2019 Seattle-King County First Citizen
BELLEVUE, Washington (March 12, 2019) – One organization executive described this year’s Seattle-King County First Citizen as a “selfless leader” who “shows up” and praised him for his deep commitment to community building. A company president lauded his “obvious heart of a servant.” Seattle University President Stephen V. Sundborg, SJ [..]