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…
State 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…
Tacoma 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…
Pierce 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…
City 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…
City of Tacoma Side Sewer Disclosures
Side sewer disclosure for real estate transactions in tacoma Did you know that prior to buying or selling a property in the City of Tacoma, real estate professionals are required to provide a Side Sewer Education Flyer to buyers and sellers they are representing during closing of a property? In fact, this requirement has been…
New septic system stress testing requirements begin July 15
RSS Repair, Replacement, and Testing Guide Starting July 15, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department will require stress tests of drainfields for property sales inspections of gravity and pump to gravity systems. This document outlines the requirements and policies for repairing or replacing septic tanks, including details with regards to testing procedures, repairs, and replacements of…
Read MoreRSS Repair, Replacement, and Testing Guide
Starting in July, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department will require stress tests of drainfields for property sales inspections of gravity and pump to gravity systems. This document outlines the requirements and policies for repairing or replacing septic tanks, including details with regards to testing procedures, repairs, and replacements of defective tanks. Requirements for Repairing Septic…
Read MoreNAR advocacy nets win for VA buyers
The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to temporarily lift its ban on buyers directly paying for professional real estate representation until the agency deems it necessary to engage in a formal rulemaking process, a VA official said Tuesday at a Mortgage Bankers Association conference in New York. Although not an official announcement, the comments from…
Read MoreTPCAR advocacy nets positive response from Pierce County Council
TPCAR member response to Call to Action regarding short-term rentals and rural zoning nets success At yesterday’s Pierce County Council meeting, Resolution R2024-158s, drafted to include provisions which would have restricted short-term rentals (STR) and removed bonus density provisions for rural lands within the urban growth area (UGA), was amended after successful lobbying by TPCAR.…
Read MorePRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT GRANTED
This past weekend, the Plaintiffs’ counsel in the Sitzer v. Burnett class action lawsuit filed a Motion for Preliminary Approval of the proposed NAR settlement agreement with the federal court in the Western District of Missouri. Today, Judge Bough granted that motion which means that, as of today, the settlement agreement is preliminarily approved. Settlement…
Read MoreBuyer Financing and Commission Financing After the Settlement
The below information was shared by NAR in The Hub. We strongly encourage all members to create your Hub account to track updates and information provided by NAR. The recently announced settlement raised several questions regarding access to mortgages and the ability to finance agent commissions. In short, under the settlement, buyers still have the same…
Read MoreUpdate Regarding NAR Proposed Settlement in Class-Action Lawsuit
Following up on NAR’s March 15 announcement of a proposed settlement to end the Sitzer/Burnett class-action lawsuit, Washington REALTORS® has released a video update breaking down the three aspects of the proposed settlement and what their impacts are likely to be for real estate practitioners in Washington State. At a fundamental level, the proposed rules…
Read MoreIn the Mood for a Little Spring Cleaning?
In the mood for a little spring cleaning? Whether you hire a house cleaning service or you prefer DIY, you know why a good “Spring Cleaning” is so important. Spring is when we come out from the dark shroud of winter into the light and enjoy the blossoming trees and flowers. Spring is the season…
Read MoreBattling the Downpour: How Western Washington’s Rainy Season Impacts Homes and the Importance of a Home Inspection
Written by Herb Daniels Battling the Downpour: How Western Washington’s Rainy Season Impacts Homes and the Importance of a Home Inspection As the lush green landscape of Western Washington transforms into a canvas painted in myriad shades of gray, residents brace themselves for the onslaught of the rainy season. While the rain brings its own…
Read MoreUnlocking the Power of Pre-Inspections
Unlocking the Power of Pre-Inspections: A Strategic Approach for Sellers By: Jon Teabo, President of A-Pro Home Inspection Services In the ever-evolving landscape of real estate, sellers are constantly seeking innovative ways to stand out in a competitive market. While the legal requirement to disclose property conditions is well established, savvy sellers are increasingly turning…
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