When you buy a home, you need to know exactly what you're buying. Imagine how frustrated you'd be to find out that the water heater wasn't working—in the middle of a shower! This is one of the reasons why you should have a home inspection before you buy your home.

After being told to prepare for more density with the passage of the Growth Management Act 25 years ago, many Eastside cities decided that growth — if it was coming — should pay for itself. Those cities adopted impact fees, one-time charges to new development to help pay for the expansion of public facilities such as roads, parks and schools as the population grows.

OLYMPIA — Barring a last-minute miracle, Washington lawmakers Thursday will leave the Legislature without the rural water-use bill and a new state construction budget so many of them wanted. Tired and frustrated after months of hard-fought negotiations, legislators Wednesday announced negotiations had collapsed on a water-use bill intended to address the state Supreme Court’s Hirst decision. That 2016 ruling has left some rural property owners in limbo as they try to build homes.