Publications
Issues & Impacts Q1 2025
Issues & Impacts Q1 2025 Back to News Center April 28, 2025 Issues & Impacts is a quarterly publication produced by Seattle King County REALTORS® to inform members about current issues and successes within the Government Affairs Department. IN THIS ISSUE: REALTOR® Support for Increasing Housing Supply and Affordability REALTORS® Advocate for a Positive Regulatory…
Read MoreREALTOR® Support for Increasing Housing Supply and Affordability
REALTOR® Support for Increasing Housing Supply and Affordability Back to News Center April 28, 2025 Background During the last 5 years, the Legislature has tried several different approaches to address our state’s housing crisis: Incentives Beginning in 2019, with support from REALTORS®, the Legislature provided financial incentives to cities if they made specific modifications to…
Read MoreREALTORS® Advocate for a Positive Regulatory Environment for Middle Housing
REALTORS® Advocate for a Positive Regulatory Environment for Middle Housing Back to News Center April 28, 2025 Seattle King County REALTORS® (SKCR) continues to work throughout the region to encourage cities to adopt flexible and bold comprehensive plan policies and related development regulations to encourage ADUs and middle housing in their cities. REALTORS® are encouraging…
Read MoreRenton: Reform of Development Regulations for Land-Use Appeals
Renton: Reform of Development Regulations for Land-Use Appeals Back to News Center April 28, 2025 Currently, Renton’s city code provides that decisions on land-use–related development applications are made by a professional Hearing Examiner. Once the Examiner’s decision is made, the City Council acts as a “quasi-judicial” appellate body for appeals of most land-use decisions. Seattle…
Read MoreTukwila: Process Reform for Binding Site Improvement Plans
Tukwila: Process Reform for Binding Site Improvement Plans Back to News Center April 28, 2025 Currently, when a property owner wants to utilize the city of Tukwila’s Binding Site Improvement Plan (BSIP) process to develop their property, the property owner must also enter into a Development Agreement with the city. The two processes are redundant…
Read MoreQ1 2025 Sign Codes Updates
Q1 2025 Sign Codes Updates Back to News Center April 28, 2025 Sign code updates are in play in Bellevue, Bothell, Lake Forest Park, and Duvall. We seek to maintain members’ ability to post on-premises “For Sale” signs and off-premises “Open House” A-boards, placed in the right-of-way during open-house hours. Sign code updates are complicated…
Read MoreHousing Activity Uptick in March
Housing Activity Uptick in March Back to News Center April 23, 2025 Housing activity during March perked up with the arrival of spring, according to the latest report from Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Listings, sales and prices all outgained the previous month and the same month a year ago. Brokers suggested more favorable conditions await…
Read MoreMarket Activity in January outgained same month in 2024
Market Activity in January outgained same month in 2024 Back to News Center March 7, 2025 January’s housing activity showed both new listings and closed sales outgained the same month a year ago. Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) data for the month showed new listings jumped 35.1% and closed sales rose 10.8% compared to January…
Read MoreBuilders Tally Cost of Regulations for New Homes
Builders Tally Cost of Regulations for New Homes Back to News Center March 3, 2025 Regulations accounted for nearly a quarter (23.8%) of the average cost of a new home ($394,300), according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The figures are based on data from 2021, the latest available information. In a more…
Read MoreParks Levy Proposed for August Ballot
Parks Levy Proposed for August Ballot Back to News Center February 27, 2025 King County Executive Dow Constantine has proposed a $1.5 billion levy to renew the county’s parks levy. It contains funding to maintain, enhance and expand parks and trails The measure, which is subject to approval by the King County Council, is likely…
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