By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

December 2019 permit numbers show the Seattle metro area ended the year with a modest 3% decline in single-family permits and a 5% drop in multifamily permits compared to 2018. The overall decline for the metro area was driven by King County, which ended the year with 14% fewer single-family permits. However, Snohomish County saw an 11% uptick in single-family permits, and Pierce County was up 3%. For multifamily permits, the year-end decline for the metro area was driven by Pierce County, which saw permits drop 43%. Meanwhile, multifamily permits rose 13% in Snohomish County and remained flat in King County.

The Builder's 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.

Download this month's report:

By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

The near-record-low 2.6% unemployment rate for Seattle/Bellevue/Everett seen in February rose to 5.5% in March, according to the latest monthly employment report, which shows the first wave of job losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Employment Security Department notes the impacts on jobs are more likely to be evident in the April report. Meanwhile, housing indicators from the latest Builders Bulletin do not yet reflect the impact of coronavirus on real estate and new home construction. The report shows year-over-year median home price increases in March and rising permits in February.

The Builder's 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.

Download this month's report:

This week, Leah Missik, our Built Green program manager, announces the keynote speaker for our 2017 Built Green® Conference.

Learn more & register