NW REPORTER
NW REporter
Northwest REporter is a joint publication brought to you by Northwest Multiple Listing Service and the Seattle King County REALTORS.
May 2021 Issues
Brokers detect good news for home buyers, citing gains in listings and moderating prices
KIRKLAND, Washington (May 5, 2021) – Finally, some good news for home buyers! Sizeable increases in new listings compared to a year ago and reports of moderating prices “might mean we are seeing some relief for buyers,” suggested John Deely, a board member at Northwest Multiple Listing Service. In commenting [..]
Resources abound for statewide info, help on COVID-19
More than 5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered throughout Washington, with nearly 29% of residents now being fully vaccinated. Even so, public health officials urge continued mask wearing (especially in crowded places), social distancing, and frequent handwashing. With vaccine supplies more plentiful statewide and eligibility open to everyone [..]
REALTORS-led legislation addresses racial discrimination in housing
A bill championed by Washington REALTORS® and approved nearly unanimously by legislators will help property owners purge unlawful racial covenants and deed restrictions from their property records. In addition to amending RCW 64.06.020 and 49.60.227, the recently approved bill, HB 1335, adds a new section to chapter 49.60. It reads, [..]
Green Home Tour offers free, inspirational showcase of projects
Northwest EcoBuilding Guild’s annual green home tour is underway. This year’s event will showcase more than 20 homes and projects “in all shades of light to deep green.” The interactive virtual tours are scheduled for three Saturdays: May 1, 8, and 15. Different homes and projects will be featured from [..]
Washington among states with strong employment in home building
Washington is among 15 states with the highest share of residential construction workers, according to NAHB Economics, an arm of the National Association of Home Builders. Using data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), researchers estimate 4.4 million people work in residential construction. That accounts for 2.8% of [..]
Homebuilder acquires large parcel in Woodinville
Thirty-two acres in Woodinville where one home, a barn, and an arena are currently situated, will be redeveloped by homebuilder D.R. Horton. The parcel, which is near 132nd Ave NE and NE 143rd Place, sold for $19 million. Public records indicate plans for 87 townhomes and seven single family homes. [..]
Builders use various strategies to cope with volatile lumber prices
Builders have been beset with unstable lumber prices. In fact, rising prices and the availability of building materials ranked as the top challenge builders expect to face this year, according to the April 2021 survey for the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. In its monthly survey – which the National [..]
National Association of REALTORS picks King County group to be part of new mentor program
Seattle King County REALTORS® (SKCR), in collaboration with the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), is launching a unique mentorship program for multicultural individuals who are interested in exploring careers in real estate and developing the necessary skills for success. SKCR is among eight associations – and the only one in [..]
News In Brief: May 2021
Washington state’s economy has weathered the coronavirus pandemic better than any other state in the nation, a newly released study has found. The report, by personal finance website WalletHub, compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 13 key metrics, including the share of employment from small businesses to [..]
DOL implements paperless license retention requirements
Paper copies of real estate licenses no longer need to be given to a broker’s firm or designated broker for retention. The Department of Licensing (DOL) eliminated that requirement effective April 29, 2021, although individual brokerages may have different policies requiring copies of licenses. DOL also abolished its requirement that [..]
“Priced out” gaps for new homes vary widely by race, ethnic groups
Affordability challenges for new home buyers continue to be more pronounced for minority households, according to the latest “priced out” estimates by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Only 24% of Black households can afford a new home at the U.S. median price of $346,577, according to an analysis [..]
SKCR Events Calendar: May 2021
SKCR Events Calendar: May 2021
Seattle is #9 (but also #1 and #5)
Seattle ranked ninth among 58 large cities that were evaluated for their walkability and outdoor recreation assets. The rankings were compiled by COMMERCIALCafé, a real estate listings and data provider. Six metrics were used to determine the rankings, with New Orleans coming out on top by scoring 68.29 points on [..]
94 communities in Washington earn “Tree City USA” designations
Nearly half of Washington’s residents (48.25%) live in one of the state’s 94 “Tree City USA” communities, according to the Arbor Day Foundation. Collectively, these communities planted 46,517 trees, and spent, on average, $10.31 per capita for urban forestry management during 2019 (the most recent reporting period). Mountlake Terrace became [..]