NW REPORTER

NW REporter

Northwest REporter is a joint publication brought to you by Northwest Multiple Listing Service and the Seattle King County REALTORS.

“Black tax” constrains wealth accumulation, homeownership opportunities

Black households are unable to accumulate housing wealth at the same rate as white households due to a combination of income gaps, a “Black tax,” and other factors that unfairly raise the cost of homeownership for African Americans, according to a report from a trio of authors. In a paper [..]

More adults considering home purchase as builders find shifting interest in new versus existing homes

More adults were considering a home purchase in the fourth quarter of 2020 than the same period the previous year. The 15% versus 11% margin was among findings in the latest Housing Trends Report from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The quarterly trends report also analyzed preferences by [..]

Builders say COVID-19 continues to influence home purchasing plans

COVID-19 continues to have an impact on home purchasing plans, according to the latest Housing Trends Report (HTR) from the National Association of Home Builders. Researchers reported the share of Americans who are considering the purchase of a home in the next 12 months was 15% in the fourth quarter [..]

Expanding missing middle housing options a priority on Coalition’s legislative agenda

Expanding missing middle housing options, such as detached and attached accessory dwelling units and multi-unit housing options that include duplex, triplex, and fourplex homes is one of the legislative priorities this year for the Coalition for More Housing Choices. Seattle King County REALTORS® is a member of the group, which [..]

Housing sector called an economic bright spot

Recent expansions in housing activity have increased its share of gross domestic product (GDP) to near historic norms, according to research by the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB). Low mortgage interest rates, a renewed focus on the importance of home, an evolving geography of housing demand, and a lack of [..]

Pandemic presents new option for home buyers as market “kept foot firmly on the accelerator”

KIRKLAND, Washington (February 4, 2021) – Home buyers who have been precluded from entering Puget Sound’s competitive market may want to consider condominiums as an option, according to industry experts who commented on the latest housing statistics from Northwest Multiple Listing Service. “With the trend toward telecommuting and moving to [..]

New Seattle “payroll expense” tax includes real estate brokerage firms

In July of 2020, the Seattle City Council approved a “payroll expense” tax on businesses in Seattle with annual payrolls in excess of $7 million. The objective of the tax was to have large employers, with employees who earn more than $150,000 per year, pay more to the city to [..]

News In Brief: February 2022

Washington is one of the nation’s worst states to drive in, according to a new study released late January. The study, by personal finance website WalletHub, found that Washington ranks as the third-worst state for drivers, thanks mainly to steep gas prices, high rates of car theft, poor overall road quality, [..]

SKCR Events Calendar: February 2021

The Missing Middle: A Solution for Adding More Housing

Duplexes, fourplexes, plus 2-to-4-unit townhomes, courtyard buildings, and cottages could provide much needed entry-level housing and/or more affordable housing for certain homebuyers. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) believes such structures offer viable solutions to the housing shortage and would help meet the needs of many first-time buyers as [..]

NW REporter

February 2021 Issues