NW REPORTER

NW REporter

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

Seattle King County Realtors

April 2020 Issues

L.A. replaces Seattle as the country’s “crane capital”

Seattle was runner-up to Los Angeles in the latest “Crane Index” report from Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB). The global construction consultants tallied 36 cranes in Seattle, which compares to 47 in L.A. Last year the two cities were tied at the top with 49 cranes each. Before relinquishing the “crane [..]

Issues & Impacts: April 2020

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 (PDF, 18 pages)

Northwest MLS report for March shows initial disruptions from coronavirus pandemic

KIRKLAND, Washington (April 6, 2020) – Like many sectors of the economy, residential real estate is experiencing disruption and uncertainty just when the vigorous spring market was ramping up. Not surprisingly, the March activity report from Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which covers 23 counties across Washington state, was mixed as [..]

Most likely features builders include in new homes

A walk-in closet in the master bedroom is the most likely features builders will include in new single family homes this year, according to an annual survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Low-e windows and laundry rooms were tied as the second-most likely feature. At the other [..]

News In Brief

Seattle ranked as one of the most educated cities across the country, according to a new study printed on seattlepi.com. The study, conducted by AdvisorSmith, found Seattle took the seventh spot on the list of the most educated large cities in the country, defined as places that had a population [..]

Remodeling yields mixed ROI, but could lead to quicker sales

Home remodeling expenditures are projected to increase by just 1.5% this year, a decline from the 5-to-7% gains in recent years. Even with lackluster growth, homeowner improvement and repair expenditures are likely to exceed $330 billion this year. Those prediction are based on the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA), [..]

New law aims to thwart robocallers

New consumer protections under the TRACED Act (Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act) means robocallers based in the U.S. will face tighter scrutiny and stiffer penalties. The new legislation, signed into law at the end of December 2019 and effective this year, directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) [..]

SKCR Events Calendar

Date Event Time Where Phone Apr 17 WR Director Caucus 12 pm – 1:30 pm SKCR 425-974-1011 Apr 22-24 WR Spring Conference   Skamania Lodge 425-974-1011 May 11-15 NAR Mid-Year Meetings   WA-DC 425-974-1011 For updates visit: www.nwrealtor.com and look under “Events”

NWMLS spring meeting held virtually, with coronavirus updates added to agenda

Spring meetings for member-brokers of Northwest Multiple Listing Service departed from the usual in-person gatherings and pre-announced agenda, shifting to a webinar format, and adding updates on the industry responses to the coronavirus pandemic. In opening comments, Tom Hurdelbrink, president and CEO at NWMLS, described the ever-changing situation as “the [..]

NAR unveils resources on growing demand for walkable communities

With the demand for walkability on the upswing, the National Association of REALTORS® has rolled out several resources to better acquaint members with the concept and how the trend impacts their business. Homebuyers rely on REALTORS®’ knowledge of local markets and conditions to help them find a home in a [..]