TPCAR Announces Endorsements for the 2026 Primary Election
Ballots for Washington’s 2026 Primary Election will be mailed beginning July 17 and must be returned by Tuesday, August 4. As REALTORS®, we have an important opportunity to support candidates and policies that understand the connection between housing, economic opportunity, and strong communities. The Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS® is pleased to announce its endorsements…
A Major REALTOR® Advocacy Win: How the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Could Expand Homeownership Opportunity
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act took effect Saturday, July 11th, advancing one of the most significant bipartisan federal housing packages in nearly two decades. For REALTORS®, this legislation matters because it addresses the problem at the center of today’s affordability crisis: there are not enough homes available for the people who want to buy them. The…
Rent Cap Reminder for 2027
The maximum annual rent increase percentage is calculated using the June 12-month percent change in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers, all items, for the Seattle area as published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is expected to be released in mid-July. Landlords issuing rent increase notices on or after June 1,…
Sound Transit Reaffirms Commitment to Tacoma Dome Link Extension
Sound Transit recently approved an updated delivery plan for its ST3 expansion program, providing greater clarity on the future of light rail service in Pierce County. While the agency is faced with significant funding challenges across the regional system, the Tacoma Dome 2035 Link Extension remains a committed project and continues to move forward as…
2026 Election Season Underway: Candidate Filing, Local Races, and TPCAR’s Advocacy Process
Election season is officially underway in Washington State, with candidate filing week running from May 4 – May 8, 2026. Candidates must file by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 8 in order to appear on the ballot for this year’s Primary and General Elections. This year’s election cycle includes several important races throughout Pierce County and across Washington…
2026 Washington Legislative Session Update
Housing and Policy Changes Impacting REALTORS® and Property Owners The 2026 Washington Legislative Session has been another busy year for housing policy. Over 600 bills were introduced, with roughly 140 housing or real estate issues included. Major themes included increasing housing supply, expanding zoning flexibility, tenant protections, and new tax policies.Several bills passed focusing on…
Washington Senate Bill 6346: What REALTORS® Need to Know
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
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.
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
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…
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…
Read MoreHistoric 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…
Read MoreTrack 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…
Read MoreApril 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®.
Read MoreUpdates 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…
Read MoreAmbassadors 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…
Read MoreState Legislative Session Update
The State Legislature ended its session on Sunday, April 23 at 10 pm. .Several bills which seek to increase housing supply, reduce building costs, and update agency law received strong support in the legislature and were delivered to the Governor for his signature. Below is a list of some of the highest priority bills for…
Read MoreTacoma Business License Increase Likely to Hit Agents Across Pierce County
TPCAR has spent the past few months conducting additional review of the City of Tacoma’s recently enacted business license rates for 2023-24. The increases, enacted by Council in late-2022, apply to any real estate office and REALTOR® (agent) who conducts one or more transactions for property within the City of Tacoma and is based upon…
Read MorePierce County Sales Tax Increase to Fund Affordable Housing Being Discussed
Pierce County Sales Tax Increase to Fund Affordable Housing Being Discussed TPCAR’s Advocacy team has, in recent months, been working closely with members of the Pierce County Council to craft framework for a proposal to raise sales tax by .1% – raising an estimated $20 million per year – to fund affordable housing solutions. A…
Read MoreCity of Gig Harbor Enacts Short-Term Rental Regulations
City of Gig Harbor Enacts Short-Term Rental Regulations After passing three moratoria, and taking nearly 18 months, Gig Harbor City Council passed final regulations at its February 27 meeting which allow Short-Term Rentals within the city. The ordinance, which takes effect March 8, allows short-term rentals in all residential and commercial zones where dwelling units…
Read More