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Washington Senate Bill 6346: What REALTORS® Need to Know 

By sean@tpcar.org | February 6, 2026

This week, Washington lawmakers introduced companion bills, SB 6346 and HB 2724, that would create a new state tax commonly described as a “millionaires’ tax.” The bills would impose a 9.9% tax on Washington taxable income beginning January 1, 2028.   Both bills are written to include a $1,000,000 standard deduction (combined $1,000,000 for spouses/domestic partners), meaning that the tax would be paid upon any income…

Ensure Your Office Agent Roster Is Up to Date 

By sean@tpcar.org | February 3, 2026

View Your Active Agents and Dues Payment Status by Brokerage  This page explains how Designated Brokers and Office Managers can view their active agent roster by brokerage to both manage their roster and see which agents have not paid their REALTOR® dues for each office they manage.  Using the “Change Org” feature, DBs with multiple offices can easily switch between brokerages…

NAR addresses housing affordability, incentivizing institutional owners of single-family rentals to transition back to owner-occupants. 

By max@tpcr | January 9, 2026

The Trump administration on Wednesday announced a move to restrict large investors from purchasing single-family homes. This comes after record-high home prices and a shift in buying power in major American markets. The administration is moving to codify sweeping bills through Congress in the upcoming sessions. NAR advocacy representatives are focusing on a nationwide transition…

Tacoma’s Rental Code May Be Changing — Here’s What REALTORS® Need to Know

By sean@tpcar.org | December 9, 2025

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…

Tacoma’s Measure 1 and the Shrinking Supply of Affordable Housing 

By sean@tpcar.org | November 7, 2025

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…

Outdated Capital Gains Rule is Keeping Homes Off the Market

By sean@tpcar.org | November 7, 2025

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…

NAR Advocacy Update: Big Wins for REALTORS® and Housing Affordability

By max@tpcr | October 3, 2025

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…

2026 TPCAR Board Of Directors Nominees

By max@tpcr | September 18, 2025

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!…

Cultural Resources Final Bill

By max@tpcr | September 12, 2025

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.…

TPCAR Endorsement Recommendations for 2025 Elections 

By sean@tpcar.org | July 1, 2025

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…

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…

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Washington 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…

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New 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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Proposed 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…

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Rent 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.…

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Washington 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…

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2025 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…

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TPCAR 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…

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Tacoma 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…

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October 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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