Tacoma Real Estate Business License information
Tacoma business license update TPCAR is sharing a quarterly update on the City of Tacoma’s Business License program which requires all real estate agents to get a license and pay a license fee to the City of Tacoma if they complete one or more transactions in the City. TPCAR will provide additional details and answers…
Tacoma Enacts New Rental Housing Code Provisions
New tacoma rental code laws enacted take effect July 24th In early-July, Tacoma City Council voted in favor of new rules to add to its set of Rental Code Provisions. TPCAR is hosting a free webinar for its membership on August 9 to share more about the changes outlined below, and answer any questions. The…
Ensure Your Office Agent Roster is Up-To-Date
To review your current office roster of agents, please follow these four easy steps! Thank you for assisting TPCAR in ensuring that your office roster(s) is up-to-date in advance of our 2024 Membership Dues Billing which will be sent out in September. 1. Login to your TPCAR InfoHub account by going to www.tpcar.org and clicking…
Tacoma City Council Voting on Rental Housing Code Changes Tuesday, July 11
At its July 11 meeting, Tacoma City Council is expected to vote on a final package of changes to the City’s rental housing code. These changes could have significant implications for both residents and housing providers in the City of Tacoma. TPCAR is asking its members to contact Tacoma City Council and encourage them to…
Is Your Agent a REALTOR
While all REALTORS® are Real Estate Agents, not all Real Estate Agents are REALTORS®….and the difference is substantial. Read below to learn the REALTOR® difference, and why YOU should Look for the R when buying or selling your home! FIND A REALTOR ADVOCATES FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP REALTORS® are members of the largest trade organization in the…
Historic Legislative Session for Housing Comes to a Close
Historic Legislative Session for Housing Comes to a Close This year, the state Legislature passed several bills on housing including substantial bills on Permit Reform, allowing Accessory Dwelling Units, Missing Middle Housing and more. In total, six of the top priority bills for Washington REALTORS® were passed by the legislature – an historic year by…
Track your office dues renewals in a few, simple steps
To determine if any agents in your office(s) have an outstanding dues renewal invoice, please follow these three easy steps. Log on to your TPCAR InfoHub account by going to www.tpcar.org and clicking “Login” on the home page (if you’ve not yet created your TPCAR account you may do so by selecting “Create One” on…
April 2023 Advocacy Update
April 2023 Advocacy update TPCAR Government Affairs Chair, James Fisher, shares an update on advocacy issues being worked on by TPCAR and Washington REALTORS®.
Updates on Pierce County ordinances re: sales tax and “The Village”
Yesterday afternoon, TPCAR’s advocacy team attended the County Council meeting with the .1% sales tax increase and The Village proposals both on the agenda. TPCAR offered public comment in support, per our previous position discussed at GA. Proposed Ordinances: No. 2022-81a: An Ordinance of the Pierce County Council Levying an Additional Sales and Use Tax…
Ambassadors Club
What is an Affiliate Ambassador? A TPCAR Ambassador is a an Affiliate Committee member volunteer who is committed to help grow and retain TPCAR membership through an extension of the association’s communications, events, networking, and mentorship programs. Think of an Ambassador as a PR extension of TPCAR. Ambassadors help retain members through personal outreach via…
TPCAR Endorses John Hines for Tacoma Mayor
The Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS® is proud to endorse John Hines for Mayor of Tacoma. Councilmember Hines has demonstrated a consistent and thoughtful commitment to expanding housing opportunities across Tacoma. From his early support and leadership on the Home in Tacoma initiative, to his strong advocacy for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), John has championed policies that…
Read MoreWashington Enacts Statewide Rent Control: What HB 1217 Means for Tenants, Landlords, and the Housing Market
On May 7, 2025, Washington became the third U.S. state to enact statewide rent control – joining California and Oregon – with the passage of House Bill 1217. The law caps annual rent increases on most residential properties and includes special provisions for manufactured housing, among other regulations. Proponents argue the measure offers needed tenant protections amid…
Read MoreNew Property Tax Incentive for Affordable ADUs Now in Effect in Pierce County
Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS® members now have a new housing incentive to watch—Senate Bill 5529, recently signed into law, officially expands a key property tax exemption for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to include Pierce County. This law encourages homeowners to build and rent detached ADUs to low-income households by offering a property tax exemption on the value…
Read MoreProposed Property Tax Changes Could Deepen Housing Affordability Crisis in Tacoma and Across Washington
As Washington state lawmakers weigh new revenue sources to balance the state budget, proposed changes to the state’s property tax cap are raising alarms among housing advocates—including the Washington REALTORS®, who recently commissioned an analysis to better understand the potential impacts on homeowners. The proposals under consideration would remove the long-standing 1% cap on annual…
Read MoreRent Control Advances in Washington: What HB 1217 Could Mean for Housing Providers
On Thursday, April 10th, the State Senate passed an amended version of HB 1217 which would implement rent control in Washington State. Due to changes made from the House version which was approved in March, the bill must move back to the House of Representatives for a vote of concurrence to be enacted into law.…
Read MoreWashington Rent Control Bill Moves to Senate with Key Amendments
One of the most hotly debated issues this legislative session has involved ESHB 1217 which would enact rent control regulations across Washington State. This bill passed out of the House of Representatives on Monday, March 10th by a vote of 53 – 42. While the bill did move out of the House, several amendments were made…
Read More2025 Legislative Days Event Recap
On January 29 – 30th, nearly 50 TPCAR members joined with 600 REALTOR® members from across the State to gather at the Capitol in Olympia and lobby REALTOR® and housing consumer issues with legislators from every district in the state. The event offered attendees an opportunity to hear from the Washington REALTORS® (WR) lobby team…
Read MoreTPCAR Advocacy Report – January 2025
Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS® advocacy team has hit the ground running in 2025 as several carry-over items from 2024 will continue to be worked on this year. Those include: Pierce County TPCAR has been tracking proposed short term rental regulations (STR), as well as accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations, for unincorporated areas of Pierce…
Read MoreTacoma City Council Enacts Home in Tacoma Phase 2 – Effective February 1, 2025
Tacoma is moving forward with its Home in Tacoma Phase 2 ordinance, a major update to zoning and building regulations aimed at increasing housing density and creating more opportunities for homeownership. As a REALTOR®, understanding these changes is essential to helping your clients navigate the evolving real estate landscape. Key Zoning Changes The new ordinance…
Read MoreOctober Advocacy update
In alignment with our mission to keep members informed on key planning and policy changes, TPCAR shares recent developments impacting Pierce County’s rural density planning and Tacoma’s business resilience efforts. These updates highlight important shifts in growth management strategies, with implications for land use and local business support. Home In Tacoma Update: Phase 2 of…
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