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…
Pierce County Housing Authority Announces RFP to Sell Homes
Pierce County Housing Authority Announces RFP to Sell 120 underperforming Housing Units The Pierce County Housing Authority (PCHA) is requesting proposals from Licensed Residential Real Estate Brokers to provide residential real estate services for the sale of PCHA’s Scattered-Site Single family homes located throughout Pierce County. The total roster of properties owned by the PCHA…
The Importance of a Sewer Scope when Buying a Home
The Importance of a Sewer Scope Inspection When Buying a Home By: Jon Teabo, President of A-Pro Home Inspection Services A sewer scope inspection is a critical component of the home buying process that is often overlooked or ignored by potential home buyers. Despite its importance, many home buyers do not understand what a sewer…
City of Tacoma Business License Fee Increases
Tacoma City Council enacts new business license fees for 2023-24 In November 2022, Tacoma City Council passed an ordinance which increases business license fees by as much as 700% over the next two years. While Council claims that only 10% of businesses will incur significant fee increases, real estate is one industry which will experience…
TPCAR Welcomes New Board Directors for 2023-24
Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS® hosted its Annual Installation Gala on Thursday, November 3rd with the highlight of the evening being incoming Washington REALTORS® President Alisha Harrison installing TPCAR’s new Board Directors for 2023 – 24 terms, as well as Mike Stewart being installed as 2023 TPCAR President. We look forward to each of these…
TPCAR Candidates Successful in Elections
Tacoma-Pierce County Association of Realtors endorsed 16 candidates in this year’s General Election and are pleased to announce that 15 of those 16 were successful in their election. Support for levies related to public safety, parks, schools, and fire protection saw a majority of success with 4 of our 6 endorsed levies passing. To view…
Northwest MLS brokers say motivated home buyers turn to creative financing options:
Submitted by Frank Hawkins; Hawkins-Poe Real Estate Services Brokers with Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) are reporting a return to some creative financing methods as motivated home buyers and sellers grapple with higher mortgage rates. Despite that, and the seasonal slowdown in activity, 6,435 hopeful homebuyers succeeded in having sellers accept their offers to purchase…
How will this economy affect the local housing market compared to the Great Recession?
BY JENNIFER HAWKINS, TPCAR Board Director Question: What are the similarities and differences between the potential recession we’re facing and what happened in 2008 in regard to housing? I would like to start off by saying recession does not equal housing crash. In fact the 2008-2009 recession is the only recession that created a housing…
How is a Home Warranty Different from Homeowners Insurance?
How is a Home Warranty Different from Homeowners Insurance? Homeowners insurance and home warranties are both designed to help safeguard your home, but they each offer different types of protection. A home warranty is an excellent supplement to a homeowners insurance policy, and a homeowner should consider purchasing both. What is homeowners insurance? Homeowners insurance covers…
Gig Harbor extends its short-term rental moratorium
On September 12, 2022, the City Council extended the moratorium allowing the city to evaluate the drafted regulations for Gig Harbor against legal framework currently taking shape across the country. This action further extends a moratorium which began one year ago. The city currently does not have any code which directly applies to short-term rentals…
Tacoma’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…
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…
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