CDC Eviction Moratorium Vacated and Stayed
CDC Eviction Moratorium Vacated and Stayed On May 5, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia struck down the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC’s) nationwide eviction moratorium set to expire at the end of June, concluding the moratorium exceeds the limits Congress placed on the CDC’s authority. In response, the Department of…
10 Dos and Don’ts for New Homebuyers with Septic Systems
10 Dos and Don’ts 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…
Changes to Insurance Regulations May Delay Closings
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 clients in securing home and auto coverage…
Yun: Consumer Spending Likely to Spur Economy
Yun: Consumer Spending Likely to Spur Economy The economy is at 99% of its pre-pandemic activity, and growth in Americans’ income and savings could propel housing in the second half of the year, Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS®, said Thursday at the Residential Economic Issues and Trends Forum during the…
NEW MASK GUIDANCE FOR REAL ESTATE BROKERS, COUNTY PHASE UPDATE, STATE REOPENING DATE ANNOUNCED
NEW MASK GUIDANCE FOR REAL ESTATE BROKERS, COUNTY PHASE UPDATE, STATE REOPENING DATE ANNOUNCED On May 13th, Governor Inslee announced that Washington will adopt new masking guidance as issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”). This guidance allows fully vaccinated people to no longer wear a face covering with certain limitations. The…
Court Strikes Down Eviction Ban
Court Strikes Down Eviction Ban U.S. District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich of the District of Columbia struck down a nationwide eviction moratorium Wednesday, calling it unlawful. Friedrich’s ruling applies nationwide. The eviction ban was put in place last year by the Trump administration using public health powers granted to the Centers for Disease Control…
State legislature passes new fair housing education requirements for real estate brokers
State legislature passes new fair housing education requirements for real estate brokers On April 26, the Washington State Legislature passed SB 5378 which expands training requirements for fair housing clock hours for real estate brokers and managing brokers. The bill is on the Governor’s desk and his signature is expected. The law would take effect June 1,…
New Staff Join TPCAR
New Staff Join TPCAR Sean Martin Sean brings 16 years of experience in the housing industry, including having previously served as Government Affairs Director and Executive Director at the 5,000 member Rental Housing Association of Washington. In his time with RHAWA he oversaw radical transformation of membership benefits and association technology, as well as the…
2020 REALTOR® Awards
Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS®, the voice of realtors for over 100 years, announced the recipients of the 2020 REALTOR® Awards. The REALTOR® awards recognize outstanding achievement and service by member REALTORs® and affiliates. Recognized for his exemplary service and contributions to the Association of REALTORS® during his career, James Fisher is no stranger to…
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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