By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

The number of single family permits issued in 2018 in the Seattle metro area (King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties) fell 9 percent last year compared to 2017, while multifamily permits increased by 9 percent. These year-end numbers for the three-county region were driven by a decline in single family permits in Snohomish and Pierce counties, which saw 18 percent and 17 percent drops respectively. Likewise, Snohomish and Pierce counties’ multifamily permit numbers rose significantly in 2018 – by 71 percent in Snohomish County and 51 percent in Pierce County. Meanwhile, King County experienced a modest 2 percent increase in single family and a 2 percent drop in multifamily permits in 2018.

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.

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This week, MBAKS Snohomish County Manager Mike Pattison explains the Hirst fix and what it means for our members—especially those in rural areas.

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King County recorded a 1.5 months' supply of housing inventory as of June 2023, indicating a slight increase from the 1.34 months' supply reported in June 2022. Similarly, Snohomish County saw its inventory supply rise to 1.07 months, up from 1.34 months a year earlier. These figures illuminate the ongoing challenges of supply and demand dynamics in the area's housing market. According to many industry analysts, a four- to six-month inventory level is often deemed indicative of a healthy real estate market. Despite the increase, the current supply falls notably short of this benchmark, underscoring the continued pressure on prospective homebuyers and the need for further market adjustments. Read the full August Builders Bulletin.

Read the full August Builders Bulletin: