Congresswoman Suzan DelBene recently visited the Snohomish County Builders Council to speak with Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) members about key federal housing and economic issues impacting the residential construction industry. During the meeting, Congresswoman DelBene provided an overview of ongoing federal housing discussions and participated in a member Q&A session. Builders and industry professionals shared their challenges related to housing supply, affordability, permitting delays, workforce shortages, and the overall regulatory environment facing homebuilding in Washington state.

During her remarks, Congresswoman DelBene highlighted several key federal housing priorities, including the need to advance comprehensive housing legislation (ROAD to Housing Act), expand and strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), and address ongoing permitting and regulatory challenges that continue to delay housing production nationwide. She also discussed the importance of improving coordination across federal agencies and modernizing policies to help increase housing supply and affordability in communities across Washington and the country.

As these conversations continue at the federal level, MBAKS will be heading to Washington, D.C. in June for the NAHB Legislative Conference to meet directly with Washington’s congressional delegation and advocate for key industry priorities.

High priority topics will include:

• Advancing comprehensive housing legislation.
• Addressing permitting challenges and burdensome building codes.
• Supporting workforce development and immigration reforms to help meet the growing demand for housing and strengthen the residential construction workforce.

View more information about the NAHB Legislative Conference.

By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

Single family permits are down 10 percent in the Seattle metro area the first 9 months of the year, compared to the same period last year. The single family permit decline is led by Snohomish County, which is down 25 percent, followed by Pierce County, which is down 14 percent. Within the three-county metro area, the only county to see a slight increase in single family permits through September 2018 was King County, where permits were up four percent.

Meanwhile, multifamily permits are up three percent throughout the metro area. While King County saw a nine percent decline in multifamily permits during the first three quarters of 2018, Snohomish County has experienced an 80 percent increase in multifamily permit activity, and Pierce County is up 35 percent.

The Builders' Bulletin is intended to provide a convenient way to track housing in our market and includes information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, State of the Cities Data Systems, Office of Financial Management and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

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By Cameron Poague, Redmond Reporter

It’s not hard to see the good in this world—you just have to know where to look.

Take the corner of Northeast 140th Place and 100th Avenue Northeast in Kirkland, for example, where Angela Maccarrone can now freely and safely get in and out of her home thanks to a new wheelchair access ramp built free of charge by builder company Lochwood-Lozier Custom Homes.

The ramp was donated as part of an annual event called Rampathon, during which volunteers from the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish counties donate their time and skills to build ramps for Puget Sound residents in need.