1031 Exchangers Can Help Their Kids Buy a House
As house prices and mortgage rates rise, young couples struggle with down payments and loan qualifications. 1031 parents who have business or investment real estate can help them purchase a principal residence while still receiving all the advantages of being a real estate investor and completing a 1031 exchange. The investor-parents (the exchangers) can exchange…
NAR Focuses on Fair Housing During Black History Month
As NAR recognizes Black History Month, we honor the legacy of great black leaders by carrying on their fight to eliminate housing discrimination, expand homeownership, and reduce wealth inequality. While the long-lasting impact of historical discrimination would make closing the homeownership gap in America challenging enough, fallout from the pandemic is likely to exacerbate that…
Update on HB 1951
Thank you all for your response to the Washington REALTORS® Call to Action on HB 1951. Across the State, WR Members sent Legislators over 8,000 emails asking them to not pass HB 1951! While the Consumer Protection and Business Committee made significant changes to the bill at the REALTORS ® request, including removal of the…
2022 Hill Day Recap
On January 20, TPCAR joined with other local REALTORS® around the state for the Washington REALTORS® Hill Day. This year’s event was, again, held virtually and offered the opportunity to learn more from our keynote speaker, Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, about housing issues and other policies being considered by the legislature. In the time following…
SafeShowings App Now Available
Introducing SafeShowings! SafeShowings Keeps Real Estate Professionals Safe! The number of crimes and murders committed against real estate professionals continues to increase every year. This is why all real estate professionals must put their safety first! Watch the video below for information on how to use your NEWEST member benefit to deter criminal behavior against Real Estate…
5 Tips to Kick Off 2022
We are only 11 days into 2022, and between holidays, weather, and closures, it has been quite a year already! Aegis Land Group Title Company has compiled 5 Tips to Kick off 2022! Check them out to ensure a successful New Year! Shift your attitude Attitude controls everything. Start your day deliberately with the…
TPCAR Meeting with Rep. Kilmer Spotlights Homebuyer Issues
TPCAR Meeting with Rep. Kilmer Spotlights Homebuyer Issues On Wednesday, December 22, US Rep. Derek Kilmer met with TPCAR members, led by incoming Government Affairs Chair and FPC to Rep. Kilmer, Elaine Hilton, to share more about his current projects in Congress, Federal legislation currently being worked on which could impact housing, and to hear…
Home In Tacoma Passes, Ensuring More Affordable Housing
On Tuesday evening, Tacoma City Council voted 7 – 2 in favor of Phase 1 of the City’s “Home in Tacoma” plan. Home In Tacoma aims to achieve a shared vision of all Tacomans having an opportunity for home ownership in a thriving, diverse, and growing city. Home in Tacoma creates a new vision for…
Changes to Insurance Regulations May Delay Closings
At Cross Insurance Agency we believe in “Insurance with no surprises.” With that in mind, we felt it was essential to reach out to our partners and friends in the Mortgage and Real Estate industry with an update on some recent changes in the insurance marketplace in Washington state that may impact you and your…
10 Dos and Donts for New Homebuyers with Septic Systems
Inspect your system annually. Routine maintenance allows you to catch issues before they become emergencies. Pump your tank every 3-5 years or as frequent as your service provider suggests, based on technology and system usage. Spread out your laundry loads over the course of the week. Excessive water discharge into the septic system is known…
Tacoma’s Rental Code May Be Changing — Here’s What REALTORS® Need to Know
Tuesday, December 9th at 5 pm, Tacoma City Council will be voting on an ordinance that would amend the 2023 Landlord Fairness Code Initiative—better known as Tacoma Measure 1. These proposed changes represent meaningful progress toward a more balanced rental housing framework, but they also highlight how much work remains to ensure that Tacoma’s rental market stays…
Read MoreTacoma’s Measure 1 and the Shrinking Supply of Affordable Housing
Tacoma’s housing market continues to feel the effects of Measure 1 — a set of policies passed by initiative in November 2023 that, while intended to promote stability for renters, are instead accelerating the loss of affordable housing across the city. The recent sale of several Goodman Real Estate properties is a case study in how…
Read MoreOutdated Capital Gains Rule is Keeping Homes Off the Market
In This Article When Congress last set the capital gains exclusion in 1997, the average U.S. home cost about $145,000. Nearly three decades later, home values have more than tripled—but the tax rule hasn’t moved an inch. The lack of action on this is now pointing the US real estate market directly at a “capital…
Read MoreNAR Advocacy Update: Big Wins for REALTORS® and Housing Affordability
NAR continues to be a leading voice in shaping housing policy at the federal level. Last week, NAR representatives took part in a bipartisan congressional panel focused on housing affordability. They emphasized the critical role REALTORS® play in expanding access to homeownership and ensuring that policy decisions reflect the real needs of our communities. Among…
Read More2026 TPCAR Board Of Directors Nominees
2026 TPCAR Board Of Directors Nominees The Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS® is proud to announce its candidates for the 2026 TPCAR Board of Directors. TPCAR’s Board of Directors is responsible for guiding TPCAR in alignment within the association bylaws, setting policy, and ensuring the organization’s mission is carried out effectively. Make your voice heard!…
Read MoreCultural Resources Final Bill
On Sept. 2, 2025, the Pierce County Council approved Ordinance No. O2025-522s—adopting a new “Cultural Resources Protection” — a package billed as both a housing-permit streamlining measure and a cultural and historic sites safeguard for tribal artifacts. The ordinance raises SEPA categorical exemption thresholds while creating a front-loaded cultural review so applicants get earlier certainty.…
Read MoreTPCAR Endorsement Recommendations for 2025 Elections
2025 is a local election year, meaning city council and mayoral races are a large focus for TPCAR’s advocacy team. This year’s primary is being held on Tuesday, August 5th, and there are several key races which are likely to be competitive, and which will have a significant impact on housing in our region. Candidates…
Read MoreTPCAR 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…
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