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…
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…
Tacoma Is Considering New Tree Regulations: What REALTORS® Should Know
The City of Tacoma is working on a major update to its tree and landscape regulations and the final rules could affect homeowners, buyers, developers, and properties throughout the city. No final ordinance has been adopted and the City is still developing draft regulations and taking public input with its next public hearing scheduled for…
Read MoreTPCAR 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…
Read MoreA 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…
Read MoreRent 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,…
Read MoreSound 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…
Read More2026 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…
Read More2026 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…
Read MoreWashington 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…
Read MoreEnsure 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…
Read MoreNAR 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…
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