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The City of Sammamish has taken an important step toward improving housing feasibility and encouraging the construction of new homes by adopting significant amendments to its Inclusionary Affordable Housing Program. The reforms reflect a growing recognition that increasing housing affordability requires policies that not only support affordable housing but also make it feasible to build new homes.

The July builder sentiment numbers released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) fell two points to 34 nationally and 27 in the West amid continued economic uncertainty and market challenges. The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) gauges builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes. Locally, the Seattle metro area’s unemployment rate is 5.2%, one point higher than the U.S. unemployment rate.

For more than 30 years, Rampathon has brought MBAKS members together to build free accessibility ramps that help neighbors stay connected to their homes and communities.

Under the leadership of Mayor Mark Mullet and the City Council, the City of Issaquah has adopted Washington's first accessory dwelling unit (ADU) self-certification program.

The Bellevue City Council has adopted an ordinance implementing residential lot splitting, creating another tool to help increase housing opportunities through more efficient land division.

Housing permit applications in Seattle have plummeted 94% from their 2020 peak—a staggering decline that reflects barriers making it increasingly difficult and expensive to build new homes.

The Puget Sound region saw its population growth moderate over the past year, according to new population estimates from the Office of Financial Management featured in the July Builders Bulletin.

The Washington State Department of Commerce has released its latest Annual Permitting Performance Report, providing a comprehensive look at permitting timelines across Washington, including 32 jurisdictions in King and Snohomish counties.