NW REPORTER
NW REporter
Northwest REporter is a joint publication brought to you by Northwest Multiple Listing Service and the Seattle King County REALTORS.
September 2018 Issues
WSU team in demo phase on unique drywall blocks made from upcycled construction debris
Washington State University professors and students are collaborating with contractors to repurpose construction debris as drywall blocks for a unique building system. Known as a Drywall Waste Block, they’re designed to transform low-value construction waste into a material that could substantially cut the cost of building a home. The team [..]
Confusion around E-DUI law persists as citations, fatalities rise
Drivers might agree cell phone use while behind the wheel is unsafe, but most are not changing their behavior, even with some alarming statistics and the passage of a strict E-DUI law. A study by the King County Target Zero Task Force revealed a majority of drivers are still reluctant [..]
Facebook pledges improved ad policies in response to HUD discrimination complaint
Prompted in part by a discrimination complaint filed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Facebook announced changes to its real estate advertising policies. Concurrently, the National Association of REALTORS® issued a statement supporting HUD’s aggressive enforcement of the Fair Housing Act. HUD’s complaint alleged Facebook’s advertising platform enabled [..]
Stopgap vote continues short-term funding for flood insurance
Congress passed a seventh stopgap extension to the National Flood Insurance Program much to the relief of thousands of current and potential homeowners. The Senate approved the measure by an 86-to-12 vote, sending it to President Trump for his signature just hours before the Aug. 1 deadline. Realtors applauded the [..]
New Department of Local Service formed to serve King County’s unincorporated areas
Unincorporated areas of King County, where a quarter-million people live, are the intended beneficiaries of a new department County Executive Dow Constantine proposed earlier this year. Starting January 1, 2019, the new Department of Local Services will be tasked with improving the delivery of services in rural areas as well [..]
Improving supply helps slow escalating home prices in Western Washington
KIRKLAND, Washington (September 7, 2018) – House-hunters in Western Washington can choose from the largest supply of homes in three years, and they are facing fewer bidding wars, according to officials from Northwest Multiple Listing Service. New statistics from the MLS show prices appear to be moderating (up about 6.7 [..]
NWMLS Monthly Market Snapshot
Share on Social Media You are able to download the infographic to republish on your website or provide to clients. Usage Terms Subscribers may provide NWMLS’s Market Snapshot infographics to clients and prospective clients. Subscribers may republish NWMLS’s Market Snapshot infographics on websites, blogs, e-mails, newsletters, postcards, etc. Subscribers may [..]
News In Brief
Ever dropped your phone? A device that can break its fall has been unveiled. The ADcase (Active Damping case) protects your display by deploying springy legs when it detects the handset is falling. The award-winning device is the brainchild of Philip Frenzel, 25, who created it as the thesis for [..]
Realtor Safety Reminders
September heralds the annual observation of REALTOR® Safety Month and with it, reminders to make safety a year-round commitment. In a recent post to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Safety Month, the National Association of Realtors told its members, “The risks you face seem to grow more frequent and more [..]
Remodeling trending upward as housing stock, homeowners age
As the median age of the U.S. owner-occupied housing climbs higher, analysts believe it signals growth for the remodeling market. Old structures normally require new amenities or replacement and repairs of older components, they explain. “Rising home prices also encourage homeowners to spend more on home improvement,” noted Na Zhao, [..]
Multiple groups challenge Seattle’s rezoning plans as path to worsen displacements
Several neighborhood groups and housing activists, together with small businesses and environmentalists, are questioning whether Seattle’s housing affordability efforts are backfiring. Rather than create the expected volume of affordable housing, some representatives suggest proposed programs will worsen displacement. In a report published by South Seattle Emerald, writer Carolyn Bick cited [..]
Developers can boost profits by researching amenity preferences
Developers risk foregoing profits by not being attuned to shifts in home buyer amenity preferences, according to John Burns Real Estate Consulting. That firm’s recent survey of more than 23,000 new home shoppers, coupled with the experience of two senior vice presidents, identified several dominant trends for planned communities. Steve [..]